Mitchell Thoennes 
Tonight will bring us a five-game slate for NBA GPP Picks 4/17. We have half of tonight’s teams on the second leg of a back-to-back. The Wizards are one of those teams and we will need to keep an eye on Bradley Beal resting after playing 42 minutes last night. A perfect place to stay updated on all the latest developments is in our Discord Chat rooms. Our biggest questionable status is Kelly Oubre and hopefully, it stays that way until lock. Some Grizzlies stuck out to me as cheap options because this game should be a track meet projected for 236 ½ points. Let us scroll and check out today’s picks!
In this article, I will be breaking down my two top plays at each position using DraftKings pricing. Due to the shorter slate, I may not get both for all positions.
Bombcarlo’s NBA GPP Picks 4/17
Point Guard
Ja Morant – ($7,000)
The Grizzlies star guard saw this matchup once earlier in the season and went for over 50 fantasy points. This a pass-up spot for the Grizzlies as Milwaukee has been the third-fastest team in the league. His minutes have been up slightly with playing at least 35 minutes in four of his last five games. The Bucks will be without a good defensive player in Divencenzo as well. Getting pieces of the highest total game will be important and Morant will be near the top of that list.
Coby White – ($5,200)
The Bulls already have Lavine ruled out and Satoransky entering today questionable. Last night with both players absent White played 33 minutes while going for 44 fantasy points. His usage rate was fantastic against Memphis last night at 27%. Tonight, he faces Cleveland who has given up the seventh-most fantasy points to shooting guards. Even if Satoransky plays White should start at shooting guard for Lavine.
Killian Hayes – ($3,400)
We have Dennis Smith Jr and Cory Joseph potentially sitting out another game. Last night without those two out Hayes started and played 27 minutes leading to 36 fantasy points. Now tonight he faces the fastest-paced team in the NBA who has allowed the third-most fantasy points to point guards this season. This is a cheap price tag that Hayes has paid off in two straight games. He has averaged a usage just under 20% since his return which is plenty to pay off this price.
Shooting Guard
Bradley Beal – ($8,700)
If Beal can give it a go this is the lowest salary, he has been in two months. He has played 36 minutes, not in his past three games showing the injury is behind him. In Beal’s last five games his usage rate has been above 32%. The Pistons could end up short-handed again which would help Beal. I say that because in the past ten games the Pistons are allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to shooting guards. If he plays the bargain price tag makes Beal hard to ignore.
Denzel Valentine – ($3,000)
In last night’s game, Valentine saw 17 minutes without the two starting guards. During those minutes Valentine found his way to a 25% usage rate. There is a good possibility Garrett Temple sits out this second half of a back-to-back. Cleveland struggles to guard the three-point line and shooting guards giving up the seventh-most fantasy points to them. If Lavine, Satoransky, and Temple all sit there will be massive minutes for Valentine at minimum price. Even if two sit I think he can pay off his salary.
Small Forward
Dillon Brooks – ($5,400)
The man has been chucking up shots lately, in his past five games, Brook’s fewest shot attempts are seventeen. Now today he gets a quick-paced game facing the third-fastest team in the league. These two squads have played once this season and Brooks went off for over 50 fantasy points in that game. Brooks will continue to see safe minutes if Melton is out and the above 32% usage over his previous two games can’t hurt.
Power Forward
Jayson Tatum – ($9,500)
I do not see the Warriors having anyone to guard Tatum. If they put Draymond on him, I think Tatum will eat him up. Tatum leads the Celtics in usage averaging a 30% rate on the year. Golden State is a plus matchup as they have given up the second-most fantasy points to power forwards and are playing at the second-quickest pace this season. I like Tatum over Giannis right now strictly due to the question mark with the minutes for the latter. If we get word Giannis is a full go, I may insert him here.
Jerami Grant – ($6,500)
Grant has been in and out of the lineup lately but has still scored over 35 fantasy points in his last three games. In those three games, he has not dipped below a 31.8% usage rate either. Today Grant sees a Wizard’s squad that ranks the fastest in the NBA. This is another player who is a bargain on this slate because this is Grant’s cheapest tag in well over a month. His minutes appear to be back too as he played 36 minutes last time out.
Center
Jarrett Allen – ($7,600)
After returning from a nearly three-week absence it seems Allen is ready for a full load as he played 35 minutes in his second game back. Those minutes allowed him to score 39 fantasy points. This is a smash spot if the minutes are that high because Chicago is allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to centers since getting Vucevic. They have also been the second-worst team in defensive rating over the past five games. The Cleveland big man has already dropped 40 fantasy points on Chicago this season. This tag is a little steep but we have value to get up here.
Deandre Ayton – ($6,800)
Tonight, Ayton brings in a seven-game streak of scoring 34.5 fantasy points or more. Does not seem like much but for this salary, he is hitting value. The best part is in the past four games Ayton has played 30 minutes or less and still hit that mark. He should go Banana’s if he gets into the 33-minute range facing the team that has allowed the most fantasy points to centers this season. Over the past five games, Ayton has seen about a 3% usage increase compared to his season average.
Closing Bombcarlo’s NBA GPP Picks 4/17
Thank you for reading today’s article NBA GPP Picks 4/17. It is a fun five-game slate to break down and I hope we do not get any crazy news. I know that is a long shot but one can hope. Join the WinDaily staff and me in Discord chat where help you adjust based upon what news breaks. Enjoy your Saturday night and may your screens be green! We will be right back here tomorrow be sure to tune in!
