DFSGhost 
Multiple small NBA slates this week with both Tuesday and Thursday only featuring three games apiece, but with 20 teams in action tonight, we’ll be taking our first look before things get too dicey leading up to lock. It’s Mojito Monday’s edition of the Gems – let’s ride.
One thing I want to clarify based on the questions I have received over the past few years is that I will never list a player under the $5,000 price tag simply because I use the projection model to identify all targets in this range and below. While there are often plenty of options that I like at $5,000 and less, since I often find myself with not only one – but multiple – in my NBA DFS lineups, you all have access to the very model I use to make my own selections, so when asking yourself: “Should I use player X or player Y?”, make sure to check the model because that is how I make all of my own decisions and I truly ride or die by it on a daily basis.
Before running to the DraftKings, FanDuel, or Yahoo lobby to construct your NBA DFS lineup after reading this article, please make sure to utilize the abundance of tools we have at Win Daily:
Point Guards
Dejounte Murray ($10,200 DK / $9,900 FD)
It’s always a great day when we get to roster one of the best point guards in the NBA – I said what I said. Dejounte Murray has not only led the Spurs to victories in four straight, rather, he has been simply stuffing the stat sheet. Sporting a 28.9% usage rate in his last six contests, Murray has posted a 21.5/9.7/9.3 scoring line on 44.3% shooting, where he also has a near triple-double every night. Facing a Phoenix defense that has been stout thus far will surely be a good test, but Murray just faced the league’s best unit in the Warriors, where he posted a 23/12/7 line in 37 minutes.
Chris Paul ($8,000 DK / $8,400 FD)
With Devin Booker still sidelined for the Phoenix Suns, we can take the discount on CP3 and run. One of the best to ever do it, Paul is seemingly having one of the best seasons of his career, pacing the NBA in assists as the only player to average 10 or more per game, with 10.1 per contest. He has an increase in FPPM from 1.18 to 1.24 with Booker off the floor, and will be tasked with starting another winning streak after their 18-gamer came to a halt against the Warriors the other night.
Honorable Mentions:
- Darius Garland ($7,900 DK / $7,400 FD)
- Dennis Smith Jr. ($5,300 DK / $5,000 FD)
Shooting Guards
Bradley Beal ($8,800 DK / $8,500 FD)
With Spencer Dinwiddie likely resting for the Wizards tonight on the second half of a back-to-back, I’ll take the buy low spot on Brad Beal. Realistically, I can sit here and discuss his poor shooting and passive offensive play as of late, but the upside is huge for someone that should be priced well above his tag on tonight’s NBA slate. In 3 games with Dinwiddie out this season, Beal has led the charge on offense with a 30.6% usage rate and 27.7 PPG on nearly 20 FGA per night.
Kelly Oubre Jr. ($5,800 DK / $5,800 FD)
With the number of players on the Hornets that were recently placed in health and safety protocols, we’re looking at what is seemingly a 7-man rotation in Charlotte for the upcoming NBA slate. With Oubre and Bridges leading the charge on offense, their sheer volume will place them on our shortlist once again.
Honorable Mentions
- Desmond Bane ($6,800 DK / $5,800 FD)
- Seth Curry ($5,300 DK / $5,600 FD)
Small Forwards
Miles Bridges ($7,700 DK / $8,400 FD)
Similarly to Kelly Oubre Jr, Miles Bridges is simply not priced accordingly with the number of Hornets out for this game. Leading the charge in a surprising victory against the Hawks last night, Bridges not only led his team in scoring, but he was also a defensive force with three steals and a block, being able to guard every position on the floor. A matchup versus the 76ers is no easy feat for a player of his style considering Embiid is waiting for him at the rim, but Bridges’ athleticism gives him an edge in his matchup versus Tobias Harris and Georges Niang.
Franz Wagner ($6,000 DK / $6,400 FD)
On a serious tear for the Orlando Magic, gone are the days of Franz Wagner being underpriced on NBA slates. Sporting a 22.8% usage rate across his last six games, Wagner has posted a 17/5.7/4.5 scoring line on 46.5% shooting, while logging 33.5 MPG for the Magic. The Warriors still boast the league’s best defensive rating, but with Wendell Carter Jr. having the tough matchup of the two primary offensive weapons alongside Cole Anthony, Wagner should find himself in soft spots all night long to hit his jumpers.
Honorable Mentions:
- Josh Giddey ($6,800 DK / $6,200 FD)
- Dillon Brooks ($6,400 DK / $5,900 FD)
Power Forwards
Domantas Sabonis ($10,000 DK / $8,300 FD)
Indiana is back to running their starters into the ground and we are absolutely here for it when it comes to their roles in our success in NBA DFS. Logging 37.5 MPG in his last three, Sabonis has been efficient on both sides of the floor, posting a 17.3/17 double-double average in that same stretch. Facing a Wizards team that will not only be on their second night of a back-to-back, but also rank 25th in the league in points allowed in the paint per game, Sabonis will have a field day with the Gafford/Harrell duo.
John Collins ($7,100 DK / $7,600 FD)
With the Hawks being on the second half of a back-to-back and already without both Bogdan Bogdanovic and De’Andre Hunter, Collins will be tasked with playing a heavy dose of minutes as the roll man to Trae Young’s pick-and-roll offense. With the Timberwolves allowing the 9th most points per possession to the roll man, Collins, who ranks 4th in the NBA with 1.59 points per possession as the roll man, will be able to feast on the inside.
Honorable Mentions:
- DeMar DeRozan ($9,300 DK / $8,500 FD)
- Evan Mobley ($6,600 DK / $7,600 FD)
Centers
- Nikola Jokic ($12,000 DK / $10,900 FD)
- Joel Embiid ($11,000 DK / $10,400 FD)
Honorable Mentions:
- Deandre Ayton ($7,400 DK / $7,700 FD)
- Dewayne Dedmon ($5,000 DK / $5,900 FD)
You can find us on Twitter @DFS_Ghost and @Bucn4life
