Christopher Day 
As the rest of the industry is focused on Opening Day of the MLB season, we’re going to prioritize tonight’s NBA slate and find out where the edge is. Moving forward, this article will cover both GPP and Cash plays, so look for who belongs in which contest type at the end of the player blurb. It’s Thirsty Thursday’s edition of the Gems – let’s ride.
One thing I want to clarify based on the questions I have received is that I will never list a player under the $5,000 FD price tag simply because I use the projection model to identify all targets in these price ranges and below. While there are often plenty of options that I like in this range, you all have access to the very model I use to make my own selections, so when asking “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
Russell Westbrook ($11,300 FD / $11,000 DK)
Sporting a 30.9% usage rate in his last four games, it’s pretty hard to ignore was Russ is doing for the Wizards; averaging a whopping 22.3/16.5/13.5 stat line, his lack of offensive efficiency simply does not matter when there is arguably no player on this NBA slate that has the recent volume that Westbrook is shouldering. GPP + Cash (only if Beal out)
Kyrie Irving ($10,000 FD / $9,800 DK)
With James Harden missing the entire fourth quarter in last night’s 120-108 comeback win versus Houston, Kyrie Irving may be tasked with shouldering the entire Brooklyn offense tonight. Averaging 27 PPG in eight games without James Harden in the lineup this season, Irving usage rate will be through the roof, giving him ample opportunity to be the highest scorer on tonight’s NBA slate. GPP + Cash
Jamal Murray ($7,300 FD / $7,700 DK)
Primary ball handlers versus LAC – lather, rinse, repeat. Risky to fade Jokic in this spot in favor of Jamal Murray, but having come off a 30/6/4 performance versus Philadelphia, where he shot the ball 24 times, Murray’s scoring streak can easily power him into being one of the high-risk, low-owned plays on tonight’s NBA slate. GPP Play
Also Consider:
- Dejounte Murray ($7,800 FD / $7,100 DK)
- Terry Rozier ($7,500 FD / $8,000 DK)
- Reggie Jackson ($5,000 FD / $5,300 DK)
Shooting Guards
Bradley Beal ($8,800 FD / $9,100 DK)
His price keeps dropping, and while he hasn’t had the consistency over scoring 25+ points in essentially every game before the NBA All-Star break, there is no denying the fact that the leading scorer in the league can take over a game. Yes, Westbrook’s peripherals are better, but Beal is the only player in the league averaging over 30 PPG and when he’s dropping 26/4/9 like he did in his last full game on only 8-for-23 shooting, a hot hand can result in a slate-breaking performance at this price point. GPP Play
Hamidou Diallo ($5,800 FD / $5,100 DK)
In three games for the Pistons thus far, Diallo has been wildly effective coming off the bench. Despite the low 18.9% usage rate, Diallo is rocking a 14.7/6.3/2 scoring line on 68.2% shooting, scoring effectively by slashing to the rim at will. Considering Washington plays at the fastest pace in the NBA while lacking interior defense, this is a prime spot for Diallo to fly up and down the court with Russell Westbrook pushing the pace on the other end. GPP + Cash Ruled out. Replace with Saben Lee.
Devonte’ Graham ($5,600 FD / $6,400 DK)
In the last four games, Devonte’ Graham has been a consistent part of both the Hornets rotation and offensive game plan. Sporting a 26% usage rate in that span, Graham is also taking 11 three-point attempts while firing them at a 45.5% clip. Averaging 21 PPG across 31 MPG, he is simply too cheap across both sites tonight. GPP + Cash
Also Consider:
- Victor Oladipo ($7,800 FD / $7,500 DK)
- Josh Hart ($5,300 FD / $5,700 DK)
Small Forwards
Kawhi Leonard ($9,600 FD / $9,300 DK)
No Paul George for the Clippers tonight means another game where Kawhi Leonard leads the charge on both ends of the floor. In eight games without PG13, Kawhi has a 32.1% usage rate and a 27.5/7.1/5.1 scoring line on 51.5% shooting, where he takes over 20 FGA per game. One of the best plays on tonight’s NBA slate considering there is no game environment that will be more competitive than LAC/DEN. GPP + Cash
Gordon Hayward ($7,000 FD / $7,900 DK)
The second Hornet featured, along with Terry Rozier as a third under the “Also Consider” tag, Brooklyn’s defense will be a prime spot for us to attack on tonight’s NBA slate. Enter Hayward, who is fresh off a 26/11/6 performance against Washington, who poses the same defensive threat as Brooklyn – none whatsoever. GPP + Cash
Danilo Gallinari ($5,200 FD / $5,200 DK)
With John Collins out tonight for the Atlanta Hawks, Gallo will likely get the spot start at PF; in four games as a starter in his Hawks tenure, Gallo is scoring 21.3 PPG to go along with 6 RPG across 31.6 MPG. Shooting an effective 54% from the field, he’s a great way to get exposure to an elite game environment in a matchup versus San Antonio. GPP + Cash
Also Consider:
- Jimmy Butler ($9,000 FD / $9,000 DK)
- Rui Hachimura ($6,000 FD / $6,800 DK)
- Bogdan Bogdanovic ($4,200 FD / $5,400 DK)
Power Forwards
Pay Up: Zion Williamson ($9,500 FD / $9,200 DK) and Tobias Harris ($8,300 FD / $8,700 DK)
Mid: Jerami Grant ($6,600 FD / $7,200 DK)
Punt: Isaiah Stewart ($4,200 FD / $4,100 DK)
Centers
- Nikola Jokic ($11,000 FD / $10,600 DK)
- Clint Capela ($8,500 FD / $7,700 DK)
- Robin Lopez ($3,800 FD / $3,800 DK)
Value Gems: Check the projection model.
I will continue to stress the importance of having both the projection model and cheat sheet open when building lineups for a further player pool and to ease a decision between two players, in addition to finding additional value plays.
You can find me on Twitter @DFS_Ghost
