Basketball

In this article, I will break down each position with my top stud, middle tier, and value plays for this NBA DFS slate. I will be referring to DraftKings on pricing. Most picks are for GPP/Tournaments, some would also be viable for cash games.

 We’ve got a seven-game NBA slate to sort through. There is not a ton of big-name injury status’ to watch, but on the second game of a back to back, It wouldn’t surprise me if Kristaps Porzingis sat out. Make sure you check out the Discord chat rooms as we will evaluate any injury news that breaks throughout that day and dig deeper into our favorite plays.

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Point Guard

TraeYoung – Stud – ($10,400)

I really like Trae Young anytime he’s playing at home as he is averaging 6 more fantasy points per game at home. This is a great matchup as Vegas has is predicted to be a track meet with the total just under 240. Memphis has given up the seventh-most fantasy points to point guards over the last month of the NBA season. I like both Houston guards that are around this price, especially Harden given his price. I give Young the slight edge being he is playing on his home court.

Elfrid Payton – Mid-tier – ($6,700)

Payton sees a nice pace up game here against Houston, who is the third-fastest team in the NBA this season. Payton is under 7k for the first time in about a month and he’s only had two bad games at that time. He has scored at least 30 fantasy points in eight out of his last ten games and one of those games he was in foul trouble. His last outing was terrible only scoring 17 fantasy points against Chicago, which should keep his ownership down some. Payton’s minutes should be safe here with Dennis Smith Jr. already ruled out.

DjAugustin – Value – ($3,200)

This will be Augustin’s sixth game back from his injury, and he seems to be settling back in. He has scored over 20 fantasy points in two straight games nearing 20 minutes in both of those games. Augustin gets a great matchup against Portland who is the fourth-worst team in the NBA in terms of defensive efficiency and has given up the fifth-most fantasy points to point guards.

Shooting Guard 

Cj McCollum – Stud – ($9,300)

In the five games so far that Damian Lillard has been out McCollum has scored at least 50 fantasy points in four of those five games. In the past month, McCollum is posting a usage percentage of 36.1 percent and is averaging 48 fantasy points per 36 minutes with Lillard off the floor. Portland is battling for a spot in the NBA playoffs, resulting in McCollum playing at least 37 minutes in 6 straight games.

 Dillon Brooks – Mid-tier – ($5,300)

Brooks has the highest usage on the team with Jaren Jackson, and Brandon Clarke off the floor at 27.2 percent. He has shot more than 20 times in three straight games. Squaring off against Atlanta is a great matchup, as they are the sixth fastest team in the NBA and rank third-worst in defensive efficiency this season. With these injuries, Brooks has been starting at small forward instead of shooting guard, and Atlanta has given up the most fantasy points to small forwards this season.

Cam Reddish – Value – ($4,300)

This game is supposed to be the highest scoring total on tonight’s NBA slate so it’s no surprise I have multiple picks from this game. Reddish is currently questionable, but I think he is a great play if he’s able to give it a go. Memphis has given up the second-most fantasy points to shooting guards this season and the fifth most to small forwards.

Small Forward

Jimmy Butler – Stud – ($7,500)

Milwaukee has been the fastest team in the NBA for most of the season. Butler lives for big games like this, going up against the stars and the MVPs of the league. This is also the lowest Butler’s price has been since before the new year. Tough to ignore a guy like Jimmy at his price, playing Milwaukee.

Demar DeRozan – Mid-tier – ($7,300)

Aldridge is listed as doubtful for tonight’s game and without Aldridge DeRozansees a usage percentage of 30.7 percent. DeRozan is averaging 39.1 fantasypoints per game already this season playing with Aldridge for most of that. Heis too cheap and can still go for 50 fantasy points even though he’s playingone of the slowest teams in the NBA.

Royce O’Neale – Value – ($4,000)

The Jazz announced last week that O’Neale would be starting moving forward. In the two games, since they made that announcement, he has averaged 30 minutes in those two games, while also averaging 26 fantasy points per game. Cleveland is the second-worst team in the NBA defensively, and have given up the fourth-most fantasy points to small forwards this season.

Power Forward

Domontas Sabonis – Stud – ($8,800)

Sabonis is a double-double machine and his price is slowly coming down and I will play him when he’s below 9k. With San Antonio down their two main center options, they are thin in the frontcourt, Sabonis should be able to have his way. In the two games without Aldridge, San Antonio is playing at the fifth-fastest pace in the NBA.

Larry Nance Jr. – Mid-tier – ($5,200)

This is a tournament play only for tonight’s NBA slate, as this isn’t agreat matchup as the Jazz make the trip to Cleveland. I do like Nance due tohis salary and with Tristan Thompson already being ruled out. This is thelowest Nance’s price has been in over a month and his minutes are very safe ashe leads Cleveland in minutes without Thompson.

Rudy Gay – Value – ($4,300)

San Antonio will be without both Jakob Poeltl and LaMarcus Aldridge for tonight’s game. Poeltl screwed everyone again on the last NBA slate he was on and had his night shortened due to injury and Gay saw 30 minutes and scored 39 fantasy points in that game. With those two off the floor, Gay has a usage rate of 25 percent and is averaging 47 fantasy points per 36 minutes. Trey Lyles will likely get the start at center and Gay should come off the bench and see around 30 minutes again.

Center

Bam Adebayo – Stud – ($8,100)

Facing the fastest team in the NBA tonight who Adebayo has played once already this season and scored 49 fantasy points in 38 minutes. Jimmy Butler missed that game against Milwaukee earlier in the season, so I think this is a big tilt for Miami to see how they match up with Milwaukee come playoff time. Some games are bigger than others I don’t care what the players say, and I think this is one of those games for the Heat.

Jonas Valanciunas – Mid tier – ($6,800)

In Memphis’ prior two games without Jaren Jackson and Brandon Clarke, Valanciunas has reached over 30 minutes and 20 or more rebounds in both of those games. Luckily for Valanciunas he faces the team that has allowed the most fantasy points to centers throughout the entire NBA season and over the past month. 20 points and 30 rebounds aren’t out of the question here in this amazing spot with more secure minutes for Valanciunas.

Bruno Fernando – Value – ($3,400)

The Hawks are still extremely thin in the frontcourt and Fernando has seen at least 20 minutes in three out of his last four games because of it. He is playing against a fast team as well as this game is projected to be the highest total on tonight’s NBA slate. This is for sure a tournament play due to the lack of consistency from Fernando, but he has scored 24 or more fantasy points in two out of his last three games with Dedmond absent.

Recapping this seven-game NBA slate we don’t have a ton of injuries to keep an eye on currently. Games I’m looking to attack are Memphis at Atlanta, Milwaukee at Miami, and then some of the San Antonio players with Aldridge out. The outlook of the slate could change quickly with one injury announcement and I think Porzingis may sit on the second leg of a back to back, so be sure to check out the Discord chat rooms as myself and the rest of the WinDaily staff sort through the injury news and further breakdown our top picks. Thanks for reading and good luck!