Ghost

We saw the Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets punch their tickets to the second round of the NBA Playoffs last night, and tonight, it’s the Dallas Mavericks who has the chance to close things out at home in Game 6. There is only a showdown slate tonight, but it’s Fajita Friday, so you know we’re coming in hot to continue our run. It’s Fajita Friday’s edition of the Gems – let’s ride.

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:

• Proprietary Projection Model
• Cheat Sheet
• Articles of the Day

The premier targets on this NBA Showdown slate should come as a surprise to no one: both Luka Doncic and Kawhi Leonard need to be in every lineup you make, regardless of whether you’re playing on FanDuel or DraftKings. Sporting an outrageous 42.4% usage rate in the series, Doncic has singlehandedly led the Mavericks to a 3-2 lead, posting a 35/8/9.4 scoring line on 47.9% shooting, including 42.9% from deep on 4.8 3PM per contest. On the flipside, it’s all Kawhi in an elimination game – and perhaps his last game in LA. Sporting a 29.2% usage rate this series, Kawhi has posted over 30 PPG for the Clippers, chipping in 7.8 RPG on the glass and adding 4 APG as well. With an average of 18.8 FGA per night, I’m expecting this number to surpass 20 with ease tonight, solidifying him as not only a lock, but one of two captains I will play on DraftKings.

Now, with this much salary tied up between two players, we need to potentially fade Paul George altogether. While this is a risk – you need to take a stand tonight – and that’s the one I am taking. If you can somehow fit all three while getting the two names I’m about to talk about, you have the obvious green light. Again, with that much salary tied up between Kawhi Leonard and Luka Doncic, two players I will be overweight on are Nic Batum and Boban Marjanovic. Simply put, I have been calling for Nic Batum to be in the starting 5 since the beginning of this series, and he has come through with 10/6/1 across 34.6 MPG in the last two. The wildcard here is Boban – he presents a serious mismatch for any NBA team, let alone the undersized Clippers. Whether we see him starting or not remains to be seen, and if he is not starting, I will likely pull back a bit – but not entirely; in that case, split shares between Boban and Willie Cauley-Stein. With a 10.5/6.5 scoring line across 17.4 MPG in his last two, Boban is a lock if starting yet again.

Tonight’s slate is all about raw points – that’s the name of the game. I’m locking in the quartet of Kawhi Leonard, Luka Doncic, Nic Batum, and Boban Marjanovic – if Boban starts. With the two highest scorers on this slate in my NBA lineups, I can pair them with two solid point/$ options and round out the rest with players who will see the most number of minutes. Have fun and good luck!

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

A trio of teams punched their tickets to the second round yesterday, as Philadelphia, Utah, and Atlanta all took care of business in 4-1 series wins, while Dallas has pushed LA to the brink with Game 6 in Dallas on Friday night. Another great NBA slate lies ahead, so let’s dive in; it’s Thirsty Thursday’s edition of the Gems – let’s ride.

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:

• Proprietary Projection Model
• Cheat Sheet
• Articles of the Day

NBA Core Member #1: Damian Lillard ($11,000 FD / $10,300 DK)

Game 6 with the season on the line in Portland? Yeah, I’m all in on Dame tonight. Sporting a 30.7% usage rate through five playoff games, Dame has dropped an outstanding 35.6/4.4/9.6 scoring line while shooting 47.4% from the field and 47.8% from behind the arc, including setting the NBA Playoff record for most three-pointers made in a single game in Game 5. On a small NBA slate that features the likes of LeBron James, Nikola Jokic, and Anthony Davis, Dame is my priority tonight.

NBA Core Member #2: Devin Booker ($8,400 FD / $8,200 DK)

With CP3 leaving last game with a precautionary injury since the Suns were up by 20+ points, I’m not too worried about his health heading into Game 6 tonight. However, Booker’s been the man for Phoenix in this series and he looks to close things out in LA tonight; sporting a 31.2% usage rate across the series’ five games, Devin Booker has posted a stellar 26.2 PPG while also contributing over 5 rebounds and 5 assists per game. While he isn’t a necessity on DK for tonight’s NBA slate, I still love the point/$ upside on this NBA slate for him, while FD’s awfully thin shooting guard pool makes him a lock in 100% of my lineups there.

NBA Core Member #3: Denver Guards

Depending on which site you play on, you’re likely going to end up with one of Monte Morris or Austin Rivers in your NBA lineup tonight; on FD, Rivers is one of three shooting guards in my player pool, while Monte Morris has logged more minutes than Facundo Campazzo in recent stretches, making him an intriguing play on DK with dual-position eligibility. Logging 30.4 MPG in Denver’s last four games, Morris seems to be the catalyst off the bench, along with JaMychal Green, for the 3-seeded Nuggets.

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

Brooklyn sent Boston packing, while the Denver/Portland game was far and away the best game of these NBA Playoffs; oh, and LeBron got annihilated on live television by CP3, Devin Booker, and Cam Payne; you do in fact, love to see it. It’s Wet Wednesday’s edition of the Gems – let’s ride.

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:

• Proprietary Projection Model
• Cheat Sheet
• Articles of the Day

NBA Core Member #1: Donovan Mitchell ($8,300 FD / $8,200 DK)

The price is simply outrageous for someone that has had quite the playoff career this early on. After a long layoff to end the regular season, Mitchell has seen his minutes climb from 26, 30, and 35 in Game 4 with Game 5 being the one that can send the Utah Jazz to the second round. Sporting a ridiculous 40.5% usage rate last game, Mitchell dropped 30/2/8 on 22 shot attempts, making him a sure-fire play on this NBA slate.

NBA Core Member #2: Tobias Harris ($8,200 FD / $7,800 DK)

While you can easily slide Ben Simmons into this spot, I decided to write up Tobias Harris because of the sheer volume he’s had in this series and because of position scarcity. I’ve talked about Ben Simmons’ game all series long, in articles and on air, so you know I love to play him – and I likely will tonight. However, it’s Harris that has averaged 24.3/10.3/3.3 across 32.3 MPG for the Sixers, taking a whopping 20 FGA per night. He’s right up there with Simmons and Mitchell on the list of players who are grossly mispriced on this NBA slate.

NBA Core Member #3: Kawhi Leonard ($10,300 FD / $9,600 DK)

Sporting a 29.1% usage rate through 4 games for the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard has been the best player in these NBA Playoffs. He has averaged 33 PPG to go along with 8.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists while shooting 62.7% from the field; there is no one to guard him on the Dallas side of the ball and I expect another tight game in LA tonight.

NBA Core Member #4: Nicolas Batum ($5,000 FD / $4,300 DK)

I’ve been calling for Batum to start over Zubac for the longest time and the Clippers finally came through last game; the veteran logged 36 minutes for Coach Ty Lue, posting a 10/5 scoring line with 4 steals and 2 blocks. His +27 rating last game was simply phenomenal, and his impact was quite noticeable on both ends of the floor for the Clippers to finally continue rolling out the lineup I’ve been begging for. On an NBA slate with little value available to us, Batum is the guy I’ll likely be turning to the most tonight.

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

The Wizards stole one from Philadelphia, but the real headline was Joel Embiid’s knee injury; Utah took care of Memphis behind Donovan Mitchell’s All-NBA play and are now on the brink of advancing to the second round, proving they are quite the challenge for anyone in the West. Some great NBA Playoff ball was provided to us again last night, and tonight’s action sees Brooklyn attempting to advance to the second round, while Portland, Denver, LA, and Phoenix all battle for a 3-2 series lead, respectively. It’s Taco Tuesday’s edition of the Gems – let’s ride.

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:

• Proprietary Projection Model
• Cheat Sheet
• Articles of the Day

NBA Core Member #1: LeBron James ($10,000 FD / $9,800 DK)

As much as I am not a LeBron guy, a few things to key in mind with NBA DFS is to have a short memory if a player lets you down on a given night, and to never let personal bias get in the way of playing the best players on a given slate. Enter King James, who will likely be without Anthony Davis tonight; sporting a 32.2% usage rate this season with AD out of the lineup, Bron posted a 24.9/7.9/7.8 scoring line and finds himself in as close to a must-win game as it gets for the Lakers right now.

NBA Core Member #2: Payton Pritchard ($4,500 FD / $3,200 DK)

Not a necessity on FD, but the idea of getting a cheap PG2 is. Moreover, on DK, Pritchard’s price just doesn’t make sense for the role he’s going to play in an elimination game for the Celtics – Kemba Walker is doubtful to play for the second straight game, and Pritchard’s scoring is needed much more than NeSmith’s defensive capability and Langford’s – well, nothing. Pritchard played 24 minutes last time out, dropped 12/2/3 while shooting 5-for-9 from the field, including 2-for-4 from deep, making him one of the best value plays on tonight’s NBA slate.

NBA Core Member #3: Deandre Ayton ($7,800 FD / $7,400 DK)

Is everyone done smack talking Ayton? Yes? Word. Been on him since the beginning of the NBA Playoffs and I’m not coming off the train anytime soon; with no AD tonight – potentially – or a hobbled one, Ayton should continue to feast on the Lakers frontcourt, who have been leaving him wide open in the paint as they attempt to switch constantly onto CP3 and Booker. Sporting a mere 16.4% usage rate in the series, Ayton has posted a 19.8/13.5 stat line, shooting a ridiculous 80.9% from the field and scoring 41.25 DK points/game.

NBA Core Member #4: Lakers Role Players

There is no said second Laker that I can write up, but I did want to touch on each of them briefly before the livestream at 6pm EST. Kyle Kuzma comes in as the industry’s favorite, while also being the highest owned despite having a tough matchup versus Jae Crowder. While we can see Crowder switch onto LeBron, Kuz still has to deal with Mikal Bridges on the wing, which I am not too fond of, however the low price on both sites keep him firmly in place. The center duo of Drummond/Gasol is certainly intriguing, although I do give the nod to the savvy veteran over Drum because of his defensive consistency and ability to stay out of foul trouble. Caruso and KCP (if active) will be popular because of their prices, while Wes Matthews will draw some ownership if KCP is inactive for a second straight, but let’s not rule out “paying up” for Dennis Schroder – in 31 games without AD this season, Schroder posted a 16.7/3.5/6.4 scoring line while sporting a 24.7% usage rate. Either way, you need an additional Laker next to LeBron in your lineups tonight.

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

AD came out firing to take Game 3 for the Lakers, Miami looks completely lost, and Joker outdueled Dame to take Game 3 in Portland. Yesterday’s NBA slate was no less than great, and we’re looking to keep it rolling again tonight. It’s Fajita Friday’s edition of the Gems – let’s ride.

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:

• Proprietary Projection Model
• Cheat Sheet
• Articles of the Day

NBA Core Member #1: Trae Young ($9,000 FD / $8,600 DK)

Lather, rinse, repeat. Truthfully, that is my approach when it comes to this series until the pricing does not work. Until then, we’re riding out Trae Young’s impressive playoff debut, where he’s sported a 36% usage rate, posting a 31/4/8.5 scoring line across 35.5 MPG for the Hawks. Tempers flared at the end of Game 2, where Trae Young was staring Reggie Bullock down, shouting “I’ll see you in the ‘A’”. Giddy up – this series just became one of the best ones in the opening round of the NBA Playoffs.

NBA Core Member #2: Kawhi Leonard ($10,000 FD / $8,500 DK)

I don’t know why Kawhi Leonard is still disrespected on the pricing grid, but I plan on taking advantage for as long as I can. My top play on tonight’s NBA slate is sporting a 30.1% usage rate in Games 1 and 2, posting a 33.5/8/4.5 scoring line while logging 41 MPG for the Clippers. Now down 0-2 in the series with Game 3 in Dallas, expect a heavy dose of PG13 and Leonard to carry the Clippers once again.

NBA Core Member #3: Paul George ($8,800 FD / $8,100 DK)

Double dipping here and grabbing both Clippers stars. We know how badly they need this game, and neither PG nor Kawhi left the court in Game 2, what makes us think things will be any different in a must-win Game 3? PG13 came alive in Game 2, where he held a 28.4% usage rate and dropped an efficient 28/12/6 on 54.5% shooting and will look to draw as much attention away from Kawhi as possible. While Trae Young is wildly unpriced at the guard position on tonight’s NBA slate, PG’s price is no different.

NBA Core Member #4: Taj Gibson ($5,000 FD / $3,800 DK)

By no means is he in the FD core, but on DK, Taj Gibson is a primary option in terms of limited value available to us on this NBA slate. On FD, you can still roll him out, but I’m inclined to use one of Robert Williams or Tristan Thompson, who are the same price at the center position. Gibson barely has a role on offense, but the 28 MPG in this series is not only because of Nerlens Noel’s questionable health, but because Thibs trusts Gibson more than the former; Gibson holds a team-high +24 rating in the Playoffs, and with such little value available, I’ll continue playing the savvy veteran at this price.

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

Donovan Mitchell came back with a bang, Ben Simmons looked unstoppable, and the ATL/NY series is becoming one to watch as tempers flared up at the end of Game 2. In tonight’s NBA action, Miami needs to win badly, Dame is back at home, and LA is somehow a 7-point favorite against the 2-seeded Suns. It’s Thirsty Thursday’s edition of the Gems – let’s ride.

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:

• Proprietary Projection Model
• Cheat Sheet
• Articles of the Day

NBA Core Member #1: Jrue Holiday ($7,600 DK / $8,500 FD)

Despite a 21.8% usage rate in Games 1 and 2, Jrue Holiday has been the catalyst for the Milwaukee Bucks, not Giannis Antetokounmpo. Averaging 15.5/9/9 across 36.5 MPG, Jrue has dropped back-to-back 40+ fantasy points and remains a key focus for our NBA lineups tonight, as he will be heavily relied upon both offensively, and defensively versus a trio of Miami Heat guards.

NBA Core Member #2: Deandre Ayton ($6,300 DK / $7,500 FD)

Things are different on FanDuel where you can only play one center, and with both Nikola Jokic and Bam Adebayo firmly in play, I won’t blame you if you go to either one instead of Ayton. However, the Suns big man is a strong candidate to be in our NBA core on both sites, and certainly will be on DK; the former first overall pick is averaging 21.5/13 in his first two playoff games, logging nearly 40 MPG and taking advantage of a Lakers defense that is constantly switching to take away the perimeter, leaving Ayton wide open in the paint all night long.

NBA Core Member #3: Damian Lillard ($9,400 DK / $10,500 FD)

If there’s any stud you need to prioritize, it’s Dame. Scoring at will against a Denver backcourt that is now comprised of Facundo Campazzo, Monte Morris, and Austin Rivers, Dame has posted a 38/3/11.5 scoring line across 41 MPG in the first two games of the series and gets a Game 3 at home. Based on position scarcity alone, it’s okay to fade him for one of Giannis/AD on FanDuel, but he’s my favorite stud on tonight’s NBA slate – and it’s not even close.

NBA Core Member(s) #4: Duncan Robinson ($4,600 DK / $5,200 FD) and Goran Dragic ($5,100 DK)

Tune into our NBA livestream tonight for the exact details, but I’m expecting big games from the veteran Miami backcourt duo. DRob is the second-best 3-point shooter in the league, while Dragic brings a lot to this offense as a primary ball handler to alleviate the pressure off Jimmy Butler. Dragic’s 26.1% usage rate off the bench is wildly impressive and shows how involved he is in this offense, while Robinson’s seven 3-pointers in Game 1 showed just show clutch he can be when their offense is rolling in what can only be described as a must-win Game 3.

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

Luka steals Game 2 in LA to come back home with a 2-0 lead, AD comes back from the dead to tie the series, and Brooklyn rolls on in another blowout; yesterday’s NBA games were full of action, and today’s slate is even better. It’s Wet Wednesday’s edition of the Gems – let’s ride.

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:

• Proprietary Projection Model
• Cheat Sheet
• Articles of the Day

NBA Core Member #1: Alec Burks ($5,500 FD / $4,600 DK)

Top value play on the board for me today and it just happens to be at the weakest position on the NBA slate. Thibs knows that Elfrid Payton and Reggie Bullock can’t be counted on, but they’ll continue to start; while this may seem far from ideal, it’s exactly what the Knicks need: leave Burks and Derrick Rose to come off the bench and provide offense. With a closing lineup of Rose-Burks-Barrett-Randle-Noel/Gibson, the Knicks have four guys that can handle the ball, and handle it well. Burks just dropped 27/3/4 in 26 minutes and will be counted on yet again here tonight.

NBA Core Member #2: Trae Young ($9,000 FD / $8,500 DK)

Not sure why the pricing algorithms hate two of the star PGs today, but I will gladly play both if it means getting elite studs at a joke of a price. Applying the same concept as Kawhi Leonard yesterday, I don’t care if Trae is the highest owned stud on the entire NBA slate, I’m locking him in – sporting a 38.9% usage rate in Game 1, Young dropped a cool 32/7/10 with the Knicks having no answer for the slash-and-dash point guard; he was getting to the hoop with ease, his shot was dropping, and his offensive game is as good as it’s been all season long.

NBA Core Member #3: Ben Simmons ($8,100 FD / $7,300 DK)

The second point guard that is massively underpriced, Ben Simmons is simply too cheap for someone that has triple-double upside every game in this series versus Washington. You know all the statistics by now; Washington plays at the fastest pace in the NBA, Westbrook is an extremely favorable matchup, and Simmons’ defensive talent gives him the boost he lacks in the scoring department. He’s fresh off a 6/15/15 performance while d’ing up Westbrook all night long.

NBA Core Member #4: Donovan Mitchell ($8,000 FD / $8,400 DK)

I’m perfectly fine with going Bradley Beal here over Mitchell, but I’ll ride with the Jazz superstar in his first game back from injury. Some will shy away because of the long absence – I will do the opposite. The Jazz know he’s ready to go, and Mitchell’s public frustration about not playing in Game 1 only fuels my fire to play him. Brooks is going to D him up? Sure, ride that out – I’ll take one of the purest scorers this NBA slate has at low ownership while taking advance of a price tag that is $1,500 cheaper than it should be. Mitchell finished the campaign with a 33.5% usage rate while averaging 26.4/4.4/5.2 across 33.4 MPG and it looking to make amends after last year’s first round exit against the Nuggets – we all remember the Mitchell/Murray battle, right? If you don’t, go watch it.

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

The NBA Playoffs are well underway, and we have had no shortage of some great games thus far. Being the second time that we are seeing all of the teams on today’s slate, we had a glimpse of what to expect with some teams’ rotations. However, as I pointed out yesterday with Anfernee Simons, some individual performances are simply not replicable on a nightly basis and chasing game logs is an even worse strategy in the playoffs than it is during the regular season. It’s Taco Tuesday’s edition of the Gems – let’s ride.

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:

• Proprietary Projection Model
• Cheat Sheet
• Articles of the Day

NBA Core Member #1: Robert Williams ($5,800 FD / $4,600 DK)

As I mentioned above, some individual performances are simply not sustainable on a nightly basis, and Robert Williams does in fact fall under that category. Luckily for us, he remains affordable enough on this NBA slate where we can take advantage of his real upside rather than simply chasing his 50+ fantasy points from last game, whereby a large chunk of that came from his 9 blocks. Playing 23 minutes last game was a good sign that he is well on his way to playing significant minutes down the stretch for Coach Brad Stevens, who needs to fill a defensive need on the inside – badly. With Brooklyn ranking in the bottom five of the NBA in interior defense since the acquisition of James Harden, Time Lord is once again firmly in play.

NBA Core Member #2: Kawhi Leonard ($9,400 FD / $8,300 DK)

The Klaw is built for the playoffs – I kid you not, I was watching this game (as I do every NBA playoff game, duh) and all I kept saying to myself was that “this guy coasted for 72 games and chose violence come playoff time”. Fresh off a 26/10/5 performance with 4 steals, the Klaw was back to doing what he does best: dominating on both ends of the floor. You get a stud for a joke of a price, lock and load.

NBA Core Member #3: Rajon Rondo ($5,000 FD / $4,500 DK)

Playoff Rondo, baby. Leading the trio of guards in minutes last game, this Clippers offense – that blows, by the way – needs Rondo’s playmaking on the court and proved to be a worthy acquisition at the trade deadline. Dropping 11/4/4 in 24 minutes is no joke, especially when the every single one of his minutes were with Kawhi Leonard or Paul George on the floor. Not the flashiest play on this NBA slate, but when we’re talking value plays, I have him higher than most.

NBA Core Member #4: Kevin Durant ($10,400 FD / $9,300 DK)

While the Brooklyn Nets having three superstars on their roster, it will be a tough decision on which one(s) to roster on any given NBA slate. What we need to do is stick to the known rather than the unknown, and we know right now is that this is Durant’s offense; KD took 25 shots for the Nets in Game 1 of the series and led the charge on offense with 32/12 while also taking 8 3PA and 12 FTA. Playing 39 minutes and crucial ones down the stretch, he’s too cheap for his upside.

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

As teams either get eliminated from playoff contention or jockey for seeding, late season NBA DFS is a beast like no other. Fortunately, we’ve been on a ridiculous run lately and look to keep it rolling with another slate on tap that features marquee matchups and massive implications on playoff scenarios. 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:

• Proprietary Projection Model
• Cheat Sheet
• Articles of the Day

Point Guards

LaMelo Ball ($7,500 FD / $8,500 DK)

While the Lillard/CP3 duo in the last game of the NBA slate is enticing, my primary target at the ‘1’ will be none other than the best player from the most recent draft class. Primary ball handlers versus the Clippers has been a key point of attack all season long, and there should be no change any time soon, making Ball an intriguing target at an affordable price to prioritize the big man battle in the Indiana/Milwaukee game; LA has most recently been decimated by the likes of Derrick Rose, Fred VanVleet, and a PJ Dozier/Facundo Campazzo combination, all of whom are inferior offensively to the most gifted Ball brother. Sporting a 28.8% usage rate since his return from a wrist injury, LaMelo needed a mere 21 minutes to drop 28.3 DK points against the Clippers in a previous meeting this season, setting the stage for a big night.

Malachi Flynn ($5,500 FD / $5,700 DK)

Lather, rinse, repeat. Let everyone else talk about their statistics and efficiency – these Raptors will all be playing 25+ minutes tonight in the absence of Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, and Chris Boucher. Looking for value on this NBA slate? It’s right here in Toronto.

Also Consider:

• Damian Lillard ($9,700 FD / $9,500 DK)
• Chris Paul ($8,100 FD / $8,000 DK)
• Dejounte Murray ($7,200 FD / $7,000 DK)

Shooting Guards

D’Angelo Russell ($7,700 FD / $7,800 DK)

Now having logged 30 or more minutes in four of his last five games, DLo looks to continue his late season run to end a disappointing season on a good note. Sporting a 27.7% usage rate in the same span, DLo has posted a 19.6/4/9.2 scoring line while taking over 17 FGA per night and gets a friendly matchup versus a Nuggets backcourt that has been struggling versus primary ball handlers since the absences of Jamal Murray, Will Barton, and PJ Dozier; with 42.4 DK PPG in his last five, he’s the primary target on the Minnesota side with Towns having his hands full with Jokic.

Terry Rozier ($7,600 FD / $7,700 DK)

If you’re not playing LaMelo Ball, take a good look at rostering Terry Rozier tonight. Logging a ridiculous 40.5 MPG across his last three contests, Rozier has had a 26% usage rate while posting a 30.7/4.3/5 scoring line and 47.25 DK PPG. In a matchup versus the Clippers, his ability to play both as the primary ball handler and off-ball will be on full-display, making him a priority in the midrange on tonight’s NBA slate.

Also Consider:

• CJ McCollum ($8,000 FD / $7,900 DK)
• Devin Booker ($7,500 FD / $8,300 DK)
• Terence Davis ($6,300 FD / $5,900 DK)
• Gary Trent Jr. ($4,900 FD / $6,000 DK)

Small Forwards

Michael Porter Jr. ($7,400 FD / $8,600 DK)

From the last Denver NBA slate:

“While the price is a tad steep for my liking on DK, MPJ slots in well at an option at SF on FD, where his price has dropped over the past week despite averaging 26.7 PPG over his last ten games, in addition to contributing 6.2 RPG on the glass. Although Jokic will take center stage on a nightly basis, MPJ has quickly become the secondary scoring option for the Nuggets, making him an intriguing option in a matchup versus a Hornets team that ranks 26th in the NBA against small forward, allowing nearly 44 FPPG.”

MPJ dropped 44 DK at sub 5% ownership – enjoy.

Bogdan Bogdanovic ($7,300 FD / $7,500 DK)

Make that now three straight games where Bogdanovic puts up 20 or more points and logs heavy minutes for the Hawks; same principle as the last NBA slate where all three of Atlanta, New York, and Miami need wins to get the 4 and 5 seed, respectively. A matchup against Orlando isn’t a scary one for the Hawks, but the 38.3 MPG and 24.3 PPG in his last three gives me more than enough confidence in Bogdanovic here.

Also Consider:

• Anthony Edwards ($8,500 FD / $8,000 DK)
• Kawhi Leonard ($8,200 FD / $8,400 DK)
• RJ Barrett ($6,200 FD / $6,500 DK)

Power Forwards

Giannis Antetokounmpo ($10,900 FD / $10,900 DK)

Highest ceiling on the NBA slate against an Indiana frontcourt that is missing Myles Turner? Sign me up.

Domantas Sabonis ($10,500 FD / $10,700 DK)

The most underrated player in the NBA going back and forth with Giannis – you know what to do.

Also Consider:

• Julius Randle ($9,000 FD / $9,400 DK)
• Jaren Jackson Jr. ($6,000 FD / $5,900 DK)
• Freddie Gillespie ($3,700 FD / $3,600 DK)

Centers

• Nikola Jokic ($10,800 FD / $11,000 DK)
• Wendall Carter Jr. ($5,800 FD / $6,000 DK)
• Chimezie Metu ($4,200 FD / $4,100 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