Ghost

With yesterday’s two-game slate behind us, we’re back to the NBA standard with a plethora of good matchups on tap and a much larger player pool. It’s Wet Wednesday’s edition of the Gems, so you know we’re going all in tonight! Let’s get to it

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 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

Damian Lillard ($10,000 FD / $10,400 DK)

Now that Ja Morant is back in the Memphis lineup, they are back to playing at a much faster pace and having one of the worst individual defenders in the NBA on the court for 33+ minutes. Enter Damian Lillard, who will be seeing the sophomore and defending Rookie of the Year for the majority of the night. Sporting a near 30% usage rate before CJ McCollum went down with an injury, Lillard sees a notable 2.5% uptick with his backcourt run mate off the floor and has one of the highest volumes on the slate with 19.3 FGA per game, including 10.1 per game from deep.

Steph Curry ($9,800 FD / $9,700 DK)

After leading the Warriors to yet another 4th quarter comeback the only night versus the Lakers, where they were down by 14 heading into the final frame, Curry is right back in action tonight versus the Spurs. Sitting at 7-6 and one win away from a Top-4 seed in the West, the Warriors will only go as far as their best player can take them. Sporting a 32.5% usage rate on the season, Curry is averaging 28.2 PPG and the MVP candidate is only shooting 36.6% from deep – with San Antonio’s soft defense versus primary ball handlers, he’s in a great spot tonight.

Trae Young ($9,000 FD / $9,300 DK)

The disrespect lives on for the kid in Atlanta. After a slow start to the season, Young has now dropped 50+ FP in two straight thanks to a ridiculous 25 free throw attempts. Needing only 8 shots from the field last game to drop 20 points, look for Young to take advantage of the Magic’s inexperienced point guard in rookie, Cole Anthony.

Others to Consider:

• Ja Morant ($7,900 FD / $7,300 DK)
• Dejounte Murray ($7,800 FD / $7,400 DK)
• De’Aaron Fox ($7,800 FD / $8,900 DK)

Shooting Guards

Paul George ($8,500 FD / $9,100 DK)

While I likely won’t get here on DK, this price is simply too cheap for PG on FD. He’s due for some regression (yes, I hate that word) in his true shooting percentage (TS%) which currently sits at 68.8%, but Sacramento is dead last in the NBA versus primary ball handlers. I’ve said it again and again, Luke Walton’s defensive scheme is the worst in the entire league, and there’s no reason to not have at least some form of exposure to George on FD when he is sporting a 28.1% and scoring 24.8 PPG across 34.5 MPG and contributing on the defensive side of the ball.

D’Angelo Russell ($8,400 FD / $8,800 DK)

Although it is nowhere near the same game environment he had the other day versus Atlanta, as long as Karl-Anthony Towns is out of the Minnesota lineup, DLo will garner interest in NBA GPPs. Acting as the primary ball-handler for the T-Wolves with Ricky Rubio coming off the bench for the majority of the season, Russell now finds himself without the veteran point guard and has all the usage in the world available to him. Coming off a 31/3/7 game where he shot the ball 22 times, including 13 from deep, he’ll be much needed versus the Magic tonight.

Others to Consider:

• Fred VanVleet ($7,600 FD / $7,500 DK)
• Derrick Rose ($6,500 FD / $5,400 DK)

FD-only Bonus Play: Kevin Huerter ($5,500)

Small Forwards

Kawhi Leonard ($9,100 FD / $9,400 DK)

We wrote him PG in this game environment, so it’s only natural that we have interest in The Klaw as well. While the 18 FGA per game isn’t represented by how inconsistent his volume can be, the efficiency at which Leonard operates makes him one of the best in the NBA: Sporting a 28.9% usage rate, Kawhi shot over 60% from the field in three of his past four games. Before last game’s 17-point performance, he had a 6-game run of 20 or more points, and he’ll be able to dominate both on and off-ball tonight.

Jerami Grant ($8,400 FD / $7,700 DK)

Transitioning from a defensive specialist in Denver to an offensive catalyst in Detroit is certainly not what we expected out of Jerami Grant this season. Yet, here we are, and he’s averaging 24.9 PPG on 46.7% shooting with a 26.4% usage rate. With Blake Griffin and Mason Plumlee both generating more action on the defensive end of the ball and on the glass, this is Grant’s offense, and a matchup versus a fast-paced, turnover-prone Hawks team is perfect for his game.

Jaylen Brown ($8,300 FD / $8,700 DK)

Others to Consider:

• OG Anunoby ($6,000 FD / $5,900 DK)
• De’Andre Hunter ($5,600 FD / $6,200 DK)
• Duncan Robinson ($5,200 FD / $5,800 DK)
• Eric Gordon ($5,200 FD / $5,500 DK)

Power Forwards

Christian Wood ($9,800 FD / $8,400 DK)

Many players are mispriced on DK and Christian Wood is one of them. Looking like an NBA slate where I’ll be playing two centers, Wood slots in nicely in the mid-to-upper range with elite upside; he’s now sporting a 27.8% usage rate on the season with 23.8 PPG and 10.7 RPG, needing only 31 minutes last game to drop 30 points. On an offense that now only features Victor Oladipo while John Wall is injured, Wood is the go-to option for these Rockets.

Domantas Sabonis ($9,600 FD / $9,800 DK)

Death, taxes, Sabonis in DFS. Leading the NBA in MPG at 37.5, Sabonis is also fourth in RPG with 12.8 and chimes in with a cool 21.7 PPG. While a matchup versus Porzingis is far from ideal, their playing styles fit one another perfectly, meaning Sabonis will be tasked with not only guarding KP, but will have to make sure he continues running the offense in an efficient manner; an uptick in usage can only mean good things for the big man.

Chris Boucher ($8,100 FD / $7,300 DK)

What can be said about Chris Boucher right now? This guy is simply on a tear, as we predicted in the preseason preview show, and the Raptors are finally realizing he needs to see 30+ minutes per game if they want to win. In the past two weeks, Boucher is averaging 19 PPG to go along with 7.9 RPG, 2.9 blocks, and 2.4 made threes all while shooting 66.67% from the field and 54.8% from deep. Take advantage of the price point right now, because it’s exactly where it needs to be before he gets too expensive.

Others to Consider:

• Kristaps Porzingis ($7,500 FD / $7,900 DK)
• Aaron Gordon ($7,000 FD / $7,400 DK)

Centers

Primary Options:

• Nikola Vucevic ($9,900 FD / $8,600 DK)
• Joel Embiid ($9,800 FD / $9,600 DK)
• Clint Capela ($8,000 FD / $7,600 DK)

Others to Consider:

• Enes Kanter ($6,300 FD / $6,300 DK)

Value Gems: Check the projection model here.

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

Another weekend where a Win Daily subscriber won a whopping $18,000 on $180 of entries so you know we have to bring the heat for Mojito Monday’s edition of the NBA Gems!

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 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

Luka Doncic ($11,200 / $11,000 DK)

A priority for my main NBA slate lineups, Doncic is finally settling into his standard form that we have become accustomed to. Nearing a ridiculous SIX triple-doubles in a row, where he has four and the other two coming a rebound and an assist short, respectively, Doncic may be tasked with leading a shorthanded Mavericks squad tonight on the second half of a back-to-back. With a 37.5% usage rate on the year, he’s now averaging 28.3/10.2/9.4 and 1.64 FPPM.

Steph Curry ($9,800 FD / $9,800 DK)

The game drawing the least attention at the time of writing is a Curry/LeBron duel? You have my interest. Slated to be the last game on the NBA slate barring any disastrous news, we have Curry taking on LeBron in what has been one of the league’s most storied rivalries in the past decade, as LeBron’s former Cavs faced the Warriors in so many Finals that we lose count.

Jrue Holiday ($7,600 FD / $7,200 DK)

If you’re not playing a certain Bucks star in this game, well, first of all, make sure you do. But if not, you need to consider running one of, if not both Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton. In a game with virtually no defense from the opposition, Milwaukee’s star-studded starting 5 will be in great hands throughout their time on the court today and having exposure in some shape or form will be key. Despite only having a 19.1% usage rate on the season, Jrue will be key for the Bucks tonight, playing 33+ minutes and leading their offense in transition, where he is currently averaging 2.2 steals per game.

Others to Consider:

• Kyle Lowry ($7,400 FD / $7,700 DK)
• Dennis Schroder ($6,000 FD / $6,400 DK)

Shooting Guards

James Harden ($10,300 FD / $10,800 DK)

Safe to say it was a successful debut for the newly acquired Brooklyn Net. Coming off a 32/12/14 triple-double, Harden needed only 18 shots to drop 32 thanks to his 15 free throw attempts. If he can continuously attack the basket acting as the primary ball-handler, he’ll be a great asset in Brooklyn, as expected, but temper expectations should Kyrie Irving come back for this one.

Zach Lavine ($9,300 FD / $9,500 DK)

“Isn’t he overpriced?” Maybe – but that is exactly what makes him so intriguing on this NBA slate. If I told you Zach Lavine was the sixth-highest scorer in the league, you’d probably be surprised – and rightfully so – but he is. Averaging 26.9 PPG, Lavine is scoring at a higher clip than the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, and LeBron James, just to name a few. In a game where two of the league’s fastest teams and most defensively challenged meet up, he’s definitely on my radar tonight.

Victor Oladipo ($7,500 FD / $7,500 DK)

On the flipside of the same Houston-Chicago game, Victor Oladipo is making his Houston Rockets debut after being traded for Caris LeVert. Now this can go one of two ways – the Rockets barely use him as they are knowingly shopping him around to accumulate further assets, or they let him show off and drive his trade value up. It would be beneficial to both parties for the latter and that is truly what I’m rolling with here. Sporting a 26.7% usage rate out of Indiana with the likes of Domantas Sabonis and Malcolm Brogdon on the offense end, Oladipo will be the catalyst for Houston for as long as he is in town.

Others to Consider:

• Fred VanVleet ($8,000 FD / $7,900 DK)

Small Forwards

Kevin Durant ($10,500 FD / $10,100 DK)

He takes a back seat to Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo on my list of priorities for this NBA slate, but make no mistake, Kevin Durant is in play on a nightly basis. Averaging over 30 PPG at 30.7 thus far this season, Durant’s 32% usage rate has also led to contributions on the glass and passing the ball to the tune of 6.9 RPG and 5.7 APG. Tread carefully if Kyrie is back in the lineup, similarly to the approach we are taking with James Harden.

LeBron James ($9,500 FD / $9,700 DK)

As I mentioned in the Curry blurb, LeBron and Steph love to do battle. In the past decade, they have fought for NBA supremacy on Christmas Day games, multiple NBA titles, and individual awards. With an increasing 32% usage rate, LeBron is starting to pick up steam and this is a scary sight for the Warriors tonight, who struggle to guard primary ball-handlers.

OG Anunoby ($5,800 FD / $6,000 DK)

I’ve been trying to get people to take advantage of OG’s play as of late before his price increased, and well, we are now at that point where he is not overly priced but not a great value either. With the Raptors going smaller on a nightly basis due to their struggles in the paint with the Baynes/Len combo at the ‘5’, OG, Siakam, and Boucher have been getting a ton of run. If Porzingis were to sit this one out, OG can truly thrive on the wing versus a Mavericks team that will be once again without Dorian Finney-Smith and possibly Tim Hardaway Jr.

Others to Consider:

• Pascal Siakam ($8,200 FD / $8,400 DK)
• Khris Middleton ($8,000 FD / $8,000 DK)
• Eric Gordon ($5,200 FD / $5,200 DK)
• Jae’Sean Tate ($5,000 FD / $5,100 DK)

Power Forwards

Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,300 FD / $10,400 DK)

The Giannis ceiling game – finally, we have arrived. In a matchup versus Brooklyn that will have little to no defense, 10.4k for Giannis is my lock for tonight’s NBA slate. With a 35% usage rate this season, Giannis is still averaging 1.63 FPPM despite the drop from last season’s 1.89 FPPM and will finally get a chance to see 36 minutes in a game that Vegas has as close as can be.

Anthony Davis ($9,500 FD / $9,300 DK)

At some point, people will see AD in the winning lineup on an NBA slate and say to themselves “How did I not lock in sub-10K Anthony Davis?”. I will be there for it on that night as I continuously have exposure no matter what the matchup dictates, but facing a weak Warriors interior of James Wiseman and the short Draymond Green/Eric Paschall duo may just be what he needs to break a slate.

Chris Boucher ($8,100 FD / $7,100 DK)

If you have been keeping up with the content this NBA season, you’d know how high I was on Boucher even before the campaign begun. Discussed in our preseason preview show, we went on to say that the Raptors will be just fine if they run Boucher enough minutes at the ‘5’. Now, averaging over 1.44 FPPM and constantly seeing a ton of minutes after starters Aaron Baynes and/or Alex Len struggle, I’m going right back to the well, especially if Porzingis sits out the second half of a back-to-back for the Mavericks.

Others to Consider:

• Christian Wood ($9,800 FD / $8,900 DK)
• Kristaps Porzingis ($6,900 FD / $8,200 DK)

Centers

Make sure to check the model here as you should for every position on an NBA slate – there is no premium pay up option for Center today on FD and I will likely be using a dual-position player on DK to fill in this spot.

Value Gems: Check the projection model here.

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

Fajita Friday has to be one of my favorite days of the week: it’s almost the weekend, and these NBA slates are a ton of fun. Today’s edition of the Gems is packed with studs and news to follow, so let’s dive in!

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 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

Luka Doncic ($11,600 FD / $11,000 DK)

I can easily write up my top play of the NBA slate and refer to his 35.8% usage rate and 1.61 FPPM, amongst other statistics, but instead, let me explain why I love Luka tonight using something that is not quantifiable nor explainable by DFS math: this Mavs/Bucks game is on ESPN with the whole nation watching, where two of the league’s youngest stars are going head to head. With the Bucks shipping their entire future to acquire Jrue Holiday, their bench is terrible – and I truly mean terrible. However, so is the Mavs’; there is no clear edge here for either team to go down in this game to a 10-0 run by the opposition when second units are being ran by the likes of Trey Burke, James Johnson, and Bobby Portis. Enter Luka and Giannis, who go back and forth all night long.

Trae Young ($8,800 FD / $8,700 DK)

Now that we have solidified where our build begins on tonight’s NBA slate, it’s time to start looking how we can jam in another high-profile player. Enter Trae Young, who is $1,000 too cheap across both sites tonight given his upside. If you’re game log watching, you’ll avoid Young tonight – and I’ll gladly take advantage because that is the definition of a fish play. With Rudy Gobert manning the paint for the Jazz against Clint Capela, look for Young to get the advantage through a ton of high screens and switch onto Donovan Mitchell, and, well, good luck to DMitch guarding Trae, who also carries a 32.4% usage rate and 24.8 PPG, including 10 attempts from the charity stripe per game.

De’Aaron Fox ($7,300 FD / $8,100 DK)

I probably won’t land here, but Fox is grossly mispriced since he is back to 100% health. If you’re running multiple lines on tonight’s NBA slate, make sure Fox is in your player pool, where he carries a 28.6% usage rate and is coming off two heav-volume games, playing 36 and 38 minutes, scoring a combined 50 points, 11 rebounds, 15 assists, and took a whopping 37 field goal attempts, including 14 3-pointers.

Others to Consider:

• Dennis Schroder ($5,900 FD / $6,400 DK)
• Damyean Dotson ($5,000 FD / $5,200 DK)

Shooting Guards

Zach Lavine ($9,000 FD / $9,500 DK)

All season long, Zach Lavine has had to carry his Bulls in game versus far superior opponents in the hopes of squeaking out a win or two. Tonight, he gets a rebuilding OKC team to take advantage of and truly thrive on the offensive end, as he has been all season: sporting a 31% usage rate, Lavine is averaging a ridiculous 27.7 PPG on 49.9% shooting, and his 20+ FGA per game has him on my list as a low-owned play on tonight’s NBA slate, but the price is a bit outrageous to consider him even close to a core piece.

Paul George ($8,800 FD / $9,400 DK)

Let’s make one thing clear right off the bat – the Kings cannot defend primary ball handlers for the life of them. Luke Walton’s defensive system is so bad to the tune of having the worst defense rating in the NBA, and I will continue to pick on it: enter PG13, who is sporting a 28.7% usage rate and is averaging 25.2 PPG on 49.7% shooting, including 51.6% from deep and 90.9% from the free throw line.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($8,200 FD / $7,700 DK)

Sporting a 26.5% usage rate for the rebuilding Thunder, SGA has had him ups and downs this season, but with a juicy matchup versus the Bulls on tap, he’s in play for NBA GPPs tonight. With the 29th-ranked defense rating, there won’t be much stopping SGA in this matchup other than efficiency and minutes – two things that are out of our control. The controllable measures line up well – fire him up with confidence tonight.

Others to Consider:

• Nickeil Alexander-Walker ($5,500 FD / $4,400 DK)
• Jordan Clarkson ($5,200 FD / $6,100 DK)

Small Forwards

LeBron James ($9,900 FD / $9,700 DK)

If you’re not going Trae or KAT as your third stud on DK, you need to consider one of LeBron or AD. While the Pelicans’ defensive system has improved under SVG, Lonzo Ball has already been ruled out for this contest and Eric Bledsoe remains questionable, meaning LeBron can see the likes of NAW and Sindarious Thornwell on defense – yikes! With a 32.9% usage rate this season, LeBron has only been getting better as both the NBA season and his career goes on, averaging 24.3/8.1/7.5 across 31.9 MPG.

Kawhi Leonard ($9,600 FD / $9,600 DK)

See Paul George’s blurb as to why we’re attacking this Sacramento defense – Kawhi comes into this one with 29.7% usage rate and a steady 24.8/5/6 stat line, but the potential to have his minutes reduced in favor of PG has me scared at this price tag. Nonetheless, there is no scenario where I see Harrison Barnes guarding Kawhi one on one and coming out of it with a win, so he is certainly in play at sub-10% ownership. I’m out on DK but having to roster two SF on FD makes him a viable pay-up option considering how thin the position is tonight.

Others to Consider:

• Malik Beasley ($6,400 FD / $7,100 DK)
• Cedi Osman ($5,100 FD / $6,200 DK)

Power Forwards

Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,300 FD / $10,800 DK)

See the Luka Doncic blurb as to why we’re attacking the 1-2 punch of this game – with a 1.64 FPPM and 34.2% usage rate, the NBA MVP is back at it again this season, averaging 26.2/10.1/5.5/1.3/1.2 across a mere 31.2 MPG. With the Mavs keeping this one close, Giannis will see 34+ minutes barring any foul trouble and will look to attack the likes of an injured Porzingis, Kleber, Powell, and Co. all night long.

Anthony Davis ($9,800 FD / $9,800 DK)

Can you say it with me? Revenge Narrative SZN folks. While you can argue that he left the Pelicans awhile ago, AD still left with a bad taste in his mouth, and there’s no better way to silence the “Zion will replace AD” truthers than to drop a nice 40-20 game on his former organization. Despite the 26% usage rate this season, AD has still taken over 15 shots per game, but the volume will increase here tonight, and he’ll have ample opportunity to secure more rebounds with Zion back in the lineup for the Pelicans.

Julius Randle ($9,100 FD / $9,100 DK)

The forgotten about PF on FD tonight, Julius Randle remains in play because of two things: for one, he’s been playing outrageously well, but he’s also now under Thibs, who runs his starters into the ground more than Nick Nurse does in Toronto. Playing a whopping 37.3 MPG, Randle will be needed to match up versus the plethora of bigs Cleveland now has, and there is plenty to take advantage of in Jarrett Allen and the foul-prone duo of Andre Drummond and JaVale McGee.

Others to Consider:

• Aaron Gordon ($6,500 FD / $7,300 DK)
• Brandon Clarke ($5,600 FD / $6,100 DK)

Centers

Karl-Anthony Towns ($10,800 FD / $9,900 DK)

Two terrible rebounding teams going up against one another? Yes, please. KAT In the very same matchup just a few days ago, he dropped 25/14 in 34 minutes – without game log watching, the key statistic for me here was that he was able to secure 4 offensive rebounds. With his dominance in the paint and the ability to get out to the 3-point line effectively, he’s simply too underpriced in this matchup.

Nikola Vucevic ($9,400 FD / $9,000 DK)

A notable spike in usage to 32.5% since Markelle Fultz went down for the season, Vuc’s 1.45 FPPM makes him an intriguing GPP pivot on an NBA slate where the Boston/Orlando game is drawing next to no ownership. With Boston’s “bigs” slated to return to the lineup, I like the matchup even more because Orlando will have no reason to sit out their stud versus a small-ball Celtics lineup, in addition to the fact that neither Tristan Thompson nor Daniel Theis will be able to guard Vuc in the paint.

Jonas Valanciunas ($7,000 FD / $7,100 DK)

We spoke about KAT’s ability to secure offense rebounds, but how about JoVal with a whopping 8 (!!) against the Timberwolves last time out. He’ll be much needed to match up versus Towns all night long considering the size mismatch between he and Brandon Clarke, and with Dieng having fallen out of the rotation. If Ja Morant comes back for this one, I’ll slightly downgrade JoVal, but his 45-50-point ceiling at this price makes him a contender for my NBA lineups tonight.

Others to Consider:

• Clint Capela ($6,400 FD / $6,700 DK)
• Mitchell Robinson ($6,000 FD / $6,300 DK

Value Gems: Check the projection model here.

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

Taco Tuesday’s edition of the Gems features a much smaller NBA slate on tap, but there are plenty of places to attack early on, in addition to the news we will surely receive later on in the day. I have excluded Miami/Philadelphia from the breakdown since the game is unlikely to play, but I will have core pieces from that one on DK should it go on as scheduled since FD has already removed it.

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 price tag simply because I use the projection model to identify all targets in these price ranges. 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

Stephen Curry ($9,600 FD / $9,800 DK)

While the inconsistency may worry some, I see Curry’s sheer volume as a must-have on tonight’s NBA slate. Barring any news indicating that the Miami-Philadelphia game will play, this slate will be pure stars and scrubs, where the former is quite shallow compared to the latter. Sporting a 32.6% usage rate, Curry is still averaging 28.6 PPG despite four games of 20 or less points. His ceiling is as good as it gets on a slate like this, along with a former teammate.

Malcolm Brogdon ($8,400 FD / $8,600 DK)

Fresh off a 38-minute performance versus Sacramento less than 24 hours ago, Malcolm Brogdon will have to get right back to work here with the Pacers likely without Victor Oladipo on the second half of a back-to-back. Sporting a 35.5% usage rate with Oladipo off the floor, Brogdon will be in for a big workload on both the offensive and defensive end of the court tonight, where he will look to continue his 5-game streak of 20 or more points and 7 or more assists.

Dennis Schroder ($5,500 FD / $6,100 DK)

A prized offseason acquisition for the defending NBA Champions, Dennis Schroder has been exactly what the Lakers had hoped for and more. Sporting a 22.7% usage rate on the season, he has slotted nicely in the starting lineup and has relived both LeBron and AD of some pressure on the offensive end, where he is currently averaging 14.3/4.1/5 on 42.3% shooting. Considering he has played 34 minutes in back-to-back games, there is no doubt the Lakers will rely on him yet again versus a small Houston Rockets lineup.

Also Consider:

• Dejounte Murray ($7,500 FD / $7,200 DK)
• Mike Conley ($7,100 FD / $7,100 DK)

Shooting Guards

James Harden ($10,400 FD / $10,800 DK)

Although Harden has not surpassed 21 points in his last four, he can be in for a big night should John Wall miss this game. In two games without John Wall this season, Harden has averaged 40/5/12.5 across 37 MPG, shooting 59.46% from the field and 45.83% from deep. With the massive price drop on FD, make sure to take advantage on tonight’s NBA slate.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($8,500 FD / $8,000 DK)

After a slow start for his rebuilding Thunder, SGA has finally hit his stride. Averaging 25.67 points in his last three across 35.67 MPG, SGA has shot 57.45% from the field and 50% from deep in the same span, resulting in three straight wins for OKC. With a soft matchup versus the Spurs on tap, there is no reason why SGA can’t keep it rolling here tonight.

Caris LeVert ($7,900 FD / $7,600 DK)

I’d like this play a bit more with Kevin Durant out in addition to Kyrie Irving, but we can’t always have our cake and eat it too. Even with Durant on the court, LeVert can still be affective despite possibly being staggered with the best player on the Nets since he will have plenty of opportunity to run the offense. Although I am not a fan overall of the price, the pickings are slim to none at the ‘2’ on FD, where we need to roster two, and the sixth man is still averaging 18.4 PPG, including 65 FGA in his last three.

Also Consider:

• Hamidou Diallo ($5,500 FD / $5,300 DK)
• Jordan Clarkson ($5,200 FD / $5,600 DK)

Small Forwards

Kevin Durant ($10,100 FD / $9,400 DK)

He’s a stone cold lock for me on this NBA slate considering Kyrie Irving is slated to miss yet another game for these Brooklyn Nets. Sporting a 31% usage rate on the season, Durant sees a notable 5% uptick with Kyrie off the floor and has not scored less than 29 points since December 22nd.

LeBron James ($9,900 FD / $10,000 DK)

Should John Wall miss this game for the Houston Rockets, my main build will likely start with a trio of Durant, Harden, and a Laker stud. Sporting a 31.9% usage rate on the season, LeBron saw his first game under 20 points in the new year, and I’m not banking on the fact that this happens again in this matchup. The Rockets’ defense rating is ranked in the bottom third of the NBA and LeBron will be able to take advantage tonight.

Keldon Johnson ($6,600 FD / $6,200 DK)

With the Spurs nursing multiple injuries throughout the season, Keldon Johnson has stepped up for Pop & Co. Tonight, without DeRozan in the lineup, Johnson will see a notable uptick in offense looks behind Aldridge and Murray, where he’ll be able to maximize his 11 FGA per game versus an OKC team that has been decimated by wings all season long.

Also Consider:

• Cedi Osman ($5,100 FD / $6,000 DK)

Power Forwards

Anthony Davis ($9,800 FD / $9,500 DK)

Getting AD this cheap won’t last for long, and should John Wall miss this game, as mentioned previously, my main 1-2 punch will be Harden with one of LeBron or AD to go along with Kevin Durant. While his rebounding opportunities have been lower than his career average this season, AD is in a prime spot to see Christian Wood all night long, which could easily lead to a 30-point double-double for one of the best big men in the NBA.

Domantas Sabonis ($9,200 FD / $9,300 DK)

I’m curious to see his ownership on this NBA slate with AD only $200 more, but Sabonis will remain a GPP play for me for as long as he is breathing. Sporting a 24.6% usage rate for the Pacers this season, he’s averaging a remarkable 22.2/12.4/5.8 across 37.8 MPG – heavy minutes, involvement on the offense end, and a matchup versus a soft Warriors interior is all Sabonis needs to smash in this spot.

Also Consider:

• LaMarcus Aldridge ($7,200 FD / $6,300 DK)
• Christian Wood ($8,100 FD / $7,900 DK)
• Draymond Green ($5,700 FD / $5,600 DK)

Centers

• Nikola Jokic ($11,400 FD / $11,000 DK)
• Andre Drummond ($9,800 FD / $9,100 DK)
• Rudy Gobert ($8,000 FD / $8,200 DK)

Others to Consider:

• Myles Turner ($7,400 FD / $6,200 DK)
• Montrezl Harrell ($5,800 FD / $6,000 DK)

Value Gems: Check the projection model here.

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

Mojito Mondays are always a great day to be alive, especially when we have this juicy of an NBA slate!

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 price tag simply because I use the projection model to identify all targets in these price ranges. 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

Luka Doncic ($11,500 FD / $11,300 DK)

Sporting a 37.2% usage rate on the season, Luka Doncic may be one of, if not the most relied upon player in the NBA right now. Already without Kristaps Porzingis in the early stages of the season, Dallas will once again be without Dorian Finney-Smith, Josh Richardson, and Jalen Brunson tonight. With Doncic slated to be facing a combination of Lonzo Ball and Eric Bledsoe, he may very well be the highest scoring player on the NBA slate, and with the amount of value available to us already, it’s hard to pass up on this spot for the third-year pro. Game PPD

Damian Lillard ($9,600 FD / $9,700 DK)

He’ll surely come in underowned on this NBA slate given the player listed above and right below him are in tremendous spots, but Damian Lillard will get to have his way with the Toronto Raptors defense tonight. The main concern around Dame in the early stages of the season has been his efficiency, but he has proven to exploit vulnerable defenses, including the Timberwolves, Warriors, and Houston, all of whom allowed the All-Pro to score over 30.

Trae Young ($8,800 FD / $9,400 DK)

This price on FD is simply laughable. Trae Young has had back-to-back subpar performances, but the fact that you can get a lead guard on a high-octane offense with a 32% usage rate at this price just does not make sense. In a game where the 76ers will be severely shorthanded due to COVID tracing, Young will not have to deal with a taller, more physically imposing Ben Simmons on defense, and instead will likely see rotational players all night long. Averaging 24.7 PPG despite shooting 40.9% from the field and 28% from deep, the efficiency will improve tonight and I’m all in on Trae Young.

Also Consider:

• Malcolm Brogdon ($8,400 FD / $8,300 DK)
• LaMelo Ball ($7,400 FD / $7,000 DK)

Shooting Guards

Bradley Beal ($10,100 FD / $9,900 DK)

Not sure if there’s anyone more frustrated in the NBA right now. Averaging just over 1.60 FPPM with Russell Westbrook off the floor, Bradley Beal is a candidate to lead the slate in points scored – and yes, that includes Luka Doncic. Rocking a 38.8% usage rate, I will continue to iterate that this is Beal’s team, and with them being the 30th-ranked team in the league in defensive rating, they need to score in bunches every night, and it begins with their star SG.

Devin Booker ($7,600 FD / $7,900 DK)

I mention it all the time that we need to target games with fast pace and poor defensive play. Enter the Washington Wizards, Booker’s opponent tonight, who play at the fastest pace in the NBA and have the league’s worst defensive rating. With Bradley Beal concerned with his offensive play and Booker’s near 30% usage rate, look for the young guard to exploit the Wizards defense all night long.

Tyrese Maxey ($5,200 FD / $4,700 DK)

Listen, let’s make one thing clear right off the bat, this play will be chalky. I usually don’t write up chalky plays – do not expect a repeat performance where Maxey shot the ball 33 times now that Embiid is back in the lineup. Nonetheless, I have interest in the young guard because the 76ers do not have another ball handler with Ben Simmons out of this game. With Shake Milton, Seth Curry, and Tobias Harris all also out, look for Maxey to be one of the safest value plays on this NBA slate.

Also Consider:

• CJ McCollum ($8,900 FD / $8,800 DK)
• Tyrese Haliburton ($5,400 FD / $6,200 DK)

Small Forwards

Brandon Ingram ($8,800 FD / $8,600 DK)

He’s cooled off as of late but it’s certainly not because of the lack of involvement, rather a lack of efficiency. Brandon Ingram can be wildly inconsistent, some night shooting 30% from the field, where others he shoots well over 60% — which one we will get tonight is unknown, but with Dallas running thin on the wings, no one will be able to measure up to BI’s wingspan, making him an intriguing GPP option on this NBA slate. Game PPD

RJ Barrett ($6,900 FD / $7,100 DK)

The sheer volume and minutes are making RJ Barrett in play on essentially almost, if not every NBA slate. Playing a whopping 38.1 MPG, Barrett has been thriving in Coach Thibodeau’s system to the tune of 16.5 PPG and 7.4 RPG. If he can improve on his 37.4% shooting, Barrett will take his game to the next level, something he will be able to achieve here versus a mediocre Charlotte defense.

De’Andre Hunter ($6,200 FD / $6,200 DK)

Playing 34 minutes or more in his past three games, Hunter will be relied upon heavily tonight as the Hawks will be without both Danilo Gallinari and Bogdan Bogdanovic on the wing. Averaging a career high 16.4 PPG, Hunter has really begun to develop into the 3-and-D wing prospects we thought him to be coming out of UVA and is still at a respectable price on both sites.

Also Consider:

• Khris Middleton ($7,800 FD / $8,200 DK)
• Harrison Barnes ($6,200 FD / $6,500 DK)

Power Forwards

Julius Randle ($9,400 FD / $9,600 DK)

The price is getting out of hand now, but Randle remains an elite play for NBA GPPs as he continues to pay off for us. Rocking a 27.6% usage rate this season, Randle is truly blossoming in his contract year, averaging 23.2/11.8/7.1 on 50.9% shooting and has carried the Knicks into a playoff spot thus far. You know I love to attack PJ Washington’s defense, and guess who Randle is facing all night long? Wheels up

Domantas Sabonis ($9,200 FD / $9,300 DK)

You really thought I wouldn’t write him up? If there’s an NBA slate where the Pacers are featured, Sabonis will be here. A 24.3% usage rate has never stopped Sabonis from crushing stat lines, and he is now averaging 21.6/12.6/6.1 on 56.3% shooting, including a whopping 50 points and 36 rebounds in his last two games.

Also Consider:

• Brandon Clarke ($5,600 FD / $6,100 DK)
• Cedi Osman ($5,100 FD / $5,900 DK)

Centers

Joel Embiid ($9,700 FD / $9,800 DK)

Barring any health restrictions, Embiid should carry the 76ers tonight: without the likes of Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris on the floor, his fantasy output has been outright ridiculous; a near 38% usage rate, over 1.8 FPPM, and over 21 FGA per 36 minutes. Lock and load the big man on this NBA slate if you can afford to do so.

Nikola Vucevic ($9,000 FD / $8,900 DK)

Coming off back-to-back double-doubles for the Magic, Vucevic will continue to be on my GPP radar for the foreseeable future. I’ve continued to stress the fact that he is criminally underrated, and with Embiid drawing all of the ownership, if you’re not going down to the target listed below, you need to consider Vuc. Averaging 22/11.1 thus far, Vuc has been as efficient as it gets from the field, shooting 50.9% from the field and 42.1% from deep.

Deandre Ayton ($6,700 FD / $7,300 DK)

Who on Earth is guarding this man tonight? Robin Lopez? Mo Wagner? This price point is the most attractive one on this NBA slate for me thus far, as Deandre Ayton finds himself in a tremendous game environment, featuring no defense and a fast pace, with a glorious matchup in the paint. Despite the low usage rate, Ayton is still averaging a 12.9/11.7 double-double for the Suns and is shooting nearly 59% from the field. Giddy up!

Others to Consider:

• Andre Drummond ($9,900 FD / $9,200 DK)
• Myles Turner ($7,400 FD / $6,200 DK)
• Jusuf Nurkic ($6,400 FD / $6,600 DK)
• Mitchell Robinson ($6,200 FD / $5,500 DK)

Value Gems: Check the projection model here.

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

We have a shorter NBA slate on tap for today but there is plenty to be money to be won, in addition to our NFL entries on this football Sunday!

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 price tag simply because I use the projection model to identify all targets in these price ranges. 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

Steph Curry ($10,000 FD / $10,100 DK)

Everyone will keep sleeping on my preseason favorite for NBA MVP, and I will keep taking advantage of his low ownership in great spots. Should Kyrie Irving sit out Brooklyn’s game versus OKC, it’s possible Curry’s ownership skyrockets, but that won’t take me off the best shooter of all time whatsoever. Averaging 30.6 PPG and leading the Warriors with a 33.5% usage rate, Curry is now shaking off the rust and improving his shooting efficiency, where he is now 45.8% from the field and just under 40% from deep.

Fred VanVleet ($8,200 FD / $8,500 DK)

With the Raptors looking to find a solution at the center position, expect the backcourt tandem of Lowry and VanVleet to virtually never leave the court in tonight’s game. Averaging 22.3/5/5.9 across 35.3 MPG, VanVleet has proven that his hefty contract extension was well deserved this offseason and he’ll be counted on to not only produce offensively, but also to guard Curry at times.

Dejounte Murray ($6,600 FD / $6,800 DK)

I never liked targeting Dejounte Murray on the second half of back-to-backs because Pop used to roll out Derrick White and Patty Mills for more minutes than expected. However, with White slated to miss multiple weeks and Aldridge sitting out every other game, Murray will be counted on to shoulder the load along with DeRozan in tonight’s game. A perfect mid-range target for this NBA slate, Murray has been stellar thus far, averaging 16.8/7.6/5.1 across 32.3 MPG.

Bonus Play (if playing): Kyrie Irving ($9,500 FD / $9,600 DK)

Also Consider:

• Goran Dragic ($5,700 FD / $5,800 DK)
• Elfrid Payton ($5,500 FD / $6,500 DK)
• Dennis Schroder ($5,100 FD / $6,300 DK)

Shooting Guards

James Harden ($11,200 FD / $10,800 DK)

I’ll say it time in, time out, every NBA slate that the Houston Rockets are on, you need at least some form of exposure to Harden if running multiple lines. He has the potential to break off for 80 at any time, and tonight’s matchup versus the Lakers presents this opportunity. Yes, the Lakers defense is stout, but not on the perimeter: the likes of Dennis Schroder will not be able to guard Harden, who should see 36+ minutes in a game that Vegas has slated as a tight one. Sporting a lower usage rate this season at 30.6% with the addition of John Wall to the backcourt, Harden is still averaging 27/4.7/11.3 and lowered his turnover tendency on offense.

Caris LeVert ($8,000 FD / $7,900 DK)

This play hinges on Kyrie Irving sitting out, but Caris LeVert’s near 36% usage rate with the Nets’ point guard off the court is worth noting, even with Kevin Durant slated to return to the lineup. In a game that the Nets will look to push the pace versus a terrible OKC team, I’m good with running both LeVert and KD in the same lineup with SGA as your run back option with the hope that SGA keeps this one close on his own.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($7,600 FD / $8,000 DK)

Sporting a 27.7% usage rate on the season, SGA will possibly make his way into my main lineup tonight if Kyrie Irving sits this one out. Much needed as essentially the only offensive threat on the basement dwelling OKC Thunder, SGA has found his groove of late to the tune of 23/7.5/8 in his last two games, playing 35.5 MPG in the same stretch. Shaking off a rusty start, he’ll come in underowned in a game that I want to target on this NBA slate.

Also Consider:

• Marcus Smart ($6,300 FD / $7,200 DK)
• Tyler Herro ($5,200 FD / $6,400 DK)

Small Forwards

LeBron James ($10,400 FD / $10,200 DK)

Sporting a 32.4% usage rate this season, the short offseason and another NBA title has not affected The King one bit. Averaging a remarkable 24.6/8.4/7.8 across 32.8 MPG, LeBron is doing LeBron things this season and finds himself in a great matchup versus a Houston backcourt who have two of the worst defenders in John Wall and James Harden.

Kevin Durant ($9,900 FD / $9,200 DK)

Getting KD this cheap after nearly 10 games is simply a joke. The man can score in any way he wishes and can possibly be without Kyrie Irving tonight versus an OKC defensive unit that will not be able to guard him. Already shooting 51.4% from the field and 45.5% from deep, KD is a core play for me in all facets barring any restrictions coming off COVID tracing.

Jaylen Brown ($8,600 FD / $9,100 DK)

Keep an eye out for news surrounding these Boston Celtics, who will already be without Jayson Tatum tonight; plenty of their players are at risk of being ruled out for COVID tracing, including JB, but if he’s eventually ruled in, you need to lock him in your NBa lineups tonight. Averaging a career high 26.2 PPG, JB’s usage rate will be through the roof without Tatum off the floor and his already absurd 19.1 FGA will only increase.

Also Consider:

• RJ Barrett ($6,700 FD / $6,900 DK)

Power Forwards

Pay Up: Anthony Davis ($10,200 FD / $9,700 DK)

Core Pieces:

• Julius Randle ($9,400 FD / $9,500 DK)

• Chris Boucher ($7,200 FD / $5,900 DK)

Also Consider:

• Daniel Theis ($5,700 FD / $5,100 DK)
• Kelly Olynyk ($5,000 FD / $5,400 DK)

Centers

Main Option: Nikola Jokic ($11,500 FD / $11,000 DK)

Massive drop after The Joker at the center position. I’ll be using the projection model as always to identify other targets at the position since we cannot afford to play Jokic in every lineup.

Others to Consider:

• Jarrett Allen ($7,400 FD / $6,700 DK)
• Montrezl Harrell ($5,700 FD / $6,400 DK)
• Al Horford ($5,200 FD / $5,500 DK)

Value Gems: Check the projection model here.

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

Welcome to Saturday’s edition of the Gems, where we look to continue our hot run to begin this NBA season!

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

Luka Doncic ($11,600 FD / $11,000 DK)

With the Mavericks being as shorthanded as they are tonight with plenty of players missing due to possible COVID tracing, Luka will be a focal point for both our cash and GPP lineups. Already sporting a ridiculous 37.5% usage rate with Porzingis yet to play this NBA season, Doncic will see even more work in a game the Mavericks should still be able to win given how depleted the Magic are heading into this one. Coming off a two-game hot streak where he’s averaged 35.5 PPG to go along with 12.5 rebounds and 12 assists, Luka is still too cheap on DK.

Damian Lillard ($9,700 FD / $9,500 DK)

I told you I’d be there for his breakout game, and man, was it nice to see it come through at such low ownership the other day versus the Timberwolves. Needing only 29 minutes to drop a cool 39/7/7 on 61.9% shooting, Dame has the potential to do exactly that on tonight’s NBA slate versus a Sacramento team that will likely run rookie Tyrese Haliburton at point with De’Aaron Fox nursing an injury.

Trae Young ($9,400 FD / $9,400 DK)

Trae Young disappointed tremendously versus this very same Hornets team the other night, but that’s exactly what will keep his ownership low in NBA GPPs, and I plan to take advantage. Sporting a 32.7% usage rate across 33.4 MPG, Young will have ample opportunity to take advantage of a Hornets backcourt that’s on the second half of a back-to-back.

Malcolm Brogdon ($8,400 FD / $8,400 DK)

The Pacers have been on fire since the loss of TJ Warren. A vital component to their success this season, Malcolm Brogdon has looked amazing, to the tune of 23.6 PPG across a heavy 37.3 MPG. Shooting an efficient 51.8% from the field and 47.2% from deep, Brogdon’s floor is as safe as it gets with 7 assists and 2 steals per game, in addition to his scoring ability.

Also Consider:

• Dejounte Murray ($7,100 FD / $6,900 DK)
• LaMelo Ball ($6,900 FD / $6,700 DK)

Shooting Guards

Bradley Beal ($10,100 FD / $9,700 DK)

Multiple slates in a row that we’ve been telling you to play this man, and now with Russell Westbrook likely sitting out the second half of a back-to-back, as usual, if you don’t play him in this spot, I can’t trust you. 38.5% usage rate, over 1.55 FPPM with Russ off the court, and 101 points in his last two. Lock him in on this NBA slate and don’t think twice.

CJ McCollum ($8,800 FD / $8,600 DK)

You’ll see a pattern where if Lillard is mentioned, as will McCollum, simply because of the usage splits between the Portland backcourt. Either of these guys can torch the Sacramento backcourt tonight and if you’re looking to get different in a GPP tonight, attack the backcourt who leads the NBA in points allowed to primary ball handlers at over 56 FPPG.

Also Consider:

• Victor Oladipo ($7,200 FD / $7,000 DK)
• Tyrese Haliburton ($5,400 FD / $5,800 DK)
• Buddy Hield ($5,200 FD / $6,800 DK)
• Donte DiVincenzo ($4,500 FD / $5,100 DK)

Small Forwards

Harrison Barnes ($6,300 FD / $6,400 DK)

Sporting a mere 19% usage rate, he is by no means the flashiest play on any NBA slate. However, the 34.6 MPG for Barnes on the wing thus far means he has the confidence of Coach Luke Walton, which is tremendously hard to get. With no De’Aaron Fox at full capacity for the Kings tonight, expect Barnes to shoulder a heavier workload on offense, where he has been efficient to the tune of a 50.9% shooting percentage from the field across 12 FGA per game.

Tim Hardaway Jr. ($5,500 FD / $5,900 DK)

As mentioned in the Doncic blurb, the Mavericks are severely shorthanded tonight, including starters Finney-Smith and Josh Richardson, in addition to rotation player Jalen Brunson. Not only will THJ pick up a ton of slack on the offensive end in terms of FGA, rather he will look to throw them up from deep, where is already averaging over 8 FGA per game from behind the arc. With a 43.4% shooting percentage on the season thus far, his efficiency can improve, but the volume is too hard to pass up on this NBA slate.

Also consider:

• Khris Middleton ($7,400 FD / $7,700 DK)
• Cedi Osman ($5,400 FD / $6,200 DK)
• De’Andre Hunter ($6,100 FD / $5,900 DK)

Power Forwards

Domantas Sabonis ($8,800 FD / $9,100 DK)

Phoenix has been playing at a much slower pace this season, but Domantas Sabonis is still in a great spot along with Malcom Brogdon. Sporting a 23.4% usage rate thus far in the season, Sabonis is averaging a near triple-double, with 20.8 PPG to go along with 11.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists; shooting a remarkable 52.9% from the field and 52.9% from deep albeit the low attempts, Sabonis is efficient enough to pay off at this price tag and makes for an underowned stud on this NBA slate.

Aaron Gordon ($6,800 FD / $6,800 DK)

Keep an eye out for any news regarding his minutes possibly being limited, but Aaron Gordon will be tasked with a heavy role on the offensive end of the court tonight after the Magic lost Markelle Fultz to a season-ending injury. Prior to missing their last game, Gordon had played 28 minutes in three straight and shot 51.28% from the field. With an uptick in offensive looks, Gordon is on my radar for NBA GPPs tonight.

John Collins ($6,800 FD / $7,500 DK)

As much as I target John Collins on the defensive end, PJ Washington is not an offensive player I tend to utilize on NBA slates unless he is mispriced. Rather, I prefer to target him in this spot since he is just as, if not an even worse defender than Collins is. With Clint Capela manning the paint, the rebounding opportunities for Collins will be limited, but his offensive upside will be much greater considering the Hornets will need to collapse to the rim to prevent allowing offensive rebounds, leaving Collins free to roam in the mid-range for his post-up shooting.

Also Consider:

• Juancho Hernangomez ($4,600 FD / $4,500 DK)
• JaVale McGee ($4,800 FD / $4,100 DK)
• Jae Crowder ($4,400 FD / $5,100 DK)

Centers

Core Options:

• Nikola Vucevic ($8,800 FD / $8,800 DK)
• Myles Turner ($7,300 FD / $6,000 DK)
• Clint Capela ($6,500 FD / $7,000 DK)

Others to Consider:

• Thomas Bryant ($6,400 FD / $6,700 DK)

Value Gems: Check the projection model here.

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

After a day off yesterday, we’re back for today’s 10-game NBA slate and plenty of Gems to identify!

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

Steph Curry ($9,700 FD / $10,000 DK)

After finally coming back down to Earth last game, Steph Curry is primed to get back to his previous form on tonight’s NBA slate. Having averaged 37 PPG in his last five before last game’s dud, Curry’s 33.5% usage rate has resulted in no game with less than 17 FGA. The volume, combined with the fact that he needs to carry his team every night, makes him a potential slate-breaker every time he takes the court.

John Wall ($8,500 FD / $8,000 DK)

Having missed so much time in prior seasons due to severe injuries, John Wall is silencing the doubters early this NBA season. Carrying a 30% usage rate, Wall is proving to be a key component of the Rockets offense alongside James Harden and Christian wood to the tune of a 23/5/5.5 scoring line across 36 MPG. With the Magic having lost Markelle Fultz for the remainder of the season due to injury, Wall will be facing rookie Cole Anthony for the majority of this one and will draw less coverage than James Harden.

Kyle Lowry ($7,700 FD / $7,900 DK)

With the Raptors disappointing in the early going of the 2021 NBA season, Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, and Pascal Siakam will have to rally thte troops quickly to make a run for the postseason. In a get-right spot versus a depleted Sacramento team, expect Lowry’s 22% usage rate to be much higher in this one, coming off his first 20-point performance of the new year, where he scored 24/9/6 on 60% shooting in 38 minutes.

Elfrid Payton ($5,500 FD / $6,500 DK)

Sporting a 24.8% usage rate this season, Payton is flying under the radar for these Knicks considering the breakout campaigns of Julius Randle and RJ Barrett, in addition to the improved play of Mitch Robinson. However, Payton is quietly averaging an efficient 14.6/4/5 across 29.1 MPG. The primary concern with Payton always was his volume on the offensive side of the ball, but with 50 FGA in his last three, fire up Payton with confidence tonight, especially on FD where he is simply too cheap.

Also Consider:

• LaMelo Ball ($6,900 FD / $6,500 DK)

Shooting Guards

Bradley Beal ($10,100 FD / $9,700 DK)

I wrote him last article, and man did his low ownership and price tag pay off. Having barely increased from his 9k price from just a few nights ago, where he dropped 62 points on 57.1% shooting, Bradley Beal may be without Russell Westbrook tonight in a game where he will dominate the offense even more. Should Westbrook play, I still have interest in one of the best ‘2’ guards in the NBA, where his 36.3% usage rate shows that this is still his team despite the big offseason acquisition.

Paul George ($8,800 FD / $9,100 DK)

My interest in the Clippers star duo quickly diminishes should Steph Curry miss this one, but if he’s ruled in as anticipated, Paul George will look to continue his early season success versus a terrible Warriors defensive unit. His 30.4% usage rate and combination of offensive and defensive contributions make him an ideal candidate in a mini-game stack with Curry at low ownership.

Zach Lavine ($8,100 FD / $8,600 DK)

A better play on FD due to his elevated price tag on DK, Lavine will be counted on in every single game the Bulls play in this season. With inconsistent performances from their frontcourt, it will be up to the backcourt tandem of Lavine and White to take on LeBron and AD on the second half of a back-to-back for the defending NBA Champions. Having only one game where he played less than 35 minutes since December 27, Lavine’s 45.9% shooting will need to catapult the Bulls offense yet again.

Jaylen Brown ($8,000 FD / $8,700 DK)

Both JB and Jayson Tatum have been quite impressive for the Celtics this season, with the former having a breakout campaign in the absence of Kemba Walker. With a 29.2% usage rate, JB is the clear #2 option on this Celtics offense behind Tatum, but carries the team as a #1 in production in quite a few games; he’s currently averaging a career-high 26.2 PPG and finds himself in a game environment versus the fast-paced Wizards who play no defense. If his 54.7% shooting percentage is any indication, JB is in for quite the night.

Caris LeVert ($6,800 FD / $7,400 DK)

With Kyrie Irving already ruled out for tonight’s game versus Memphis, we can go right back to Caris LeVert, who will be tasked once again with running Brooklyn’s offense. Having a player in the NBA, let alone in this price range, who carries a near 40% usage rate is something we need to focus on getting into our lineups no matter what his ownership will be – and that’s exactly what LeVert provides us; with KD, Dinwiddie, and Kyrie off the floor, this is now LeVert offense having come off a near triple-double last night in the same situation, scoring 22/7/10 in a mere 32 minutes.

Also Consider:

• James Harden ($11,400 FD / $11,000 DK)
• Fred VanVleet ($7,800 FD / $8,100 DK)
• Devin Booker ($7,600 FD / $8,200 DK)
• Terrence Ross ($5,700 FD / $6,100 DK)

Small Forwards

Kawhi Leonard ($9,600 FD / $9,300 DK)

While he did not have a monster output against Golden State just a few days ago, it was not because of his efficiency: Kawhi shot 7 for 12 from the field (58.3%) en route to a 21/4/4 scoring line in 35 minutes. With that being the first back-to-back he has played in over three years, his volume will return to normal in this game versus a depleted defensive unit.

Jayson Tatum ($9,400 FD / $9,200 DK)

Despite averaging less volume than fellow teammate Jaylen Brown, Tatum is the core to this Boston team on both ends of the floor. Posting 26.3 PPG in 34.6 MPG thus far, the former Blue Devil is in a great spot versus a Washington frontcourt that has allowed over 55 FPPG to opposing bigs and represents a key piece to a 1-2 Beal-Boston mini-stack on this NBA slate.

RJ Barrett ($6,500 FD / $6,900 DK)

Despite the low 22.4% usage rate for the Canadian this season, RJ Barrett is having a breakout campaign in Thibs new system for the Knicks alongside Julius Randle. Playing a whopping 38.1 MPG, should Barrett improve on his 38.1% shooting percentage, he can instantly become an NBA DFS commodity.

Also consider:

• Brandon Ingram ($8,800 FD / $8,500 DK)
• Khris Middleton ($7,400 FD / $8,000 DK)
• Harrison Barnes ($6,100 FD / $6,000 DK)

Power Forwards

Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,200 FD / $10,900 DK)

These Bucks have been tough to gauge this season, but in a matchup that Utah should be able to keep close, Giannis is finally in play as an elite target. Sure, he’s viable on any given NBA slate considering his ceiling is virtually unmatched, but with concerns surrounding his minutes, a tight game is exactly what we needed for the back-to-back NBA MVP to showcase his 33.7% usage rate and 26.1/10.9/5.4 scoring line.

Julius Randle ($9,400 FD / $9,800 DK)

What can be said about Julius Randle and these Knicks early in the NBA season? Playing at an All-NBA level, Randle has been thriving under Thibs to the tune of a 23.1/12/7.4 scoring line across 38.6 MPG. We know Thibs loves to run his starters for 36+, and with nobody to match up on Randle tonight, he’ll be in for another big night.

Aaron Gordon ($7,000 FD / $6,600 DK)

Touching 28 minutes in three straight games, it’s safe to say that the minutes restriction Aaron Gordon was on to begin the NBA season has now been lifted, if not been removed altogether. Averaging 18/9/3 during that same stretch, Gordon has also shot 51.28% from the field and will be counted on with the loss of Markelle Fultz. OUT

Also Consider:

• Anthony Davis ($10,400 FD / $10,100 DK)
• Pascal Siakam ($8,000 FD / $7,700 DK)
• Zion Williamson ($7,800 FD / $7,900 DK)

Centers

Primary Options:

• Nikola Vucevic ($8,800 FD / $9,000 DK)
• Deandre Ayton ($7,200 FD / $7,600 DK)
• Jarrett Allen ($7,000 FD / $6,800 DK)
• Thomas Bryant ($6,400 FD / $7,000 DK)

Others to Consider:

• Mitchell Robison ($5,800 FD / $5,700 DK)

Value Gems: Check the projection model here.

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