We have a nice five-game slate in the NBA tonight which leaves us with plenty of options but not enough to be too bewildering. Let’s break it down game-by-game and figure out what to do in DFS if the slate starts now. We may get some injury and rest news throughout the day that changes things a bit, but here is how it stands as what we know now.
NYK (105) @ BKN (111.5)
Here we have a battle of the two New York teams with the Knicks and Nets squaring up in Brooklyn. Derrick Rose, RJ Barrett, and Nerlens Noel are all questionable for the Knicks. It would change the slate quite a bit if one or more of them were to sit as we’d be presented with some significant value. Some combination of Alec Burks, Immanuel Quickley, Evan Fournier, Mitchell Robinson, and Obi Toppin would benefit. Julius Randle may also get a usage bump. As of the moment, Rose, Robinson, and Burks are good value plays on DraftKings. Randle always has upside, but his price and matchup do not make him an outstanding play today. Rose is the only good play from a value standpoint on FanDuel at the moment. Everything will change if one or more Knicks sit.
We have a little bit of value on Brooklyn with Patty Mills and LaMarcus Aldridge on DraftKings. Outside of that, it’s pretty much just Kevin Durant and James Harden. Both are priced up to the point of not being terrific plays on most slates. Especially considering that they compete with each other for usage, and that cuts into their respective ceilings. Yet, both are options on any given night for a monster game. It is just hard to predict when it will happen and which of them is going to do it if it does. On FanDuel, no Net stands out for value.
MEM (106.75) @ TOR (110.25)
With Ja Morant out and prices still not fully adjusted, we have a lot of value on Memphis tonight. Brandon Clarke, Tyus Jones, Desmond Bane, Kyle Anderson, and Steven Adams are great plays today. Jones is the biggest direct beneficiary of Morant’s absence and averages close to a fantasy point per minute when on the court. We should be able to lock in close to 30 fantasy points from him and move on. He’s an even better play at his FanDuel price of $4,600, and Desmond Bane is also a good value there. The other Grizzlies do not stand out on FanDuel at their prices.
There is excellent value on the Toronto side of this game, making it one of the best overall games to target in DFS today. Precious Achiuwa is a beautiful play with Khem Birch sidelined. We can expect 30-plus minutes from him at just $4,400. If he does suit up, Gary Trent Jr. would be a great value on DraftKings, but he is currently questionable. Svi Mykhailiuk enters the fray in his place if he does sit out this game. Fred VanVleet also presents us with excellent value on this slate at $8,700 on DK. There is more opportunity to go around in Toronto with OG Anunoby out, and Norman Powell may sit as well. The values are the same on FanDuel, although Scottie Barnes and Pascal Siakam enter the picture at their FD prices.
LAL (115) @ SAC (111)
No one on the Lakers stands out as a good play for DFS today on either site despite them having the highest team total on the board. LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook are all great players, and any can have a huge fantasy game. Still, none will look good at their current prices, with all three healthy and vying for usage. LeBron is questionable, and if he sits, the other two become more viable. Guys like Malik Monk, Talen Horton-Tucker, and Carmelo Anthony also become more DFS relevant.
Chimezie Metu and Davion Mitchell stand out as value plays on DraftKings for Sacramento. Buddy Hield and Richaun Holmes (probable) also stand on the verge of offering value at their DK prices tonight. De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton have upside, but the prices are not correct on this slate for them to be great plays. All of the Kings mentioned above players except for Holmes are good plays tonight at their FanDuel prices.
GSW (110) @ PHX (112.5)
Juan Toscano-Anderson is a decent value play on DraftKings. Other than that, Steph Curry is always an option for his vast upside, although his price does not make him an excellent points-per-dollar roster tonight. Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins, and Jordan Poole all play 30+ minutes on average. Still, there isn’t anything significant here for DFS tonight at their prices in this matchup. It is the same on FanDuel, except that not a single Warrior presents us with any real value.
For the Suns, Jae Crowder, Cameron Payne, and Deandre Ayton offer us some value on DraftKings. You can always consider Chris Paul and Devin Booker, but they don’t grade out as good plays tonight at their prices in this game. There are no excellent FanDuel plays on Phoenix here. Pricing is all appropriate.
DET (103.25) @ POR (112.75)
Saddiq Bey and Cade Cunningham stand out as lovely value plays on DraftKings for Detroit. Jerami Grant is the only other Detroit player who is likely to play 30+ minutes and always has some upside but isn’t an outstanding value today. It is the same situation on FanDuel where Bey & Cunningham are the plays. One difference is that Grant looks even worse at his FD price and is less of a possible option.
Portland is looking excellent for value, assuming Norman Powell (questionable) does indeed sit tonight. Nassir Little, Larry Nance Jr., Jusuf Nurkic, Anfernee Simons, CJ McCollum, Robert Covington, and to a lesser extent Damian Lillard all look good here on DK. Covington and Nance do not apply on FD at their prices, while Lillard is a better play at $8,600. If Powell plays, these guys all take a hit.
I'm a DFS player (JackG1111), DFS content provider, and musician.
You must log in to post a comment.