Searching For the Free Square
In the game of Bingo, every card gets an empty spot in the middle called the “Free Square”. Since it’s the middle square, the free square is essentially the ideal spot from which to build lines around. In DFS we define the Free Square as the player to build your lineups around. Generally, this player represents the closest we can find to a sure thing for the slate. This column is all about trying to identify the free square for a particular slate. Very often, this will be a low-cost player thrust into a starting role and sure to make or exceed value. The type of player that allows us to load up the rest of our lineup with high salary studs. Occasionally it will be a high priced stud in a great spot, The goal of this column is to use quantitative data to identify the free square for the days Daily Fantasy Basketball slate. Each slate we will take a deep look at three or four players which represent outsized value on the day’s slate of games and choose the one which best represents the top value and floor play to earn the title of the slates Free Square
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Recap
For our free squares last night we had Lauri Markanen who was a late scratch and did not record any fantasy points. Our second free square of the night was Chris Paul who ended up with 48.75 DKFP which would be good enough for right around 6x value. Our last free square of the night was Kris Dunn who ended up with right around 23.0 DKFP which would be good enough for right around 3.8x value.
Tonight
We have a medium sized slate ahead of us for Monday night. The following teams have the highest implied totals tonight: Cleveland Cavaliers (114), Minnesota Timberwolves (110), and the Detroit Pistons (109). The highest priced players on the slate are Lebron James, Joel Embiid, and Ben Simmons.
Free Squares
- T.J. Warren SF/PF PHO ($6,900)
- T.J. Warren and the Phoenix Suns will take on the Sacramento Kings on the road tonight. The Suns have an implied total sitting at right around 104-points and they are currently 4.0-point underdogs. The Suns have been playing at a pace of right around 105.8 and the Kings have been playing at a pace of right around 98.1. This is going to be a pace down game for the Suns tonight but I still like the price and spot for Warren tonight. Warren is likely going to be matched up with Garrett Temple tonight who is a below average defender. He has the following stats on the season so far this year: 31.2 MPG, 5.7 RPG, 1.3 APG, .7 BLKPG, .9 STLPG, 18.8 PPG, 30.5 FPPG, and a .98 FPPM. Taking a look at our Domination Station we can see that we have a projection of right around 38.08 DKFP which would be good enough for right around 5.52x value. He is projected to play right around 37 minutes tonight. Devin Booker is likely not going to play tonight which opens up a lot of opportunities for the rest of the Suns tonight. Warren is going to play a ton of minutes, has a good matchup, has a high FPPM, and is affordable. Don’t overthink this one tonight and load Warren at the forward position tonight on Draftkings.
- Spencer Dinwiddie PG/SG BKN ($6,100)
- Spencer Dinwiddie and the Brooklyn Nets will take on the Washington Wizards tonight at home. The Nets have an implied total sitting at right around 105-points and they are currently 3.0-point underdogs. The Nets have been playing at a pace of right around 105.3 and the Wizards have been playing at a pace of right around 100.5. Slight pace down game for the Nets tonight but I don’t think it will hinder Dinwiddie too much tonight. Dinwiddie is likely going to be guarded by John Wall tonight who is a decent defender. Dinwiddie has the following stats on the season so far this year: 26.2 MPG, 3.2 RPG, 6.4 APG, .4 BLKPG, .7 STLPG, 12.3 PPG, 27.5 FPPG, and a 1.05 FPPM. Taking a look at our Domination Station we can see that we have a projection of right around 32.816 DKFP which would be good enough for right around 5.38x value. He is projected for right around 31 minutes. Dinwiddie has played well for the Nets and is a guy who gets a lot of other stats then just scoring. He has a solid price tonight with a high FPPM this season. Load him up as either guard position tonight on Draftkings.
- Kristaps Porzingis PF/C NYK ($8,500)
- Kristaps Porzingis and the New York Knicks will take on the Los Angeles Lakers tonight at home. The Knicks have an implied total sitting at right around 108-points and they are currently 3.0-point favorites. The Knicks have been playing at a pace of right around 99.6 and the Lakers have been playing at a pace of right around 106.8. This is going to be an uptempo game for the Knicks and Porzingis tonight which should help increase his fantasy production. Porzingis is likely going to be guarded by Larry Nance Jr. tonight who is a pretty solid defender. Prozingis has the following stats on the season so far this year: 32.1 MPG, 6.6 RPG, 1.1 APG, 2.0 BLKPG, .5 STLPG, 25.5 PPG, 40.7 FPPG, and a 1.27 FPPM. Taking a look at our Domination Station we can see that we have a projection of right around 47.773 DKFP which would be good enough for right around 5.62x value. He is projected for right around 34 minutes tonight. Porzingis has a tougher matchup with Larry Nance but with the increase in pace I think he can exceed his value with some nice upside tonight. Load him up as either a forward or center on Draftkings tonight.
Free Square of the Night
We have a shorter sized slate tonight with some good tournaments across the industry. I hope I have narrowed down some guys that we can look to target. We have tons of tools and content available at the DFS Army this year for NBA so don’t miss out on all of those opportunities to make some money. Click the link “DFS Army VIP Membership” and sign up and join the Army today! With my ultimate free square pick, I am going to go with T.J. Warren tonight! Good luck Army!
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