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PG:
* ALL FORMATS
Dejounte Murray (SA vs PHI)
Neither site has priced Murray out of reach ($5400 DK/$5800 FD) and there’s no reason turn away now. I’m not shy about my admiration for cheap point guards, especially with Murray since he does more than your average player at that position. Lastly, the Sixers have the NBA’s highest turnover ratio so expect Murray to get his hands on a few of those.
Shabazz Napier (POR @ DAL)
The last (and only) time Evan Turner missed a game this season, Napier started and played 36 minutes while adding 17 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals (38 DKP/37.2 FDP). Tonight’s situation is not reflected in Napier’s price ($3800 FD/$4400 DK), so expect him to be heavily owned, and likely needed in order to have a profitable night.
Darren Collison (IND @ CLE)
Dating back to one game as a member of the Kings, Collison has posted at least 34 fantasy points (on both sites) in three of his last four meetings with the Cavaliers. Collison will be matched up against Isaiah Thomas, who has a reputation for being a terrible defender.
* GPP
Damian Lillard (POR @ DAL)
DAL: 5th-best aDvP matchup for PGs on tonight’s slate – Lillard has always done well against the Mavs, including a 52.3 FDP/46.5 FDP performance against them six days ago. It’s odd to consider Lillard a GPP option in this matchup, but Napier is a much better $/PT option.
Chris Paul (HOU @ NO)
Lots of offense in this game, but CP3 certainly isn’t cheap by any stretch of the imagination. He nearly reached 50 fantasy points (on both sites) in the earlier meeting this season against the Pelicans and everything seems to be shaping up for a similar type of performance.
Isaiah Canaan (PHX vs NYK)
The Knicks played in Denver last night, so I think there are plenty of Suns to be optimistic about. Canaan probably won’t be in the starting lineup, but he has performed well off the bench and can definitely take advantage of a tired team.
SG:
James Harden (HOU @ NO)
The Rockets/Pelicans game has the highest total of the night, and Harden has crushed the Pelicans in recent meetings. Harden has scored or assisted on 53.1 points per game this season, which is most in the NBA.
Devin Booker (PHO vs NYK)
The Knicks played in Denver last night, so chasing Devin Booker around the court isn’t going to be on the list of “favorite things” to do tonight. TJ Warren is listed as questionable for tonight’s game, and that could certainly give Booker enough shot attempts to smash value at his price.
Jrue Holiday (NO vs HOU)
I’ve gone back-and-forth about where Holiday falls for me, but I’m going to keep it in all formats. The Rockets frenetic pace was the overall deciding factor, not his 60.5 DKP/62.3 FDP performance against them in the earlier meeting this season… after all, that came with Anthony Davis out of the lineup. In any event, Holiday has still posted at least 40 fantasy points (on both sites) in three-straight games against the Rockets.
Tim Hardaway Jr (NYK @ PHO)
THJ didn’t play last night, meaning he should be fully prepared to take the court tonight. The Suns have been getting destroyed by opposing shooting guards this season, and there’s no reason to think this will be any different. I’m not sure how the crowd will react to THJ screwing them over last night, but this matchup against the Suns would allow me to be very forgiving.
* GPP
Victor Oladipo (IND @ CLE)
Oladipo has only had one performance against the Cavs this season that is worthy of his elevated price, but I’m willing to bet that talent will rise to the surface once again. The Cavs have the NBA’s worst defensive efficiency rating, and Oladipo can always get an extra boost with the extra peripheral stats he accumulates. I’m keeping Oladipo as a GPP option because I like Harden a lot more, and it won’t be easy to fit both guys in the same lineup.
Zach LaVine (CHI vs LAL)
LaVine’s production has been fairly solid, but the problem is that he’s only relegated to about 28 minutes. If he has a bad stretch during the game, it’s not like he has a ton of time to make up for it. All in all, the price is affordable, but you just have to hope that he continues to catch fire.
SF:
* ALL FORMATS
Kyle Anderson (SA vs PHI)
At least 26 FDP in seven of the last nine games… PHI leads the NBA in turnover rate, so Anderson could potentially get a nice boost in bonus points from that. Over the last six games, Anderson has a total of 10 blocks and 14 steals.
Brandon Ingram (LAL @ CH)
He played 33 minutes last game (vs BOS), and I feel like it’s further proof that his sore ankle is coming back around to being fully healthy. Ultimately, the price on Ingram is what’s appealing, $5800 FD/$6200… more so on FanDuel, though.
Lance Stephenson (IND @ CLE)
Lance gets up for these games against the Cavs, and the Pacers are sure glad… because, well, he’s all they have to defend LeBron. As you can see in the final three games of this grouping, Lance has played incrementally-more minutes and I would expect that trend to continue tonight.
* GPP
Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL vs BKN)
The Greek Freak will return from a two-game absence to take on a Nets team that he has feasted on in their last five meetings. Things have changed since that last meeting, though, as the Nets got a much better defender in DeMarre Carroll and the Bucks have changed head coaches. I’m sure everything will be fine, I’m just skeptical by nature.
LeBron James (CLE vs IND)
Another big name, another reason to be skeptical. The Cavs will insert Tristan Thompson back into the starting lineup, and you have to wonder how that’ll change the rhythm of their offense. Once again, I’m sure everything will be fine, but it is something you have to think about.
Darius Miller (NO vs HOU)
He’s played at least 30 minutes in each of the last four games (reaching 23 fantasy points) in three of those. Miller’s near-min price and that allows you to fit the guys in that can actually score a GPP-winning amount of points.
* SITUATIONAL
Michael Beasley (NYK @ PHO)
If we (magically) get word that the Knicks are holding out Kristaps Porzingis on the back-end of their B2B set, Beasley would be in play for all formats. We have seen this situation play out dozens of times.
PF:
* ALL FORMATS
Anthony Davis (NO vs HOU)
AD missed the first game against the Rockets earlier this season, but he has averaged 55.5 DKP/56.5 FDP against them in the previous three meetings. It’s a pretty simple decision on WHY to roster AD – he’s the best player at the position tonight and it’s not like the Rockets have a surplus of bigs that can stop him.
John Henson (MIL vs BKN)
Henson smashed the Nets last season, and while their roster may have changed since then, their struggles against the center position remain. In fact, the Nets allow the most offensive rebounds to opposing centers this season… I don’t know why Henson hasn’t been changed to a center on FanDuel, but he is in real life.
Thad Young (IND @ CLE)
The Pacers will be without Myles Turner once again and that means more minutes are available for Young. He’s done a lot with the extra minutes lately, posting at least a floor of 32.8 DKP/34.6 FDP in three of the last four games… that floor coming in the last game because of a blowout against the Suns.
* GPP
Lauri Markkanen (CHI vs LAL)
Aside from last game (a blowout @ Philly), Markkanen has been on a nice little roll to start 2018. Tonight’s Bulls/Lakers game has the 2nd-highest total on the board, and Markkanen should have a lot to do with that. So, what’s the problem… why GPP only? Well, the Lakers are the worst aDvP matchup in the NBA for power forwards this season.
* SITUATIONAL
Jarrell Martin (MEM vs LAC)
Martin is listed as questionable for tonight’s game, but if he does play he’ll be needed a great deal. The Grizzlies are basically borrowing bodies at this point, so it would be nice to have one of their regulars back in the mix. Prior to the last game he missed, Martin had played at least 30 minutes in three of four and posted double-digit points in each of those. LAC is the 3rd-best aDvP matchup for power forwards this season.
C:
* ALL FORMATS
DeMarcus Cousins (NO vs HOU)
HOU: 5th-best aDvP matchup for centers on tonight’s slate – With the frenetic pace we’ll see in this game, Boogie should absolutely crush every value mark in his path. He has posted at least 50 fantasy points (on both sites) in four of the last five meetings.
Clint Capela (HOU @ NO)
Capela posted 47.5 DKP/51.6 FDP via a career-high 28 points (13-14 FG), 8 rebounds and 5 blocks in only 24 minutes back on December 11th against the Pelicans. I talk about opposing teams’ NEED for bigs against the Pelicans all the time, and tonight is no different. Granted, Capela did all that damage in 24 minutes, but with AD out of the lineup the Rockets were able to take some liberties that early in the season. I fully expect Capela to be out there for over 30 minutes tonight, and that alone should coast him into 5x value territory… with much more upside on the horizon.
* GPP
Dwight Howard (CHA @ ATL)
More than a few people have discussed Howard today and the “I want to kill them (Hawks)” narrative. Given the jacked-up price on FanDuel ($9900), I feel like Howard is a much more conceivable thought on DraftKings, however, at $8800.
* CASH
Tristan Thompson (CLE vs IND)
I’m sure you’ve seen TT’s name pasted all over every internet source imaginable… and for good reason, the Pacers are the 2nd-best aDvP matchup for centers this season. However, I’m not sure that Thompson’s minutes will allow him to reach a max ceiling that will win GPPs. I have no doubt that he’ll exceed 5x value, but it’ll only total out to about 20-25 fantasy points.
