Hi there! I’m Glen but I go by Blande and you can find me on twitter as @DfsBlande . I’m a contributor and coach over here at the DFS Army. If you are not yet a member, use the link here and promo code “BLANDE” to get 10% off your subscription.
2018 was a good year here at the DFS Army, with a lot of huge wins. From 300k winners, multiple six-figure winners, numerous 5-figure winners, and perhaps one of the most impressive winning streaks seen in the business. That said, there is much more we can offer to potential players out there. As the NFL season winds down, the NBA season is just picking up steam, and we have excellent tools and coaches at your disposal. Join us over here at the Army, to make your 2019 DFS year a successful one in more ways that one!
For the first NBA slate in 2019, we are provided with five games. This slate is the perfect size to attack in both cash games and GPPs. Normally I’ll be out here looking at the best players off the bench, but today I’ll set that aside and focus on the best plays on the slate at the moment. All this is, of course, subject to change as news breaks. So make sure to join us to get access to our wonderful news coverage.
Before jumping in, here’s a look at one of the final wins we had in 2018!
Point Guards
Ben Simmons (9800/8800): Simmons is my top PG on this slate if Joel Embiid is out. The matchup is an excellent one for him, and without Embiid Simmons sees a bump in his usage and fantasy output. Simmons has put up two 50 burgers in his last 5, along with a 45.3 FDPs effort. Most people will be put off by his output in his last game, which could potentially lower his ownership here, making him an all-format play tonight if Embiid is out.
Damian Lillard (9200/8700): Lillard has the dream matchup against the Kings. The Kings play at a very fast pace and barely play defense. Lillard comes into this matchup in what can be rightly considered a slump for a man of his talents. He has had only two 50 burgers in his last 10 games. While some of that has been due to tough matchups, he is primed to explode for one of his signature games here. He’s an excellent play in all formats. Pairing him with Simmons is a nice way to start your lineups.
Eric Bledsoe (7200/6200): Bledsoe is my lowest priced PG on this slate. I just don’t see any reason to pay down here tonight, so this is the lowest I go. In his two previous matchups against the Pistons this season, Bledsoe went for 44.6 and 9.1 FDPS in 26 and 34 minutes respectively. This is a prime spot for Bledsoe with high upside at a really discounted price, especially on DK. Bledsoe comes into this game in a slump, having failed to post 30 FDPs in any of his last 6 games. The last time he broke that barrier was against… you guessed it… the Pistons. He is an excellent GPP play.
In NBA we had some nice takedowns and WFBBC Qualifiers!
Shooting Guards
Jimmy Butler (8500/6900): As long as Joel Embiid is out, plug in Butler. He might have laid a dud last time out in a similar spot, but do not expect that to happen here again. In fact, we will be happy to get him at low ownership if the dud scares people away. His usage and fppm bump when Embiid is out are ridiculous. This is the top play on the slate if Embiid misses this game. Butler is especially cheap on DK where he will be a lock if Embiid is out. On FD, he makes for a great play in all formats.
Lou Williams (6400/6500): Lou Williams continues to produce, and his price just won’t budge. I love it! I’ll continue to roster Sweet Lou until his price gets above 7k. Lou is the best scoring option the Clippers have, and Doc Rivers has finally realized that. He is finally giving Lou the minutes he needs to help this Clippers team out. The matchup today against the 76ers is a good one and gets even better if Embiid misses. I love Lou in all formats on both sites.
Iman Shumpert (3700/4300): Shumpert returned from a brief injury a few games ago and has quickly slotted back into his spot in the rotation. Excluding the Lakers game, he hasn’t been especially great, but he is getting the opportunities. Last game, he was extremely cold from beyond the arc but kept firing. He’ll continue to put up shots and get fantasy points from other areas, making him an excellent GPP play in a good spot. His ownership should be relatively low here. He makes for a great FD drop-score candidate and is also playable in GPPs on DK.
There was also a nice effort in the Milly Maker in Week 17!
Small Forwards
Kawhi Leonard (10000/8900): With Lowry still out, Leonard continues to carry the load for this team. His scoring has been fantastic and will be needed today against a Jazz team that has finally started to find their defensive identity. This is by no means an easy matchup for Leonard, but given his usage and productivity, he is more than capable of making the best of the spot. I like Leonard here as a GPP play on both sites.
Danilo Gallinari (7100/6700): The mid-tier option here is Danilo Gallinari. Gallinari is quietly having himself a fantastic season. He has broken the 40-point barrier in 3 of his last 6 games and only scored over 30 FDPs in 5 of them. He is the prime scoring option for the Clippers along with Lou Williams. Today in an excellent matchup against the Kings, he’ll be able to display all his skills, making him an excellent candidate to target on both sites in all formats.
Stanley Johnson (3600/3500): The value punt play here is Stanley Johnson. Johnson has been very inconsistent this season, but he does have the upside to crush value. In his two games against the Bucks this season, he scored 19.8 and 32.2 FDPs. At a weak SF position, he makes for an excellent FD drop-score candidate. At just 3.5k on DK, he is viable as a punt in GPPs.
Did you know? The DFS Army Research Station has most of the stats and data you need. Join now, get access, and save yourself valuable time in the research process!
Power Forwards
Montrezl Harrell (7300/6800): Harrell is playing well and is an excellent option at power forward tonight. You can call me a little biased because he is a 6th Man, but aren’t we all a little biased? Now that said, I really like the outlook for him here if Embiid misses this game. Without Embiid the 76ers will play smaller, and Harrell will get more minutes at the 5, increasing his opportunities to put up fantasy points. He is priced up on both sites, but his floor and ceiling make him a nice hybrid/GPP play here.
Noah Vonleh (6200/6300): Vonleh has been good this season and has scored over 30 FDPs in each of his past 5 games. This type of consistency is what we are looking for in cash games, and while he is priced up, he is still playable here on both sites. Vonleh also has the upside to win a GPP for you today, especially with Paul Millsap still been eased back into the rotation. This is a good spot for Vonleh, and he is viable in all formats.
Luke Kornet (3800/4600): Kornet is the go to play for the Knicks on this slate. He’ll most likely get the start here today, and if his performance against the Jazz last time out was any indication, he can hold his own against Jokic tonight. At a ridiculously cheap 3.8k on FD, Kornet is a lock here, where he can serve as a drop-score candidate. On DK where he is priced a little higher at 4.6k, I love using Kornet at the center position. It just opens a lot you can do with the lineup. I like the play in all formats.
And another WFBBC Qualifier, making it two for the DFS Army staff!
Center
Nikola Jokic (9900/9800): Jokic gets the vaunted matchup against the Knicks tonight. We all know the upside Jokic has, and while he hasn’t shown it often this season, there is nothing like a matchup against the Knicks to bring the best out of centers. If you have the money to pay up here, Jokic is obviously the top center on the slate if Embiid is out. This is a no-brainer play in GPPs. I like him better on FD, where he is relatively cheaper.
Brook Lopez (5400/5300): My favorite center on FD is Brook Lopez. The matchup is phenomenal. He can stretch Drummond out here all day, something which Drummond doesn’t want. In his two games against the Pistons this season, Lopez put up 29.1 and 30.6 FDPs in 26 and 28 minutes respectively. At just 5.4k on FD, that’s all he needs to make value. He also has the upside to crush value here. I love Lopez on FD, but not so much on DK. He is an all-format FD play, but only GPP viable on DK.
That’s it for today, I’ll have more notes and breakdowns later of DFS Army VIP members. Good luck out there today! Make sure to join the DFS Army and get access to our content, tools, coaches, and community that shortens your growth curve for NBA DFS.
