Welcome to the DFS Army NBA Full Court Press! You have to start your research somewhere, and often times going game by game and breaking down every matchup and its key players is the first step in our process. My name is Michael aka @MadnessDFS on Twitter, make sure to give me a follow as I’ll occasionally make updates to the advice in the article. But, you’ll mostly find me in our VIP coaching forums where I provide detailed lineup maneuvers and answer all lineup questions. With that said, let’s get it started!
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Full Court Press:
Memphis Grizzlies @ Orlando Magic
Vegas Total: 208.5
Vegas Spread: Orl -8.5
Pace: Mem +1.7
I never really love targeting the Memphis Grizzlies due to their slow pace, but the Research Station has a play that is jumping off the board on this slate. That play is Tyler Dorsey, it has him projected to 8.6x his price tag. With Mike Conley doubtful and Avery Bradley still out, he should be in line for 25ish minutes. I don’t know that I would go all in with him, but he’s certainly a viable value. Delon Wright will probably draw the start and is also a great mid-range play. Jonas Valanciunas is coming off a massive 50 point fantasy game in his last outing and will look to keep things going here. Justin Holiday will probably see minutes into the upper 30’s, he’s not a fun roster but value worthy for sure. Lastly, Joakim Noah kind of falls in the Justin Holiday pit, he’s not fun to roster but has double-double potential every night. From the Magic, my favorite play is Nikola Vucevic and it’s not all that close. The Grizzlies rank 26th in defense against opposing centers on the season, he scored 48 Draftkings points in one matchup versus the Grizzlies this season. Jonathan Isaac has been a bit all over the place, I don’t think I can trust him for cash, but he’s playable for GPPs.
5-star play: Delon Wright, Nikola Vucevic
4-star play: Tyler Dorsey, Jonas Valanciunas, Joakim Noah
Deeper Value/FD Drop Candidate: Tyler Dorsey, Justin Holiday
GPP Sleeper: Jonathan Isaac
Los Angeles Clippers @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Vegas Total:
Vegas Spread:
Pace: Cle +5.1
Starting with the Clippers, this is a pace down spot, but the backcourt draws some good matchups here. The Cavs rank dead last against opposing shooting guards, making Lou Williams a very solid play. I like targeting Lou Williams from this team, he leads the team in usage at 32.8% and should be able to take advantage here tonight. Landry Shamet has been getting at least 25 minutes per night and is in play as a value guy. Patrick Beverley isn’t my favorite play, but I also don’t hate it. If you land on him, I’m completely fine with it. The same goes for Danilo Gallinari and Montrezl Harrell, just not guys I’m prioritizing. The Cavs draw a pace up matchup so we should feel a little more confident in their players than usual. Cedi Osman has gotten 30+ minutes in each of his last ten games, I like him as a secondary play in his price range. Larry Nance is a great GPP play, but a little too volatile for cash games. Kevin Love could push for 30 minutes here and is likely the safest option on this team. Collin Sexton has been extremely consistent as of late, he’s scored 32 Draftkings points in six straight games. He gets a tough matchup against Pat Bev, but I don’t mind the play.
5-star play: Lou Williams
4-star play: Cedi Osman, Kevin Love, Collin Sexton
Deeper Value/FD Drop Candidate: Landry Shamet
GPP Sleeper: Danilo Gallinari, Montrezl Harrel, Larry Nance
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Oklahoma City Thunder @ Toronto Raptors
Vegas Total: 226.5
Vegas Spread: Tor -2.5
Pace: Tor +3.0
Starting with the Thunder, they are all priced pretty fairly here. The Raptors rank 24th in defense against opposing point guards, so of the two stars, I will prefer Russell Westbrook. Paul George will be tasked with Kawhi Leonard defense, it’s not an easy draw, but George has done it before, making him a GPP play. Steven Adams is the last guy I have interest in from this team, he’s a solid cash game option. From the Raptors, Kyle Lowry is still out and the Research Station has both Fred VanVleet and Danny Green projected to go over 6x on their price tags. I would reserve Green for GPP, while VanVleet is a great cash option. Kawhi Leonard has gone over 45 Draftkings points in three straight games, he will see Paul George on defense which is never ideal, but he’s in play given the usage bump. Finally, if you land on Pascal Siakam, I have no issue with it at all.
5-star play: Russell Westbrook, Kawhi Leonard, Fred VanVleet
4-star play: Paul George, Pascal Siakam, Steven Adams
Deeper Value/FD Drop Candidate: Danny Green
GPP Sleeper: Danny Green
Denver Nuggets @ New York Knicks
Vegas Total: 216.0
Vegas Spread: Den -11.0
Pace: Den +2.0
It feels like Draftkings did a pretty good job with pricing today, all of these teams seem fairly priced. The Knicks rank 20th against opposing centers, which puts Nikola Jokic firmly in play. In an earlier matchup with the Knicks, Jokic scored 69.5 Draftkings points. Jamal Murray struggled in that game, but the Knicks rank 20th against opposing point guards, which keeps him in play for me. Paul Millsap is a secondary play, he’ll be one of the first guys off the court in a blowout. If you do think this game blows out, guys like Malik Beasley and Mason Plumlee make for great contrarian options. From the Knicks, Mitchell Robinson is coming off a massive game and his price has come down. The Research Station loves him as a value play, it’s a tough matchup for him, but makes for a nice GPP option. Dennis Smith is still out meaning Emmanuel Mudiay will see a good chunk of the point guard minutes. He hasn’t done a ton with the minutes but is in play as a mid-range guy. Other than those two, the rest of this team is completely GPP for me. The only two other guys I would target would be Noah Vonleh and Damyean Dotson.
5-star play: Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Emmanuel Mudiay
4-star play: Paul Millsap, Mitchell Robinson
Deeper Value/FD Drop Candidate: Mitchell Robinson
GPP Sleeper: Malik Beasley, Mason Plumlee, Noah Vonleh, Damyean Dotson
San Antonio Spurs @ Houston Rockets
Vegas Total: 221.0
Vegas Spread: SA -6.0
Pace: Hou +0.3
Starting with the Spurs, there isn’t a whole lot to target from a pricing standpoint. DeMar DeRozan has struggled in three matchups with the Rockets this season. Given his price and struggles, I’ll likely go elsewhere tonight. LaMarcus Aldridge is the same way, ultimately I’m not seeing a lot of things I like from this team. You can attack the value guys in Bryn Forbes and Marco Belinelli if you want exposure to this team. From the Rockets, Chris Paul’s price has come all the way down on Draftkings. I’ve been targeting point guards against the Spurs all year, this is a spot I like quite a bit for CP3. Clint Capela is averaging nearly 50 fantasy points per game against this team in three games this year, making him an elite center option. James Harden is coming off a massive 88 point fantasy game and is someone I will never talk you off of if you want to play him.
5-star play: Chris Paul, James Harden, Clint Capela
4-star play: None
Deeper Value/FD Drop Candidate: None
GPP Sleeper: DeMar DeRozan
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Miami Heat @ Milwaukee Bucks
Vegas Total:
Vegas Spread:
Pace: Mia +4.6
We don’t have a spread on this game yet due to how banged up the Bucks are right now. Starting with the Heat, the Research Station loves Derrick Jones and has him projected to 7.7x his current price tag. I don’t know that I love that play, he’s been pretty underwhelming this season, but you can certainly go there for GPP. James Johnson has gone for 30+ fantasy points in two straight games. It’s hard to trust this frontcourt, but he will likely be tasked to guard Giannis on defense should Giannis play, meaning guaranteed minutes. Bam Adebayo is currently questionable, but he’s gone for 30+ fantasy points in three of his last four and makes for a nice play should he suit up. From the Bucks, I’ll operate under the assumption that Giannis will play, keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates. This Bucks team is a little difficult to predict right now if this game turns into a blowout Giannis will be the first one off the court as they gear up for a playoff run. Eric Bledsoe’s minutes are much more secure with Malcolm Brogdon out with injury, I like him here, but the Heat have been tough on point guards all season long. Khris Middleton is too overpriced for me unless Giannis sits. Ersan Ilyasova and Pat Connaughton make for nice values, they should see minutes with Nikola Mirotic out for a few weeks. If Giannis plays, he’s a fine option, but I don’t think I’d be paying up for him here.
5-star play: None
4-star play: Eric Bledsoe, Bam Adebayo, James Johnson
Deeper Value/FD Drop Candidate: Derrick Jones, Ersan Ilyasova, Pat Connaughton
GPP Sleeper: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Brooklyn Nets @ Los Angeles Lakers
Vegas Total:
Vegas Spread:
Pace: Bkn +2.3
Starting with the Nets, it’s the same old story with them. Their rotations are so deep, so really nobody sees a ton of minutes. However, D’Angelo Russell returns the Los Angeles tonight, and that is something I want to take advantage of. In one game against the Lakers this season he scored 50 Draftkings points, he’ll be fired up to be back in the city that traded him, I like him quite a bit. Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen are a little too volatile for me to trust in cash games, but they’re fine GPP targets. I don’t play Russell and Spencer Dinwiddie together because of their negative correlation. Seeing as how I like Russell, I’ll likely fade Dinwiddie. From the Lakers, again I’ll operate under the assumption that LeBron James will play. As always keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates. If LeBron plays, his price has come down to where he is playable, but just know the 60-70 point upside probably isn’t there. My favorite play from this team is probably JaVale McGee, who has seen an increase in minutes lately. I’ve been targeting centers against the Nets all season, so this is a nice spot for McGee. Other than that, there isn’t a whole lot I like for cash games. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Rajon Rondo, and Kyle Kuzma are all in play for GPP, however.
5-star play: D’Angelo Russell
4-star play: JaVale McGee, LeBron James
Deeper Value/FD Drop Candidate: None
GPP Sleeper: Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Rajon Rondo
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