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:
Chicago Bulls @ Washington Wizards
Vegas Total: 227.5
Vegas Spread: Was -11.0
Pace: Chi +2.7
Starting with the Bulls, Walt Lemon Jr.’s price has come WAY up all the way to $4700 on Draftkings. That price is too heavy for me, but he’s still playable in GPPs if you’ve grown accustomed to him. The only guy I really have interest in from the Bulls is Shaq Harrison, and that’s strictly for GPP. From the Wizards, the Research Station has six guys projected to go for at least 5.4x their Draftkings price tag.
I’ve been hesitant to go toward Bradley Beal as of late because the Wizards made it sound like they want to give him some rest, but he’s been consistently running out there for upper 30’s minutes. I have no problem going with Beal here tonight. Troy Brown is graded out as the best point per dollar play on this team, he played 42 minutes in their last game and I think we can expect something similar here. The Bulls rank 24th in defense against opposing point guards on the season which puts Tomas Satoranksy firmly into play. The Wizards want to see what they have in Thomas Bryant and have been giving him 40ish minutes per night over the past six or so games. I love this spot for Bryant, the Bulls rank 27th in defense against opposing centers. Jabari Parker and Jordan McRae are also in play here, it’s a very nice spot for the Wizards tonight.
5-star play: Bradley Beal, Troy Brown, Thomas Bryant, Tomas Satoransky
4-star play: Jabari Parker, Jordan McRae, Shaq Harrison
Deeper Value/FD Drop Candidate: None
GPP Sleeper: Walt Lemon Jr.
New York Knicks @ Orlando Magic
Vegas Total: 212.5
Vegas Spread: Orl -12.5
Pace: Orl +2.0
As we already know the Knicks have nothing to play for except for a top three lottery pick, however, the Magic need to win this game to stay in the Eastern Conference playoff race, so keep that in mind. Starting with the Knicks, I played a lot of Luke Kornet and Mitchell Robinson in their previous game. If they are going to continue to start, I’ll happily go right back to the well here. Emmanuel Mudiay is priced way up as Dennis Smith Jr. has been out for a while, Smith is considered doubtful for tonight, so I don’t mind Mudiay as a secondary play. From the Magic, Nikola Vucevic has the best matchup, as the Knicks rank 26th in defense against opposing centers on the season. Aaron Gordon and DJ Augustin are also in play as secondary plays.
5-star play: Luke Kornet, Mitchell Robinson, Nikola Vucevic
4-star play: Emmanuel Mudiay, Aaron Gordon, DJ Augustin
Deeper Value/FD Drop Candidate: None
GPP Sleeper: None
Indiana Pacers @ Detroit Pistons
Vegas Total:
Vegas Spread:
Pace: Det +0.5
These two teams are right next to each other in the Eastern Conference standings, so they will have incentive to go out and win as they jockey for playoff position. From the Pacers, Darren Collison and Wesley Matthews have been ruled out for tonight’s game. This will open up a ton of minutes in the backcourt for guys like Aaron Holliday, Cory Joseph, and Tyreke Evans. Aaron Holliday provides the best value, while Tyreke Evans and Cory Joseph have the most upside, they are all in play here tonight. I don’t have any interest in the big men on this team, as they will have to deal with a tough Piston’s frontcourt. From the Pistons, we will need to keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed as Blake Griffin is currently listed as questionable. These two teams just played, in that game Giffin was out and Andre Drummond went for 54.75 Draftkings points. I like Drummond quite a bit if Griffin is out, but if he plays I will likely go elsewhere. Wayne Ellington and Reggie Jackson are both secondary plays here.
5-star play: Andre Drummond (If Griffin is out)
4-star play: Aaron Holliday, Cory Joseph, Tyreke Evans, Wayne Ellington, Reggie Jackson, Andre Drummond (If Griffin is out)
Deeper Value/FD Drop Candidate: Cory Joseph, Aaron Holliday
GPP Sleeper: None
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Toronto Raptors @ Brooklyn Nets
Vegas Total:
Vegas Spread:
Pace: Tor +0.8
The Nets really need to win this game to stay in the playoff race in the Eastern Conference, while the Raptors try and chase down the Bucks for that one seed. Starting with the Raptors, I have to be honest, there is nothing I like on this team. You can always make a case for Kawhi Leonard and Kyle Lowry in GPPs, but I think we can move on here. The Nets are pretty similar, I don’t have a ton of interest in this game. However, D’Angelo Russell is firmly in play as a secondary play, as well as Caris LeVert.
5-star play: None
4-star play: Kawhi Leonard, Kyle Lowry, D’Angelo Russell, Caris LeVert
Deeper Value/FD Drop Candidate: None
GPP Sleeper: None
Boston Celtics @ Miami Heat
Vegas Total:
Vegas Spread:
Pace: Mia +1.4
This is another game that will be a big game in terms of the Eastern Conference race, the Heat need to win, while the Celtics are jockeying for seeding. Starting with the Celtics, Al Horford just dropped a triple-double on this Heat team in their last game, I like him here. The Heat are tough on opposing point guards, but Kyrie Irving is averaging 48 Draftkings points per game in three games against them this season. Jayson Tatum, Gordon Hayward, and Marcus Smart are all secondary plays for me. From the Heat, Bam Adebayo is my favorite play, he continues to play very well and is coming off of a 45.5 point fantasy game against this Celtics team last time out. Other than him the only other guy I have interest in is Goran Dragic who has been playing very well since coming back from injury.
5-star play: None
4-star play: Al Horford, Kyrie Irving, Jayson Tatum, Gordon Hayward, Marcus Smart, Bam Adebayo, Goran Dragic
Deeper Value/FD Drop Candidate: None
GPP Sleeper: None
Philadelphia 76ers @ Atlanta Hawks
Vegas Total:
Vegas Spread:
Pace: Phi +2.3
This game really does not matter much for either team, the Sixers are likely stuck as the three seed in the East and the Hawks…. well we know their not playing for anything. I like targeting games that mean something when I’m targeting stars, but we will see what opens up here. Joel Embiid is still out for the Sixers, but the sites have caught up in pricing the rest of the Sixers appropriately. It feels weird to say given the matchup, but there isn’t anything I like here. You can make a case for guys like Ben Simmons, JJ Redick, and Tobias Harris for GPP. From the Hawks, Trae Young is a fine play, but not someone I’m prioritizing, the same can be said for John Collins. The rest of this team is just kind of blah for me.
5-star play: None
4-star play: Trae Young, John Collins
Deeper Value/FD Drop Candidate: None
GPP Sleeper: Ben Simmons, JJ Redick, Tobias Harris
Charlotte Hornets @ New Orleans Pelicans
Vegas Total:
Vegas Spread:
Pace: Cha +4.3
Charlotte has fallen way back in the Eastern Conference, they need to win out and get some help in order to push back into the playoff race. Starting with the Hornets, Willy Hernangomez is popping in the Research Station, projecting him to go for 6.6x. He’s scored at least 28 Draftkings points in back to back games. He’s not a slam dunk, but a viable GPP value. The Pelicans rank 28th in defense against opposing point guards, which puts Kemba Walker on the GPP board. This is going to be an observation game for the Hornets side from me, I would almost expect them to ramp of the minutes of their young guys like Malik Monk, Devonte’ Graham, and Dwayne Bacon. From the Pelicans, Anthony Davis is probable for tonight’s game and has finally reached a price where I am more inclined to play him. Just know that you’re not going to get more than 23 minutes out of him. Elfrid Payton’s minutes have been a bit all over the place, I’ll leave him for GPP only. Christian Wood’s price has come way up, but they’re going to see what they have in this kid, I would expect him to continue to get minutes here. Julius Randle is in the same category as Payton, this team is doing a lot of rotation changes on a nightly basis, I wouldn’t feel comfortable playing any of them in cash.
5-star play: None
4-star play: Willy Hernangomez, Kemba Walker, Anthony Davis, Christian Wood
Deeper Value/FD Drop Candidate: Willy Hernangomez
GPP Sleeper: Julius Randle, Elfrid Payton
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Dallas Mavericks
Vegas Total:
Vegas Spread:
Pace: Dal +1.6
Both of these teams are eliminated from playoff contention as well. Starting with the Timberwolves, Karl-Anthony Towns’ play has come down a bit but is averaging 51 Draftkings points per game against the Mavericks this season. Tyus Jones and Andrew Wiggins round out my Wolves interest, as they will be guaranteed big minutes. From the Mavericks, Luka Doncic is averaging 53 Draftkings points per game in two games against the Wolves this season, he is certainly playable. Other than him, there isn’t a whole lot to like from this team.
5-star play: Karl-Anthony Towns, Luka Doncic
4-star play: Tyus Jones, Andrew Wiggins
Deeper Value/FD Drop Candidate: None
GPP Sleeper: None
San Antonio Spurs @ Denver Nuggets
Vegas Total: 213.0
Vegas Spread: Den -4.5
Pace: Den +0.2
These two teams will be jockeying for seeding tonight, as the Nuggets try to get that one seed in the Western Conference. Starting with the Spurs, I was all over Derrick White last night and he came through with 36 Draftkings points, his price has only come up $300 on Draftkings. DeMar DeRozan has averaged 43 Draftkings points per game in three games against the Nuggets, he is certainly in play here. LaMarcus Aldridge’s price has come to the point to where I’ll look elsewhere. Marco Belinelli, Bryn Forbes, and Patty Mills are all fine value options. From the Nuggets, Nikola Jokic has struggled a bit against the Spurs this season, scoring less than 40 points per game. I’ll likely pay up elsewhere tonight. I love targeting point guards against the Spurs, and Jamal Murray is averaging 36 Draftkings points per game in three games against them this season. Will Barton and Paul Millsap are fine GPP options.
5-star play: Derrick White, DeMar DeRozan, Jamal Murray
4-star play: Nikola Jokic
Deeper Value/FD Drop Candidate: Marco Belinelli, Bryn Forbes, Patty Mills
GPP Sleeper: Will Barton, Paul Millsap, LaMarcus Aldridge
Memphis Grizzlies @ Portland Trail Blazers
Vegas Total:
Vegas Spread:
Pace: Mem +2.9
Starting with the Grizzlies, Delon Wright and Tyler Dorsey are both in play now that Mike Conley is ruled doubtful for tonight. Jonas Valanciunas has also been ruled out, opening up a ton of minutes for a guy like Ivan Rabb. Rabb is grading out well in the Research Station, projected to 6.4x his Draftkings price tag. From the Blazers, Al-Farouq Aminu draws the best matchup as the Grizzlies rank 26th in defense against power forwards. Damian Lillard will continue to play minutes into the mid 30’s and take up most of the usage with CJ McCollum still out. He is a secondary play for me only because I don’t see how the Grizzlies keep this game close. Enes Kanter and Maurice Harkless are both secondary GPP plays for me.
5-star play: Ivan Rabb
4-star play: Delon Wright, Tyler Dorsey, Al-Farouq Aminu
Deeper Value/FD Drop Candidate: Ivan Rabb
GPP Sleeper: Enes Kanter, Maurice Harkless
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Utah Jazz @ Phoenix Suns
Vegas Total:
Vegas Spread:
Pace: Utah +0.4
You’ll see that most of the Jazz grade out very well in the Research Station, however, this game is going to blow out, it’s a strong stand, but there is no way the Suns hand in there tonight. The last time these two teams played, Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell were both held under 28 minutes. It’s a great matchup, but they’re just secondary GPP plays for me. One guy I have a lot of interest in is Jae Crowder, as Derrick Favors has been ruled out for tonight. Crowder is projected to 6.8x his Draftkings price tag. Some of the value guys could get some extra run here, guys like Royce O’Neale and Thabo Sefolosha make for intriguing GPP value options. Joe Ingles and Ricky Rubio are decent guys if you land on them as the last spot on your roster. From the Suns, Richaun Holmes will likely draw another start here. It’s not a great matchup, but I don’t mind going back to the well with DeAndre Ayton still out. I don’t mind going back to Devin Booker either, he’s going to continue to shoot and shoot and shoot. He’s more of a GPP play, but he’s usable for cash. Jamal Crawford has seen 30 minutes in three straight games and makes for a nice value option.
5-star play: Jae Crowder, Devin Booker, Richaun Holmes
4-star play: Joe Ingles, Ricky Rubio, Jamal Crawford
Deeper Value/FD Drop Candidate: Royce O’Neale, Thabo Sefolosha, Jamal Crawford
GPP Sleeper: Rudy Gobert, Donovan Mitchell
Houston Rockets @ Los Angeles Clippers
Vegas Total: 229.0
Vegas Spread: Lac -1.5
Pace: Hou +3.7
Starting with the Rockets, Clint Capela draws a great matchup here. The Clippers rank 29th in defense against opposing centers, he should have no problem destroying that frontcourt. James Harden has scored 63 Draftkings points against the Clippers this season, and I don’t mind him as a spend up option here. Eric Gordon, Danuel House, and PJ Tucker all provide decent value. Finally, Chris Paul is also a decent play as the Clippers rank 22nd against opposing point guards this season. From the Clippers, there really isn’t a whole lot that I like to be honest. Lou Williams has struggled in this matchup this year, averaging less than 30 Draftkings points per game. Montrezl Harrell and Danilo Gallinari have performed well in this matchup, and are secondary plays for me.
5-star play: Clint Capela, James Harden
4-star play: Chris Paul, Montrezl Harrell, Danilo Gallinari
Deeper Value/FD Drop Candidate: Eric Gordon, Danuel House, PJ Tucker
GPP Sleeper: Lou Williams
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