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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I’ll start by saying that the Breaking News Feed will be your best friend today. There will be stars sitting today and guys getting the day off for rest, take advantage of that feed!!!!
Full Court Press:
Atlanta Hawks @ Milwaukee Bucks
Vegas Total:
Vegas Spread:
Pace: Mil +1.0
Neither team here has anything to play for, so keep that in mind, we may get some resting players from the Bucks. Starting with the Hawks, both John Collins and Trae Young are questionable right now. I’ll go under the assumption that they are in, but remember to have that Breaking News Feed open and have the slack chat open near lock. John Collins draws the best matchup here, as the Bucks rank 23rd in defense against opposing power forwards. Trae Young’s price is a little high for me but is averaging 43 Draftkings points against the Bucks this season. Taurean Prince has been playing pretty consistent basketball as of late, he’s not my favorite play, but if you fall on him don’t avoid it. Other than that, we will have to keep an eye on who is out in order to determine some value guys. From the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo sat last night and Khris Middleton had his minutes monitored, they have the number one seed all locked up, so there is no reason for them to play tonight. However, until they’re ruled out, I’ll operate as if they’re playing, Giannis is the only one with a questionable tag. Eric Bledsoe would be the biggest beneficiary if one or both of them sit. The Hawks rank dead last in defense against opposing point guards on the season. Bledsoe also dropped 63 fantasy points with Giannis off the court last night. Pat Connaughton and Sterling Brown will pick up minutes tonight, and make for very solid mid-range options. Finally, Brook Lopez is a GPP flyer. On the outside chance that Middleton and Giannis do suit up, I’m not playing them, as there is no way they play their regular minutes.
5-star play: Eric Bledsoe
4-star play: John Collins, Trae Young, Taurean Prince, Pat Connaughton, Sterling Brown
Deeper Value/FD Drop Candidate: Depends on who sits from both sides
GPP Sleeper: Brook Lopez
Phoenix Suns @ Houston Rockets
Vegas Total: 224.5
Vegas Spread: Hou -18.5
Pace: Hou +2.4
This game doesn’t mean a lot for either team, other than the Rockets solidifying their three seed. Starting with the Suns, they have four guys projected to at least 5.6x their Draftkings price tag…
Josh Jackson and Jamal Crawford are my favorites of the group, as they provide the most upside. We saw this in their last game when Jackson dropped 60 fantasy points and Crawford dropped 47. Bridges and Daniels are certainly viable as mid to low-end value plays. Richaun Holmes is currently questionable if he plays I like him as well. If Holmes ends up sitting, Ray Spalding shoots himself into a top value play as well, he scored 50 fantasy points in their last game. From the Rockets, we will need to be careful, once this game gets out of reach there will be no reason for them to run their stars out there. With that said, Clint Capela draws the best matchup, as the Suns rank 28th in defense against opposing centers. Kenneth Faried may be blowout proof here and is very cheap if you want to take a shot there. Eric Gordon is right around that price range as well and has a very solid floor. I’ll probably avoid James Harden and Chris Paul today, knowing they will be the first ones to hit the bench when this one gets out of hand.
5-star play: Josh Jackson, Jamal Crawford, Clint Capela
4-star play: Mikal Bridges, Troy Daniels, Kenneth Faried, Eric Gordon
Deeper Value/FD Drop Candidate: Ray Spalding, Troy Daniels
GPP Sleeper: James Harden, Chris Paul
Orlando Magic @ Boston Celtics
Vegas Total: 216.5
Vegas Spread: Bos -5.0
Pace: Orl +1.6
This is one of the games on the slate where both of these teams have something to play for and will have full incentive to run their guys out there. The Magic need to win to stay in the 7/8 seed, while Boston needs to win to stay in the four seed. Starting with the Magic, they draw a very tough matchup, and really the only guy I have interest in is Nikola Vucevic. He is averaging 44 Draftkings points per game against the Celtics this season. Look for him to shoulder the load today. From the Celtics, Kyrie Irving feels underpriced and has averaged 45 Draftkings points per game in two games against the Magic this season. Marcus Smart is grading out as a nice point per dollar play in the Research Station, I don’t hate it if you want to go there. Jayson Tatum and Al Horford are both secondary plays for me, both have solid floors and decently sized upside.
5-star play: Nikola Vucevic, Kyrie Irving
4-star play: Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, Marcus Smart
Deeper Value/FD Drop Candidate: None
GPP Sleeper: None
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Washington Wizards @ New York Knicks
Vegas Total: 226.0
Vegas Spread: Was -4.0
Pace: NY +1.6
Obviously, neither of these teams have nothing to play for, but we do need to be careful with Bradley Beal. The Wizards have started to decrease his minutes a bit, he’s still a fine GPP play, but I don’t think we need to go there in cash games. My favorite play here is Thomas Bryant, as the Knicks rank 25th in defense against opposing centers. Not only that, but the Wizards are going to give him all the minutes he can handle to see if they have anything in their young center. Troy Brown should see minutes into the upper 30’s with Trevor Ariza and potentially Jabari Parker still out. Sam Dekker is a fine value play if and only if Jabari is out, keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed. While Bobby Portis is a secondary play for me. From the Knicks, Mitchell Robinson is projecting to go over 6x his Draftkings price tag in the Research Station. He has been very consistent since receiving the starting job and has huge upside with his blocks potential. He is one of my favorite plays on the slate. Damyean Dotson and Kevin Knox both draw great matchups, as the Wizards rank dead last against wing players, they are both solid GPP options.
5-star play: Thomas Bryant, Mitchell Robinson
4-star play: Troy Brown, Bobby Portis, Damyean Dotson, Kevin Knox
Deeper Value/FD Drop Candidate: Sam Dekker (If Jabari is out)
GPP Sleeper: Bradley Beal, Damyean Dotson, Kevin Knox
Los Angeles Clippers @ Golden State Warriors
Vegas Total: 235.0
Vegas Spread: GS -11.5
Pace: GS +0.8
This game doesn’t mean a whole lot, other than potential seeding jockeying. Starting with the Clippers, JaMychal Green is projecting to go over 7x his Draftkings price tag in the Research Station. He is a very solid value play if you fall in that price range. Lou Williams is averaging 40 Draftkings points per game against the Warriors this season, I like him quite a bit here. Landry Shamet makes sense as a GPP value play, but I assume better plays will open up. Montrezl Harrell’s price has come down and will receive extra minutes if Danilo Gallinari sits, I like him here as well. From the Warriors, DeMarcus Cousins is simply too cheap on Draftkings and should be a staple to your lineup. Both Steph Curry and Kevin Durant draw great matchups, I’ll side with Durant as he has averaged 63 Draftkings points per game in three games against the Clippers this season. Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are cheaper ways to get exposure to this team/game and have a decent amount of upside.
5-star play: Lou Williams, DeMarcus Cousins, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry
4-star play: Montrezl Harrell, JaMychal Green, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green
Deeper Value/FD Drop Candidate: Landry Shamet, JaMychal Green
GPP Sleeper: None
Denver Nuggets @ Portland Trail Blazers
Vegas Total: 218.5
Vegas Spread: Por -3.0
Pace: Den +1.4
You’re going to be able to find a lot of value with the Nuggets, as they will be resting Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Paul Millsap. They have five guys projected to go over 6x their Draftkings price tag in the Research Station…
All of these guys make for phenomenal value plays and it’s tough to say a bad thing about them in all honesty. It will just depend on what price range you fall in and what position you end up needing. From the Blazers, Maurice Harkless and Al-Farouq Aminu both draw great matchups as the Nuggets rank 26th in defense against opposing SF/PF. Damian Lillard still sees a phenomenal usage rate with CJ McCollum off the floor this season, however, McCollum has been ruled probable for tonight’s game, so now is a good time to jump off that wagon.
5-star play: Trey Lyles, Gary Harris, Will Barton, Monte Morris, Mason Plumlee
4-star play: Al-Farouq Aminu, Maurice Harkless
Deeper Value/FD Drop Candidate: Trey Lyles, Gary Harris
GPP Sleeper: Enes Kanter, Damian Lillard
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New Orleans Pelicans @ Sacramento Kings
Vegas Total: 235.0
Vegas Spread: Sac -9.0
Pace: Sac +0.1
Starting with the Pelicans, Elfrid Payton played 43 minutes in their last game, if he is going to get that type of minutes again he becomes one of my favorite plays. Anthony Davis is listed as probable, for whatever that is worth. Ian Clark has been producing well over his past few games, I don’t mind taking a shot on him in GPPs. Christian Wood only played 16 minutes in his last game, he was able to muster up 25 Draftkings points, but at his price tag, the minutes are concerning. From the Kings, they draw a great matchup all around. They also have a number of guys projected to go over 6x their Draftkings price in the Research Station…
I don’t have an issue with using any of these guys, they all have great matchups and should get good minutes. Harrison Barnes is my least favorite of the group, simply because the upside really isn’t there. Buddy Hield and Nemanja Bjelica are also in play as elite GPP plays.
5-star play: Elfrid Payton, De’Aaron Fox, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Willie Cauley-Stein, Buddy Hield
4-star play: Ian Clark, Christian Wood, Nemanja Bjelica, Harrison Barnes
Deeper Value/FD Drop Candidate: None
GPP Sleeper: Buddy Hield, Nemanja Bjelica
Utah Jazz @ Los Angeles Lakers
Vegas Total:
Vegas Spread:
Pace: Utah +3.1
The Jazz can move up to the four seed in the Western Conference if the season ends the right way for them. With that said, I don’t expect the Lakers to be able to keep this one close. The Jazz have had cake walks of matchups recently so we can use their previous games for ideas on how the minutes will play out. They recently blew out the Kings and Suns and for the most part, their starters got their usual minutes, so I don’t think we need to worry about that here. Donovan Mitchell is my favorite play here, the Lakers rank 20th in defense against opposing shooting guards and Mitchell has gone for at least 45 Draftkings points in four straight games. Derrick Favors is still out and Jae Crowder is questionable, keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates on him, as it affects some value guys if he is ruled out. Rudy Gobert also draws a great matchup, as the Lakers rank 24th in defense against opposing centers. From the Lakers, they’re running out some guys you probably have never heard of before like Jemerrio Jones, Isaac Bonga, etc. Jones actually grades out pretty well in the Research Station, he’s scored at least 20 Draftkings points in two straight games and makes for a nice value play in GPPs. Mike Muscala and JaVale McGee draw tough matchups, but both have been playing well to a point where you can consider them. If I told you Alex Caruso scored 60 Draftkings points in his last game would you believe me? Well he did, and he’s playing great basketball right now, you can certainly play him here. Rajon Rondo and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are both elite GPP plays and secondary cash options.
5-star play: Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Govert, Alex Caruso, JaVale McGee
4-star play: Rajon Rondo, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Deeper Value/FD Drop Candidate: Jemerrio Jones, Mike Muscala
GPP Sleeper: Rajon Rondo, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
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