Main Slate Breakdown for NBA DFS 4/4:

Welcome to another year of the DFS Army NBA Full Court Press! Members had a ton of success using the Full Court Press along with various articles and tools that DFS Army provides last season, so we are glad to be back with another year of the all-inclusive article. You have to start your research somewhere, and oftentimes 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!

I want to give a quick shoutout to VIP Member “TheSoprano12” on their $100,000 win earlier this season!! Better go buy a Boban jersey after that one!

Early Slate:

Brooklyn Nets @ Chicago Bulls

Vegas Total: 225.0

Vegas Spread: Bkn -2.5

We’ll kick this slate off with the Nets who will be without James Harden and Kevin Durant here, so we can load up on some Kyrie Irving! Let’s run some data with these two off the court this season:

• Kyrie Irving – 35.9% usage rate; 1.63 fpm
• Joe Harris – 20% usage rate; 1.02 fpm
• Chris Chiozza – 22.2% usage rate; 1.10 fpm

Of these three my favorites would be Irving and Joe Harris, but we didn’t have a big enough sample size to look at guys like Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge. Aldridge looked great in his first game as a Net going for 37.75 DraftKings points, he’s a strong play on a short slate. Griffin looked good last time out as well in limited time, you can go back to him at this price tag as well. From the Bulls, they’re just not a team I’m getting all that much of as of late with the acquisition of Nikola Vucevic. That being said, the price on Vuc and LaVine has come down a nice amount. It’s a really small sample size (66 minutes to be exact), but Zach LaVine has just 06.2 fantasy points per minute with Vuc on the court. Obviously, this will come up but it just goes to show that he’s going to take a bit of a production hit. Thad Young continues to produce nicely and his price has come below $6k, I like him in a great matchup. Lastly, Lauri Markkanen is really cheap her but he’s also been pretty volatile as of late. Given the size of this early slate, he makes sense as a GPP guy though.

5-star play: Kyrie Irving, LaMarcus Aldridge

4-star play: Joe Harris, Blake Griffin, Bruce Brown, Nikola Vucevic, Zach LaVine, Thad Young

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Lauri Markkanen, Chris Chiozza, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan

Los Angeles Lakers @ Los Angeles Clippers

Vegas Total: 211

Vegas Spread: Lac -10.0

Starting with the Lakers, Kyle Kuzma should continue to see heavy minutes while LeBron and Davis are out, he’s a solid option in a pace-up spot for the Lakers. Montrezl Harrell came down to Earth last game with just 17 minutes. Andre Drummond comes into this one as questionable and could hurt his minutes a bit, so keep an eye on his status. Dennis Schroder has at least 40 DraftKings points in four of his last five games and is a guy that has shown some consistency with AD and LeBron out. Other than that, I guess you can take a shot on Markieff Morris, but it’s basically just those three for me. From the Clippers, they’re always a treat on Sundays due to resting guys, so keep a close eye on the status of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. If they both play then they’re solid plays on a short slate. Ivica Zubac should continue to start at the five with Serge Ibaka out, it’s a tough matchup with Marc Gasol in there but he won’t play nearly enough minutes to impact Zubac all that much. Then you can round this team out with GPP guys in Terance Mann, Reggie Jackson, and Marcus Morris.

5-star play: Kawhi Leonard, Paul George

4-star play: Kyle Kuzma, Dennis Schroder

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Montrezl Harrell, Markieff Morris, Terance Mann, Reggie Jackson, Marcus Morris

Charlotte Hornets @ Boston Celtics

Vegas Total: 216.0

Vegas Spread: Bos -9.0

Starting with the Hornets, Malik Monk and Gordon Hayward are out for this one, so let’s take a look at some data with them and Ball off the court this season:

• Terry Rozier – 33.7% usage rate; 1.15 fpm
• Devonte’ Graham – 25% usage rate; 0.91 fpm
• PJ Washington – 20.7% usage rate; 0.81 fpm
• Miles Bridges – 21.2% usage rate; 0.89 fpm

It’s a really small sample size with all these guys off the court, so don’t look too deep into those stats. Miles Bridges is really intriguing to me, he should see a good chunk of extra minutes and is coming off a 46 point fantasy game last time out in 31 minutes. I like him a good amount here. From the Celtics, Jaylen Brown comes into this one as questionable so keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates surrounding him. I’m going to operate under the assumption that he plays here and is a solid GPP guy. Jayson Tatum has at least 45 DraftKings points in three of his last five games and is a solid option here as well, he should do what he wants in this one. Kemba Walker continues to look solid, but I just don’t see the upside at this price range, I don’t see him going out there and dropping a 45-50 point game with consistency. Robert Williams has been great since getting this starting center job, he has at least 32 DraftKings points in four straight games and this is an elite matchup against a weak frontcourt. Evan Fournier bounced back last game going for 28 DraftKings points, he’s a fine option but would be more in play if Brown ends up missing. Lastly, Marcus Smart is a solid last piece for all formats at this price tag.

5-star play: Miles Bridges, Jayson Tatum

4-star play: Terry Rozier, Devonte’ Graham, PJ Washington, Jaylen Brown, Robert Williams, Kemba Walker

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: PJ Washington, Cody Martin, Evan Fournier

Main Slate:

Memphis Grizzlies @ Philadelphia 76ers

Vegas Total: 226.5

Vegas Spread: Phi -3.5

Starting with the Grizzlies, Ja Morant has been really up and down as of late, which hurts him as a cash game guy. I’ll leave him for GPPs due to the volatility and the tough matchup. Jonas Valanciunas has been in great form as of late and I’m not expecting Embiid to play on the other side of this one as the Sixers play on the second half of a back-to-back, I’m good with Joe Val for GPPs. Dillon Brooks threw up a dud last time out in just 24 minutes, normally I don’t have much interest in him but due to the size of the slate, he’ll likely make my player pool. Kyle Andreson is another guy I don’t play all that often but he’s a solid option as well, he’s been getting solid run. The rest of this team is really just GPP flyers for me, they go pretty deep. From the Sixers, as I mentioned I don’t think Joel Embiid will play here, but keep an eye on that Breaking News Feed nonetheless for updates. Ben Simmons has been less than impressive from a fantasy perspective as of late. We know the triple-double upside is there with him though, so he’s a solid GPP option in this range. Tobias Harris looked great last night against the Wolves, I’ll go right back to him here especially if Embiid misses. Dwight Howard is only in play for me if Embiid is out, then he would become a solid option in all formats due to the minute’s security. Lastly, I’m good with a little Shake Milton for GPPs as well, he has at least 25 DraftKings points in two straight.

5-star play: None

4-star play: Ja Morant, Jonas Valanciunas, Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Dwight Howard, Shake Milton, Kyle Anderson, Dillon Brooks

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Golden State Warriors @ Atlanta Hawks

Vegas Total: 226.5

Vegas Spread: GSW -1.5

Starting with the Warriors, Steph Curry ended up missing the last game but returned from injury before that game and looked solid. He scored at least 51 DraftKings points in back-to-back games since returning. Andrew Wiggins is priced up but he has at least 46 DraftKings points in three of his last five games, I just can’t stomach this tag on him. Draymond Green is much worse when Curry is off the court, so he’s a welcome sight for Green, he comes in as questionable but is a solid option if he plays. Kelly Oubre Jr. is more of a GPP option in hopes he can get hot from the field, right there with James Wiseman who struggled last game but is going to be volatile this season, so it’s to be expected. From the Hawks, we’ll need some injury news in this one, Trae Young comes in as questionable after missing their last game, Danilo Gallinari comes in as questionable as well. If Young plays, he’s a solid option, but if he sits we can go right back to the well on guys like Lou Williams and Bogdan Bogdanovic who filled in for these injured guys on Friday night. Clint Capela is another guy I’ll go back to with John Collins out he sees a boost in that frontcourt. Then you can round this team out with Kevin Huerter as a GPP guy.

***The below assumes Trae Young is out***

5-star play: Steph Curry, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Clint Capela

4-star play: Draymond Green, Lou Williams, Kevin Huerter

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Kelly Oubre, Danilo Gallinari

New Orleans Pelicans @ Houston Rockets

Vegas Total: 222.5

Vegas Spread: Nop -5.5

Starting with the Pelicans, this is another spot where we will need some news on some guys. Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and Lonzo Ball are all listed as questionable after missing the last couple of games. The bench filled in really nicely for them as well and would be great plays again here… so be sure to check out that Breaking News Feed for news and updates on who sees the biggest boost on this team when we find out who is in and who’s out. From the Rockets, John Wall and Eric Gordon will continue to be out here. With these guys off the court this season Kevin Porter Jr. has a 28.9% usage rate and 1.12 fantasy points per minute. Christian Wood also looks good from a point-per-minute view as well coming in at nearly 1.3 in a great matchup against a Pelicans team that isn’t playing any sort of defense. Then guys like Jae’sean Tate and Kelly Olynyk are more GPP options than anything, but still in play due to the size of the slate.

***We will need news on the Pelicans, so leaving them off the below***

5-star play: Kevin Porter Jr., Christian Wood

4-star play: Jae’sean Tate, Kelly Olynyk

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Jae’sean Tate, Kelly Olynyk, Danuel House

Orlando Magic @ Denver Nuggets

Vegas Total: 213.5

Vegas Spread: Den -16.5

We end the slate with an ugly one, the Nuggets should boat race the Magic here, but we’ll get started with Orlando. Terrence Ross is going to be the scorer they lean to here, but he’s so scoring dependent that it’s hard to trust him in anything more than a GPP. Dwayne Bacon continues to see big minutes but at this price tag, it’s tough to like him all that much, another GPP only guy for me. Wendell Carter Jr. has at least 31 minutes in back-to-back games and scored at least 40 DraftKings points in each of them. It’s not a great matchup at all, but I think this Magic team is just going to be blowout-proof for the rest of the season. I do like Chuma Okeke at this price tag however, he has at least 30 DraftKings points in four of his last five games and is actually a decent basketball player which is a rarity on this Magic team. From the Nuggets, Nikola Jokic is going to be your spend-up option on the slate, he should do whatever he wants in this one so we may just have to jam him in. Jamal Murray should have no issue finding some production as well, he has at least 37 DraftKings points in three of his last four and seeing huge minutes. Michael Porter Jr. continues to be a very consistent option, ever since the all-star break you can basically pencil him in for 30+ DraftKings points. Aaron Gordon had his best game as a Nugget last time out going for 40.5 DraftKings points. He’s more of a GPP option due to how volatile he’ll be, he’s their fourth option on offense opposed to being number two in Orlando. Lastly, Will Barton is in that same GPP boat, no issue with getting to him here.

5-star play: Nikola Jokic

4-star play: Terrence Ross, Chuma Okeke, Wendell Carter Jr., Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr.

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Terrence Ross, Dwayne Bacon, Will Barton, Aaron Gordon

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NBA Lock of the Day: Cheat Sheets

We’re waiting on some pretty substantial injury news with teams like the Pelicans and Hawks that will change the way we look at the slate, so I’m going to keep the lock of the day for VIP Members so grab that promo code below and come join us! The lock of the day in our Cheat Sheets/Coaches Notes for tonight, as we know news tends to pop up out of nowhere on these big slates, come join us! These notes include a Core, player ranks, and tiers notes, so come check them out! Tweet me (@MadnessDFS) your lock predictions and if your player gets over 5x tonight I’ll give you a shoutout on Twitter, let’s have some fun with this!

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