Main Slate Breakdown for NBA DFS 02/10:
Feb 8, 2022; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Maxi Kleber (42) and guard Luka Doncic (77) celebrate during the second half against the Detroit Pistons at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
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 Mike 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!
Memphis Grizzlies @ Detroit Pistons
Vegas Total: 225.5
Vegas Spread: Mem -11.5
We’ll kick this slate off starting with the Grizzlies, Ja Morant will continue to look like a great option here in an awesome matchup with the Pistons. The price has climbed over the past couple of weeks, but it’s well warranted and he looks like a nice option here. The same can be said for Jaren Jackson Jr., he should be able to do whatever he wants on the wing and in the interior. Desmond Bane has been a bit more volatile as of late and would be a guy that I’m fine with if you land on him in this price range, but not a guy that I’m forcing in by any means. Then guys like Brandon Clarke and Steven Adams are fine secondary GPP options at the center position, they can both be volatile due to the minutes they play. From the Pistons, Cade Cunningham continues to be the most volatile DFS option in the league out of nowhere. In the past four games, he has two games with at least 59 DraftKings points, and in the other two games, he has less than 20 fantasy points… we’ll go ahead and leave him for GPPs. The frontcourt of this team will be interesting depending on if the Pistons are able to unload Jerami Grant before today’s Trade Deadline – keep an eye on our Breaking News Feed for updates surrounding that. Assuming he sticks with the team, he and Saddiq Bey both look like solid GPP options. I do like going back to Isaiah Stewart, his minutes have solidified with at least 29 in six straight games which helps his floor and ceiling. Then we can round out the Pistons with Hamidou Diallo has a secondary GPP option, my interest in him will depend on how the Pistons play the deadline as well.
5-star play: Ja Morant
4-star play: Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane, Jerami Grant, Isaiah Jackson, Cade Cunningham
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Brandon Clarke, Steven Adams, Cade Cunningham, Saddiq Bey, Hamidou Diallo
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Brooklyn Nets @ Washington Wizards
Vegas Total: 219.5
Vegas Spread: Was -3.0
Starting with the Nets, they’ll be a bit of a mess here as it’s expected that they’ll be active at the Trade Deadline today, so keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates surrounding this team. That being said, I don’t know that we’re really waiting on much news from them since they’ve already ruled James Harden out who is the main piece rumored to be on the move. With Harden and Kevin Durant off of the court this season Kyrie Irving has a 32.6% usage rate and 1.36 fantasy points per minute and looks like a nice option in a great matchup. Then, until we get more news the only other two guys I’ll like here are Patty Mills and Cam Thomas. Thomas has been in better form, but both look like nice options in a great matchup. From the Wizards, they’ll continue to be without Bradley Beal here until at least the All-Star break, and will be interesting what they’re able to pull off today as well with their main rumors being Spencer Dinwiddie and Montrezl Harrell being shopped. Assuming it’s just Beal off of the court today, here is how the team operates with him out this season:
- Spencer Dinwiddie – 25.1% usage rate; 1.11 fpm
- Montrezl Harrell – 23.9% usage rate; 1.17 fpm
- Kyle Kuzma – 26.3% usage rate; 1.13 fpm
These would be the main pieces I’m looking at from the Wizards but if you really want to narrow them down we can look right at Dinwiddie and Kuzma as the top options. Thomas Bryant returned last time out which pretty much makes this frontcourt a wasteland for the Wizards.
5-star play: Kyrie Irving
4-star play: Montrezl Harrell, Spencer Dinwiddie, Kyle Kuzma, Cam Thomas, Patty Mills
Deeper Value: Aaron Holiday
GPP Sleeper: Montrezl Harrell, Thomas Bryant, James Johnson, Nicolas Claxton
Miami Heat @ New Orleans Pelicans
Vegas Total: 217.0
Vegas Spread: Mia -4.5
Starting with the Heat, Jimmy Butler hasn’t been in the greatest form as of late but dropped 64 DraftKings points in this spot earlier this season and is a guy I like going to here. The price has come up on Bam Adebayo but for good reason, he’s been in great form and gets a pretty solid matchup here. Kyle Lowry is pretty “meh” for me, the minutes have come back up, but the production hasn’t blown us away. Tyler Herro has been pretty good as of late and I guy I don’t mind as a secondary option in all formats. Then Duncan Robinson will always be a fine GPP option if you think he knocks down his shots here. From the Pelicans, CJ McCollum is expected to make his Pelicans debut tonight as he was acquired from the Blazers. He will definitely demand more usage than Josh Hart did on this team so expect Brandon Ingram and these other guys to take a production hit… that being said, the Pelicans also shipped out a bit of a ball stopper in Nickeil Alexander-Walker, so I don’t think it will impact this team in a negative way all that much. I don’t think I want to jump right on McCollum right away just because I don’t know if he’ll get the same type of minutes he got in Portland, but a GPP option at the very least. The price tag on Jonas Valanciunas has come back down to a more playable range, but he just hasn’t been in great form and would be more of a tournament guy for me. It may be due to Jaxson Hayes starting next to him and taking away some of that normal big man usage. He has at least 26 minutes in five straight games and is a guy I like quite a bit here. Then Herbert Jones and Devonte’ Graham are solid secondary options at the very least to round this team out.
5-star play: Jimmy Butler, Jaxson Hayes
4-star play: Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, CJ McCollum, Brandon Ingram
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Kyle Lowry, Duncan Robinson, Jonas Valanciunas, Devonte’ Graham, Herbert Jones
Toronto Raptors @ Houston Rockets
Vegas Total: 226.0
Vegas Spread: Tor -8.0
Starting with the Raptors, this spot looks really nice for Pascal Siakam who has at least 50 DraftKings points in four straight games and is playing all of the minutes he can handle right now. The same can be said for Fred VanVleet and a lot of these Raptors starters, if you tell me I’m going to get 35+ minutes from legit producers against a bad Rockets team, I’ll take that all day long. So guys like Scottie Barnes, OG Anunoby, and Gary Trent Jr. will look good here as well. From Houston, Christian Wood will continue to be more of a tournament guy than anything due to the volatility he’s shown. That being said, this is a nice matchup against a pretty weak Raptors interior. Kevin Porter Jr. has been pretty solid as of late but can be a hard guy to trust and someone I would keep for tournaments as well. Jae’Sean Tate is never a sexy option but he’s fine here if you land on him as a “last-piece in” type play. Jalen Green has at least 32 minutes in four of his last five games and is intriguing to me, I like him for GPPs, but will be hard to trust in cash games. Lastly, Alperen Sengun has at least 25 minutes in four straight games and has a nice price tag here.
5-star play: Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet
4-star play: Gary Trent Jr., Scottie Barnes, OG Anunoby, Christian Wood, Kevin Porter Jr., Alperen Sengun
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Jae’Sean Tate, Jalen Green
I wanted to give a quick shoutout to VIP member “GhostfaceKillaa” on his $30k win earlier in the season. A pivot to Curry off the chalky Doncic was the key for him, congrats man!
Los Angeles Clippers @ Dallas Mavericks
Vegas Total: 216.0
Vegas Spread: Dal -7.0
Starting with the Clippers, Norman Powell hasn’t played more than 25 minutes in either of his games with the Clippers which is a long way from what he was playing with the Blazers. I’ll want to see those minutes come up before I go back to him, but I do think the two semi-blowouts had something to do with them. The Clippers do go deeper in their rotation than most teams, however. Reggie Jackson came down to Earth over his last two games but still a guy that I like going back to at this price tag in a good matchup with the Mavs. Marcus Morris is strictly a tournament guy due to what we saw last game from him, he’s capable of those kinds of games any time he touches the court. Then we can round this team out with Robert Covington and Serge Ibaka as solid GPP options as well. From the Mavs, Luka Doncic continues to be a great option with at least 65 DraftKings points in four of his last five games and a guy I’ll go right back to here with Kristaps Porzingis and Tim Hardaway off of the court again. Speaking of these two, Jalen Brunson benefits quite a bit from them being out, especially from a minutes perspective. That being said, he’s been a name rumored to be available at the Trade Deadline as well. Reggie Bullock has been a productive NBA player out of nowhere with the Mavs being banged up and is a fine secondary option if you land on him. The rest of this team isn’t all that appealing to me outside of Dorian Finney-Smith who is always in play if you need a filler piece.
5-star play: Luka Doncic
4-star play: Reggie Jackson, Robert Covington, Jalen Brunson
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Norman Powell, Marcus Morris, Serge Ibaka, Reggie Bullock, Dorian Finney-Smith
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New York Knicks @ Golden State Warriors
Vegas Total: 218.0
Vegas Spread: Gsw -9.5
Starting with the Knicks, it wouldn’t be the craziest thing if we saw Julius Randle move today at the Trade Deadline, but I would expect this team to do something, so keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed, but I’ll operate under the assumption that this team stands as is. Randle has been in better form as of late and this matchup sets up well for him, I have no issue going right back to him here. RJ Barrett can be volatile but the minutes should be there, he’s a solid GPP option in a pace-up spot. Evan Fournier continues to put up these 40 fantasy point nights every few games, he’s never a guy that I’ll prioritize but is a fine option for tournaments. Then Mitchell Robinson has at least 30 minutes in three straight games and coming off of a massive game last time out, I have no issue going right back to him either. From the Warriors, Klay Thompson will rest here which will open up usage for guys like Steph Curry, Andrew Wiggins, and Jordan Poole. Curry continues to be volatile and in a slow-paced matchup with the Knicks, I’ll likely go somewhere else in this price range. Wiggins and Poole both look like solid GPP options as well, but not guys you need to force in in this matchup. The Warriors aren’t a team that really jumps off of the page for me today.
5-star play: Julius Randle
4-star play: RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson, Steph Curry, Andrew Wiggins
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Evan Fournier, Mitchell Robinson, Andrew Wiggins, Jordan Poole
Milwaukee Bucks @ Phoenix Suns
Vegas Total: 233.5
Vegas Spread: Pho -3.5
Starting with the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo looks like one of the top spend-up options on the slate coming off of an 82 point fantasy night last time out against the Lakers. Assuming you can find the value to make him work in your lineup, you’re going to want him in an elite spot here. Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday both look like fine options here but have their ceilings capped when Giannis is out there, if I were to pick one it would be Holiday due to the fact that he racks up more blocks and steals that can help get you there. Bobby Portis has been in much better form as of late and a guy I like going right back to here. I do like the price tag on Grayson Allen if you need someone in the lower to mid-range. Then we can round this team out with Pat Connaughton and Donte DiVincenzo has GPP options. From the Suns, Chris Paul and Devin Booker have both been in great form and get a nice pace-up spot, they both look like awesome options tonight. I really like the price tag for Deandre Ayton but the minutes have been pretty volatile as of late. That said, outside of Giannis the Bucks don’t really have a big man to hang with him right now. Jae Crowder continues to play nice minutes and is a fine secondary tournament option if you happen to land on him.
5-star play: Giannis Antetokounmpo
4-star play: Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday, Bobby Portis, Chris Paul, Devin Booker
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Grayson Allen, Pat Connaughton, Donte DiVincenzo, Jae Crowder, Deandre Ayton
NBA Lock of the Day: (See the NBA Cheatsheets for My CORE PLAYS!)
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