As always, make sure to check for the latest injury news and lineup changes.
CENTER
Andre Drummond (DET) $8,900 DK / $9,300 FD
Tyson Chandler is a plus defender, but I’m not sure that affects Drummond all that much. The Suns play at a quick pace, which means lots of opportunities for rebounds as well as points in transition. He’s one of my favorite plays of the night.
Brook Lopez (BKN) $6,800 DK / $7,900 FD
Should be in for a good night with the Lakers in town. Despite the addition of Roy Hibbert, the Lakers have been giving it up to opposing centers. Can be used in cash or tournaments.
Value Plays: Ian Mahinmi (IND) $3900 DK / $4,500 FD, Dwayne Dedmond (ORL) $3,000 DK / $3,700 FD
POWER FORWARD
I hate this position tonight… so this is more of a best of the worst.
Julius Randle (LAL) $6,400 DK / $5,700 FD
I like his price on FD so much more. Mainly looking at him for his upside.
Thaddeus Young (BKN) $5,600 DK / $5,600 FD
This is a safer, lower-upside pick. He doesn’t have to do too much to make value, but he rarely goes above and beyond. Will add some consistency while boosting the floor of your cash game lineups.
Value Plays: Clint Capela (HOU) $3,700 DK
GPP Plays: Kenneth Faried (DEN) $6,700 DK / $6,900, Jabari Parker (MIL) $3,800 DK
SMALL FORWARD
Marcus Morris (DET) $6,100 DK / $5,800 FD
Revenge game in Phoenix. He HATES the Suns, and he will almost assuredly be forcing action. He’s been getting a ton of minutes and a fair amount of shots.
DeMarre Carroll (TOR) $5,800 DK / $6,000 FD
I like his match-up with the Magic. He’s a jack of all trades, and that type of player tends to do well against Orlando.
Evan Fournier (ORL) $5,200 DK / $5,500 FD (*SG)
He’s going to be very popular. His numbers are a little overstated, as he has played in three overtimes so far, and I very much doubt he’ll continue to get the shots and minutes he’s been getting. That said, just use him for the block in cash while considering other alternatives in GPPs.
Jae Crowder (BOS) $4,500 DK / $4,700 FD
The opposing Wizards have entered into a new era of pace and space, and tonight’s total reflects that (a whopping 210). Should be a close a close game (BOS -1.5) with Crowder seeing around 32 minutes. I expect him to pay off his price, and he has 35-40 point upside.
GPP Plays: LeBron James (CLE) $9,900 DK / $10,100 FD, Aaron Gordon (ORL) $4,000 DK / $4,100 FD (*PF)
SHOOTING GUARD
Bradley Beal (ATL) $6,600 DK / $7,400 FD
I mentioned the high total and close spread above. Given the match-up, I think his price might be too good to pass up. He’s roughly $1k less than Oladipo and $1k more than Middleton (note: no one knows how the Milwaukee minutes are going to shake out tonight). Beal does have a tendency to disappear from time-to-time, so maybe that makes him more of a GPP play, but I have no problem using him in all formats.
Value Plays: Marcus Thornton (HOU) $4,000 DK / $4,100 FD, Tyler Johnson (MIA) $3,000 DK / $3,800 FD (*PG)
GPP Plays: James Harden (HOU) $10,000 DK / $9,800 FD, Victor Oladipo (ORL) $7,700 DK / $8,000 FD, Nik Stauskas (PHI) $4,100 DK / $3,900
POINT GUARD
John Wall (WAS) $9,100 DK / $9,500 FD
Wall is my favorite play of the night, and save for a couple of random GPPs, he’s in every one of my lineups. Marcus Smart is out, and Isaiah Thomas is going to play a ton of minutes. Avery Bradley has been a little banged up, and he can only cover one of Wall or Beal. There’s so much to like about the Washington back court tonight.
Isaiah Thomas (BOS) $6,800 DK / $7,300
We all know he can fill it up, and with Smart out, he’s going to see an increased workload. It’s going to be tough for him going up against Wall, but I think he’ll be able to overcome by sheer volume alone (minutes, possessions, shots, etc.). Has legitimate 50+ point upside.
T.J. McConnell (PHI) $4,000 DK / $4,200 FD
It’s chalk, and it tastes so good. I recommended him as a GPP play on Wednesday before he was announced as the starter (after noticing coach Brett Brown’s affinity for McConnell leading up to the game and anticipating a shift in minute distribution), and moved him in to every single one of my teams after hearing the news. He was a rebound away from a REB/AST double-double in his first start, so that should give you some idea of his fantasy potential. He’s an assist machine with the potential for 12-15 points and 5+ rebounds every time out. Something else to consider, especially with respect to using him on FanDuel, is that he turned it over only once despite playing 35 minutes and racking up 12 assists last game. He’s the anti-Mudiay.
Value Plays: Jarrett Jack (BKN) $5,700 DK / $6,100 FD
GPP Plays: Stephen Curry (GSW) $10,300 DK / $10,900 FD, Reggie Jackson (DET) $7,500 DK / $8,000 FD, Rajon Rondo (SAC) $5,900 DK / $6,100 FD, Lou Williams (LAL) $4,900 DK / $5,200 FD (*SG)
Good luck!
oreo
