Happy Friday everyone!
We wrap up another week of NBA DFS and inch that much closer to the NBA All-Star Break. This is the end of a second week doing the Value Index, so I hope you have enjoyed what you have read and have found the information to be helpful and profitable.
Today is a freebie for the Index, but remember that it will be premium content on Mondays and Tuesdays. If you have yet to become a subscriber, by all means, click this link and go from there. It’s really simple!
Tonight we have another huge slate of games, a perfect 10 to be exact! There is some injury news to keep in mind before lock (I feel like I say this to myself every night.). The Cavaliers also are facing Brooklyn, an opponent that could make it easier for Cleveland to rest a few guys though they have been reeling with 6 losses in their last 8 games. The Cavs might just play the role of bully tonight and make sure they get a win.
Anyway, keep all of that in your head as you start to build rosters, but also please keep this little write up in mind when making lineup selections.
Point Guard
Goran Dragic – Miami Heat – vs. Chicago Bulls – $7,500
Analysis: Hassan Whiteside’s availability might be the biggest injury news we could be waiting for come lock time. While Whiteside has hit a wall with his recent fantasy production, the Heat are already shorthanded, leaving other members of the team to pick up the usage and minutes. I like Goran Dragic to eat up those minutes against the 7th overall team in fantasy points allowed to PGs. Dragic paid off for us last time, and tonight should be no different against a weak Bulls’ backcourt.
Shooting Guard
Dwayne Wade – Chicago Bulls – vs. Miami Heat – $7,000
Analysis: I’ll admit, I’ve missed out on the recent elevated spike in production from Dwayne Wade and now we have seen his price hit the $7K range. I don’t know what that will do for ownership tonight, but Wade has been taking over point guard duties for the last few games and has put up at least 20 shots attempts in his past 3. Wade can still stuff the stat sheet and have a high usage rate due to the new assignment. He’s a must play in cash games, I feel.
Small Forward
Carmelo Anthony – New York Knicks – vs. Charlotte Hornets – $7.200
Analysis: This is a weird pick for me (as I usually avoid Knicks at all cost). A couple of nights ago we see Melo’s price rise to $8000. Now after two solid performances, Carmelo’s price drops to the near $6K range? Very strange, especially having the highest usage rate on the team against the Hornets, who have allowed 43.5 fppg to SFs this season. Melo also is at home where he averages nearly 7 more fantasy points per game. Solid cash game play with upside for tournaments.
Power Forward
DeMarcus Cousins – Sacramento Kings – vs. Indiana Pacers – $11,000
Analysis: Normally I won’t pick a stud if the slate is short, but when there’s a bigger slate and more superstars to choose from, I think it’s viable to at least share who I think is the best stud on the slate. For this entry, Boogie is that guy. He’s still fairly cheap, and he’s got a great matchup. If you haven’t figured out that you target bigs against Pacers, then etch this into your memory: Play bigs against the Pacers. Boogie should eat again in this matchup after he put up more than 60 in these two teams’ last meeting.
Center
Joel Embiid – Philadelphia 76ers – vs. Houston Rockets – $8,400
Analysis: We are supposed to finally have an Embiid sighting today, so keep your fingers cross that this is true and fire him up against Houston. People might be afraid of Embiid because of his reduced minutes, but his usage rate is so high that he should eat against the Rockets, who have given up 61.4 fantasy points per game.to centers in their last 5 contests. I’ll take my 40-45 points and move along.
