NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 4/4/19
Thursday will be a tricky night in NBA DFS with only three games on the schedule. That doesn’t leave us with a lot of cheap value play options, but let’s highlight those who are on the board that could be viable targets. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our NBA Lineup Optimizer to help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
POINT GUARDS
Alex Caruso, LAL vs. GS
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $4,700
The Lakers have been a team to target since they were eliminated from playoff contention. With LeBron James shut down and so many other players out for the year with injuries, their bench players have been given an opportunity to shine. Caruso hasn’t been the most consistent option, but his expanded role has enabled him to average 11.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.6 steals across his last 11 games.
Quinn Cook, GS at LAL
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,200
This game has blowout written all over it, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see a few of the Warriors’ reserves provide added production in garbage time. Cook could be one of those players, especially with Shaun Livingston ruled out for rest. With the Warriors blowing out the Hornets on Sunday, Cook played 23 minutes and finished with 21 points, four rebounds and four assists. Rolling with Cook is risky, but he could also provide significant returns at his cheap price on both sites.
SHOOTING GUARDS
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, LAL vs. GS
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $5,700
Caldwell-Pope has become one of the main weapons for the Lakers down the stretch, averaging 18.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals across his last 12 games. He’s even started each of their last six contests, averaging 33 minutes a night during that stretch. Both the Lakers and the Warriors are inside the top-10 in the league in pace of play, leaving Caldwell-Pope with an excellent opportunity to shine on the offensive end.
Pat Connaughton, MIL at PHI
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $4,900
There is a chance that Khris Middleton (groin) will return for this contest after missing back-to-back games. However, with Malcolm Brogdon (foot), Nikole Mirotic (thumb) and Tony Snell (ankle) all out, there is still plenty of added playing time for Connaughton. Even though his numbers don’t jump off the page, he’s been a viable DFS option with averages of 10.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and one steal across his last 12 games.
SMALL FORWARDS
Cedi Osman, CLE at SAC
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $5,400
The key with Osman will be to monitor the status of Kevin Love (shoulder), who is in danger of missing his third straight game. With the Cavaliers having nothing left to play for, it makes no sense to play Love if he’s not completely healthy. His absence could leave an expanded role for Osman, which would be crucial because the Kings play at the third-fastest pace (104 possessions per game) and allow the fifth-most points per game (114.9) in the league.
J.J. Redick, PHI vs. MIL
FanDuel = $5,600
DraftKings = $5,600
This is another game to closely monitor for injury updates. The Sixers can’t move up in the Eastern Conference standings and have a three-game lead in the loss column over the Celtics and the Pacers for the third seed, so they don’t really have anything left to play for. This is the second night of a back-to-back set, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see Jimmy Butler sit out. He’s been dealing with a back injury of late and played 34 minutes Wednesday. The status of Joel Embiid (rest) is also up in the air after he sat out three straight contests. If both players don’t take the floor, that should lead to added scoring opportunities for Redick.
POWER FORWARDS
Jonah Bolden, PHI vs. MIL
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $4,600
Another player who would likely benefit from Embiid sitting out is Bolden. He’s started each of the last three games, averaging 11.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, one steal and 1.7 blocks. Both of these teams are inside the top-seven in the league in pace of play, so any added minutes for Bolden would increase his upside. However, if Embiid does play, avoid Bolden at this price.
Jonas Jerebko, GS at LAL
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,200
For those playing on FanDuel, the cheap power forward options are not that appealing. If you are determined to save money at the position, Jerebko might not be a crazy option to deploy. If this game gets out of hand, he is likely going to be on the floor a lot in the second half. He also chipped in nicely in that blowout win against the Hornets, registering 12 points, six rebounds, three steals and a block across 15 minutes.
CENTERS
Brook Lopez, MIL at PHI
FanDuel = $6,600
DraftKings = $5,900
The addition of Lopez during the offseason may be one of the most underrated moves in the league. His ability to stretch the floor has been key for the Bucks and has resulted in him averaging a whopping 2.4 three-points a game. If Embiid doesn’t play, he could provide a significant matchup problem for Bolden and Boban Marjanovic. Even if Embiid does take the floor, Lopez is a reliable option to target at center.
Moritz Wagner, LAL vs. GS
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,200
The Lakers have been shorthanded up front with Kyle Kuzma (ankle) out their last two games, That has resulted in added opportunities for Wagner, who started and averaged 8.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in those contests. If Kuzma isn’t completely healthy, don’t expect the Lakers to push one of their young building blocks to play. With cheap center options few and far between on a three-game slate, Wagner is at least in the discussion for tournament play.
Author Bio:
Mike has been covering fantasy sports since 2007, joining Lineup Lab in 2017. An avid player of both season-long fantasy leagues and DFS, Mike’s work has appeared on numerous sites, including RotoWire, SportsLine and Sports Illustrated. He’s also been featured on DraftKings’ nightly show, The Sweat, and was a finalist for the 2018 FSWA Basketball Writer of the Year award. Follow Mike on Twitter @rotomikebarner.