The NBA will embark on the last full week before the All-Star break with 10 games on the schedule Monday. That leaves us with a ton of options to wade through in DFS, so let’s highlight a couple that stand out at each position.
Read MoreNBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Recommendations for January 2 2020
There will be no shortage of action in the NBA on Thursday with nine games on the schedule. Injuries will once again play a key role, creating some interesting opportunities in DFS.
Read MoreNBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Recommendations for December 31 2019
With a few early games in the NBA on Tuesday, only four games will make up the main evening slate in DFS.
Read MoreNBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Recommendations for December 2 2019
We have a six-game slate in the NBA on Monday, so we don’t exactly have a bevy of options to choose from in DFS. A few teams will be playing the second leg of a back-to-back set, so we’ll have to monitor for possible rest days, as well.
Read MoreNBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Recommendations for November 13 2019
Get ready for a wild ride Wednesday. While there aren’t a ton of games, injuries and team’s resting star players are going to have a significant impact on the slate.
Read MoreNBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 12/10/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
Monday brings a bevy of options in DFS with 11 games on the NBA schedule. With so many choices to sift through, let’s get right down to business and highlight some of the better value plays at each position. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
POINT GUARDS
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, LAC at PHO
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $5,000
Gilgeous-Alexander has remained in the starting five, but he’s logged 24 minutes or fewer in three of the last four games. He scored eight points or fewer in each of those contests and may continue to see limited playing time with the Clippers backcourt completely healthy. However, the Suns are a mess right now and are stuck with Elie Okobo and De’Anthony Melton at point guard. Gilgeous-Alexander could receive some extra garbage time minutes in the likely event that this game becomes a blowout, making him someone to consider in tournament play.
Tomas Satoransky, WAS at IND
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,200
Satoransky has started each of the last four games for the Wizards, but his value Monday will largely be determined by the status of John Wall (heel). Wall is listed as doubtful, which could open up a significant role for Satoransky if he does ultimately sit. With Wall out Wednesday against the Hawks, Satoransky logged 38 minutes and scored 14 points to go along with four rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and one block.
SHOOTING GUARDS
Alec Burks, CLE at MIL
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $4,700
The Cavaliers traded away George Hill last week, Rodney Hood (foot) and David Nwaba (knee) are battling injuries, and J.R. Smith is still away from the team as they work on trading him. With so few options left to take the floor, Burks has been able to average 29 minutes a game since being acquired from the Jazz. He’s done nothing to lose any playing time moving forward, averaging 14.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and one steal per game. The Bucks play at the fifth-fastest pace (103.8 possessions per game) in the league, which could leave Burks with even more opportunities to provide value for your entry.
Josh Hart, LAL vs. MIA
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $4,100
Brandon Ingram (knee) is set to miss his third straight game Monday. In the previous two games that he was sidelined, Hart logged at least 36 minutes in both contests. He couldn’t get much going in Friday’s loss to the Spurs, but he scored 16 points to go along with four rebounds, two assists, three steals, and two blocks Saturday against the Grizzlies. Considering the Lakers play at the fourth-fastest pace (104), the added playing time provides Hart with a significant increase in upside.
SMALL FORWARDS
Juancho Hernangomez, DEN vs. MEM
FanDuel = $5,700
DraftKings = $4,700
There are not many healthy players left on the Nuggets. Not only has Hernangomez started each of their last 14 games as a result, but he’s logged at least 37 minutes in each of their last three contests. He came away with two double-doubles to go along with two steals and three blocks in those three games. His 13.6 percent usage rate leaves a lot to be desired, but his high minute’s floor still makes him a great option, especially at his price on DraftKings.
Bojan Bogdanovic, IND vs. WAS
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $5,700
Bogdanovic has been one of the main offensive weapons for the Pacers with Victor Oladipo (knee) out, averaging 19.1 points and 1.9 three-pointers across his last 10 games. His usage rate is up to 20 percent, which ranks him third-highest on the team among players who have played in at least 20 games. The Wizards allow the second-most points per game (116.7) in the league, leaving Bogdanovic with the potential for another strong offensive performance.
POWER FORWARDS
Trey Lyles, DEN vs. MEM
FanDuel = $5,600
DraftKings = $3,700
Among the aforementioned injuries on the Nuggets is Paul Millsap (toe), who missed his first game of the season Saturday. There is no timetable for his return, which should leave Lyles in line for significant playing time moving forward. Despite shooting 2-for-13 from the field Saturday against the Hawks, Lyles still finished with nine points to go along with 10 rebounds, one steal, and one block across 38 minutes. His price on FanDuel is climbing, but he can still be had at a significant discount on DraftKings.
Richaun Holmes, PHO vs. LAC
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $4,000
Holmes has established himself as a reliable backup to Deandre Ayton, averaging 10.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks across his last 11 games. Ayton missed Sunday’s practice with an illness, so his status is something to monitor leading up to tip-off. If he doesn’t play, Holmes will likely play significant minutes. Even if Ayton does play, this is still a good spot to deploy Holmes since the Clippers allow third-most DraftKings points per game and the seventh-most FanDuel points per game to opposing centers.
CENTERS
Bam Adebayo, MIA at LAL
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $5,800
Adebayo has started both of the last two games with Hassan Whiteside (out), averaging 18 points, nine rebounds, one block, and one steal. His success is not all that surprising since he has averaged 10.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, one steal, and 1.2 blocks across 10 games in which he has logged at least 20 minutes. Whiteside has already been ruled out Monday, so don’t hesitate to deploy Adebayo despite his increased price tag. Of note, he is only eligible at center on DraftKings as he is listed at power forward on FanDuel.
Mason Plumlee, DEN vs. MEM
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $3,900
Lyles is the main beneficiary of Millsap’s absence, but Plumlee could also see some added minutes for the Nuggets. Across eight games in which Plumlee has logged at least 20 minutes, he has averaged 11 points, 7.3 rebounds, two assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.5 blocks. The Grizzlies have a lot of size up front, which should also benefit Plumlee’s workload Monday. His FanDuel price isn’t terrible, but his dirt cheap price on DraftKings makes him an appealing tournament option.
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 12/5/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
Wednesday is shaping up to be an awesome night in the NBA with 10 games on the schedule. Not only is their a ton of top-tier talent to choose from, but there are also a lot of excellent cheap value plays. Here are a couple to consider at each position to help round out your lineup. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
POINT GUARDS
Jeremy Lin, ATL vs. WAS
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $4,900
The Hawks will be without Taurean Prince (ankle) for the at least the next three weeks, which is a huge loss since he has the fourth-highest usage rate (22.6 percent) on the team. There are several players who could see an increase in scoring with Prince out, including Lin. Lin actually already has a higher usage rate (23.2 percent) than Prince does, which has enabled him to maintain value despite coming off of the bench. His price is climbing, but Lin is still a viable option based on his role with the team.
Tim Frazier, NO vs. DAL
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $4,500
Frazier didn’t exactly shine with seven points, four rebounds, four assists, and one steal Monday against the Clippers, but he did log 29 minutes. That marked the third time in the last four games that he has spent at least 29 minutes on the floor. The Pelicans won’t count on him to score much, but he should continue to have the ability to rack up assists with so many talented players around him. It also helps that the Pelicans play at the third-fastest pace (104.5 possessions per game) in the league.
SHOOTING GUARDS
Kevin Huerter, ATL vs. WAS
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $3,700
Huerter had a hard time finding consistent playing time earlier in this season, but he’s started five straight games and logged at least 25 minutes in each of his last three contests. His role should be even more secure now with Prince out. His scoring numbers haven’t been stellar, but he has averaged nine points, 5.3 rebounds, four assists, and one steal across those three games. Both the Hawks and the Wizards are in the top-six in the league in pace of play, further strengthening a case to take a chance on Huerter in tournament play.
Alec Burks, CLE vs. GS
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,000
The Cavaliers don’t have a ton of talent, which has enabled Burks to immediately take on a significant role off the bench after being acquired from the Jazz. He’s made the most of his opportunity, averaging 13.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and one steal across three games. His usage rate is also 24.4 percent, so he could jack up plenty of shots Wednesday as the Cavaliers attempt to keep pace with the high-scoring Warriors.
SMALL FORWARDS
Juancho Hernangomez, DEN at ORL
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $4,400
Not only is Will Barton (groin) still on the sidelines, but the Nuggets will also be without Gary Harris (hip) for this contest. Hernangomez likely won’t see significantly more scoring opportunities even with Harris out, but he’s still a great option in DFS. Across 11 games as a starter, he’s averaging 12.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.2 three-pointers per contest.
Kelly Oubre Jr., WAS at ATL
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $4,600
The Wizards are thin up front with Dwight Howard (lower body) out, but it might be better if they just leave Oubre as a member of their second unit. He’s averaging 12.9 points and 4.5 rebounds a game coming off the bench compared to 9.9 points and 4.4 rebounds when he starts. Consistency is a concern with him, but considering how poorly the Hawks play, this might be the time to take a chance on Oubre in tournament play.
POWER FORWARDS
Serge Ibaka, TOR vs. PHI
FanDuel = $5,900
DraftKings = $5,800
This matchup between the Raptors and Sixers should be one of the best games of the night. They enter as the top two teams in the Eastern Conference and are separated by just three games. The acquisition of Jimmy Butler was huge for the Sixers, but it also left them with Wilson Chandler as their starting power forward. They don’t have great options behind him, either, potentially setting up Ibaka for a big performance.
Frank Kaminsky, CHA at MIN
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $3,700
Marvin Williams (shoulder) hasn’t been overly productive for the Hornets, but he has been starting and averaging 25 minutes a game. With him out for at least a week, a few players could be in line for added playing time. Miles Bridges might see the most significant jump, but don’t forget about Kaminsky, either. He’s only played at least 20 minutes in a game twice all season, but he averaged 15 points, four rebounds, and 1.5 assists in those contests. At near the minimum price, Kaminsky could be a gamble worth taking Wednesday.
CENTERS
Dewayne Dedmon, ATL vs. WAS
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $3,900
The Hawks don’t have a ton of talent, but they do have both Dedmon and Alex Len at center. They’ve eaten into each other’s fantasy value, but Len is starting to see his playing time dwindle lately. Dedmon tied his season high by playing 31 minutes Monday against the Warriors and finished with six points to go along with 10 rebounds, four steals, and one block. With Howard out of the picture for the Wizards, Dedmon could provide plenty of value if he’s given extended playing time again.
Jonas Valanciunas, TOR vs. PHI
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $4,300
The Raptors have been playing small lately, leaving Valanciunas to come off of the bench in each of their last four games. However, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him return to the starting five for this matchup against Embiid. Valanciunas has been much more productive as a starter, averaging 14.3 points and 8.4 rebounds across nine games. When these two teams met earlier this season, he scored 23 points and grabbed four rebounds over just 17 minutes.
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 12/3/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
The NBA starts off the week with seven games Monday, including a great matchup between the Nuggets and Raptors. Let’s dive right in and highlight some cheap value plays that could be difference makers for your lineup. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
POINT GUARDS
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, LAC at NO
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $5,500
This is a game to target tonight with both the Clippers and the Pelicans in the top-eight in the league in pace of play. Gilgeous-Alexander might not have the highest offensive upside, but his usage rate has increased from 15.6 percent when he was coming off of the bench to 18.9 percent since entering the starting five. He’s also been an asset defensively by averaging 1.1 steals and one block across his 13 starts.
Tim Frazier, NO vs. LAC
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $4,700
The Pelicans don’t have much of a choice but to play Frazier. The injury to Elfrid Payton (finger) has opened up an opportunity for him to take the floor and an injury to E’Twaun Moore (calf) has only made things worse for the Pelicans. Frazier isn’t much of a scoring threat, but he has averaged 8.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 10 assists over his last three games. His price is climbing, but he’s still a great cheap tournament play.
SHOOTING GUARDS
Damyean Dotson, NY vs. WAS
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,500
It’s hard to get a grasp on what the Knicks will do on a nightly basis. They have constantly changed up their rotations, making them a nightmare in DFS. Things could be a little less murky Monday with Trey Burke (knee) already ruled out. Dotson was already starting to find his way back into the rotation and even scored 21 points to go along with five rebounds and a steal across 33 minutes on Saturday against the Bucks. He’s certainly risky, but the absence of Burke leaves Dotson with some appeal.
Alec Burks, CLE at BKN
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $3,800
Burks was only averaging 16 minutes a game with the Jazz earlier this season, but he’s been able to average 25 minutes in his first two games with the Cavaliers. They are short on offensive options, so it’s not out of the question that he could continue to see this type of run. Not only did he score at least 13 points in both of his games with the Cavaliers, but he also grabbed 12 total rebounds. Dotson probably has the higher upside, but Burks is also someone to at least consider.
SMALL FORWARDS
Juancho Hernangomez, DEN at TOR
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $4,400
Will Barton (groin) is making positive steps towards a return, but he won’t be back for this contest. Hernangomez has helped stabilize the small forward position with Barton out, averaging 11.9 points and 7.1 rebounds a game as a starter. This might not be a high-scoring contest between two of the better defenses in the league, but that doesn’t mean you should pass on Hernangomez if you want to save money at small forward.
Kelly Oubre Jr., WAS at NY
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,300
Oubre has been extremely frustrating. He’s scored at least 18 points in a game six times, but also has 12 contests with nine points or fewer. He was starting recently with Dwight Howard (lower body) out, but the Wizards moved him back to the bench Saturday against the Nets. Rolling with Oubre is risky since the Wizards are still trying to figure out what works best without Howard, but his upside makes him an intriguing option.
POWER FORWARDS
Noah Vonleh, NY vs. WAS
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $5,300
Vonleh had never averaged more than 17 minutes a game during his career, but he’s averaging 25 minutes per contest in his first year with the Knicks. His usage rate is a minuscule 13.4 percent, but he’s a nightly threat for a double-double with averages of 8.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. With the Wizards dealing with depth issues up front, this could be a situation for Vonleh to thrive.
Jonas Jerebko, GS at ATL
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,200
The Warriors are running out of bodies up front. Draymond Green (toe) and Alfonzo McKinnie (foot) will remain out Monday and will now be joined on the sidelines by Damian Jones, who recently suffered a torn pectoral muscle. Jerebko isn’t going to get many shot attempts sharing the floor with Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Klay Thompson, but he is averaging 7.6 rebounds across his last eight games. The Hawks play at the fastest pace (106.9 possessions per game) in the league, which could afford Jerebko with even more opportunities to provide value.
CENTERS
Mason Plumlee, DEN at TOR
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $3,900
Plumlee is one of the better backup centers in the league, but that doesn’t really help him garner much playing time considering the Nuggets also have Nikola Jokic. Despite averaging just 17 minutes a game, Plumlee has still managed to salvage some value by averaging 6.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, two assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game. He’s really stepped up his defensive contributions of late, averaging 1.6 steals and 1.7 blocks across his last seven games.
Kevon Looney, GS at ATL
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $3,700
Another player who should benefit from all of the injuries to the Warriors is Looney. He, Jerebko and Jordan Bell are pretty much all they have left up front, although they can also play Kevin Durant there when they want to go small. The Hawks are an awful team, but they do have some size with Dewayne Dedmon, Alex Len, and John Collins. This game could also turn into a route early that leaves the Durant and the rest of the Warriors stars on the bench in the fourth quarter, which could lead to even more minutes for Looney.
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/1/17
*Mike Barner*
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/1/17
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POINT GUARDS
Russell Westbrook, OKC vs. MIN
FanDuel = $11,300
DraftKings = $11,400
Things are getting ugly in Oklahoma City as the Thunder are four games under .500. It’s still early, but they are currently on the outside of the playoffs looking in. Considering they added two All-Stars to their team, it would be a huge disappointment in the unlikely event that they actually don’t make it. Their problem has been lack of depth, which has lead to Westbrook still being extremely productive even with more talented players in the starting five. Westbrook’s 32.7% usage rate is sixth-best in the league and he’s coming off a season-high 37-point performance Wednesday against the Orlando Magic. Expect him to try and carry his squad to a win Friday.
Tomas Satoransky, WAS vs. DET
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $3,800
While Tim Frazier was expected to take over the bulk of the work when John Wall went down with an injury, it’s been Satoransky who stepped up to be the most productive point guard on the team. Satoransky has played at least 21 minutes in both of the last two games, averaging 9.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 7.0 assists. Considering he won’t cost you much, take a chance that he continues to outproduce Frazier again Friday.
SHOOTING GUARDS
Jrue Holiday, NO at UTA
FanDuel = $6,600
DraftKings = $6,200
There was concern that the return of Rajon Rondo would deal a significant blow to Holiday’s value as he wouldn’t have the ball in his hands as much. While his assist totals have definitely taken a hit, his scoring has increased as he has scored at least 18 points in four of his last five games. The Pelicans play at the seventh-fastest pace (102.2) in the league, helping to create more scoring opportunities for Holiday. At this reasonable price, his offensive upside makes him someone to consider for your lineup.
Alec Burks, UTA vs. NO
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,600
Burks provided tremendous value Thursday against the Los Angeles Clippers when he scored 28 points to go along with seven rebounds, five assists, three steals and one block in 29 minutes. With Rodney Hood out with an ankle injury, Burks was needed to help carry their offense. With Hood’s status uncertain for Friday, Burks presents another opportunity to provide value. Even if Hood does manage to play, Burks should get enough minutes to be an option for your entry as he has logged at least 20 minutes in seven of his last eight games.
SMALL FORWARDS
Otto Porter Jr., WAS vs. DET
FanDuel = $7,000
DraftKings = $6,500
The Wizards need Porter to provide offensive help with Wall out, but he put up a dud Wednesday against the Philadelphia 76ers when he scored only eight points. The good news is, he had 14 shot attempts in the game, so it was just a matter of being ice-cold from the field. He had scored at least 22 points in both of the previous two games, showing he is capable of providing the offense they need. This will be the second matchup between these two teams this season and Porter dominated in the first game, scoring 28 points to go along with nine rebounds, three assists, four steals and one block. Look for a rebound performance Friday.
Lance Stephenson, IND at TOR
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $4,500
Stephenson is finally starting to get consistent playing time as he has logged at least 22 minutes in six straight games. He has the ability to provide valuable all-around numbers as he is averaging 15.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists over his last four games. The Pacers play at the ninth-fastest pace (101) in the league, which fits well with Stephenson’s skillset. Considering his low floor relative to his price, Stephenson is worth considering again in this game.
POWER FORWARDS
LaMarcus Aldridge, SA at MEM
FanDuel = $8,900
DraftKings = $8,500
Aldridge just faced the Grizzlies Wednesday and dominated the game with 41 points, six rebounds, one assist, and one block. He continues to lead with the way with Kawhi Leonard out as his 28.3% usage rate is by far the highest on the team. He hasn’t put up these types of numbers since he was the main man on the Portland Trail Blazers, but there is no reason to believe he can’t keep rolling with Leonard out again Friday.
Kelly Olynyk, MIA vs. CHA
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $4,400
The Heat will be without starting center Hassan Whiteside due to a knee injury for one-to-two weeks, dealing a major blow to their frontcourt. Olynyk is one of the players left to pick up the pieces, although his style of game is vastly different from that of Whiteside. Olynyk has only averaged 19 minutes a game this season, but he has still managed to average a respectable 9.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 three-pointers per contest. With the likelihood of added minutes Friday, Olynyk results in an excellent value play.
CENTERS
Dwight Howard, CHA at MIA
FanDuel = $7,900
DraftKings = $7,500
Howard is playing at his best right now as he is averaging 19.7 points, 13.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks over his last six games. The move to Charlotte has done wonders for his career as his 25.1% usage rate is his highest since the 2011-12 season. With Whiteside out Friday, the Heat are going to have a hard time slowing down Howard. You don’t have to worry about his atrocious free-throw shooting in DFS, so get him in your lineup and enjoy the hefty double-double.
Bam Adebayo, MIA vs. CHA
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $4,100
Along with Olynyk, Adebayo should see increased minutes with Whiteside injured. He is likely better suited to defend Howard, so he could be in for big minutes. He played 30 minutes in the Heat’s last game Wednesday against the New York Knicks and finished with nine points, five rebounds, and two steals. There is potential here as he posted a double-double earlier this season in a game where he played 31 minutes against the Timberwolves. If you want to take a chance on a cheap center in tournament play, give Adebayo a shot.