We will have plenty of action in the NBA on Tuesday with nine games on the schedule.
Read MoreNBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 4/10/19
The long grind that is the NBA regular season comes to an end with Wednesday’s 11-game slate. Let’s try to end things on a high note by discussing some appealing cheap options who could thrive.
Read MoreNBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 3/26/19
Get ready for a wild night in the NBA with 10 games on the schedule Tuesday. When you factor in all of the injuries across the league and teams resting players, there are a ton of viable cheap value play options. Let’s highlight a couple at each position that stand out as having favorable opportunities to be productive.
Read MoreNBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 3/21/19
We have another busier than normal Thursday in the NBA with six games on the schedule tonight. There are plenty of bad teams in action and injuries continue to pile up across the league, which leaves plenty of viable cheaper options to choose from in DFS.
Read MoreNBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 2/27/19
Wednesday will be action-packed in the NBA with 11 games on the schedule. That leaves us with a ton of cheap value play options to wade through. Without further ado, here are a couple that stand out as great options at each position.
Read MoreNBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 2/25/19
The NBA starts off the final week of February with 11 games on the schedule Monday. That leaves us with plenty of cheaper value play options to wade through in DFS. We’ll make that task a little easier for you by highlighting a couple of players at each position with particularly appealing matchups.
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Who’s ready for a busy nine-game Friday in the NBA? If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed by all of the options in DFS, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Let’s highlight a couple of cheaper value plays worth targeting at each position.
Read MoreNBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 2/13/19
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
We have plenty of action in the NBA on Wednesday with 11 games on the schedule. That also means a lot of cheap value players to wade through. Le’ts highlight a couple at each position who stand out as having favorable matchups. 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
Landry Shamet, LAC vs. PHO
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $4,000
Shamet hasn’t started in either of his first two games with the Clippers, but he’s certainly made an impact off of the bench by averaging 16 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals. The key is that he logged 27 and 33 minutes, respectively, in those contests. Considering the Suns allow the third-most points per game (115.8) in the league, Shamet stands out as a tournament play option with upside to target at point guard.
Kadeem Allen, NY vs. PHI
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,100
With Emmanuel Mudiay (shoulder) and Frank Ntilikina (groin) out, there has still been significant playing time available for Allen despite the addition of Dennis Smith Jr. at the trade deadline. Allen has cashed in his minutes by averaging 19.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, six assists and 1.5 steals over his last two games. The Sixers play at the seventh-fastest pace (102.6 possessions per game) in the league, so Allen could provide value once again in this contest based on his increased role.
SHOOTING GUARDS
Dion Waiters, MIA at DAL
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $4,300
After the Heat traded away Tyler Johnson and Wayne Ellington, Waiters has found his way into the starting five. The role has suited him so far with him averaging 15.7 points, 2.3 rebounds and four assists. He’s not just a token starter, either, since he logged at least 30 minutes in all three contests. He’s never one to shy away from taking shots, so he’s intriguing in DFS as long as he remains a starter.
Jaylen Brown, BOS vs. DET
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $5,100
The key here will be if Kyrie Irving (knee) plays or not. He sat out Tuesday’s game against the Sixers and with the All-Star break approaching, it wouldn’t be surprising if he sits this one out. If he does, Brown should see an increase in scoring opportunities. Across the previous six games that Irving has missed, Brown has averaged 18.3 points, six rebounds and one steal. Even though his performance against the Sixers was underwhelming Tuesday, his track record indicates he could provide value.
SMALL FORWARDS
Mikal Bridges, PHO at LAC
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $4,800
The Suns will remain shorthanded with T.J. Warren (ankle) and De’Anthony Melton (ankle) still sidelined. Tyle Johnson (ankle) is also listed as questionable. Bridges has been thriving with added playing time, averaging 13.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.6 steals over his last seven games. The Clippers play at the ninth-fastest pace (102.2), leaving Bridges with the potential for another valuable stat line.
Joe Harris, BKN at CLE
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $4,600
The Nets remain in the thick of things in the Eastern Conference as they currently occupy the sixth seed. Harris is not a flashy name, but he’s been a key reason for their success. He’s a lethal three-point shooter, which has propelled him to averaging 16.8 points across his last six games. The Cavaliers allow the second-highest three-point shooting percentage (37 percent) in the league, so Harris has the potential to go off in this contest.
POWER FORWARDS
Dario Saric, MIN vs. HOU
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $4,600
Saric has finally overtaken Taj Gibson as the starter at power forward. Gibson was a favorite of former coach Tom Thibodeau’s, but Saric has a higher upside at this stage of his career. In a start Monday against the Clippers, Saric scored 19 points to go along with eight rebounds, two assists and two steals across 33 minutes. The previous game in which he logged at least 30 minutes, Saric scored 22 points and had seven rebounds and five assists. Don’t hesitate to take advantage of his new role by deploying him at this reasonable price.
Al-Farouq Aminu, POR vs. GS
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $4,500
DeMarcus Cousins (rest) will not play in this game, which should make things easier for Aminu and the Blazers’ frontcourt. Aminu hasn’t provided eye-popping stats in three previous meetings against the Warriors this season, but he’s played well with averages of 9.3 points and 8.7 rebounds. It also helps his cause that the Warriors play at the 10th-fastest pace (101.8), so don’t be surprised if he at least approaches a double-double.
CENTERS
Mitchell Robinson, NY vs. PHI
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $4,100
DeAndre Jordan was averaging 31 minutes a game as a member of the Mavericks. He’s remained a starter for the Knicks, but he’s only averaging 27 minutes a night since joining the team. That’s partly because of the Knicks’ desire to develop Robinson. Robinson has certainly earned the right to stay in the rotation, averaging 9.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks across his last eight games. If this game gets out of hand, he could see even more minutes in garbage time.
Ivica Zubac, LAC vs. PHO
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,000
Zubac has had mixed results in his first two games with the Clippers. He stormed out of the gate with 12 points, nine rebounds and three blocks Saturday against the Celtics. He followed that up with a dud against the Timberwolves on Monday in which he scored three points and grabbed just one rebound. The difference was he played 23 minutes against the Celtics and just 15 against the Timberwolves. Considering how cheap he is, it might be worth taking a chance on him receiving more minutes Wednesday, especially since the Suns allow the sixth-most Yahoo points per game (39.3) to opposing centers.
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.
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 2/11/19
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
Monday brings a busy night in the NBA with nine games on the schedule. Without further ado, let’s dive in and highlight a couple of cheap value plays at each position that stand out as having favorable matchups. 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
Collin Sexton, CLE vs. NY
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $4,900
The Cavaliers have wasted no time getting Sexton involved in his rookie season, resulting in him averaging 30 minutes a game. Expect that number to be on the rise after the trade deadline saw them ship away Rodney Hood and Alec Burks. He’s averaging 23.3 points, four rebounds and 3.7 assists across his last three games and has an excellent opportunity to be productive again Monday versus a Knicks team that has their own depth chart problems at guard.
Patrick Beverley, LAC at MIN
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $5,100
With Tobias Harris no longer in town, Beverley is lined up to remain in the starting five. It’s a role that has suited him since he’s averaged 11.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.3 steals across his last 12 games. With the Clippers playing at the ninth-fastest pace (102.3 possessions per game) in the league, don’t hesitate to add Beverley to your entry based on his reasonable price on both sites.
SHOOTING GUARDS
Jordan Clarkson, CLE vs. NY
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $5,200
Not only are the Cavaliers thin at guard without Hood and Burks, but they were also two of their better offensive players. That leaves Clarkson with even more scoring responsibilities. With averages of 19 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists across his last six games, Clarkson is an intriguing option despite his lack of defensive contributions.
Luke Kennard, DET vs. WAS
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $3,900
Things were looking up for Kennard when the Pistons traded away Reggie Bullock and Stanley Johnson. However, even without them on the roster, Kennard came off of the bench Friday against the Knicks. The good news is that he attempted 13 shots across 29 minutes. Unfortunately, he made just four of them. To complicate matters, the Pistons have now signed Wayne Ellington after he was bought out by the Suns. That’s not encouraging for Kennard’s long-term value. On the bright side, the Wizards play at the eighth-fastest pace (102.4) and Kennard should still see added playing time Monday. He’s someone to at least consider in tournament play, especially at his cheap price on DraftKings.
SMALL FORWARDS
Bojan Bogdanovic, IND vs. CHA
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $5,800
The Pacers have picked themselves up after losing Victor Oladipo (knee) for the season, winning five straight games. Bogdanovic has been on fire during that stretch, averaging 24.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.2 steals. The key to his offensive explosion is that he averaged 16.8 shot attempts per game in those contests compared to 12.2 for the season, overall. As long as he’s putting up shots at this rate, he’s going to provide increased value.
Jabari Parker, WAS at DET
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,600
Talk about two contrasting prices. Parker isn’t all that cheap on DraftKings, but he’s close to the minimum price on FanDuel. He’s finally getting to play again after being traded away from the Bulls and has shown he can still be very productive. He could receive even more playing time Monday if Jeff Green (hip) is unable to take the floor. He’s a lock for me on FanDuel, but don’t shy away from him on DraftKings, either.
POWER FORWARDS
Al-Farouq Aminu, POR at OKC
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $4,400
Aminu has had plenty of success against the Thunder this season, averaging 10 points, 14 rebounds and three assists across their first two meetings. Things should be even easier for him in this game with Jerami Grant (ankle) already ruled out. That could leave him with a very favorable matchup against Patrick Patterson, who hasn’t been productive even in the few games in which he has seen added playing time this season.
Dario Saric, MIN vs. LAC
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,400
This game might favor Saric over Taj Gibson. The Clippers play at a fast pace and play small with Danilo Gallinari starting at power forward. Gibson is a good defender, but chasing Gallinari around the three-point arc is not exactly ideal for him. Saric has had a couple of strong stat lines of late, including a 22-point performance against a tough Grizzlies’ defense last week. Stay away from Saric in cash games, but he could be worth the risk in tournament play, especially at his price on FanDuel.
CENTERS
Dwight Powell, DAL at HOU
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $4,800
The addition of Kristaps Porzingis (knee) is huge for the Mavericks’ future, but the trade left them extremely thin up front for the rest of this season. The trade of Harrison Barnes to the Kings further complicated matters. Powell is now left as one of the key players to help hold down the fort. He’s managed to turn his increased playing time into averages of 10.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 0.8 steals and one block across his last five games. The Rockets don’t have much size up front, so this could be a matchup to take advantage of.
Ivica Zubac, LAC at MIN
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,000
The Clippers clearly prefer to bring Montrezl Harrell off of the bench. Considering how well he’s playing, that’s not a bad thing. Zubac started in his first game since being acquired from the Lakers and scored 12 points to go along with nine rebounds and three blocks over 23 minutes. Harrell should continue to see the bulk of the playing time at center, but Zubac shouldn’t be overlooked at this cheap price.
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.
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 10/16/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
After an eventful summer that saw stars like LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard change teams, the NBA season tips off with a two-game slate Tuesday. Normally we highlight cheaper sleeper plays that could help you cash in DFS. However, since there are only two games to select from, we’ll take a look at some of the better options available across the entire price scale. 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
Stephen Curry, GS vs. OKC
FanDuel = $9,600
DraftKings = $8,600
The Warriors made a big splash in free agency by signing DeMarcus Cousins. Cousins has traditionally been among the league leaders in usage rate, but he’s obviously never been surrounded by such elite scoring talent. It will be interesting to see how his addition impacts the rest of the All-Stars on the team, but that’s of no concern Tuesday as Cousins continues to work his way back from a torn Achilles. Curry’s 30.6% usage rate was 10th-highest in the league last season and the Warriors played a the fifth-fastest pace (100.4 possessions per game), so expect him to have plenty of opportunities to contribute in their opener.
Markelle Fultz, PHI at BOS
FanDuel = $5,700
DraftKings = $5,000
Fultz’s rookie campaign was nothing short of a disaster. The top pick in the draft played only 14 games due to injury and worked extensively to try and correct his shooting woes. In something you don’t really see in the NBA, the Sixers used Fultz in the starting lineup to begin games during the preseason but brought him off the bench in the second half. They have confirmed they will also deploy this strategy Tuesday, so expect Fultz to play somewhere around the 23 minutes per game that he averaged across the preseason. His upside isn’t very high, but if you want to go cheap at point guard, he’s at least someone to consider based on his new role.
SHOOTING GUARDS
Dennis Schroder, OKC at GS
FanDuel = $6,100
DraftKings = $6,300
The addition of Schroder could prove to be significant for the Thunder. He was stellar for the Hawks last year, averaging 19.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.1 three-pointers per game. Expect those numbers to decline playing alongside Russell Westbrook and Paul George, but Westbrook might not play in this contest as he recovers from knee surgery. If he indeed sits, George is going to need all the help he can get to keep up with the Warriors high-scoring offense, so expect Schroder to be productive.
Andre Iguodala, GS vs. OKC
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,000
The Warriors could be forced to play a lot of small lineups Tuesday. Not only is Cousins out, but Draymond Green is likely going to be on a minutes limit as he battles a knee injury. The Warriors don’t have much size behind Green, so expect Iguodala to be heavily involved. Although Iguodala likely won’t be counted on to provide much scoring, that doesn’t mean he can’t provide value at this price in tournament play.
SMALL FORWARDS
Paul George, OKC at GS
FanDuel = $9,000
DraftKings = $8,000
The star trio of George, Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony didn’t work for the Thunder last year. With Anthony now a member of the Rockets, George and Westbrook will have to shoulder even more of the scoring load. George was already extremely productive last year by averaging 21.9 points per game, but his 25.7% usage rate was his lowest mark since the 2012-13 season. He’s going to get all the shots he can handle if Westbrook is sidelined, but he’s a great option even if Westbrook manages to take the floor.
Robert Covington, PHI at BOS
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $4,700
Covington sometimes gets lost behind Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, but his ability to shoot three’s and play defense are critical for the Sixers. His offensive ceiling is capped playing with those two stars, but he did average 12.6 points and 2.5 three-pointers per game last season. The Sixers are going to be somewhat thin at small forward with Wilson Chandler out due to a hamstring injury, which opens up the door for Covington to provide added value.
POWER FORWARDS
Dario Saric, PHI at BOS
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $5,500
Saric made significant improvements offensively last season. After shooting 41.1% from the field and 31.1% from behind the arc during his rookie season, he shot 45.3% from the field and 39.3% on three-pointers last year. His ability to create spacing is key, especially with Simmons’ limited range. He averaged 30 minutes a night and should have a similar role this season, leaving him one of the better options at possibly the thinnest position of the night.
Jerami Grant, OKC at GS
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $4,300
The loss of Anthony has created a hole at power forward for the Thunder that will be filled by the combination of Grant and Patrick Patterson. Neither played heavy minutes consistently last year, but Grant possessed the better per-36 minutes averages of 14.9 points, seven rebounds, and 1.7 blocks. He may be better suited in this game to play against the lengthy, athletic wings for the Warriors and won’t cost much more than the minimum on both sites, so he might be worth taking a flier on.
CENTERS
Joel Embiid, PHI at BOS
FanDuel = $10,400
DraftKings = $8,800
Embiid only played in 63 games during the regular season last year, but he was a monster when he was on the court. His 33.5% usage rate was not only the highest on the team, but it was the third-highest in the league behind only James Harden and Westbrook. He wasn’t just about scoring, though, averaging 11 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.8 blocks per contest. The Celtics are a tough defensive team, but Embiid averaged 23 points, 14 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game against them in the playoffs last year.
Steven Adams, OKC at GS
FanDuel = $6,900
DraftKings = $5,800
The Thunder had very little size outside of Adams last year, leading to him averaging a career-high 33 minutes per contest. He cashed in his opportunity, averaging 13.9 points, nine rebounds, 1.2 steals and one block. His 55.9% free-throw percentage left a lot to be desired if you played in a season-long league, but that’s of no concern in DFS. This could be a matchup to exploit against the Warriors with Green potentially limited and few quality options behind him at center, although you will need to monitor Adams’ status since he is listed as questionable with a stiff lower back. If he doesn’t play, pivot to Nerlens Noel.