With a busy 11-game slate in the NBA on Monday, we have a bevy of options to choose from in DFS.
Read MoreNBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 4/2/19
Tuesday doesn’t bring a ton of action in the NBA with just four games on the schedule. There are still some positions that have excellent cheaper options, but there are others where it might be wise to allocate a larger portion of your budget.
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 3/14/19
Thursday’s are usually tough to find cheaper value plays, but we have a busier than normal six-game slate tonight. There is a ton of top-tier talent on the board, so luckily there are still a couple of cheap options at each position to help balance out your budget.
Read MoreNBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 3/6/19
We have plenty of action in the NBA on Wednesday with 10 games on the schedule. That leaves us with a ton of cheaper value play options to wade through. Here are a couple that stand out at each position as having particularly favorable matchups.
Read MoreNBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 2/26/19
It’s going to be a quiet Tuesday in the NBA with only three games on the schedule. That doesn’t leave us with many viable cheap value play options, so we’ll have to move a little higher up on the price scale than normal to find some players with value..
Read MoreNBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 2/6/19
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
The hot topic in the NBA is Thursday’s trade deadline. Some keys moves have already been made with potentially more in the works. While we wait to see things unfold, we have seven games to select cheap value plays from Wednesday. 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
Bryn Forbes, SA at GS
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $4,300
The Spurs are the poster child for cheap value plays Wednesday. Not only will they be missing three players from their depth chart, but they are three of their best ones in DeMar DeRozan (rest), LaMarcus Aldridge (rest) and Derrick White (heel). On the offensive end, those three average a combined 52.1 points per game. Forbes’ average of 12.1 points per game ranks fourth on the team behind DeRozan, Aldridge and Rudy Gay (14.2), so expect him to see more shot attempts in this game.
Patty Mills, SA at GS
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,200
Mills enters this contest having averaged 13.3 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and one steal across his last seven games. He can score in bunches, so he too should be tasked with helping to offset the absences of DeRozan and Aldridge. The Warriors play at the 10th-fastest pace (101.8 possessions per game) in the league, which should also help increase Mills’ upside.
SHOOTING GUARDS
Malik Beasley, DEN at BKN
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $5,700
The Nuggets have already ruled out Gary Harris (groin) on Wednesday, which should leave Beasley with another start. They could also be without Jamal Murray (ankle) and Paul Millsap (ankle), who are both listed as questionable. With Beasley averaging 20.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals across his last seven games, look for him to once again cash in on his added playing time.
Marco Belinelli, SA at GS
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,000
The veteran Belinelli is only averaging 22 minutes a game, which would be his lowest mark since the 2014-15 season. Ironically, that was the final season of his first stint with the Spurs. His overall numbers don’t stand out, but he has been more productive lately by averaging 14.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists across his last 13 games. Despite his lack of defensive contributions, he’s yet another Spur worth considering in tournament play.
SMALL FORWARDS
Darius Miller, NO at CHI
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $4,800
The Pelicans have the ability to change the landscape of the league by trading away Anthony Davis (finger). While they continue to field offers, they’ve kept Davis on the sidelines despite a recent report that he’s healthy enough to play. With Davis, Nikola Mirotic (calf), Julius Randle (ankle), Elfrid Payton (ankle) and E’Twaun Moore (quadriceps) all potentially out again, Miller should receive plenty of playing time. That’s key considering the Pelicans play at the sixth-fastest pace (103.1).
Davis Bertans, SA at GS
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,100
Yes, I’ve mentioned a lot of Spurs. But their situation Wednesday presents an opportunity to pounce on. Bertans already started their last game Monday against the Kings and scored 11 points to go along with eight rebounds, two assists and a steal. In another start last week against the Suns, he recorded 18 points, five assists, four steals and a block. It’s hard to pass him up at this cheap price on both sites.
POWER FORWARDS
Marvin Williams, CHA at DAL
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $4,900
The Hornets looked to be closing in on a trade for Marc Gasol on Tuesday, but that deal has reportedly fallen apart. The two teams might still try to make a deal work, which could have a significant impact on the Hornets’ depth chart Wednesday. As long as Williams isn’t dealt, he’s someone to target against a Mavericks team that has very little size up front after their trade with the Knicks.
Kenrich Williams, NO at CHI
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $5,000
As long as the Pelicans remain shorthanded, Williams is a great option to consider. He’s logged at least 30 minutes in each of their last four games, which helped him to average 12.3 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and one block during that stretch. The Bulls are about as big of a dumpster fire as there is in the league right now, so expect Williams to at least approach a double-double again in this contest.
CENTERS
Mason Plumlee, DEN at BKN
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $4,400
Plumlee started in place of Millsap against the Pistons on Monday and came through with 15 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and two steals across 33 minutes. That leaves him with averages of 10.3 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists over four games in which he has played at least 30 minutes. Even if Millsap does return, Plumlee could provide value in a bench role since the Nets allow the second-most DraftKings points per game and the third-most FanDuel points per game to opposing centers.
Jakob Poeltl, SA at GS
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,200
Ok, this is the final player on the Spurs that I’ll talk about. I promise. With Aldridge out, Pau Gasol and Poeltl will be left to carry the load at center. Gasol has logged at least 20 minutes in a game only two times over the last month, so don’t expect him to all of a sudden spend a ton of time on the floor. If this game were to be a blowout, that would also work in Poeltl’s favor since Gasol would likely be on the bench a lot in the second half. At such a cheap price, Poeltl could be a difference maker in 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 ESPN Radio and DraftKings’ nightly show, The Sweat.
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 2/4/19
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
There’s not a lot of action in the NBA on Monday with just six games on the schedule. However, with several teams battling injuries, there are still a lot of great cheap value play options. Let’s highlight a couple at each position that could prove to be profitable. 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
Tim Frazier, NO vs. IND
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $3,900
With the trade deadline coming up this week, the Pelicans aren’t going to push any of their best players to rush back from injury. Elfrid Payton (ankle) will sit out once again, leaving a significant void at point guard. Frank Jackson has started three straight games with Payton sidelined, but Frazier has also seen an expanded role off the bench. Frazier averaged 7.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 8.7 assists and one steal across those three contests and is a great option despite this matchup against a tough Pacers’ defense.
Patty Mills, SA at SAC
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,100
Derrick White (heel) is going to sit out Monday, leaving the starting point guard spot up for grabs on the Spurs. Even if Mills doesn’t get the nod, he is going to see added playing time either way. The majority of Mills’ contributions come from the scoring column, which isn’t bad news for his prospects in this game considering the Kings play at the second-fastest pace (104.2 possessions per game) and are tied for the fourth-most points allowed per game (114.9) in the league.
SHOOTING GUARDS
Monte Morris, DEN at DET
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $6,000
Morris has started each of the last three games for the Nuggets with Jamal Murray (ankle) on the sidelines. To say he’s made the most of those starts would be an understatement considering he averaged 18.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 1.7 steals. If Murray is out again Monday, Morris makes for a great option despite his increasing price tag.
Malik Beasley, DEN at DET
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $5,500
Murray hasn’t been the only injured member of the Nuggets’ backcourt with Gary Harris (groin) also sidelined their last two games. However, unlike Murray, Harris has already been ruled out Monday. That should leave plenty of playing time for Beasley, who has averaged 14.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists across 35 games in which he has logged at least 20 minutes this season. His upside isn’t as high as Morris’ if Murray is out, but at his reduced price, Beasley is also an appealing option.
SMALL FORWARDS
Mikal Bridges, PHO vs. HOU
FanDuel = $5,700
DraftKings = $4,400
The Suns have a lot of wing players, but their positional log jam has been freed up a bit with T.J. Warren (ankle) and De’Anthony Melton (ankle) on the shelf. Elie Okobo has been starting in place of Melton at point guard, but Bridges has logged at least 35 minutes in all four games since Melton went down. Bridges has been extremely productive during that stretch, averaging 14.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.3 steals.
Darius Miller, NO vs. IND
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $4,800
Miller is another player who has benefited from the massive amount of injuries on the Pelicans. He’s been forced to start four of their last five games, leaving him to average 15.3 points, four rebounds, three assists and 1.5 steals across those four contests. Considering the Pelicans play at the fifth-fastest pace (103.1) in the league, Miller should receive enough opportunities to provide value based on his expanded role.
POWER FORWARDS
Jeff Green, WAS vs. ATL
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $4,900
This is an extremely appealing game from a DFS perspective. Both the Wizards and Hawks are in the top-nine in pace of play and both allow at least 115.6 points per game. Keeping those stats in mind, you want to try and target a couple of the cheaper options in this game for your lineup. Not only is Green averaging 15.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists across his last 10 games, but he also averaged 17 points, 6.5 rebounds and four assists in two previous meeting with the Hawks this year.
Kenrich Williams, NO vs. IND
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $4,300
Things are so bad on the injury front for the Pelicans that their undrafted rookie Williams has been forced to log extended minutes. It’s hard to argue with the results, though, since he has averaged 13.7 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and one block across their last three games. With so few healthy options to push him for playing time, taking a chance on him continuing his recent run of success is not a crazy idea in tournament play.
CENTERS
Brook Lopez, MIL at BKN
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $5,400
Targeting centers who face the Nets is usually a wise strategy since they allow the second-most DraftKings points per game and the third-most FanDuel points per game to the position. Lopez exploded for 24 points the first time these two teams met this season, which was a game played in Milwaukee. Look for him to shine once again in his return to his old stomping grounds in Brooklyn.
Dewayne Dedmon, ATL at WAS
FanDuel = $5,700
DraftKings = $5,600
Dedmon is playing well heading into this contest with averages of 13.3 points, seven rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks over his last seven games. This is another great matchup for him, especially with the Wizards’ lack of size up front. The only cause for concern with Dedmon is that the Hawks are likely shopping him with the trade deadline approaching Thursday. Just be sure to monitor the news leading up to this game to make sure he hasn’t been dealt yet.
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 ESPN Radio and DraftKings’ nightly show, The Sweat.
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 1/28/19
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
Monday doesn’t bring a ton of action in the NBA with only five games on the schedule. However, with so many teams dealing with injuries, there are actually a lot of cheaper value plays worth considering. Here are a couple at each position who could provide value. 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
Shabazz Napier, BKN at BOS
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $4,600
The Nets are in a tough spot with Caris LeVert (foot) and Spencer Dinwiddie (thumb) on the shelf. To make matters worse, Joe Harris (hip) is listed as questionable for Monday. They don’t have much of a choice but to give Napier more playing time. He logged 28 minutes against the Knicks on Friday and he finished with 18 points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal. His final line could have been even better if he wasn’t just 3-for-13 from the field. This isn’t a great matchup against a good Celtics’ defense, but Napier’s increased role warrants adding him to your lineup.
Trey Burke, NY at CHA
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $4,200
The Knicks are dealing with their own injury issues. Emmanuel Mudiay (shoulder) is already hurt and now Frank Ntilikina (groin) went down Sunday. With such a quick turnaround, don’t expect him to play in this contest. Burke is one of the few healthy point guards they have left, so expect him to receive more playing time in this matchup. He’s already scored at least 16 points in both games since Mudiay went down, so he could provide value at his cheap price on both sites.
SHOOTING GUARDS
Allonzo Trier, NY at CHA
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $5,300
Recommending players on the Knicks can be tricky. They change their rotations so often that it’s hard to get a gauge on what they are going to do on a nightly basis. However, the injuries to Mudiay and Ntilikina help to provide a bit of stability because, frankly, they are running out of options. Trier has shown he can be productive when given added playing time by averaging 14.3 points, four rebounds and 2.3 assists across 23 games in which he has logged at least 20 minutes.
Avery Bradley, LAC vs. ATL
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $3,700
The Clippers will likely be shorthanded again Monday with the expectation that Danilo Gallinari (back) will remain on the sidelines. That’s good news for Bradley, who has averaged 13 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 0.8 steals across the first five games that Gallinari missed. His upside might not be off the charts, but he’s priced really cheap on both sites and has a great matchup against a Hawks team that plays at the fastest pace (105.2 possessions per game) in the league.
SMALL FORWARDS
Bojan Bogdanovic, IND vs. GS
FanDuel = $5,700
DraftKings = $5,600
The Pacers are a good defensive team, but this game could get ugly against the Warriors. The loss of Victor Oladipo (knee) puts them in a huge hole offensively, especially since they are already averaging just 108.9 points per game. To put that into perspective, the Warriors are averaging 118.8 points per contest. Bogdanovic is going to need to fire away to keep this game close and should get plenty of opportunities to do so. He already scored 21 points against the Grizzlies on Saturday and averaged 19.4 points per game earlier this season when Oladipo missed 11 straight games.
Nicolas Batum, CHA vs. NY
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $4,900
Batum is having an off year with averages of 9.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. He’s shooting 46.4 percent from the field, but it’s not easy to provide a lot of offense when you have a 13.2 percent usage rate. On a positive note, Batum is averaging 14.5 points, five rebounds and 3.3 assists over his last four games. That’s even more impressive when you consider two of those games came against tough defensive teams in the Pacers and Grizzlies. He likely won’t be met with the same resistance Monday since the Knicks allow the fourth-most points per game (115.3) in the league.
POWER FORWARDS
Marvin Williams, CHA vs. NY
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $5,300
The Knicks have started to use Lance Thomas at power forward, so their shift to a small lineup could prove beneficial for Williams. Williams has really improved from behind the arc during his tenure in the league and is averaging a career-high two three-pointers per contest this season. He’s also had some access in two previous matchups against the Knicks with averages of 16.5 points, five rebound and one steal.
Marcus Morris, BOS vs. BKN
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $4,900
Morris’ shot was off again Saturday as he hit just three of his 12 attempts against the Warriors. That performance has left him 26-for-77 (33.8 percent) from the field across his last seven games. The good news is that he’s still getting plenty of shot attempts and averaged 6.1 rebounds per game during that stretch. If he can correct his shot Monday, he could prove to be valuable. Avoid him in cash games, but deploying him in tournament play might not be a crazy idea.
CENTERS
Mitchell Robinson, NY at CHA
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $4,100
Enes Kanter’s days with the Knicks appear to be numbered. He hasn’t played in any of their last three games and he hasn’t been shy about voicing his displeasure with that. Since Luke Kornet (ankle) is out, that has left a more secure role off the bench for Robinson. Even though he still isn’t playing a ton of minutes, he’s managed to average eight points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 2.8 blocks across his last four games. This is a great opportunity to roster him against the Hornets, who allow the sixth-most DraftKings points per game and the 10th-most FanDuel points per game to opposing centers.
Mason Plumlee, DEN at MEM
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $3,900
Whether he starts or comes off of the bench, Plumlee is not someone to ignore in DFS. After scoring 16 points to go along with seven rebounds, six assists and one steal in a spot start for Nikola Jokic on Friday against the Suns, he followed that up with 17 points, six rebounds, four assists and a block coming off of the bench Saturday against the Sixers. This game has some blowout potential, which could lead to more minutes for Plumlee. At an even cheaper price than Robinson, he is also someone to consider at center.
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 ESPN Radio and DraftKings’ nightly show, The Sweat.
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 1/25/19
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
The NBA rebounds from a quiet Thursday with 10 games on the schedule Friday. The combination of so many games and the increasing amount of injuries across the league have made for a lot of cheap value play options to consider. Here are a couple that stand out at each position. 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
Jerryd Bayless, MIN at UTA
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $3,600
The Timberwolves are running out of healthy point guards. Jeff Teague (foot) and Tyus Jones (ankle) have already been on the shelf and then Derrick Rose (ankle) went down Thursday. With all three of them very much in doubt for this contest, Bayless could find himself with plenty of playing time. He played well after Rose left Thursday, scoring 16 points to go along with two rebounds, eight assists and one steal across 30 minutes.
Shabazz Napier, BKN vs. NY
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $3,600
The Nets are dealing with their own injury issues. Spencer Dinwiddie is being evaluated for a thumb injury and could be out awhile if it’s determined that he is indeed dealing with torn ligaments. Losing him could be devastating with Caris LeVert (foot) and Allen Crabbe (knee) still out, as well. If Dinwiddie doesn’t take the floor Friday, expect Napier to receive more playing time. Across 10 games in which Napier has played at least 20 minutes, he’s averaged 14.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.2 steals.
SHOOTING GUARDS
Eric Gordon, HOU vs. TOR
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $5,300
Chris Paul (hamstring) appears to be nearing a return, but reports seem to indicate he might sit out Friday despite being listed as questionable. If he does indeed sit, Gordon would remain a great option in DFS. He’s been an excellent running mate for James Harden, averaging 19.5 points, four rebounds and 2.7 assists over four games since returning from injury. However, once Paul does return, expect Gordon to see a decline in scoring opportunities.
Josh Okogie, MIN at UTA
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $4,400
With the Timberwolves depleted at guard, Okogie is another player who with the potential for added playing time. He logged a whopping 40 minutes against the Lakers on Thursday and finished with nine points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal. It should be noted that he was only 2-for-14 from the field. If he can get close to that many shot attempts again Friday, he could provide value at his cheap price on both sites.
SMALL FORWARDS
Kelly Oubre Jr., PHO at DEN
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $5,600
Oubre kept things rolling against the Blazers on Thursday, scoring 18 points to go along with six rebounds, seven assists, two steals and three blocks. He played 35 minutes and should continue to receive a heavy dosage of playing time with T.J. Warren (ankle) out for the next two-to-three weeks. When the Suns faced the Nuggets a couple of weeks ago, Oubre exploded for 26 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block.
Gary Harris, DEN vs. PHO
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,000
The Nuggets initially brought Harris off the bench after his return from injury, but he started Wednesday against the Jazz. He played 28 minutes and finished with 16 points, two rebounds, two assists and a block. Expect him to start and see more playing time again Friday. Of note, Harris is only listed at small forward on FanDuel since he is listed at shooting guard on DraftKings. His price on DraftKings isn’t all that appealing, but he’s a bargain worth considering on FanDuel.
POWER FORWARDS
Bobby Portis, CHI vs. LAC
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $5,700
With the Bulls in a free fall, they would be wise to play Portis as much as possible. He’s not shy about taking shots, which is evident by his 26.2 percent usage rate. Across nine games in which he has played at least 20 minutes, Portis has been productive with averages of 13.9 points and 8.8 rebounds. Don’t expect much from him defensively, but this is still a great matchup against the Clippers, who allow the most DraftKings points per game and the fourth-most FanDuel points per game to opposing centers.
Dragan Bender, PHO at DEN
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $4,600
The Suns have been playing shorthanded up front with Deandre Ayton (ankle) and Richaun Holmes (foot) out for each of their last three games. That’s opened up a starting job for Bender, who has cashed in by averaging 14 points and 7.7 rebounds. If both Ayton and Holmes can’t play Friday, Bender is a great option to deploy in tournament play.
CENTERS
Mitchell Robinson, NY at BKN
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $4,000
The Knicks are a mess. They continue to change up their rotations, especially at center. Luke Kornet (ankle) will be out for a couple of weeks and the team seems to be souring on Enes Kanter, who didn’t play at all Wednesday against the Rockets. This could mean more minutes for Robinson, who is a shot blocking machine. He played at least 16 minutes in both of the last two games and averaged 10 points, 3.5 rebounds, one steal and 2.5 blocks. The Nets allow the third-most DraftKings points per game and the third-most FanDuel points per game to opposing centers, leaving Robinson with the potential for a productive stat line.
Mason Plumlee, DEN vs. PHO
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $3,900
This game has the potential to get ugly early. Not only do these two teams have very different records, but they are both headed in the opposite direction in terms of injuries. Don’t be surprised if this becomes a blowout, which could lead to added playing time for Plumlee. That could be huge considering the Suns allow the most FanDuel points per game and the fifth-most DraftKings points per game 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 ESPN Radio and DraftKings’ nightly show, The Sweat.