Wednesday brings a limited six-game slate in the NBA. There will still be some big names in action with the Pelicans, Nuggets and Hawks among the teams set to take the floor.
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Monday brings a quiet night in the NBA with only three games on the schedule.
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The NBA finally returns from the All-Star break to bring us a six-game slate Thursday.
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We have our customary busy Friday with 11 games in the NBA, 10 of which will make up the main evening slate in DFS.
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We have a busy night of NBA action Friday with nine games on the schedule. That means plenty of star power will be available in DFS as well as some cheaper options that could provide value.
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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 2/4/19
*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 1/30/19
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
Wednesday brings eight games to the table in the NBA. There aren’t many exciting matchups, so this is a perfect time to add some juice to the night by playing DFS. Let’s highlight a couple of cheaper options at each position that stand out as having favorable opportunities to 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
Jerryd Bayless, MIN vs. MEM
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $5,000
Things are already looking bleak at point guard for the Timberwolves for this contest. Jeff Teague (foot) and Tyus Jones (ankle) have been ruled out while Derrick Rose (ankle) is listed as questionable. Bayless has been forced into a more prominent role due to all of their injuries and has played well with averages of 15 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.5 assists and one steal across his last four games. The Grizzlies are a tough defensive team, but if Rose is unable to play again, Bayless should receive enough playing time to still provide value.
Tim Frazier, NO vs. DEN
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,200
Elfrid Payton (ankle) was a late scratch for Tuesday’s game against the Rockets, which left Frank Jackson to start. Even though Frazier came off of the bench, he still logged 23 minutes and finished with 10 points, four rebounds, 10 assists and a steal. Across 19 games in which Frazier has played at least 20 minutes, he’s provided respectable averages of 7.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 0.9 steals, so he could be someone to take a chance on in tournament play if Payton can’t play again.
SHOOTING GUARDS
Jaylen Brown, BOS vs. CHA
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $4,700
The Celtics will likely be without their top offensive weapon Wednesday since Kyrie Irving (hip) is expected to miss his second straight game. Terry Rozier is usually the first name that comes to mind as someone to roster when Irving is out, but don’t sleep on Brown. He played 32 minutes Monday and finished with 21 points, six rebounds and two assists. In the previous game that Irving missed against the Cavaliers, Brown scored 23 points to go along with six rebounds and a steal.
Wayne Ellington, MIA vs. CHI
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $3,500
The Heat are already playing without Goran Dragic (knee) and Derrick Jones Jr. (knee) and could also be missing Tyler Johnson (calf) and Dwyane Wade (knee), who are both listed as questionable for Wednesday. Ellington started with Johnson out Sunday against the Knicks and scored 19 points across 31 minutes. His contributions outside of the scoring column will likely continue to be limited, but he could be someone to take a risk on if he gets another start considering how poorly the Bulls have played defensively.
SMALL FORWARDS
Darius Miller, NO vs. DEN
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $3,800
With all of the injuries that the Pelicans are dealing with, Miller received another start Tuesday. He played a whopping 40 minutes, which helped him to record 14 points, one rebound, four assists and three steals. He generally makes the most of added playing time, averaging 10.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 0.9 steals across 12 games in which he has logged at least 30 minutes. If Julius Randle (ankle) is out again, Miller is someone to target.
Jabari Parker, CHI at MIA
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,100
Just when we thought Parker was in fantasy wasteland, he explodes for 22 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks against the Nets on Tuesday. The key was that he played 23 minutes, which was just the second time he has logged at least 20 minutes in a game since the beginning of December. It’s hard to count on him to receive added playing time again, but he has the offensive skillset to put up lines like this if given extended run. Considering how cheap he is on both sites, rostering him might be a risk worth taking.
POWER FORWARDS
Marcus Morris, BOS vs. CHA
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $5,300
Morris provided a well-rounded performance against the Nets on Monday, scoring 15 points to go along with eight rebounds, three assists, one steal and two blocks over 31 minutes. He attempted 13 shots and should continue to be relied upon offensively with Irving set to miss Wednesday’s game. He’s been in a bit of a shooting slump lately, but his role in the offense leaves him with enough upside to warrant consideration.
Derrick Favors, UTA at POR
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $5,300
Despite averaging just 23 minutes a game, Favors has been able to average 11 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per contest. He’s shooting a career-high 57.1 percent from the field, which has really helped to offset his lack of playing time. After averaging 9.7 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks across three previous games against the Blazers this year, Favors also has some appeal at his reasonable price on both sites.
CENTERS
Dewayne Dedmon, ATL at SAC
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $5,600
The Hawks have to be thrilled with how well Dedmon is playing leading up to the trade deadline. Since they are in the early stages of their rebuilding process, he figures to be one of the players that they try to move. He’s averaging 15.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, two assists, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks over his last four games and should continue to start moving forward. There could be even more opportunities for him to be productive Wednesday since the Hawks and the Kings are the top-two teams in the league in pace of play.
Mitchell Robinson, NY vs. DAL
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $4,000
The Knicks seem to be making it clear that Enes Kanter isn’t going to play anymore. Luke Kornet (ankle) is still on the shelf, so Robinson is going to have a secure role with their second unit. Over the last four games without both players, Robinson has averaged 8.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.3 steals and three blocks. Expect his scoring upside to remain limited, but his defensive abilities make him an intriguing tournament option.
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 12/28/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
Friday brings plenty of action in the NBA with 10 games on the schedule. Injuries continue to be a common theme throughout the league, creating even more value plays to consider for your DFS entry. Let’s highlight a couple at each position who could thrive based on their matchups. 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
J.J. Barea, DAL at NO
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $5,100
The Mavericks could be extremely thin in their backcourt Friday with Wesley Matthews (foot) already ruled out and Dennis Smith Jr. (wrist) listed as questionable. That should open up added minutes for Barea, who has the highest usage rate (28 percent) on the team. When these two teams squared off Wednesday, Barea shined with 18 points, five rebounds, seven assists, and one steal.
Tyler Johnson, MIA vs. CLE
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $6,000
Goran Dragic (knee) will be out for at least two months, which has left the Heat with a significant void at point guard. They’ve decided to have Justise Winslow take over for him in the starting five but Johnson is also in line for an expanded role. He’s made the most of his added playing time heading into this contest, averaging 15.8 points, three rebounds, and 2.7 assists across his last six games. His price has jumped up significantly on DraftKings, but he could be a real bargain on FanDuel.
SHOOTING GUARDS
Jordan Clarkson, CLE at MIA
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $6,000
Clarkson continues to be one of the offensive leaders for the Cavaliers, averaging a career-high 17.1 points per game and posting a 29.4 percent usage rate. He should receive even more scoring opportunities with Rodney Hood (Achilles) out Friday. In the last two games that Hood missed, Clarkson scored 17 and 24 points, respectively. His 24-point showing was especially impressive considering it came against the stout Grizzlies’ defense.
Josh Hart, LAL vs. LAC
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,200
The Lakers depth is currently being tested with LeBron James (groin) and Rajon Rondo (finger) on the shelf. Hart moved into the starting five with both players sidelined Thursday and scored 10 points to go along with four rebounds, two assists, three steals, and one block. The key was that he logged 33 minutes. With a similar role likely in the cards for Friday, Hart could be someone to take a chance on in tournament play since both the Lakers and the Clippers are in the top-nine in the league in pace of play.
SMALL FORWARDS
Juancho Hernangomez, DEN vs. SA
FanDuel = $5,600
DraftKings = $4,800
The Nuggets have been one of the teams impacted the most by injuries this season. It appears that they might get a couple of players back soon, but they still won’t have much depth Friday. Hernangomez has excelled since being moved into the starting five, averaging 12.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per contest. These two teams just faced off Wednesday and the Spurs couldn’t slow him down in that contest, leaving Hernangomez to score 27 points to go along with 13 rebounds.
Kelly Oubre Jr., PHO vs. OKC
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $4,600
Oubre had a hard time finding significant playing time with the Wizards, but he’s averaged 30 minutes a game since joining the Suns. The added playing time has paid off, helping Oubre average 14.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, and one block. Even though he will likely continue to come off of the bench, that shouldn’t scare you away from deploying him in DFS at this cheap price.
POWER FORWARDS
Jerami Grant, OKC at PHO
FanDuel = $5,700
DraftKings = $4,800
The Thunder are clearly led by the trio of Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and Steven Adams. However, don’t underestimate the value that Grant brings to the team. They don’t have much depth, which has helped Grant average a career-high 31 minutes a game. He’s been productive, overall, but he’s been even better with averages of 15.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, one steal, and 1.6 blocks across his last seven games.
James Johnson, MIA vs. CLE
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $4,400
Johnson might not be a flashy player, but he entered this year having averaged at least 10.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists in back-to-back seasons. Injuries derailed the start of his current campaign, but he’s come on lately by averaging 10.8 points, five rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.5 steals across his last four games. He might continue to be asked to help facilitate the offense more with Dragic out, so don’t sleep on him at this price.
CENTERS
Dewayne Dedmon, ATL at MIN
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $5,500
Get ready to see a heavy dose of Dedmon on Friday with Alex Len (back) and Miles Plumlee (knee) set to sit this one out. Dedmon logged 37 minutes with both players out Wednesday against the Pacers, finishing with 18 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block. The added playing time is an even greater benefit to his upside when you consider that the Hawks play at the fastest pace (106.3 possessions per game) in the league.
Willy Hernangomez, CHA vs. BKN
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $4,000
Cody Zeller continues to start for the Hornets, but he’s logged 22 minutes or fewer in four of their last five games. Hernangomez has seen an expanded role in all four of those contests, which led him to average 12 points and 8.3 rebounds. The Nets are one of the worst teams in the league at defending opposing centers, so it’s not all that surprising that Hernangomez recorded seven points and 11 rebounds across just 14 minutes against them Wednesday. If you want to deploy a really cheap center in tournament play, Hernangomez is an intriguing option.
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 12/12/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
We’ve got another packed night of NBA action Wednesday with 11 games on the schedule. With the Warriors, Raptors, Pelicans, and Sixers among the teams in action, there is a ton of top-tier talent to choose from. However, in order to fit them into your entry, you also need to find the right mix of cheap value plays. Let’s highlight a couple of players at each position who could help lead you to a winning entry. 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
Derrick Rose, MIN at SAC
FanDuel = $5,900
DraftKings = $5,800
The chance that the Timberwolves took by reuniting Rose with his former coach Tom Thibodeau has provided significant returns this season. Despite spending the majority of his time as a member of the second unit, Rose is averaging 18.4 points, three rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. The trade that sent Jimmy Butler to the Sixers has helped open up even more scoring opportunities for Rose, which has helped boost his usage rate to 25.2 percent. Considering the Kings play at the second-fastest pace (105 possessions per game) in the league, Rose could have plenty of chances to fill up the scoring column again Wednesday.
Jalen Brunson, DAL vs. ATL
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $3,800
Dennis Smith Jr. (wrist) is set to miss his fourth straight game for the Mavericks. Brunson has done a nice job filling in during his absence, averaging 14 points, 4.7 assists, and two steals across three games. The key is that he logged at least 25 minutes in each contest. With the Hawks playing at the fastest pace (107), this could be a great opportunity to deploy Brunson in your lineup at a very cheap price.
SHOOTING GUARDS
Jaylen Brown, BOS at WAS
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $5,400
The Celtics are expected to get Kyrie Irving (shoulder) back Wednesday, but Gordon Hayward (illness) is listed as doubtful. That should open up some added playing time for Brown, who is averaging 21 points, five rebounds, and 2.7 assists across his last three games. Add in the fact that the Wizards play at the sixth-fastest pace (103.2) and Brown has an excellent opportunity to extend his recent run of success.
Luke Kennard, DET at CHA
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $3,500
Injuries continue to be a common theme Wednesday with the Pistons being no exception. Ish Smith (groin), Glenn Robinson III (ankle) and Reggie Bullock (ankle) will all likely be out while Stanley Johnson (knee) might also not be able to play. That doesn’t leave them with a ton of healthy options. Kennard logged a season-high 37 minutes with the Pistons battling injuries Monday, scoring 28 points to go along with eight rebounds and three assists. At this dirt cheap price, he could be worth the risk in tournament play.
SMALL FORWARDS
Cedi Osman, CLE vs. NY
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $4,300
Already down Kevin Love (toe), the Cavaliers lost another key member of their frontcourt with Tristan Thompson (foot) out for at least the next two weeks. Larry Nance Jr. will likely have to spend more time at center, which could open up increased playing time for Osman. He has shown an ability to produce when given extended run, averaging 13.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, three assists, and 0.8 steals across 18 games in which he has logged at least 30 minutes.
Dorian Finney-Smith, DAL vs. ATL
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $3,900
Finney-Smith might not play the same position that Smith does, but he’s also benefited from his time on the sidelines by averaging 11.7 points and 5.7 rebounds across his last three games. With all of the injuries that the Hawks are also dealing with, there is a chance that the Mavericks race out to a big lead at home. If that’s the case, Finney-Smith could see some added minutes during garbage time. At this cheap price, he’s someone to at least consider in tournament play.
POWER FORWARDS
Kelly Olynyk, MIA at UTA
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $5,000
The Heat will be missing one of their key players up front again Wednesday with Hassan Whiteside (personal) already ruled out. Bam Adebayo has stepped into the starting lineup with Whiteside out the last three games and has played extremely well. However, he’s not the only Heat player who has received a boost in production. During that same stretch, Olynyk has averaged 14.3 points, six rebounds, 3.3 assists, and one steal.
Dwight Powell, DAL vs. ATL
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $3,600
Planning for a blowout can be tricky, but if you agree with me that the Mavericks could win this one going away, Powell is another cheap option with upside in tournament play. Despite averaging just 17 minutes a game this season, he’s recorded 9.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 0.6 steals, and 0.6 blocks per night. The Hawks do at least have a lot of size up front, which could also help lead to added playing time for Powell.
CENTERS
Dewayne Dedmon, ATL at DAL
FanDuel = $5,600
DraftKings = $4,400
Alex Len appears to have fallen out of favor right now, resulting in him logging a total of 31 minutes across the last three games. That’s provided a significant boost in playing time for Dedmon, who averaged 7.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.7 steals, and one block during that stretch. With the fast pace at which the Hawks play, Dedmon should have another favorable opportunity to be productive in this contest.
Cody Zeller, CHA vs. DET
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $4,400
Zeller might not be a flashy option, but that doesn’t mean he can’t provide value. The Hornets are going to need him to battle with Andre Drummond, which could lead to some added minutes. The last time these two teams met, Zeller logged 32 minutes and scored 14 points to go along with six rebounds and three blocks. He did eventually foul out, but it’s reasonable to expect similar playing time for him during their rematch.