Plays of the Day
Value: T.J. McConnell continues to provide solid lines for the Sixers and his path to playing time is quite secure with J.J. Redick (leg) ruled out over the next week or so. Memphis is no longer a defense to fear.
Fade: Chris Paul had a monstrous game against the Warriors and remains a safe play in the upper-tier range, but he should start to share responsibilities with James Harden more as The Beard works his way back and draws a tough matchup tonight against Miami.
Point Guards
Eric Bledsoe – (8,200 DK/8,300 FD)
His initial line left something to be desired on Saturday, but with Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) still out and Malcolm Brogdon (personal) questionable, Bledsoe remains a strong option to consider against his former team. He clearly ramped up when facing the Suns earlier this season, producing 30 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals in a “revenge game” and he should dominate his individual matchup once again. The Suns play at the fourth-fastest pace in the league and thusly give up the second-most SPG (8.7), while Bledsoe averages a team-high 2.2 swipes per game.
T.J. McConnell – (5,000 DK/5,400 FD)
McConnell remains a solid cash play right now as he seems to be the biggest beneficiary with J.J. Redick (leg) out. He’s averaging 14 PPG, 5.5 APG and 2.8 SPG over his last four appearances and faces a Grizzlies defense that’s far more vulnerable in the backcourt with Mike Conley (Achilles) inactive. Even though his usage doesn’t chance much with Redick out, increased playing time has led to solid lines from the Arizona product.
Potential Value
Ricky Rubio – (5,200 DK/5,400 FD)
Rubio is a solid cash play in the same range as McConnell and he seems to be benefitting from the return of Rudy Gobert.
Longshot
Goran Dragic – (7,400 DK/7,200 FD)
Dragic should return tonight from a knee injury and he could thrive in an uptempo matchup against the Rockets.
Shooting Guards
James Harden – (10,200 DK/10,300 FD)
Play Harden while he’s relatively cheap, because he appears to be almost fully recovered from his hamstring injury. The Beard played 34 minutes in Saturday’s win over the Warriors even though he was expected to be limited to 30 and looked very sharp while nailing 5-of-9 attempts from long range with 22 points and eight assists. He’ll continue to knock off the rust and is definitely worth using at home against the injury-plagued Heat, a team that he averages 39 PPG, 12 RPG and 11 APG against over two meetings last season.
Khris Middleton – (8,700 DK/8,600 FD)
Middleton remains a recommended option with Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) ruled out because he’ll face the defenseless Suns rather than a defense that’s capable of slowing him down as the Bucks’ primary playmaker. Phoenix ranks 29th in defensive rating and gives up the most PPG (26.29) and most FPPG (46.27) to opposing SGs this season. Middleton dropped a season-high 40 points in his sole meeting with the Suns earlier this year and he’s played 40-plus minutes in three consecutives appearances for the shorthanded Bucks.
Potential Value
Denzel Valentine – (5,200 DK/4,900 FD)
Valentine will play some point forward for Chicago and see more usage with Kris Dunn (concussion) out.
Longshot
Devin Booker – (8,900 DK/8,500 FD)
Booker is a great correlation play on the Suns side of the ball if you’re using Bledsoe and/or Middleton.
Small Forwards
James Johnson – (5,600 DK/5,600 FD)
Johnson’s playing time has been the shakiest aspect of his production, but the Heat roster is riddled with injuries and as a result he exceeded value with 22 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists in a narrow win at Charlotte Saturday. His playing time has stabilized around 27 MPG, but JJ could see more run than usual as Miami’s best defensive option against James Harden. He’s only a mid-tier tournament option, but his ability to pile up peripheral and defensive stats makes him worth a long look on FanDuel.
Wesley Johnson – (4,400 DK/4,600 FD)
Johnson has emerged as a great option while exceeding value in each of his last five appearances and he’s likely to remain reliable with DeAndre Jordan (ankle) out. He’s playing 27 MPG and has shot 22-of-46 (47.8%) from the floor during that span, while his length and athleticism allows him to produce solid peripheral stats as well. The potential return of Danilo Gallinari (hip) would limit his potential, but Gallo would be limited even if activated after a multi-month layoff.
Potential Value
Dillon Brooks – (4,500 DK/4,000 FD)
Brooks is questionable with an illness, but if he’s active he’ll have a great chance to meet value with the Grizzlies shorthanded.
Longshot
Josh Richardson – (6,300 DK/6,300 FD)
Richardson would become a virtual must play if Goran Dragic (knee) and Tyler Johnson (shoulder) remain out for Miami.
Power Forwards
Blake Griffin – (8,600 DK/8,400 FD)
Seemingly hated throughout the NBA, Griffin is also a bit under priced on both main DFS sites as a reliable cash play with plenty of upside. Lou Williams is hogging a lot of shots, but the Clippers are still running things through Griffin. His 25.9 percent assist rate and 29.8 percent usage rate are both up from last year when Chris Paul was running the show and the Clips could get into another shootout against a Wolves team that ranks 23rd in defensive rating this season.
Nikola Mirotic – (6,600 DK/6,500 FD)
Kris Dunn had been carrying the Bulls offense lately with Mirotic as one of the supporting actors, so now the Croatian national might have to step into a leading role. He sees a 3.8 percent rise in usage rate with Dunn off the floor this season and he’s been solid lately with averages of 17 PPG and 6 RPG over his last four appearances. Obviously it’s tough to score inside against the Pelicans with Anthony Davis down low, but Mirotic has an above average perimeter game for a big man.
Potential Value
Skal Labissiere – (4,300 DK)
Labissiere is hogging minutes at PF with the Kings moving in a youthful direction and he’s cheap on DK, even though the Kings-Hornets game is not available on the FD main slate.
Longshot
Taj Gibson – (5,400 DK/5,600 FD)
Gibson has some upside in a matchup against Griffin and the Clippers and he’s a solid cash play regardless as the Wolves best defender at PF.
Centers
Karl-Anthony Towns – (9,200 DK/9,400 FD)
Towns should be free to dominate the paint with DeAndre Jordan out tonight. He’s produced a double double in 12 consecutive appearances and is averaging 13.6 RPG this month, while the Clippers gave up the seventh-most PPG (25.33) to opposing centers with Jordan out last week. Jimmy Butler (knee) should be able to return tonight, but if he’s out KAT would likely carry Minnesota’s offense against a Clips team that’s giving up 111.7 PPG over their last 10 contests.
Hassan Whiteside – (7,600 DK/8,500 FD)
Whiteside was predictably quiet on the second half of a B2B set Saturday, but he should be good to go on normal rest Monday. The Rockets elite offense forces the opposition to pick up the pace in order to remain competitive and Houston does rank 23rd in opponents FG shooting percentage (.471) while yielding plenty of production in the paint. Whiteside averaging 18.5 PPG and 14.5 RPG while shooting 14-of-21 from the floor over two meetings with the Rockets last year and he’s relatively cheap on DK for a player with the potential to produce monstrous double doubles.
Potential Value
Dewayne Dedmon – (4,800 DK/5,400 FD)
Dedmon has been solid for Atlanta when active this season and he’ll be needed in a matchup against Rudy Gobert.
Longshot
Rudy Gobert – (7,000 DK/7,600 FD)
Gobert remains a somewhat under priced tournament option despite his minutes restriction.
