Plays of the Day
Value: Sterling Brown could be worth a look as a true value for the Bucks with Eric Bledsoe and Malcolm Brogdon likely out. Brown is averaging 7.4 PPG and 4.8 RPG while playing 25 MPG over his last five appearances and could see that playing time spike given the circumstances.
Fade: Joel Embiid is expected to play on both ends of the Sixers upcoming B2B set and that makes him a very risky option in both games, especially as he faces off with an equally sizable center in Miami’s Hassan Whiteside tonight.
Point Guards
Steph Curry – (10,600 DK/10,200 FD)
After getting worked by Ricky Rubio and the Jazz on Tuesday, Curry will look to take his anger out on an easy target in the Kings. Sacramento ranks dead last in opponents’ 3PT shooting percentage (.383%) and 29th in defensive rating this year. Curry shot 20-of-44 from 3PT range while averaging 26.3 PPG and 9 APG over four meetings with the Kings last year and faces Sacramento for the first time this season, so they could be shocked by the Warriors insane pace and ball movement
Ricky Rubio – (6,200 DK/5,900 FD)
As mentioned above, Rubio was fantastic against the Warriors Tuesday with 23 points and 11 assists over 35 minutes. Clearly, he has a firm hold on the starting PG job once again and he should be able to ride that momentum into a fantastic matchup against a Suns team that gives up the seventh-most FPPG (47.67) to opposing PGs this season. Phoenix ranks dead last in defensive rating and PPG allowed (111.8) while playing at a blistering pace that would benefit Rubio and coughing up the most SPG (8.8) in the league.
Potential Value
Tyler Johnson – (4,900 DK/5,100 FD)
Johnson is shaking off the rust after dealing with multiple injuries and could meet value once again.
Longshot
Terry Rozier – (6,600 DK/6,500 FD)
Rozier will obviously be worth a look if Kyrie Irving (quad) remains out after posting a triple double in his first career start.
Shooting Guards
Jrue Holiday – (7,700 DK/8,200 FD)
The Pelicans need to find other sources of offense with DeMarcus Cousins (Achilles) done for the year and Holiday is certainly capable of stepping up. The Thunder is on the second half of a B2B set after getting torched by Denver’s Gary Harris and Holiday is another combo guard with the ability to score in a variety of ways. He sees a stark 8 percent rise in usage (to 31.2%) and averages 1.34 FPs per minute when Cousins is off the floor this season and has had success against OKC in the past.
Khris Middleton – (7,300 DK/7,500 FD)
With Eric Bledsoe (ankle) doubtful and Malcolm Brogdon (quad) injured, the Bucks were already shorthanded and now superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo tweaked his ankle late in a loss to Minnesota on Thursday. Middleton can play like a point forward from the two or three spot and facilitate the Bucks offense while looking for his own shot, which has been falling lately as he’s shooting a stellar 51.2 percent from the field over his last five appearances. He sees a 6.6 percent rise in usage rate (to 33%) when Bledsoe and Brogdon are off the floor this season.
Potential Value
Sterling Brown – (3,600 DK/3,500 FD)
Brown could be forced into a prominent role if Bledsoe and Brogdon are both out.
Longshot
DeMar DeRozan – (7,700 DK/8,700 FD)
DeRozan deferred to Kyle Lowry a bit last night, but draws a superior individual matchup tonight against C.J. McCollum.
Small Forwards
Paul George – (7,400 DK/8,200 FD)
George was a beast last night with 43 points on nearly immaculate 19-of-26 FG shooting and he should therefore be very confident letting fly against the Pelicans tonight. New Orleans gives up the second-most PPG (110.7) and eighth-most 3PTM (11.3) per game this year, while the Pels might incorporate new acquisition and below average defender, Nikola Mirotic. George is actually posting better peripheral stats with averages of 21.9 PPG, 6.2 RPG and 4.6 APG on 0 days rest this season and he’s under priced on DK given his upside.
Josh Jackson – (5,200 DK/5,300 FD)
The Suns are understandably moving in a youthful direction and giving first-rounder Josh Jackson a long look. He’s found his stride at the NBA level and has dropped 41 points with 16 rebounds over 57 minutes over his last two appearances. Utah’s defense is stout down low with Rudy Gobert back in the fold, but Jackson could do some damage from the perimeter at a modest price tag as the status of Devin Booker (ribs) is forcing other Suns to step up.
Potential Value
Joe Ingles – (4,800 DK/4,800 FD)
Ingles is a reliable play against a porous Suns defense.
Longshot
Brandon Ingram – (6,800 DK/6,400 FD)
Ingram is carrying more of an offensive load for the Lakers right now and he faces a weak Nets defense tonight.
Power Forwards
Anthony Davis – (11,400 DK/12,300 FD)
Davis met value on an exorbitant price tag with 23 points, 15 rebounds and 6 blocks on Wednesday and he’s worth a look in a potential shootout tonight. The Brow always seems to step up in matchups against Russ Westbrook and OKC, as he produced 36 points and 15 boards with DeMarcus Cousins in the lineup in a meeting earlier this season. His usage rate rises 4.8 percent (to 33.6%) with Boogie off the floor, giving him plenty of appeal as a pricey option.
Julius Randle – (6,600 DK/6,700 FD)
Randle has stepped up as the big man of the future for the Lakers and he managed an efficient 20 points and nine rebounds against Orlando Wednesday. He draws an even better matchup tonight against a Nets team that gives up the most FPPG (56.65) to opposing centers and seventh-most FPPG (47.91) to opposing PFs this year. With Trevor Booker traded and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (groin) ruled out, the Nets have few options at PF that could potentially contain a high-motor player in Randle.
Potential Value
Marquese Chriss – (4,800 DK/5,000 FD)
Chriss is a risky option because of his injury history, but he could step up with question marks surrounding the Suns’ centers.
Longshot
Dario Saric – (6,400 DK/6,700 FD)
Saric could be productive while Joel Embiid battles Hassan Whiteside tonight.
Centers
Al Horford – (7,600 DK/7,900 FD)
The public will likely gravitate towards Rozier if Kyrie Irving (quad) remains out, but you shouldn’t ignore another solid player in green. Marcus Morris (hip) is doubtful tonight and with Irving, Morris and Marcus Smart (hand) off the floor this season, Horford sees a ridiculous 15.8 percent increase in usage rate (to 34.7%) and averages 1.5 FPs per minute. He’s facing his former team in Atlanta, which coughs up the third-most FPPG (55.03) and most APG (4.47) to opposing centers this year, and Horford’s been a playmaker with good court vision for the Celtics.
Enes Kanter – (6,900 DK/7,000 FD)
After combining for 37 points and 37 rebounds in meetings with the Nets and Celtics, Enes Kanter draws an even better matchup tonight against a Bucks team that simply can’t match up against beefy centers. Milwaukee is allowing the most PPG (26.42) to opposing centers over the last month and fifth-most FPPG (53.83) on the season, while Kanter’s relentless motor has allowed him to reach double-digit points in eight consecutive appearances and average 11.9 RPG during that span. The Bucks rank dead last in total rebounding and could be even worse in that department as they play the second half of a B2B set tonight.
Potential Value
John Henson – (4,800 DK/5,500 FD)
Henson is playing more minutes under Bucks interim HC Joe Prunty and will try to match up with the Knicks big men tonight.
Longshot
Dwight Howard – (9,200 DK/10,000 FD)
Howard continues to post big double doubles and could dominate Indiana if injury-prone center Myles Turner (knee) is out again.
