Plays of the Day
Value: Bobby Portis is a relative value right now and he should serve as one of the Bulls top offensive options against a weak Kings defense with Nikola Mirotic traded and Lauri Markkanen (personal) unavailable tonight.
Fade: Kemba Walker is coming off an impressive stretch and draws a good matchup on paper against the Nuggets, but Denver’s combination of athletic young guards could contain him to a degree while he stands to potentially fall short of his surprisingly high price tag.
Point Guards
Damian Lillard – (9,000 DK/8,100 FD)
Lillard and the Blazers lost a heartbreaker in Boston on Sunday and have a great chance to bounce back immediately against a Pistons team that’s still looking for its identity after a big trade. With Avery Bradley and Tobias Harris gone, Detroit’s perimeter defense has suffered, as the Pistons are coughing up the second-most FPPG (51.41) to opposing PGs over the last month. Dame Dolla has a decided advantage over the diminutive Ish Smith and should have little trouble reaching value tonight at a relatively cheap price tag on FanDuel.
Ricky Rubio – (6,500 DK/7,000 FD)
Rubio continued his resurgence this season with a stunning 34-point game against the elite Spurs defense Saturday. He’s averaging 19.2 PPG, 6 RPG and 8 APG over his last five appearances and faces a Pelicans team tonight that gives up the second-most PPG (110.7) overall and fifth-most PPG (24.46) to opposing PGs over the last month. Utah super rookie Donovan Mitchell (illness) is questionable tonight and Rodney Hood (leg) has been out for a few games, so Rubio should continue to log big minutes in this plus matchup.
Potential Value
Tomas Satoransky – (5,000 DK/5,600 FD)
Satoransky has been much more productive this go around will filling in for John Wall (knee).
Longshot
Goran Dragic – (7,300 DK/7,000 FD)
Dragic was huge on Saturday with Hassan Whiteside (illness) out and he could keep rolling against Orlando’s weak defense.
Shooting Guards
Bradley Beal – (8,900 DK/8,400 FD)
Beal remains an excellent cash play and one of the best guards you can target in any format tonight. With John Wall (knee) out, Beal’s taken on a bigger role as a facilitator while maintaining his lofty usage rate as a shooter. He’s facing a Pacers team that allows the most 3PT attempts (30.9) per game and ranks 27th in opponents 2PT shooting percentage (.533) this season, and he’s actually cheaper despite producing a well-rounded line in his last outing.
Zach LaVine – (6,600 DK/7,500 FD)
LaVine has been insanely productive while playing under a minutes restriction, so it’s only logical to target him once he gets closer to a full slate of playing time. The budding young star logged a season-high 31 minutes in a loss to the Clippers Saturday and might have played more if not whistled for five personal fouls. LaVine is averaging 22.5 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists per 36 minutes this season and could see 30-plus minutes of run once again as the Bulls face a Kings team that ranks 29th in defensive rating.
Potential Value
Wesley Matthews – (5,300 DK/5,500 FD)
Matthews could see a spike in usage if Harrison Barnes (ankle) is out tonight.
Longshot
Jrue Holiday – (7,200 DK/7,300 FD)
Holiday was forgotten during Nikola Mirotic’s big debut Saturday, but should continue to hoist a ton of shots with Boogie Cousins done for the year.
Small Forwards
Nic Batum – (6,700 DK/6,800 FD)
Batum has battled an elbow injury throughout most of the season, but he seems to be turning a corner. The versatile forward is averaging 21.4 PPG, 7 RPG and 4.75 APG over his last five appearances with a triple double mixed in and tonight he draws an appealing matchup tonight against the high-scoring Nuggets. Denver gives up the fifth-most APG (24.5) and sixth-most SPG (8.2) this season, which plays right into Batum’s hands since he doesn’t necessarily need a high usage rate to exceed value in DFS contests.
Stanely Johnson – (4,800 DK/5,700 FD)
With Avery Bradley and Tobias Harris gone, Johnson is almost guaranteed a healthy slate of minutes on a nightly basis, especially against athletic teams like the Blazers. Portland’s playing with a lot more pace in 2018 and allowing 111.6 PPG over 17 contests as a result. Meanwhile, Johnson’s averaging 16.8 PPG and 6 RPG over his last four appearances and his playing time has spiked since the Blake Griffin trade with 110 minutes of run over his last three outings.
Potential Value
Lance Stephenson – (4,800 DK/4,400 FD)
Stephenson has flashed upside in limited minutes and could thrive in a matchup against the Wizards struggling defense and poor second unit.
Longshot
Danilo Gallinari – (6,100 DK/5,700 FD)
Gallo filled it up in his return to the Clippers lineup Saturday and could see a matchup upgrade tonight if Harrison Barnes (ankle) is out for the Mavericks.
Power Forwards
Bobby Portis – (6,200 DK/5,800 FD)
Since Nikola Mirotic was traded to New Orleans, Bobby Portis has failed to produce an eye-catching line. Yet the opportunity is certainly there for the second-year man with Mirotic gone and Lauri Markkanen (personal) not expected to play tonight. Portis averages 1.12 FPs per minute with a 27.5 percent usage rate when those players are off the floor for Chicago this season and he’s facing a weak Kings defense that’s forced to give ancient PF Zach Randolph extended run while Skal Labissiere (shoulder) is out.
Nikola Mirotic – (5,800 DK/7,500 FD)
Mirotic makes for a great per-dollar option on DK tonight after dropping 18 points and 12 rebounds over 35 minutes in his Pelicans debut. He draws a tougher matchup against Utah’s stout interior defense, but the Jazz ranks 27th in opponents 3PT shooting percentage (.373) this season and Derrick Favors is far too slow of a PF to handle Mirotic. No longer competing for minutes with Chicago’s promising young PFs, Mirotic will be free to fire as a compliment to Anthony Davis.
Potential Value
Dirk Nowitzki – (4,900 DK/5,200 FD)
Nowitzki is another Mavericks gunner to consider with Harrison Barnes nicked up.
Longshot
Domantas Sabonis – (5,500 DK/6,300 FD)
Sabonis is much cheaper due to the return of Myles Turner, but Turner’s questionable again with a knee injury and could miss tonight’s matchup with the Wizards.
Centers
Nikola Jokic – (8,700 DK/9,900 FD)
Still under priced on DK, Jokic is capable of produce FPs in so many different ways and unlike most big men, doesn’t need to score most of his points in the paint, so he’s even worth targeting in a matchup against sturdy defender Dwight Howard. He’s shooting a career best 34 percent from 3PT range and has obviously been hot lately with averages of 19 PPG, 10.5 RPG and 8.8 APG over his last six appearances.
Kelly Olynyk – (5,200 DK/5,100 FD)
While Hassan Whiteside (illness) could return tonight after missing Saturday’s game, Olynyk would have some appeal regardless against a shorthanded Magic frontline. Orlando’s been forced to give offensive specialist Marreese Speights extensive run along with inexperienced PFs since Aaron Gordon (hip) has been out and Nikola Vucecic (hand) is still out. Olynyk, who boasts a 23.7 percent usage rate and averages 1.01 FPs per minute when Whiteside off the floor this season, has produced double-digit points in 11 consecutive appearances and logged a whopping 40 minutes with Whiteside out on Saturday.
Potential Value
Marreese Speights – (4,400 DK/3,800 FD)
Speights will be worth a look as a punt play if Aaron Gordon (hip) is out in addition to Magic center Nikola Vucevic (hand).
Longshot
Hassan Whiteside – (8,100 DK/7,800 FD)
Whiteside is likely to have a low ownership rate if he suits up, but would draw a juicy matchup against the defenseless Magic.
