Mister March here - spelling Hoop Dreams after a brilliant performance by him recently. On a night that features the two juiciest match-ups for opposing fantasy teams, some of our picks may have shaken out differently than you might think. Yuuuge night, though - so why don't we cut the foreplay and get right to it. With such a big slate we've got guys in a variety of price ranges that our system likes you so can mix and match for best value.
Kyle Lowry - FanDuel $9,100 DraftKings $8,800 DraftStreet $17,748
Lowry is easily the best high-priced option at PG tonight, as he's been putting in 40 fantastic minutes a night, and faces a Pels team that is below league average in terms of allowing FPs to opposing point guards. Not much else to say here - he's a solid anchor in every format.
Jameer Nelson - FanDuel $6,000 DraftKings $6,000 DraftStreet $12,227
Nelson has quietly been terrific recently - and draws a Phoenix team that has allowed 18% more FPs to opposing PGs in its last 15 games. He seems to have regained his confidence, and even as Orlando gets healthier, the opportunities remain for Jameer. I love him for double-ups and GPPs, and it seems like 30+ FPs is almost assured.
Shaun Livingston - FanDuel $4,300 DraftKings $4,100 DraftStreet $9,554
Livingston remains one of the most underpriced Daily Fantasy Basketball assets - producing 5x or more on this paltry price routinely. While the price sits in the low 4s, I am going to play him almost regardless of matchup.
Kirk Hinrich - FanDuel $4,100 DraftKings $4,200 DraftStreet $7,976 and
D.J. Augustin - FanDuel $5,800 DraftKings $4,500 DraftStreet $9,535
Hinrich gets a nod against a Philly team that can't cover anyone. I don't know how many different ways I can write this, but Philadelphia is terrible against most positions, and especially opposing PGs. It really couldn't be a better match-up for Hinrich's heady game that isn't based in a ton of athleticism. Augustin gets much of the same story - he's turned in a couple duds recently, but that almost can't continue against the Sixers.
Deron Williams - FanDuel $7,000 DraftKings $7,200 DraftStreet $14,003
The actual point guard for the Nets, D-will draws a nice match-up in the offense-first Kemba Walker. He's been pretty solid recently, and I like him for double-ups tonight quite a bit. Not picturing a HUGE outing, but not imagining a disappearance either.
George Hill - FanDuel $5,100
Even with the Knicks playing at a snail's pace, they've managed to allow more than the league average vs. opposing PGs in their last 15 games. Enter George Hill - who has very consistently been producing on this price recently. Blowout is a risk here, but their recent feistiness has me picturing them at least in the game going into the 4th. If that's the case, I think Hill pockets 25-30 FPs without much trouble.
Tyreke Evans - FanDuel $7,900 DraftKings $7,000 DraftStreet $16,063
This ranking would be higher if Toronto hadn't been playing a lot better against opposing SGs recently. While they are league average for the year, they've yielded 21% less than league average vs. SGs in their last 15 games. The reason Evans makes the list is that Toronto has faced rather uninspiring point guards in those last 15 games, and Evans will likely be the best SG they've faced in a while. Picturing a solid if not superstar night - 40 or so FPs.
Manu Ginobili - FanDuel $4,900
Manu has been one of the more consistent plays in the game recently, in spite of not so consistent minutes. Also - LAKERS! He faces the Lakers of Los Angeles, and blow-out risk actually makes him more attractive than usual. He'll be there for me in Double-ups and GPPs.
Joe Johnson - FanDuel $5,300 DraftKings $5,500
Every time I want to wash my hands of Joe Johnson, he goes off and costs me a fortune. Well, I'm on to you, Joe! And that's why I am playing you against Charlotte - so that my non-Joe Johnson teams can have a chance to compete! In all seriousness, his price got depressed due to a string of run-bad shooting performances, and I like him for 30+ FPs tonight.
Eric Gordon - FanDuel $5,300 DraftKings $5,400 DraftStreet $10,689
Don't look now, but Eric Gordon is playing kind of like the player the Pels thought they were getting when they traded for him. With an average of 38 minutes in his last two games, the price hasn't yet caught up - and I'll be happily riding Gordon in this one.
Gerald Green - FanDuel $6,200 DraftKings $5,200 DraftStreet $9,230
Green can't be called safe by any metric, as he can go off in one night and disappear the next. He gets a nice match-up against Orlando, and his price factors in those duds. If you can stomach a little risk, Green could absolutely pay off in top heavy formats like GPPs.
Contrarian play:
Devin Harris - FanDuel $4,300 DraftKings $3,800
Don't look now, but Devin Harris has been lighting it up against, well, almost everyone recently. Harris isn't necessarily saved, but I believe his multiplier has the highest upside of any SG on this list - especially against a Minnesota team that allows 5% more FPs than league average against SGs, and more than that when K-mart gets the start.
Kawhi Leonard - FanDuel $6,400 DraftKings $6,700 DraftStreet $12,989
Leonard has been solid, if unspectacular recently - and he gets the LAKERS!(tm) bump. The polished Spurs should find looks for Kawhi that leave the hapless Lakers befuddled - and I like Leonard for at least 30 FPs tonight.
Maurice Harkless - FanDuel $4,700 DraftKings $4,400 DraftStreet $8,805
Harkless has turned into one of the most consistent SF plays in the game, except for the one night where I played him in EVERY SINGLE GOD DAMNED LINEUP. Whew, felt good to get that out. Phoenix is league average against SFs, and Harkless' price still doesn't reflect his his 30 MPG, even with the team getting healthier. Happily playing him wherever once again.
Kyle Singler - FanDuel $4,200 DraftKings $3,900 DraftStreet $9,061
The price has dipped back into very favorable territory for Singler - and Denver allows 5% more points to opposing SFs than league average. Add in the absence of Drummond for this one, and I think Singler easily pays his price.
Ryan Kelly - FanDuel $4,700 DraftKings $5,000 DraftStreet $10,541
I have to say, I was seriously depressed when Ryan Kelly's minutes went away, and I couldn't root for his lumbering ass to plod up and down the court, get opportunity-based rebounds, and drain poor-man's Dirk looking threes. WELCOME BACK, RYAN KELLY! I missed you, man. But yeah - Kelly has been fantastic recently, and the minutes seem to once again be legit. Love him at this number vs. San Antonio.
J.R. Smith - FanDuel $5,800 DraftKings $5,900 DraftStreet $12,766
JR Smith is a guilty pleasure of mine, I have to say. When there are extra opportunities for him, I just can't help it but play him in at least a few spots. That's been the case recently, and he's been paying off handsomely. As the Knicks barrel towards the most expensive season of irrelevance ever assembled, I'm just excited to see JR pound his chest and play to the crowd. Even against Indiana, I like JR for 30+ FPs.
P.J. Tucker - FanDuel $5,900 DraftKings $4,600 DraftStreet $10,323
Not my favorite play on the board because his recently totals are boosted by 1 minutes-based outlier, but it's worth noting that Orlando has allowed 20% more FPs to opposing SFs than league average recently. With Harkless still getting lots of minutes, PJ could see more opportunities than usual.
Anthony Davis - FanDuel $10,700 DraftKings $11,000 DraftStreet $23,869
Davis has been TORTURING cats recently. Not actual cats - I mean other players.. nevermind. Davis has been amazing, and while his price is very high, his play demands it. He's easily the safest big money option going, and on these huge nights it often comes down to finding the most effective way to get those extra dollars in. Davis is it - don't think twice, and play him essentially everywhere unless you are going for separation or you don't like your punt options.
Kenneth Faried - FanDuel $7,200 DraftKings $7,600 DraftStreet $15,634
Faried is absolutely blossoming recently, and with Drummond out, I think all of Denver's big-men get a little boost. His high energy game is perfectly suited to take on Detroit's up and down style, and they've been bad at allowing points to opposing PFs as it is. I can't imagine Faried going for less than 35 FPs tonight, and it has all the markings of one of those HUGE beast-mode performances.
Greg Monroe - FanDuel $7,700 DraftKings $7,800 DraftStreet $15,904
Greg Monroe shouldered an additional load when Drummond went down last time, and he's really all the inside presence they've got at the moment. I'm not in love with Jonas Jerebko, and think Monroe will line up for 40 more minutes of very solid performance against a relatively undersized Denver team.
Amir Johnson - FanDuel $5,900 DraftKings $6,000 DraftStreet $12,271
With Patterson still on the sidelines, Amir Johnson remains a great play even as his price ticks upward. New Orleans allows 6% more fantasy points to opposing PFs even with Anthony Davis' reputation, and I think Amir pays 5x-6x tonight.
Kris Humphries - FanDuel $5,400 DraftKings $5,400 DraftStreet $11,574
A guy I can't seem to quit, Humphries brings a ton of energy against a Miami front court that has gotten crushed a handful of times this year. Huge upside here if the game gets out of hand, and plenty of safety built in even if he plays his regular 25 minutes. Don't mind him in any format.
Amar'e Stoudemire - FanDuel $5,300 DraftKings $4,500 DraftStreet $10,703
Amar'e looked good in his return - and his price is still below where a starter with his usage should be. Indiana isn't the best match-up, and I prefer some of the other options in this price range, but wanted you to know he gets the DFSR seal of approval if you want to play him. Dumb price on DraftKings.
Taj Gibson - FanDuel $5,900 DraftKings $5,500 DraftStreet $10,190
A few stinkers for Gibson recently, but he seems to really thrive when he smells blood. I believe this match-up against Philly will be one such occasion.
Joakim Noah - FanDuel $9,300 DraftKings $8,800 DraftStreet $20,267
Noah draws the game's most favorable match-up, and while Henry Sims has been pretty decent recently, I can't imagine anyone on Philly wants a piece of Noah's high-intensity game. I'm picturing him grabbing every rebound, making at least 3 people throw their arms up in frustration, 4 overly-zealous screams of glee while already up 15, and 17 double arm flexes with his mouth-piece hanging out of his mouth. Also, 45+ FPs regardless of the blow-out potential.
Gorgui Dieng - FanDuel $3,900 DraftKings $3,700 DraftStreet $5,218
With Pekovic and Turiaf out, Gorgeous Gorgui (c) outscored Love and Durant his last time out! I guess you can't call this a safety play, but the upside is so tantalizing that you can believe he'll be a huge start tonight. He will be for me, as well!
Marc Gasol - FanDuel $7,200 DraftKings $7,400 DraftStreet $14,319
On a night of some risk (blowout for Noah, ??? for Dieng, etc), Gasol remains the steadiest option at center. Not a GPP play - repeat - not a GPP play - but for Double-ups, you could do a lot worse with Gasol against a Utah team that has been pretty forgettable against opposing Centers - allowing 5% more FPs to them than league average.
J.J. Hickson - FanDuel $5,500 DraftKings $5,900 DraftStreet $11,745
Hickson has been pounding the boards recently, and I expect him to take full advantage of the Drummond-less Detroit front-court. I'm liking him for 30+ FPs tonight.
Kelly Olynyk - FanDuel $4,200 DraftKings $4,500 DraftStreet $8,563
The Canadian gets a nod here because of Miami's difficulty with opposing Centers, and the distinct blow-out possibility. I can't recommend him for double-ups, but love him as a separation play if you think Dieng turns into a pumpkin and Miami runs Boston off the court.
Henry Sims - FanDuel $4,400 DraftKings $4,300 DraftStreet $9,232
I kind of expect Sims to get man-handled by Noah and the Bulls fierce front-court, but the fact remains that he's a starting Center at back-up prices. Not a safety play because he might have his soul removed from his body, but there's too much upside here to not at least let you know about him.
Pau Gasol - DraftStreet $15,339
Pau's price remains very favorable on Draftstreet, and that's what drives this ranking. The Lakers could be dead before the 2nd quarter begins, but Pau will be an unpopular play with some decent upside if the Lakers can somehow hang.
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