Daily Fantasy NBA Basketball Picks for FanDuel and DraftKings - 2/8/17

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Point Guard

John Wall FD - $10500 DK - $10700
Opponent - BKN
Proj Pts FD - 50.95 DK - 54.14

Wall has been playing huge minutes recently, and the production has followed. While he may not see 40 minutes against the Nets, he won't have to. This is the best match-up in the NBA, and Wall will demolish them while on the court. He will get to the rim at ease and should be able to get a ton of assists. Brooklyn plays at the fastest pace in the league and gives up the league-worst FPPG to point guards. There are a lot of ways to pay down tonight, and this is written the night before. I am sure more injury news will break, and paying up at a few spots will be no problem. Wall is definitely one of the guys you should consider paying up for, as his floor is extremely solid and the ceiling unquestioned if this one somehow stays close. His price is in the mid-10k's on both sites and will need about 55 to get it done for you. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see that number tonight and could imagine higher if this is a single digit game. Wall is a fantastic option in both cash games and tournaments. The Wizards are a team we will target a bunch tonight, and Wall is the head of the beast.

Darren Collison FD - $5400 DK - $5300
Opponent - BOS
Proj Pts FD - 27.97 DK - 29.92

DeMarcus Cousins decided to get a technical foul with 1 second remaining in the last game, and it was his 16th technical. A 1 game suspension comes along with your 16th tech, which will force him to miss the match-up with the Celtics. While Cousins would have been one of my favorite plays of the season tonight, we can look elsewhere. Without both Cousins and Gay on the court, there will be a ton of usage up for grabs. Collison is one of those guys who is fine grabbing that usage, and we saw it last year multiple times. Isaiah Thomas is not a scary defender, and Collison will have his way with him. I'm sure it will go both ways, but I think Collison is the way to go. he is way too cheap, and I do expect him to see a monstrous usage bump. With both Cousins and Gay off the floor, Collison has a 29% usage, which is easily the highest on the team. Collison makes for a solid target in all formats, and he will likely be one of my highest owned players of the slate. No way he doesn't hit value at mid $5k.

George Hill FD - $6100 DK - $6100
Opponent - NO
Proj Pts FD - 31.7 DK - 33.49

George Hill may not be the flashiest point guard around, but he sure gets it done. He went through a pretty rough patch nearly 2 weeks ago, and his price still hasn't recovered. This is a  guy who should probably be in the mid $7k's, and I will target him every game at this point. The Pelicans are a perfectly fine match up, as they give up the 17th most fantasy points to opposing PG's. Jrue Holiday is a pretty average defender, and outside of Anthony Davis, don't have anyone else that can cover the drive. The Jazz play at a very slow pace, so this will be a big boost for all the starters. Hill is a supreme cash game play and is great in tournaments as well. He may not have the 60 point upside, but he won't sink you and could help you pay up elsewhere.

D'Angelo Russell & Jeff Teague are also great plays, with just a little more uncertainty.

Shooting Guard

Brad Beal FD - $7400 DK - $7100
Opponent - BKN
Proj Pts FD - 36.21 DK - 38.75

Beal led the Wizards last time out vs the Cavs, finishing with almost 60 fantasy points on 41 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists. While we probably shouldn't expect an encore, I would expect a very solid game. Beal is one of the best shooters in the NBA, and this Nets team gives up the most open 3's in the NBA. Wall has also let Beal run point guard a lot of the time, and he has done a great job. We have seen the assists rise, and that will also help his upside a ton. Sean Kilpatrick and Isaiah Whitehead are both horrible defenders, and Beal will be able to get wherever he wants, whenever he wants. He makes for an extremely safe cash game option, and the upside is obviously there. With that being said, the price is a little bit higher than we're used to, and you will have to decide if he's worth it. He has the ability to hit 50 real life points, which you can't say for too many.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope FD - $5300 DK - $5700
Opponent - LAL
Proj Pts FD - 26.46 DK - 28.22

It seems like Caldwell-Pope can never stay relevant, as injuries have kept him off the court for much of his career. However, he has been very good whilst out here. Stan Van Gundy has a lot of trust in KCp, and we saw that last year as he averaged 38 minutes in the least 2 months of the season. He is back to occasionally seeing those minutes, and certainly could tonight after playing a pretty easy game last time out. The Lakers don't have too much in terms of defenders, and KCP should be able to get open at will. His price is very fair, and I see no reason to avoid him in any format. Along with the Wizards, the Pistons are a team I will have a lot of exposure to. All of their starters have a lot of upside, along with Tobias Harris. As for KCP, you can play him everywhere.

Dwyane Wade FD - $8000 DK - $7800
Opponent - GS
Proj Pts FD - 37.29 DK - 39.05

We were a little back and forth on including Wade here, as it really just comes down to whether or not Jimmy Butler plays. If butler ends up sitting, Wade will see a huge usage boost. He has produced extremely well this season with Butler off the court, and tonight will be no different. They are playing the Warriors, which means the game will be very fast, and there will be plenty of possessions to score. Wade will be the main focus of the offense, and we saw a prime example of what he can do last time out vs the Kings. His price has definitely risen, which is why we need Butler to sit. Wade will see a good defender in Thompson, but I think he will do just fine against him. There will also be a lot of transition buckets, which is where Wade derives a lot of his upside from. Wade is solid in all formats if Butler is out. I don't have much interest outside of tournaments if Butler plays.

Small Forward

Wilson Chandler FD - $6000 DK - $6600
Opponent - ATL
Proj Pts FD - 33.12 DK - 35.56

This one is pretty cut and dry. Danilo Gallinari is going to miss at least a few more games, and WIlsonn Chandler will be a great play until then. Wilson Chandler may actually think he's one of the best players in the league, and I'm perfectly fine with that. He is going to shoot another 15 times and grab 6-10 rebounds. The Hawks are a pretty average defensive team, and this game should stay pretty close. Nikola Jokic really is one of the best players in this league, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him single-handedly keep these Nuggets in this game. Chandler will likely just ride his coattails to value, and could easily exceed it early if the game stays close. Chandler can be deployed in all formats and will be one of my highest owned players in tournaments.

Otto Porter FD - $6600 DK - $6300
Opponent - BKN
Proj Pts FD - 32.7 DK - 34.46

You guessed it, another Washinton Wizard. C'mon, it's nothing new. Porter has the best 3PT % in the league and is taking on the team who gives up the most open treys. Porter could see 5 3's tonight, and the peripherals will obviously be there against Brooklyn. Bogan Bogdanovic is a pretty weak defender and will end up helping a lot on the likes of John Wall and Brad Beal on the drive. That will leave Porter open in the corner, and he's almost automatic. Porter is one of the cheaper starters, and rightfully so. Wall, Beal, and Morris have all been great lately, and Porter has just been the very consistent 4th option. However, we saw some 50 fantasy point games out of Porter earlier in the year, so we know the upside is there. I don't think the safety even needs to be mentioned, as he has totaled over 23 fantasy points in 10 of his last 11 games, and has often been over 35.

Matt Barnes FD - $5200 DK - $5800
Opponent - BOS
Proj Pts FD - 24.27 DK - 26.57

Matt Barnes is a guy that I, among many others, have been targeting as a cheap option at SF lately. He has done a terrific job, hitting 25 fantasy points in 3 straight games. His big minute increase has mostly been due to Garrett Temple and Omri Casspi being out. Both of those guys will be out once again tonight, and DeMarcus  Cousins will also be out. This could force Barnes to play about 35 minutes tonight, and his usage should be pretty high. He will also be needed for more rebounds, as Cousins gets the bulk of those. He might not be a very good offensive player, but nobody really is on that team. After Collison and Lawson, everyone is going to be a little uncomfortable-looking with the ball. Barnes has been priced up a little bit, but this match-up is great, and I love him in all formats. I know it may seem unlikely, but Barnes could easily hit 35 tonight. He will be covered by Jaylen Brown and Jae Crowder, who are both pretty average this year.

Power Forward

Kevin Love FD - $8200 DK - $8500
Opponent - IND
Proj Pts FD - 38.46 DK - 41.28

Love had himself a night against the Wizards, finishing with 39 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. He definitely shut up the Carmelo rumors and proved that he can be the man. This match up with the Pacers is a nice one, and he has the best match-up out of the big 3. Thaddeus Young is currently questionable to play, which means Love will see the defense of either a hobbled Thad Young or Lavoy Allen. Both sound pretty good to me, and I love the potential Love has here. LeBron and Irving have consistently looked for Love, and he usually lets you know how the night will go in the 1st quarter. He takes the most shots in the 1st quarter for the Cavs and will get fed all game if he is hot. He might be a little more expensive than we're used to, but you just have to stomach it and trust that he's worth it. Love can be played in all formats, though I am more likely to play him in tournaments. The next guy we talk about may be a little safer for his price.

Paul Millsap FD - $7700 DK - $7400
Opponent - DEN
Proj Pts FD - 35.92 DK - 37.97

Paul Millsap is one of the safest ways to go tonight, across the entire slate. These Nuggets have ben horrible against PF's, and Millsap will be facing off with Wilson Chandler. Chandler is much too small for Millsap, who should be able to bully him in the paint. Millsap plays the same rotation as Chandler as well, which means they could match up all game. He could also match up with Juancho Hernangomez, who is much too unskilled to cover Millsap. Millsap has had a few rough games in the last couple weeks, but most have been due to blowouts. This is a game that should stay close, and Millsap will be the number 1 option on the Hawks. With all of the options at PF, I ould see Millsap going extremely low owned, This is a guy who has a ton of upside, and this is the type of match-up where he lets loose. Millsap will be on a lot of my teams, and I hope he gets overlooked.

Markieff Morris FD - $6900 DK - $6600
Opponent - BKN
Proj Pts FD - 31.66 DK - 33.75

I promise this will be the last time I will try to tell you why you should play someone against the Nets. We have been targeting players against the Nets all season, and it consistently works out. This is a proven method and one that is very solid for cash games. The Nets often seem to find a way back into games, and you will often see them within 10 in the 3rd or 4th quarter. That forces the opposing team to play their starters, and the upside becomes huge. Morris is a guy who has been playing phenomenal lately, and I expect nothing less here. I'm not going to run through the box scores here, but they have been extraordinary. Morris has historically been a very inconsistent. sporadic type of fantasy player, and it looks like is only now coming into himself. I am confident in targeting him in all formats, and I see him going way under-owned compared to the other Wizards.

Anthony Tolliver will also benefit with DeMarcus Cousins out. He is a decent cheap play, but still lacks huge upside.

Center

Andre Drummond FD - $8300 DK - $8600
Opponent - LAL
Proj Pts FD - 42.33 DK - 44.33

Drummond was in serious foul trouble from minute 2 against the 76ers and still finished with 16 points and 17 rebounds. This is a very similar match-up, as I think the likes of Mozgov and Tarik Black will help Drummond. Those are guys who rarely venture away from the paint, which will let Drummond just sit there and wait for rebounds. The Pistons have also done more to get Drummond involved on offense, posting him up at the block a pretty healthy amount of times. They might not be the most efficient possessions, but it keeps Drummond involved, and he seems to play much better when he is getting fed the ball. Foul trouble is not predictable, so we just have to hope for the best there. He has been a lot better this season, and that sour taste could leave him a little too low owned. This is one of the best match-ups in the league for centers, and I expect Drummond to take full advantage. While he may be a little risky, there are other ways you can go in cash games. Let's take a look at a few of those guys.

Myles Turner FD - $6500 DK - $6200
Opponent - CLE
Proj Pts FD - 35.55 DK - 36.95

Myles Turner is a guy that will very rarely sink your team, and that is always something you can take solace in at center. This game against the Cavs figures to be a close and high-scoring one, which plays well into Turners' game. Tristan Thompson is a pretty good on ball defender but helps a lot on the drive, which leaves his responsibility wide open. Turner will be that responsibility, and you definitely don't want to leave him open. turner can score from anywhere on the court, which is where I think Thompson will struggle most. With Teague and George constantly penetrating the lane, Thomspon will have the urge to stay down low and help. That will let Turner leak into the mid-range, and the wide open shot should be there. It will certainly be interesting to see how this one plays out, but I definitely expect Turner to have a solid game. He can be played in both cash games and tournaments, and is an elite option in both.

Dwight Howard FD - $7100 DK - $6800
Opponent - DEN
Proj Pts FD - 38.54 DK - 40.58

Howard is sandwiched right between Turner and Drummond in terms of pricing, and in terms of projection as well. However, he might be right up there with Drummond for a ceiling. Howard has had a few huge games this year, and the Nuggets interior is one that is very vulnerable. With that being said, Nikola Jokic does worry me. I could see Jokic getting Howard into foul trouble, and that's why I will limit my exposure to tournaments. There is also a chance he does just fine against Jokic, and takes advantage of him on offense. Jokic may be a great offensive player, bur he struggles on defense, and lacks the speed that Howard possesses. Juan Hernangomez and Jusuf Nurkic could also see some minutes ant center, and neither have a chance if Howard is on his game. While Howard is only a GPP play, he as a lot of appeal.

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