Daily Fantasy NBA Basketball Picks for FanDuel and DraftKings - 4/7/17

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Point Guards

Russell Westbrook FD - $13500 DK - $14000
Opponent - PHO
Proj Pts FD - 66.12 DK - 70.57
To Russell, or not to Russell, that is the question. Russell up baby! On Wednesday Westbrook came up just shy of a record 42nd triple-double for the season. Russell finished with 45 pts, 9 reb, and 10 ast (tilting AF), but tonight Westy gets the Phoenix Suns who give up the 2nd most fantasy points per game against point guards (52.5 FD). Hopefully Russell’s lofty salary on both sites will scare DFS players since I plan on locking him up since he has put up 84, 72, and 80 FD pts in the three times OKC has met Phoenix this year. There is no doubt in my mind that he will come out tonight motivated to break Oscar Robertson’s triple-double record and dispel any doubts that he should be this year’s MVP. The tiny 5’9” Tyler Ulis or any of the Sun’s NCAA skilled players have zero chance on containing the triple-double king; they can only hope to contain him.

Tyler Ennis FD - $3800 DK - $5000
Opponent - SAC
Proj Pts FD - 22.92 DK - 24.84
On Wednesday we got two Tyler’s that went off for over 30 fantasy points. Tyler Ulis of the Suns who cost over $6k and Tyler Ennis who was priced only at $3,600 on FD. Ennis’s 8X value was due to D’Angelo Russell being ruled out against the Spurs due to a sore knee despite never appearing on the Lakers’ injury report at any point throughout the day. While this news broke shortly after lock (how maddening), Ennis played 36 minutes and had 20 pts, 5 reb, and 6 ast with a 26% usage rating. Yesterday Jordan Clarkson had a limited practice (knee) and Russell is again questionable due to sitting out last game (knee). If Russell or Clarkson can’t go Ennis would be a massive value play against the Sacramento Kings on FD and decent cash play on DK due to his $5k salary. Some speculation might need to be taken since the Lakers could release info again after lock, so make sure to follow the Daily Fantasy NBA News and Injury Report Update article.
Patty Mills FD - $4100 DK - $4000
Opponent - DAL
Proj Pts FD - 22.17 DK - 24.29
Yesterday afternoon the Spurs officially ruled out Kawhi Leonard, LaMarcus Aldridge, Pau Gasol, Manu Ginobili, Danny Green, and DeJounte Murray for tonight’s game (Thank you Spurs). This news will open a slew of value options such as Kyle Anderson, Jonathon Simmons, and David Lee who will be chalky AF but you should also consider Patty Mills who will pick up whatever remaining point guard minutes Tony Parker doesn’t use. Even though Mills will not start if Parker presumably plays, I still see him getting 28-30 minutes. In the two meetings against Dallas this year where Mill’s saw 24+ minutes he put up 24 and 32 fantasy pts. The current injury news and the $4k salary on both sites make Mills a great low cost play in all formats.

Shooting Guards

Buddy Hield FD - $5500 DK - $6000
Opponent - LAL
Proj Pts FD - 26.4 DK - 29
Shooting guard is pretty putrid tonight even with some big names on the table. James Harden is always an option but at a premium $12k salary he faces the Detroit Pistons who give up the 4th least fantasy points per game to shooting guards, plus he hasn’t hit value in his last five games. Devin Booker faces the Thunder who give up the 9th least amount of fantasy points to shooting guards per game and he isn’t any type of bargain at $8K on both sites. Booker has only averaged 31 FD pts against the Suns this year. Then you have DeMar DeRozan who is mainly a DK play at $7,800 and only a GPP option on FD since Miami gives up the least fantasy points per game to shooting guards (36.2). DeRozan has only averaged 39 FD pts against the Heat this year. This is a very long way of saying I am not paying up at shooting guard and I will be looking at guys like Buddy Hield who faces the Lakers who give up the 10th most fantasy points per game to shooting guards (41.7). In Hield’s last three games he has averaged 26.5 FD pts, 30 minutes per games, and 12.7 fga/g with a 22.3 usage rating. Oh did I mention he plays the Lakers tonight?
Tim Hardaway Jr. FD - $5600 DK - $5600
Opponent - CLE
Proj Pts FD - 29.28 DK - 31.32
THJ is probable with a minor knee injury but he is scheduled to start if he suits up. In his last eight games as a starter he has averaged 13.6 fga/g in 36 minutes per game. In his last eight games he has averaged 25.5 FD pts per game and has shown a nice ceiling of 40 points. In Timmy’s last game against the Cleveland Cavaliers he put up 40 FD pts and tonight Paul Millsap will be resting (knee) so THJ should get some more usage. On a nine game slate I think THJ can easily be overlooked making him a decent option in all formats.
Gary Harris FD - $6200 DK - $5800
Opponent - NO
Proj Pts FD - 27.07 DK - 28.73
Again shooting guard tonight is really rough but I think attacking the NOR Pelicans with Garry Harris could be fruitful. The Pelicans give up the 7th most fantasy points per game to shooting guards (42.8). Harris in his last five games has averaged 28 FD points while averaging almost 37 minutes per game. In his last game against the Pelicans Harris put up 23 pts, 8 reb, 5 ast, and 2 stl for 41 FD pts. Harris is $400 cheaper on DK making him nice in all formats but on FD I like him more as a GPP play. If you want cheaper options I like Wesley Matthews up against a depleted SAS team with possibly no Seth Curry (questionable knee) and Jordan Crawford who has hit value in four out of his last five games and could see a nice boost if DeMarcus Cousins sits.

Small Forwards

LeBron James FD - $10900 DK - $10600
Opponent - ATL
Proj Pts FD - 52.02 DK - 55.71
LeBron in his last four games has reminded us why they call him the King, averaging 32 pts, 11 reb, and 8.5 ast per game. He has triple-doubled in two out of his last three games. While we can’t expect another 82-fantasy point outing like he had against IND in double-OT, my expectations for the King are pretty high since he has averaged 55 FD pts against the Hawks in the last two seasons. His last game against the Hawks he put up 63.6 FD pts for 38 pts, 13 reb, 8 ast, and 3 blk. At a sub $11K salary on both sites I like James in all formats. You better believe LBJ is coming out strong tonight to secure that number one seed. Long live the King!

Kyle Anderson FD - $3600 DK - $3600
Opponent - DAL
Proj Pts FD - 22.35 DK - 23.57
Davis Bertans FD - $3500 DK - $3000
Opponent - DAL
Proj Pts FD - 19.4 DK - 21.17
Jonathon Simmons FD - $3500 DK - $3900
Opponent - DAL
Proj Pts FD - 18.71 DK - 20.18
With San Antonio sitting six players, three of them being their best players (Leonard, Aldridge, and Gasol) the Spurs will present us a slew of value plays tonight. Kyle Anderson at only $3,600 has averaged 30.8 FD points and 32 DK points in his last two starts. With the Spurs so limited Anderson should easily see 30+ minutes. It should be noted, even as a starter Anderson will garner his fantasy points mostly through peripheral stats since in his last two starts he took a combined 10 fga and has only averaged double digit fga once this season. Still it is hard to see many flaws with Anderson since when the big three sit his FD ppm jumps from a pathetic 0.15 points to 0.87. Davis Bertrans most likely will come off the bench but with such a thin roster I can see him getting 26+ minutes or so. Bertrans unlike Anderson enjoys shooting the rock and has averaged 8.2 fga/g in the seven games he played 20+ minutes this season. Bertran’s floor is considerably lower than Anderson’s since his highest fantasy output this season has been 25.7 FD pts and that was as a starter in 30 minutes against the 76ers. Lastly we have Jonathon Simmons who I like on FD since he is $400 more on DK. In his six starts this season Simmons has averaged 26 minutes but only 13.76 FD points per game. Still the SAS are so thin tonight and Simmons should see his usage skyrocket making him a nice cash option. I would tread lightly on using a ton of the SAS value plays, but if you want to get frisky maybe in a GPP using a combination of these guys makes sense.

Power Forwards

Nikola Jokic FD - $10100 DK - $9600
Opponent - NO
Proj Pts FD - 47.6 DK - 50.01
The Joker always seems a tad bit overpriced but at least on FD we see him at a sub $10K price. In his last four games Jokic has averaged 49.45 FD pts. Against the NOR Pelicans, Jokic has not been amazing only averaging 26 FD pts per game, but with Will Barton (foot) questionable and the Pelican’s big man DeMarcus Cousins questionable as well we could see a huge game from the Joker. Listen, the Joker can easily put up a triple-double but he can also leave you frustrated making only 4X. For me I love Jokic’s ceiling but due to his still relatively high price tag he remains an intoxicating GPP option.

Larry Nance Jr. FD - $4300 DK - $5000
Opponent - SAC
Proj Pts FD - 29.69 DK - 30.87
Larry has been fantastic in his last three games as a starter averaging 29.8 FD pts. In his last three games he has averaged 11.7 pts, 9 reb, 2 stl, and 1 blk per game. It is a tad bit concerning in two of those starts he only received 23 minutes or less, but it’s hard to knit pick since he gets the Sacramento Kings tonight who let up the 7th most fantasy points per game to power forwards (45.8). If Larry sees 30 minutes tonight he would be a stellar play on either site and playable for cash and GPP.
James Johnson FD - $6400 DK - $6600
Opponent - TOR
Proj Pts FD - 32.57 DK - 34.43
JJ has reinvented himself as Miami’s go to reserve player this year. Last game he got his first start of the season and put up 26 pts, 4 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl in 32 minutes for 37 FD pts. Luke Babbitt (hip) is questionable and if he sat again Johnson should see anther start. If you are a revenge narrative believer than hold on tight since JJ is coming back to the Great White North to face his former team. Johnson has averaged 29 FD pts in his last two games against Toronto who let up the 13th most points to power forwards per game. As a reserve JJ has averaged 26.8 FD pts per game this season, but if JJ starts again and sees 30+ minutes I think he has a shot to reaching his ceiling of 40 fantasy pts tonight.
If you are looking for more value consider Ersan Ilyasova with Millsap resting and David Lee who sees 1.0 FD ppm when the SAS’s big three sits.

Centers

DeMarcus Cousins FD - $9600 DK - $10300
Opponent - DEN
Proj Pts FD - 53.41 DK - 56.69
The Pelicans are out of the playoff race and with Cousins (Achilles) questionable, we could see Boogie sit. If he does sit Anthony Davis (especially on DK) and Jrue Holiday would see big usage boosts and would become great plays. If Boogie does play I like him as a high-end center play since his last game against Denver the Boogie monster put up 30 pts, 14 reb, 9 ast, 1 stl, and 2 blk for 64 FD pts. While Cousin’s first eleven games as a Pelican were not stellar only averaging 40 FD pts per game, in his last six games he has been averaging 59 FD pts per game. If you are picking between Anthony Davis or Cousins I prefer Boogie at least on FD since he is $1,700 cheaper. Keep monitoring Boogie’s status throughout the day because there is always a chance he is simply shutdown for the remainder of the season.
Dewayne Dedmon FD - $3500 DK - $3000
Opponent - DAL
Proj Pts FD - 19.75 DK - 20.66
No LeMarcus Aldridge and Pau Gasol, leaves the Spurs pretty short (literally) and Dewayne Dedmon should see 26+ minutes. At the beginning of the year when Dedmon started against the Mavericks and played 26 minutes he put up 28 FD pts with 6 pts, 10 reb, 2 stl, and 3 blk. At minimum price on both sites Dedmon is tonight’s ultimate punt play that could easily put up 6X with room for 8X-9X. Playing Dedmon with a sprinkle of the other SAS value plays will allow you to play both Russell Westbrook and LeBron James together if that’s the root you want to take.

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