Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) controls the ball against Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
This is going to be a wild slate. We have 12 games in total and one of the most massive player pools all year. The injury report is also ridiculous, and we should see some big lines once again. We've had a handful of 50-point games over the last week, and it's becoming evident that these absurd stat lines are going to continue for the remainder of the season. I wasn't so sure we'd ever see a 100-point game ever again, but I'm starting to change my tune with the way people can score nowadays. It surely won't happen here, but we should see some big games from some undervalued players.
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Opponent - HOU
Proj Pts FD - 40.32 DK - 41.43
McCollum is my favorite play on the board. It looks like New Orleans will be without Brandon Ingram (toe) and Zion Williamson (hamstring) for this game, leaving McCollum to do everything. That means he should play 35-40 minutes, take 20-25 shots, and flirt with a 40 percent usage rate. He's already had a few opportunities to run the show without those stars this season, averaging 25.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 8.7 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks in the last three games without Zion and BI. That alone makes him an amazing value below $9K, but he also faces a Rockets team that's allowing the most fantasy points to opposing guards this season.
Opponent - OKC
Proj Pts FD - 42.24 DK - 42.06
It's been a long road for Fultz to get to this point, but the 2017 number-one pick is healthy for the first time in his career. He's more than just healthy, he is also playing the best basketball of his career right now. The former Philly guard has scored at least 27 DraftKings points in eight of his last nine games, generating a 35-point average in that span. His ability to stuff the stat sheet is what makes him such a reliable option, struggling with his shot but providing a multitude of statistics. That means he has an even higher ceiling, especially against Oklahoma City. The Thunder rank 25th in points allowed while possessing one of the worst rosters in the NBA.
Jordan Poole (FD $8400 DK $8300) is averaging nearly 40 fantasy points per game as a starter this season and should continue to dominate with Stephen Curry (shoulder) sidelined.
Opponent - NY
Proj Pts FD - 32.7 DK - 33.39
The Spurs have one of the worst rosters in the NBA, but Vassell is developing into their best player. The shooting guard has scored at least 26 DraftKings points in all but two games since the opener, posting a 35-point average in those outings. He's also scored at least 41 fantasy points in a quarter of those, which is fantastic from a sub-$7K player. He's simply the go-to player in this offense right now, and he should have success against a subpar defense like the Knicks. New York owns a 21st OPRK against opposing shooting guards this season. A knee injury for Vassell is the only thing that concerns us, but we'd love Keldon Johnson if DV has to end up sitting.
Opponent - SA
Proj Pts FD - 34.64 DK - 35.63
I've always really liked Quickley's game, but his role was never there for him to be a fantasy-relevant player. An injury to Jalen Brunson forced IQ into the starting lineup, and he's been playing his best basketball since that promotion. The skinny guard is averaging 34 DraftKings points per game across his last eight outings, playing 34 minutes a night. He's actually playing 43 minutes a night since entering the starting lineup and even played 36 minutes in the first game with Brunson back. That has us really encouraged going forward, especially in this sensational matchup with the Spurs. San Antonio sits dead last in both points allowed and defensive efficiency.
Klay Thompson (FD $7900 DK $7600) had 54 raw points in his most recent outing and should thrive against a 29th-ranked Detroit defense.
Opponent - POR
Proj Pts FD - 32.15 DK - 31.19
Slo-Mo has earned his monicker with his sloth-like pace of play, but this guy gets it done. He's been limited to a reserve role for most of the season, but he's been inserted into the starting lineup in the absence of Karl-Anthony Towns (calf). In his 13 starts this year, Anderson is averaging 27 DraftKings points per game across 30 minutes a night. That's all you can hope for from a sub-$5K player, especially since he dropped 43 fantasy points in his most recent outing. His stat-stuffing ability gives KA a nice floor as well, and he shouldn't have any issues reaching 30 DK points against a 21st-ranked Portland defense. In their two meetings this year, Anderson is averaging 28 DK points per game across 34 minutes a night.
Opponent - HOU
Proj Pts FD - 26.97 DK - 25.96
Jones isn't exactly the best fantasy producer, but he's one of the best defensive players in the NBA. The thing holding him back has been Ingram and Williamson swallowing up all the usage, but with Larry Nance Jr out as well, Herb needs to be a major part of this offense. More importantly, he needs to play 35-40 minutes for this shorthanded roster. In the seven games Jones has played at least 33 minutes this year, he's averaging 30 DraftKings points per game. We saw an even higher average in that role last season, and he should pick up some extra defensive statistics against this inefficient offense. Not to mention, Houston ranks 28th in defensive efficiency ratings.
Trey Murphy III (FD $4900 DK $4800) will likely play 30 minutes with the big-name Pelicans out and should be a good value below $5K.
Opponent - SA
Proj Pts FD - 47.95 DK - 51.87
Randle isn't the most fantasy-friendly player, but he's been a monster over the last two weeks. The big man has scored at least 58 DraftKings points in six straight games, totaling a 62-point average in that span. Those are numbers you typically see from MVP candidates, and it looks like Randle is making a late push for an All-Star appearance. That form makes him impossible to fade in this matchup, facing the worst defense in the NBA. In addition, the Spurs are surrendering the second-most fantasy points to opposing power forwards this season. In their one meeting earlier this year, Randle registered 70 fantasy points in one of the best performances of his career!
Opponent - SAC
Proj Pts FD - 32.25 DK - 31.6
It's hard to understand why DraftKings and FanDuel are keeping Collins hovering around $6,000. This guy has been a $7K player throughout his career and has been playing at that level for two weeks. The big man has at least 34 DraftKings points in four of his last five games, dropping 50 fantasy points in his most recent outing. The resurgence is no surprise since Atlanta lifted his minute's restriction last week, right in time for him to do more in the absence of Clint Capela. That means more shot attempts, rebounds, and minutes with CC sidelined, and he should keep this success going against a Sacramento team that sits 24th in points allowed and 25th in defensive efficiency.
P.J. Washington (FD $6300 DK $5600) could see some extra run and usage with Gordon Hayward and Miles Bridges both out of the picture in Charlotte.
Opponent - IND
Proj Pts FD - 62.28 DK - 63.45
We have a million value plays on this large slate, so let's get one of the studs into our build. Embiid is one of our favorite pay-up options on the slate, posting MVP numbers over the last month. The big man has scored at least 53 DraftKings points in 18 of his last 20 games, amassing a 63-point average in that span. That's one of the highest rates in the NBA, and he should pummel a Pacers defense that's allowing the third-most fantasy points to opposing centers. He's played them eight times over the last four years, averaging 62 fantasy points per game in those outings.
Opponent - HOU
Proj Pts FD - 34.28 DK - 36.8
This is a risky option with how volatile JV's role has been this season, but New Orleans needs some offensive production from someone with Zion and BI both sidelined. Valanciunas is the second-best player left on this roster, typically playing at an $8K level. We haven't seen much of that this year because of his limited workload, but he always plays better when Nance is sidelined. In the 20 games that JV has played at least 25 minutes this season, he's averaging nearly 40 fantasy points per game. That's the stud we saw in the past, and he should go ham against Houston. The Rockets rank 28th in total defense while surrendering the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing centers.
Steven Adams (FD $6800 DK $5400) has 61 rebounds over the last three games and should never be this cheap with that sort of rebounding upside.
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