Ah, Thanksgiving is over. I love this holiday. When else do you get a free pass to eat whatever you want for one day with what is the perfect alibi…it’s Thanksgiving. The sad part for me is my wife and I went out with my father and his girlfriend to a restaurant. A buffet actually. About two years ago I had gastric bypass surgery so a buffet is a complete loss for yours truly. It is, however, a small price to pay to be able to see your feet among other things.
After a nice dinner Jennifer and I returned home to watch some football. I have to say, my wife used the playbook here on the site yesterday and crushed it in her 50/50’s and double-ups. Perhaps I should take NFL lessons from her. As for me, I would rather not talk about it. It feels at times that the NFL is my nemesis. I build my bankroll all week in basketball to hand it back on football. A vicious circle. How many weeks left?
Tonight we have a full slate of games with value everywhere. In cash games I will be spending in the middle priced range this evening with great matchups and underpriced players abound. Now let’s cash some lineups.
Point Guard
I am just as amazed as you are that the usual suspects are not the No. 1 today. Instead, the guy I am using in all my cash games tonight is Chris Paul. Paul in his last three games has two double-doubles and has scored more than 35 fantasy points in three straight games. Tonight he is facing the Pelicans who are allowing the second-most fantasy ppg and 26.2 ppg to the PG position. He is playing in a game with a high expected point total of 213.5 with the Clippers being 6.5-point favorites. For the price of only $8,900 on FanDuel tonight I feel like I am getting a huge bargain.
The other guy I really like for the price tonight is my little buddy Golem...Rajon Rondo. Precious things and diamond rings may be in his future but so is a triple-double tonight. He has not had one now in four straight games while having a run with four of them over six games prior. Call me optimistic but facing the Timberwolves, who are allowing 25.1 ppg to the PG position, I feel like I have a Big Papi after two weeks without a home run situation here. You add in that fact that Rondo has scored more than 50 fantasy points in five out of the last 10 games and I have to take him. I will be using him in cash games with Chris Paul tonight.
Finally you are going to mention Stephen Curry Jerry Colvin. Yes, I am. Who am I talking to? Myself. Something I do quite often. Curry is a great play any night and you certainly should get the most of it if not more than what you are paying for tonight. This game should be a high scoring affair for Curry with the Suns allowing 24.3 ppg to the PG position. With Curry averaging over 32 points, five rebounds, five assists, and 40 fantasy ppg if you wanted to spend I could not blame you. I will have exposure to him in my GPP lineup this evening.
Jeff Teague tonight is in a spot to rack up some fantasy gold for you for the low price of $7,100 on FanDuel. Teague is coming off a 22-point and 37 fantasy point performance against Minnesota on Wednesday night and should easily hit the 30 fantasy point mark tonight, facing the Grizzlies who are allowing their fair share of fantasy points and 25.2 ppg to the PG position. With Atlanta three-point underdogs, Teague should see plenty of opportunity tonight in game with an expected point total approaching 200.
Take a close look tonight at the Philadelphia-Houston game. It is chalked full of value. One guy who is a great value play tonight is T.J. McConnell. In the last 10 games he has scored more than 22 fantasy points six times. I understand 22 points is no feat but he is only $5,000 on FanDuel. He has hit the 30 fantasy point mark against the Mavs on Nov. 16 and is in a great spot to do it again tonight. The Rockets are allowing the 25th most fantasy points to the PG position and McConnell should see plenty of playing time with the Sixers being 11-point underdogs.
FanDuel | Draft Kings | ||||||||||||||
Player | Tm | Opp | M/G | 3PM | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PTS | Spread | $ | PTS | $ | PTS |
Stephen Curry | GSW | PHX | 34.75 | 4.88 | 5.13 | 5.94 | 2.56 | 0.19 | 3.63 | 32.13 | 10900 | 49.06 | 10900 | 53.56 | |
Chris Paul | LAC | NOP | 32.08 | 1.33 | 3.58 | 8.42 | 1.75 | 2.5 | 17.33 | 213.5 | 8900 | 35.26 | 8400 | 37.36 | |
Rajon Rondo | SAC | MIN | 36.81 | 0.81 | 7.69 | 10.94 | 2 | 0.13 | 4 | 12.56 | 8400 | 38.44 | 9300 | 41.24 | |
Jeff Teague | ATL | MEM | 30.29 | 1 | 2.71 | 6.43 | 1.43 | 0.5 | 2.86 | 17.07 | 195.5 | 7100 | 30.97 | 6700 | 33.04 |
T.J. McConnell | PHI | HOU | 28.06 | 0.44 | 4.81 | 6.19 | 1.31 | 0.44 | 2.88 | 6.81 | 198.5 | 5000 | 22.49 | 5000 | 24.39 |
Shooting Guard
This position has so many options tonight trying to narrow it down felt like separating a needle in a stack of needles. Eric Bledsoe, who I have a huge chip on my shoulder against (recency bias in full effect), tonight is playing at PG but FanDuel has him at SG. The Warriors are allowing the 21st most fantasy points to the PG position and Bledsoe has scored more than 40 fantasy points in five out of the last nine games and should again tonight. If you can afford him, he is the way to go.
For the price tonight if you are going to spend then Dwyane Wade is another option. He is averaging over 17 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, and almost 30 fantasy ppg. Prior to his stinker versus the Pistons on Wednesday, Wade had scored more than 40 fantasy points in two out of three games. With the Knicks allowing the 17th most fantasy points and 21.3 ppg to the SG position, Wade is a viable option.
With the Clippers-Pelicans game slated to be a late night shootout why not get a gun or two in the action yourself? Eric Gordon in the last 10 games has scored more than 27 fantasy points eight times. Out of those eight times, Gordon has scored more than 30 fantasy points six times. Tonight in a game with a huge expected point total Gordon should get all that and more. I am using him in my cash games.
The other guy I am using tonight in my cash games tonight along with Gordon is Bradley Beal. He is playing in a close game (BOS -3) with a high expected point total (210.5). The Celtics are allowing the 19th most fantasy ppg and almost 20 ppg to the SG position. Beal has scored 37 points with eight rebounds and five assists in the last two games and reached the 30 fantasy ppg mark in four of the last seven games played. I like those odds.
Tailing the bottom five of the SG position today is Jimmy Butler. Depending on how you spend today Butler is a great play if you can afford him. He is averaging over 36 fantasy ppg and is facing a Pacers team allowing the 25th most fantasy points to the SG position. He has huge upside and I will be using him in my stars and scrubs GPP lineup.
FanDuel | Draft Kings | ||||||||||||||
Player | Tm | Opp | M/G | 3PM | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PTS | Spread | $ | PTS | $ | PTS |
Eric Bledsoe | PHX | GSW | 34.43 | 1.79 | 4.07 | 5.86 | 1.86 | 0.57 | 3.64 | 22.86 | 8500 | 37.74 | 8400 | 40.66 | |
Jimmy Butler | CHI | IND | 36.54 | 1.54 | 5.23 | 3.38 | 2.08 | 0.69 | 1.54 | 21.08 | 198.5 | 8400 | 36.43 | 8200 | 38.23 |
Dwyane Wade | MIA | NYK | 29.38 | 0.46 | 3.15 | 4.46 | 1.15 | 0.69 | 2.08 | 17.15 | 187.5 | 7200 | 29.25 | 6900 | 30.68 |
Bradley Beal | WAS | BOS | 34.33 | 2.33 | 4.22 | 2.33 | 1 | 0.33 | 2.67 | 20 | 210.5 | 6900 | 28.57 | 6600 | 31.28 |
Eric Gordon | NOP | LAC | 36.07 | 2.93 | 2.53 | 3.2 | 1.13 | 0.2 | 1.6 | 18.8 | 213.5 | 6100 | 27.71 | 6300 | 30.1 |
Small Forward
I am not spending up tonight at the SF position. We have good players in great matchups everywhere here and I just do not see the need to spend a fortune.
The one guy I am using in my cash games has been slightly inconsistent as of late. Jae Crowder was on quite a tear and then, like most players, had a little cool streak. In his last 10 games he has scored more than 24 fantasy points five times. Once again this seems low but his price is only $4,900 on FanDuel and he is facing a Washington team allowing an incredible 26.4 ppg to the SF position and the most fantasy points to boot.
Tobias Harris tonight is playing in a game where the Magic are four-point favorites with an expected point total of just under 200 (198). Harris has two double-doubles in his last four games and is averaging over 28 fantasy ppg. Tonight he is facing a Bucks team allowing the 26th most fantasy points to the SF position and I expect him to feast. I am using him tonight in my GPP lineup.
Next up is what should be a familiar name. Robert Covington tonight is facing the Rockets who are allowing the 27th most fantasy points to the SF position and the 30th most fantasy points overall. He put up a double-double on Wednesday night scoring almost 40 fantasy points and I see him hitting that tonight for the low price of $5,700 on FanDuel. I will be pairing him with Crowder in cash games.
In four out of five games Trevor Ariza has scored more than 25 fantasy ppg. In a similar fashion to the Covington matchup the Sixers are allowing the 29th most fantasy points to the SF position and the 28th most fantasy points overall. Ariza scores nearly 20 ppg most nights and offers you a chance at a double-double in good matchups. He is a viable play in any format tonight.
C.J. Miles scored huge dividends on Monday night for fantasy owners putting up over 40 fantasy points. Over his last three games he is averaging 32.7 fantasy ppg. His price remains low and he gets the Bulls tonight who are allowing the 25th most fantasy points to the SF position on the season. Another fine play among so many.
FanDuel | Draft Kings | ||||||||||||||
Player | Tm | Opp | M/G | 3PM | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PTS | Spread | $ | PTS | $ | PTS |
Tobias Harris | ORL | MIL | 32.67 | 0.8 | 8 | 2.2 | 0.73 | 0.67 | 1.87 | 14.67 | 198 | 6600 | 28.5 | 6100 | 30.23 |
Trevor Ariza | HOU | PHI | 35.53 | 2 | 5.93 | 2 | 1.93 | 0.27 | 1.93 | 12 | 198.5 | 6000 | 24.59 | 5700 | 26.85 |
Robert Covington | PHI | HOU | 27.43 | 1.14 | 5.86 | 1 | 2.43 | 0.86 | 3.29 | 11.14 | 198.5 | 5700 | 22.96 | 5100 | 25.47 |
C.J. Miles | IND | CHI | 27.64 | 3.09 | 2 | 1.45 | 1.64 | 0.27 | 1.82 | 15.91 | 198.5 | 5200 | 22.49 | 5200 | 25.05 |
Jae Crowder | BOS | WAS | 29.67 | 1.2 | 5 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 10.8 | 210.5 | 4900 | 23.3 | 5700 | 25.05 |
Power Forward
When it comes to price versus upside my favorite play at the PF position tonight is Kevin Love. The Charlotte Hornets are allowing the 29th most fantasy points to the PF position on the season and 21.3 ppg as well. The Cavaliers are only four-point favorites in a game with a 205 expected point total. Love is averaging over 19 points, 11 rebounds, and 37 fantasy ppg and I see him hitting 40 tonight no problem. I am using him in all my cash games.
Anthony Davis, if you can afford him, is without a doubt the top play on the slate for the position. He has 78 points and 54 rebounds over the last three games. Need I say more?
LaMarcus Aldridge, with Tim Duncan out, is starting at center tonight. The Nuggets are allowing the 26th most fantasy points and 21.3 ppg to the center position. With Aldridge averaging over 30 fantasy ppg he provides a 40 fantasy point upside tonight in this matchup. He has had ankle problems so although it is highly unlikely he will not play you can never put it past the NBA. Just keep an eye out.
As earlier stated the Houston-Philadelphia game is a bevy of value. Nerlens Noel gets to face a Rockets team allowing the most fantasy points and second most real points to the PF position on the season. Noel has failed to reach the 20 fantasy point mark now in two straight games and I cannot see a better night for him to get back on track. I smell a double-double.
The guy I am using with Kevin Love tonight in cash games is Tristan Thompson. His price has yet to catch up with his production and I see no need to get off this horse at the price point. He is still only $5,700 on FanDuel despite averaging over 29 fantasy ppg over the last four. Keep in mind one of those was a 37 fantasy point performance. I have no worries he does not hit the 28 mark tonight playing center against a Hornets team that has its woes defending the position.
If you want to take a chance take a quick look in GPP at David West starting for San Antonio tonight. A boom or bust play but for $3,800 could be worth a flyer facing a 20th ranked Nuggets defense versus the PF position. I also am all about Blake Griffin if you can afford him tonight. He just missed the list.
FanDuel | Draft Kings | ||||||||||||||
Player | Tm | Opp | M/G | 3PM | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PTS | Spread | $ | PTS | $ | PTS |
Anthony Davis | NOP | LAC | 34.33 | 0.67 | 10.83 | 1.83 | 1.17 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 23.5 | 213.5 | 11100 | 44.08 | 10800 | 46.21 |
Kevin Love | CLE | CHA | 34.47 | 2.67 | 11.8 | 2.53 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 2.53 | 19.53 | 205 | 8300 | 37.36 | 8300 | 40.55 |
LaMarcus Aldridge | SAS | DEN | 31.31 | 9.69 | 1.77 | 0.15 | 0.92 | 1.54 | 15.46 | 7800 | 30.36 | 6800 | 31.62 | ||
Nerlens Noel | PHI | HOU | 31.64 | 8.43 | 1.29 | 1.43 | 1 | 2.93 | 10.14 | 198.5 | 6300 | 24.11 | 5800 | 26 | |
Tristan Thompson | CLE | CHA | 27.27 | 10.13 | 1 | 0.47 | 0.73 | 0.73 | 7.8 | 205 | 5700 | 23.13 | 6000 | 24 |
Center
The top play at the center position if you want to pay up tonight is DeAndre Jordan. The Pelicans are allowing 21.9 ppg to the center position and Jordan is averaging over 33 fantasy ppg. He has had three double-doubles in his last five games and with the Pelicans allowing the 28th most fantasy points to centers he is a great play in any format.
Marc Gasol is the same price as Jordan on FanDuel tonight with a slight downgrade in upside. He does however face the Hawks who are allowing the 25th most fantasy points to the center position and 21.9 ppg to go with it. Gasol has the ability to put up 25 points and 10 rebounds in the blink of an eye and has a shot at it tonight.
Even though he let me down on Wednesday night scoring only six points with a whopping six rebounds for a huge bust, I am willing to give Karl-Anthony Towns another shot. I am sure he is probably more upset than I was about it. Not by much, though, I suspect. Still, prior to the last two flops Towns was averaging well over 30 fantasy ppg. With recency bias at center stage here he should be low owned tonight and makes a great GPP play.
Ian Mahinmi is slowly picking it up. He is averaging 23.7 fantasy ppg over his last five games and for the super low price of $4,800 on FanDuel I am using him in my cash games tonight. The Pacers are slight favorites in a game with a decent expected point total of 198.5. The Bulls are allowing the 23rd most fantasy points to the center position on the season and the 22nd most overall. The only concern is the minutes as he has only played 22 in each of the last two but he is still putting up numbers.
FanDuel | Draft Kings | ||||||||||||||
Player | Tm | Opp | M/G | 3PM | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PTS | Spread | $ | PTS | $ | PTS |
DeAndre Jordan | LAC | NOP | 32.53 | 12.73 | 1.13 | 0.6 | 3 | 1.4 | 10.73 | 213.5 | 7800 | 33.51 | 7200 | 34.85 | |
Marc Gasol | MEM | ATL | 33.94 | 0.13 | 6.88 | 4.19 | 0.63 | 0.75 | 2.5 | 15.38 | 195.5 | 7800 | 30.16 | 7200 | 31.81 |
Karl-Anthony Towns | MIN | SAC | 28.33 | 0.07 | 9.53 | 1 | 0.67 | 2.27 | 2.2 | 14.67 | 6900 | 31.27 | 7300 | 32.89 | |
Ian Mahinmi | IND | CHI | 24.08 | 6.54 | 1.23 | 1.08 | 1.46 | 0.85 | 6.69 | 198.5 | 4800 | 20.62 | 4500 | 21.37 |
Good luck tonight and, as always, on full slates use caution as the point totals are likely going to be very high even in 50/50’s and double-ups. Feel free to berate me for any mistakes or tell me how awesome I am below in the comments section. I will be back on later before lineups lock. Twitter: @geraldcolvin73.