Tonight’s Strategy
If there was ever such thing as the perfect slate for beginners, this one would be it. Lineup construction is extremely simple with all the fantasy producing players available for under $5,000 tonight across the industry. First attempt I had no trouble fitting three really expensive players in my lineup. Honestly, I like the balanced approach more though this evening. Also, with the Detroit-Portland game canceled last night, some of the plays from yesterday are still here. I still love them as much today, what can I say?
As always, all fantasy ppg numbers are FanDuel specific.
So, after spending nearly 24 hours in my bar working, only to be back three-hours later, I bring you today’s Position Coach Article.
Point Guard
| PG | Tm | H/A | Opp | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM/G | PTS/G | REB/G | AST/G | STL/G | BLK/G | TO/G | FG% | Usage | FDPts/G | DKPts/G | AcePts/G | YPts/G | $FD | $DK | $FA |
| Kyrie Irving | CLE | A | PHX | 30 | 34.8 | 89% | 2.4 | 24.2 | 3.6 | 5.9 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 2.4 | 48% | 29.23% | 37.4 | 40 | 37.6 | 38.6 | $8900 | $8200 | $6350 |
| D'Angelo Russell | LAL | H | ORL | 27 | 27.2 | 80% | 2.3 | 15.6 | 3.5 | 4.6 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 2.7 | 40% | 27.8% | 26.9 | 29.6 | 27.1 | 28.1 | $6800 | $6500 | $4850 |
| Elfrid Payton | ORL | A | LAL | 38 | 28.8 | 62% | 0.6 | 11.5 | 3.7 | 5.8 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 46% | 20.66% | 26.4 | 27.8 | 26.5 | 26.7 | $6200 | $6400 | $4850 |
| Darren Collison | SAC | H | GSW | 28 | 29.7 | 85% | 1 | 12.6 | 2.1 | 4.3 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 1.6 | 45% | 19.77% | 21.8 | 23.2 | 21.9 | 22.3 | $4500 | $4700 | $4500 |
| Ty Lawson | SAC | H | GSW | 35 | 25.3 | 78% | 0.6 | 8.3 | 2.7 | 4.3 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 42% | 17.61% | 18.9 | 20.2 | 19 | 19.2 | $4400 | $4200 | $3500 |
The PG position tonight is loaded and there are several viable ways you can go, but the guy that tops my list tonight if you are paying up is Kyrie Irving. He’s averaging nearly 50 fantasy ppg over his last six, facing a Phoenix team allowing the seventh most fantasy ppg to the one. Some of the numbers may be elevated due to different bugs and ailments on the Cleveland roster, but I am still all in.
Next stop for me would be the Magic-Lakers game. Both Elfrid Payton and D’Angelo Russell are great buys at their price-point. Russell has scored more than 30-fantasy ppg in three straight while Payton benefits from a Lakers team allowing the fifth most fantasy ppg to the one.
Darren Collison is starting in the two facing a Warriors team allowing the sixth most fantasy ppg to the position while averaging over 27 fantasy ppg over his last four.
Ty Lawson has been red hot as well averaging over 25 fantasy ppg in his last two. Either of these players are great cheap ways to gain some exposure to the highest expected point total on the slate.
Shooting Guard
| SG | Tm | H/A | Opp | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM/G | PTS/G | REB/G | AST/G | STL/G | BLK/G | TO/G | FG% | Usage | FDPts/G | DKPts/G | AcePts/G | YPts/G | $FD | $DK | $FA |
| Klay Thompson | GSW | A | SAC | 37 | 34.4 | 87% | 3 | 21.4 | 3.7 | 2 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 47% | 25.06% | 29.5 | 32.1 | 29.7 | 31.1 | $6700 | $6400 | $5400 |
| Devin Booker | PHX | H | CLE | 36 | 33.3 | 82% | 1.7 | 19 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 1 | 0.3 | 2.7 | 41% | 27.33% | 26.8 | 29.2 | 27 | 27.7 | $5800 | $6200 | $4800 |
| Evan Fournier | ORL | A | LAL | 33 | 33.3 | 84% | 1.8 | 17.5 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 1 | 0.1 | 2 | 45% | 23.61% | 26.3 | 28.3 | 26.4 | 27.2 | $5800 | $6300 | $5000 |
| Lou Williams | LAL | H | ORL | 40 | 24.6 | 86% | 1.9 | 18.1 | 2.3 | 3.1 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 2.2 | 44% | 30.27% | 26.1 | 28.3 | 26.2 | 27.1 | $4900 | $4900 | $4600 |
| Brandon Knight | PHX | H | CLE | 36 | 22.7 | 85% | 1 | 12.6 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 1.8 | 40% | 26.35% | 19.2 | 20.7 | 19.3 | 19.7 | $4400 | $3900 | $4200 |
I find the mid-priced players the best options at the two tonight.
Evan Fournier tonight is facing a Lakers team allowing the fifth most fantasy ppg to the two while having that 30-fantasy point upside I look for at his price.
Klay Thompson is still the only player at his price-tier capable of dropping a 50-spot, and is averaging over 30 fantasy ppg in his last four.
With the Cavaliers allowing a ton of fantasy ppg to the two, Devin Booker is certainly worth a look and provides you with a nice 40-fantasy point upside.
The bottom of the barrel for me tonight would be taking a shot on either Brandon Knight who has a 25-fantasy point upside in a great match-up off the bench, or Lou Williams who when hot off the bench can drop a 30-spot in a flash. I still would rather spend up though.
Small Forward
| SF | Tm | H/A | Opp | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM/G | PTS/G | REB/G | AST/G | STL/G | BLK/G | TO/G | FG% | Usage | FDPts/G | DKPts/G | AcePts/G | YPts/G | $FD | $DK | $FA |
| Kevin Durant | GSW | A | SAC | 37 | 34.5 | 86% | 1.9 | 25.9 | 8.8 | 4.6 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 53% | 27.76% | 46.5 | 49.1 | 47 | 47.5 | $10200 | $9700 | $7100 |
| LeBron James | CLE | A | PHX | 32 | 37.1 | 69% | 1.8 | 26.1 | 7.9 | 8.4 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 3.9 | 52% | 30.48% | 48.3 | 51.5 | 48.7 | 49.2 | $10100 | $10200 | $7700 |
| Luol Deng | LAL | H | ORL | 39 | 27.5 | 69% | 1 | 8.2 | 5.9 | 1.7 | 1 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 40% | 14.58% | 19.6 | 20.8 | 19.9 | 20.1 | $4800 | $4800 | $4400 |
| Aaron Gordon | ORL | A | LAL | 38 | 26.4 | 64% | 1.1 | 11.3 | 4.6 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 44% | 20.45% | 20.9 | 22.3 | 21.2 | 21.5 | $4800 | $5600 | $4500 |
| Marcus Morris | DET | A | POR | 37 | 31.7 | 80% | 1.6 | 13.3 | 3.9 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 42% | 20.03% | 22 | 23.5 | 22.2 | 22.8 | $4600 | $0 | $4150 |
| Matt Barnes | SAC | H | GSW | 34 | 25.4 | 68% | 1.3 | 7.5 | 4.7 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 38% | 16.13% | 17.8 | 19.5 | 18.1 | 18.5 | $3800 | $3900 | $4000 |
Kevin Durant has the second highest true usage rate on the Warriors, facing a Kings team allowing the ninth most fantasy ppg to the three. He is the quickest way to a 50-spot on the slate.
If you don’t like playing the Warriors offense game, take a spin on the Cavs wheel. LeBron James gets a great matchup versus the Suns and is averaging over 50 fantasy ppg in his last four. He also has the highest true usage rate on this slate among SF. Either Durant, or James, should be used in cash games.
Aaron Gordon is the next Orlando player up. The Lakers are allowing the third most fantasy ppg to the three and Gordon is averaging over 30 fantasy ppg in his last three. Even with the team getting healthy, he should see plenty of opportunities.
Luol Deng is dirt cheap and although inconsistent can provide you with a 30-spot when hot. Something he has done twice now in the last seven games. In a GPP, why not?
Portland is allowing the fourth most fantasy ppg to the three while Marcus Morris has that 30-fantasy point upside I look for at his price-tier.
For the near minimum price, but with a higher expected point total, you can take a stab at Matt Barnes. Although he makes me bite my fingernails off, he is averaging over 23 fantasy ppg in his last four finding himself in a favorable match-up starting in the four.
Power Forward
| PF | Tm | H/A | Opp | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM/G | PTS/G | REB/G | AST/G | STL/G | BLK/G | TO/G | FG% | Usage | FDPts/G | DKPts/G | AcePts/G | YPts/G | $FD | $DK | $FA |
| Kevin Love | CLE | A | PHX | 31 | 31.9 | 87% | 2.7 | 21.7 | 11 | 1.7 | 1 | 0.4 | 2.1 | 44% | 27.82% | 38.1 | 41.1 | 38.7 | 39.5 | $8200 | $8000 | $6500 |
| Julius Randle | LAL | H | ORL | 35 | 29.4 | 71% | 0.1 | 13.7 | 8.7 | 3.8 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 2.7 | 50% | 22% | 29.9 | 31.7 | 30.3 | 29.9 | $7300 | $7000 | $5300 |
| Jon Leuer | DET | A | POR | 37 | 27.3 | 90% | 0.8 | 11.2 | 6.2 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 51% | 17% | 22.1 | 23.2 | 22.4 | 22.5 | $4800 | $0 | $4350 |
| Channing Frye | CLE | A | PHX | 28 | 19 | 88% | 2.2 | 9.7 | 3.1 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 46% | 19.41% | 15.5 | 17.1 | 15.7 | 16.6 | $3800 | $4000 | $3500 |
Kevin Love gets a great match-up tonight with the Suns allowing the ninth most fantasy ppg to the four. If I was to pay up at this position, this is where I would go hoping for a 40-spot.
Julius Randle is becoming the other safe play in the Lakers offense as of late. Although the match-up is less than favorable he is still averaging over 40 fantasy ppg in his last four.
Jon Leuer has had a few bad games but finds himself facing a Portland team allowing the most fantasy ppg to the four. He has dropped more than 25-fantasy points eight times this season with some going over 30. He has managed to lure me in.
If you really want to load up the few superstars in a boom or bust GPP than Channing Frye who is seeing an increase in minutes off the bench as of late, is a great option who has scored over 20 fantasy ppg for the near minimum in three straight.
Center
| C | Tm | H/A | Opp | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM/G | PTS/G | REB/G | AST/G | STL/G | BLK/G | TO/G | FG% | Usage | FDPts/G | DKPts/G | AcePts/G | YPts/G | $FD | $DK | $FA |
| DeMarcus Cousins | SAC | H | GSW | 35 | 34.7 | 78% | 1.8 | 28.5 | 10 | 3.9 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 3 | 45% | 37.06% | 48.9 | 51.8 | 49.4 | 49.8 | $10800 | $10800 | $7750 |
| Andre Drummond | DET | A | POR | 37 | 30.2 | 46% | 0.0 | 14.5 | 13.4 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 2 | 53% | 23.49% | 35.4 | 37 | 36 | 35.4 | $7800 | $0 | $5950 |
| Mason Plumlee | POR | H | DET | 38 | 27.7 | 55% | 0.0 | 11.3 | 7.6 | 4.2 | 0.9 | 1 | 1.6 | 57% | 18.22% | 28.9 | 30.1 | 29.3 | 28.9 | $6500 | $0 | $5000 |
| Tristan Thompson | CLE | A | PHX | 35 | 28.9 | 49% | 0.0 | 7 | 9.9 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 58% | 10.41% | 22.9 | 23.8 | 23.4 | 22.9 | $4900 | $5000 | $4200 |
I love having a big scorer in the late game and Andre Drummond fits the bill. Portland is allowing the third most fantasy ppg to the center position while Drummond can easily drop a 50-spot for under $8,000 on FD.
DeMarcus Cousins is the only center who can drop a 70-spot, favorable match-up, or not. Enough said.
Mason Plumlee is averaging over 32 fantasy ppg in his last six for a decent price across the industry.
Tristan Thompson finds himself in a positive match-up, he finds himself in a position to drop back-to-back 30-spots for cheap.
Good luck tonight, any questions email me JCFantasyAlarm@yahoo.com, or hit me up on Twitter @RealJerryColvin
Stacks
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