Daily Fantasy Basketball Plays for 4-13-14

 

The NBA regular season is winding down and managing a daily fantasy lineup can be very tricky with starters seeing diminished minutes and backups getting some extra play. Targeting meaningful games and employing bankroll management is wise. I recommend only playing 5% to 7% of your bankroll to limit your risk yet still enjoying the daily game. Below are players I like based on value, production, and matchups. The cheap plays are players who should exceed their value while not costing a lot, the mid-tier group are players that should produce big numbers while not breaking the bank, and the expensive players are high priced players who are worth every penny.

*Fantasy points (FP) and pricing are based on Draftkings scoring system.

Cheap Plays

Kyle O'Quinn ($5,000) - Nikola Vucevic is doubtful and if he doesn’t suit up Kyle O’Quinn will continue to benefit. His minutes have exceeded 25 over the last four games and he has performed, topping 30 fantasy points in all. Orlando is in tank mode and Brooklyn may rest some of the starters so proceed with caution in this matchup.

Marcus Thornton ($3,600) - Shaun Livingston and Alan Anderson have both been ruled out today so Thornton should see plenty of court time, at this price tag he should have no problem hitting value. He had 16 FP’s while only playing 23 minutes in the last outing versus Orlando so 20 fantasy points is not an unrealistic expectation.

James Johnson ($3,800) - Memphis is trying to lock up the 8th playoff seed so targeting players from this matchup will be a popular strategy. The opponent is the Lakers who rank 30th against SF's and Johnson could get another start if Tayshaun Prince (sprained ankle) can’t go. In the last three games, Johnson has averaged a respectable 24 FP’s per game. I would only use Johnson if Prince sits because he needs a minimum of 25 minutes of playing time to become viable as a punt play. Prince did travel with the team so check out the latest news before lineups lock.

 

Mid-Tier Value Plays

Marc Gasol ($7,500) - A double-double should be a given in this scenario, playing against the atrocious Laker defense and it’s a meaningful game for Memphis. Gasol is a very consistent fantasy performer averaging 32 draftkings points while the Lakers give up close to 50 per game to centers. Gasol is a top option in both cash and GPP games.

Zach Randolph ($7,600) - Z-bo should have a monster game for reasons I mentioned above (see James Johnson and Marc Gasol). A stack of 3 or 4 Grizzlies is a great option as long as this game doesn’t turn into a route early. Randolph can score,rebound, and give you a few assists,  a must play.

Corey Brewer ($5,700) - Let’s chase some points here!! After lighting up the scoreboard for 51 I had to include Brewer today. His price jumped from $4,800 to $5,700 but I think he can still cover that salary. If Love plays it will take away some of his upside but this game should be close and has a favorable projected over/under of 203.  

 

 

Expensive Plays

Stephen Curry ($10,400)  - Curry is the top option at PG tonight and is priced accordingly, the highest on the board. He is coming off a 30 point and 12 assist game and should keep things rolling against Portland. The Trailblazers don’t shut down opposing point guards and Curry lit them up for 37 on their court last month. Golden State clinched a playoff spot but is still battling Dallas to determine the 6th and 7th seed.

DeMarcus Cousins ($9,400) - Boogie is on fire right now and his price hasn’t risen accordingly. A home game against the T-Wolves will provide plenty of scoring and Cousins has poured in over thirty the last two. His splits show he shoots over 50% at home and averages 2 more points per game. If he avoids getting into foul trouble and refrains from temper tantrums expect Boogie to be the top play of the night.

 

Other notable players to consider: Jimmy Butler ($6,500), Jordan Hill ($6,500), Mike Conley ($7,300), and Ray McCallum ($6,300)

 

Give me a follow on twitter @mnorrad where I post fantasy content including lineups for fanduel, draftkings, and draftstreet. Be sure to check out the NBA lineups page on fantasyalarm.com for late scratches and the NBA player updates for the latest injury news to get an edge on the competition.