Tonight’s DFS CBB slate is one of the smallest so far this season - just three games to choose from on both DraftKings and FanDuel. Still, with two Top 25 programs in action and a couple rivalry matchups on the docket, it’ll be fun to make lineups as we hone in on the studs to lock in.

One thing to keep in mind tonight: Because there’s significantly less games on the slate, both DK and FD tried to adjust their prices and discount some of the usually high-priced stars and raise some of the cheaper players to account for the fewer options overall we have to choose from.

This is good and bad at the same time. While we get someone like Carsen Edwards about $1,000 cheaper than normal, there’s not a ton of players below the $5,000 price point who are worth rostering. Alright, let’s get into it!

Game To Target

Iowa State @ Iowa - 8 pm ET (DK & FD) - On such a short slate, it’s hard to ignore any of the three games - but this intrastate conference matchup features the highest expected point total tonight (152.5). With Iowa State coming in as 1.5-point road favorites, this should be an up-and-down offensive treat creating attractive DFS plays on both sides. According to KenPom, Iowa State is the 17th-most efficient offense while Iowa ranks 22nd. Expect plenty of scoring in this one.

 

Guards

Carsen Edwards - PUR ($8,700 DK / $8,500 FD) - Purdue’s dynamic point guard is the epitome of the price adjustment we mentioned above. Edwards has been hovering around $10,000 all season as the Boilermakers’ top scorer and ball-handler. He’s averaging at least 19 shot attempts per game - nine of which come from behind the arc. This ridiculous volume makes him a lock in all formats, especially considering he has one of the highest floors and ceilings on the slate.

Talen Horton-Tucker - ISU ($7,100 DK / $7,700 FD) - Iowa State runs a ton of guard-heavy lineups and all four of the top options are in play - Shayok, Weiler-Babb and Haliburton are the others. Horton-Tucker, though, has double-digit shot attempts in all but one game this season and has a realistic floor of 22 fantasy points. What makes him more attractive is when he plays to his full potential and contributes across the board in multiple categories, his ceiling reaches 63 fantasy points like he did back on Nov. 20.

Brandon Randolph - AZ ($6,900 DK / $6,500 FD) - After starting the year as an afterthought in the Arizona backcourt, Randolph is now the most expensive guard for the Wildcats tonight. The price may scare some people off but he can easily return value if he keeps up his shooting volume. Randolph has launched double-digit shot attempts in all but one of his eight games this season while knocking down close to 50% - and that’s all with a putrid 28.6% from 3-point land. When he starts hitting his 3’s consistently, watch out!

TJ Washington - UTV ($5,400 DK / $5,800 FD) - Utah Valley is making its debut on the DFS CBB slate this year - forcing people to shy away from the unknown production. The Wolverines run a lot of guard-dominant lineups with the Toolson brothers as the top scorers. It’s Washington, though, who leads the team in assists (4.8 per game) and is coming off a three-game stretch of nine, nine and six dishes.

Eric Ayala - UMD ($4,600 DK / $5,600 FD) - To fit some of the studs in your lineups, we’ll need to find some value tonight. Look no further than Ayala. The freshman is playing close to 30 minutes as a starter for a Terps squad that usually employs a short bench. Expect another active night for Ayala in this conference matchup on the road where the starters will get most of the run. Ayala is more attractive on DK where he sits below $5,000 - a rarity for a starter, especially on this short of a slate.

Nojel Eastern - PUR ($4,100 DK / $5,300 FD) - Here’s another starter who’s priced way too cheap for how many minutes he plays - also a better play on DK. Rostering Eastern at this price allows you to get up to Edwards, Fernando and some other studs you want in your lineups. Plus, you’ll get 25-30 minutes in what should be a close conference battle.

Dylan Smith - AZ ($3,900 DK / $5,100 FD) - Again, another value play that is a lot easier to roster on DraftKings. Smith is more a GPP play, though, due to an extreme floor but possible 20 fantasy point upside. In competitive matchups, Smith seemingly disappears. But against worse teams - like Utah Valley - Smith sees more minutes and his usage jumps up significantly.

 

Forwards

Bruno Fernando - UMD ($7,900 DK / $8,400 FD) - Bruno has been a beast down low for the Terps - averaging a double-double and two blocks per game this season. Purdue doesn’t have an elite rebounder on their team so Fernando should gobble up at least 10 boards yet again - giving him a legit floor of 30 fantasy points as the highest priced forward on the slate.

Chase Jeter - AZ ($7,700 DK / $6,800 FD) - Jeter is one of those rare players who’s DraftKings price is significantly higher than on FanDuel - making him a better play on the latter. Arizona is still trying to figure out who will be their go-to scorer and Jeter has had games where he’s been thay guy. With three double-doubles on the season, the Duke transfer offers a higher ceiling than normal against a mid-major opponent.

Michael Jacobson - ISU ($6,900 DK / $7,900 FD) - Jacobson is the one big the Cyclones consistently use in their guard-heavy lineups. He’s averaging 30 fantasy points per game as the team’s leading rebounder. In a fast-paced game with tons of shots, there will be plenty of chances for boards and putbacks for Jacobson down low.

Jalen Smith - UMD ($6,500 DK / $7,200 FD) - The forward position on 7-game slates isn’t usually deep - and it’s no different in tonight’s three games. Your lineup may include two top-tier forwards as there’s better value at guard to make roster construction easier. Jalen Smith sits at the bottom end of that high-end forward spectrum. Maryland doesn’t play Fernando and Smith together a whole lot but they may have to tonight to dominate the boards and protect the rim against the active Edwards.

Ira Lee - AZ ($3,800 DK / $4,500 FD) - There really isn’t a lot of value at forward tonight. Lee should be the lowest you’re willing to go. Arizona is favored by double-digits tonight and could blow out Utah Valley. If so, Lee would stand to get a bump in minutes and post 15 fantasy points as he contributes across all stat categories. It’s only 15 points but look at how cheap he is.
 

Example Lineup on DraftKings:

G: Carsen Edwards, PUR ($8,700)

G: Talen Horton-Tucker, ISU ($7,100)

G: Eric Ayala, UMD ($4,600)

F: Bruno Fernando, UMD ($7,900)

F: Michael Jacobson, ISU ($6,900)

F: Jalen Smith, UMD ($6,500)

U: Nojel Eastern, PUR ($4,100)

U: Dylan Smith, AZ ($3,900)

 

Example Lineup on FanDuel:

G: Carsen Edwards, PUR ($8,500)

G: TJ Washington, UVU ($5,800)

G: Eric Ayala, UMD ($5,600)

G: Dylan Smith, AZ ($5,100)

F: Bruno Fernando, UMD ($8,400)

F: Chase Jeter, AZ ($6,800)

F: Ira Lee, AZ ($4,500)

U: Nojel Eastern, PUR ($5,300)