Highest Scoring Teams:
(by Implied Points & Spreads per KenPom)
Gonzaga -- 84 Points (-24 vs. Loyola Marymount) **DK ONLY**
Houston -- 77 Points (-16 vs. Tulane)
Arizona -- 76 Points (-11 vs. USC)
Arizona State -- 74 Points (-8 vs. UCLA) **DK ONLY**
Colorado -- 72 Points (-16 vs. California)
Wichita State -- 68 Points (-4 vs. Cincinnati)
Stanford -- 68 Points (-4 vs. Utah)
Top Guards
McKinley Wright - Colorado ($7,900 DK / $7,000 FD)
The top-end of the guard position on tonight’s slate is admittedly a bit weaker than usual, but McKinley Wright might be the safest option among the expensive players. Colorado’s point guard routinely stuffs the stat sheet with his high usage as he’s averaging 34 DK points, 14.1 points scored, 7.1 assists and five rebounds over the last ten games. During this recent stretch, Wright has put up at least 37 DK points in six of ten outings and has scored in double-figures each game while consistently playing 35+ minutes. The Colorado offense mainly runs through Wright as the lead ball-handler and Tyler Bey as the wing scorer - and both these guys are firmly in play on this slate. Wright, though, is a little safer than Bey because of his solid floor as the main assist man - his 38% assist rate leads all players in the Pac-12. Take note of the price differential, too, as Wright is a better value on FD with the $900 savings.
Jarron Cumberland - Cincinnati ($7,500 DK / $7,600 FD)
The Bearcats’ best player took a while to get going this season, but Jarron Cumberland has now hit his stride over the last month. In the past four games in particular, Cumberland is averaging a stat-stuffing per-game line of 20 points, six assists, four rebounds and two blocks with at least 34 DK points in each outing. There’s a noticeable difference in Cumberland’s play if you watched him earlier in the season and compare it to how he looks on the court now. The senior point guard is aggressively driving to the rim, getting to the foul line more, playing better defense and being more active not only as a scorer but as a rebounder and passer as well. Tonight’s matchup on the road at Wichita State is definitely a tough one, but Cumberland’s DFS floor should be safe because of high involvement on both ends. And if he continues to put up 35-45 DK points like he’s done the last four games, then he is a bargain at these price tags.
Caleb Mills - Houston ($5,400 DK / $5,100 FD)
Houston will be without one of its best players tonight as DeJon Jarreau serves a one-game suspension for his biting incident over the weekend. With Jarreau out, we’ll likely see Caleb Mills enter the starting rotation as the lead point guard in the Cougars’ offense and this presents some really good value. Mills started seven games earlier this season - with Jarreau coming off the bench - and he’s since been playing in a sixth-man scoring role since mid-January. The freshman is a very good scorer and more than capable of filling in for Jarreau tonight. During conference play, Mills actually leads Houston in shots share (38%) and usage rate (29%) despite mostly coming off the bench. He’s taken double-digit shots and scored in double figures in seven of the last ten games.
Rob Edwards - Arizona State ($5,200 DK Only)
If you’re playing on DraftKings tonight, one of the key values on that slate is Rob Edwards as he’s been on fire lately and his salary does not reflect his current production. Edwards, who began the year as a regular starter, has since re-entered Arizona State’s starting rotation over the last four games and this move has increased his offensive role. In these past four starts, Edwards is consistently playing 30-35 minutes while averaging 17 points per game - and he’s put up at least 29 DK points in three of those games. Plus, the senior has gone 14-for-34 from three-point range (41%) since becoming a starter again - a key stat that could help Edwards return value against a UCLA team that has not defended the three-pointer well during conference play.
Eli Parquet - Colorado ($3,800 DK / $3,900 FD)
If you’re looking for a cheap sub-4k salary-saver tonight, Colorado’s backcourt may be just the place to target. After barely seeing the court during conference play over the last month, Eli Parquet played 27 minutes off the bench on Saturday and put up 17 DK points in his extended playing time. The main reason for the uptick in minutes is because Colorado’s top backup guard, Maddox Daniels, sat out with a concussion - thus opening the door for Parquet to play a key role as the Buffs’ sixth-man. The sophomore actually started seven games earlier this season, but Daniels and now-starter Shane Gatling have taken over Parquet’s usage and playing time since Pac-12 games got underway. Daniels is still in concussion protocol and will likely sit out again tonight - making Parquet a very attractive value play if he’s going to play 25+ minutes and provide 15+ DK pints once again at these cheap salaries.
Other Guards to Consider:
Nate Hinton - Houston ($7,800 DK / $6,400 FD)
Tyler Bey - Colorado ($7,700 DK / $7,400 FD)
Nico Mannion - Arizona ($7,500 DK / $6,300 FD)
James Bouknight - Connecticut ($5,300 DK / $4,900 FD)
Bryce Wills - Stanford ($4,900 DK / $4,500 FD)
Tyson Etienne - Wichita State ($4,700 DK / $4,500 FD)
Top Forwards
Onyeka Okongwu - USC ($8,700 DK / $8,300 FD)
Okongwu is one of the only players on tonight’s slate who has the legit upside to drop 50 DK points - and he deserves strong consideration because of his slate-winning potential. The freshman big man has only gotten to that 50 DK point threshold once in the last ten games, but he has at least 37 DK points in four other outings recently. Foul trouble is always a risk with the youngster, but when he’s on the court he can easily be one of the country’s most dominant post players with double-double potential in any matchup. Limit your exposure to tournaments because of the chance he only gives you 25-30 DK points - but that smash spot is also in play with Okongwu’s raw talent and ability as a scorer, rebounder and shot-blocker.
Timmy Allen - Utah ($8,300 DK / $7,300 FD)
If you simply just want to lock in 30 DK points at one of your forward spots tonight, Timmy Allen is your guy. The Utes’ best player has been remarkably consistent in DFS value lately despite his team being 3-6 during Pac-12 play thus far. The sophomore small forward has put up 31 or more DK points in five straight games and seven of the last nine outings. His DFS floor is always safe because of his high involvement in Utah’s offense - his 31% shots share and 30% usage rate both lead the team by far and are top five marks in the conference. Plus, Allen stuffs the stat sheet in all categories as he’s averaging 15.6 points scored, 7.7 rebounds, three assists and 32 DK points over the last ten games. Furthermore, Allen is overall a better play when he’s at home as he’s averaging four more DFS points at home than on the road. Even when Utah is losing games, we can usually count on Allen getting his stats and being valuable to our lineups.
Drew Timme - Gonzaga ($5,800 DK Only)
If you’re playing on DraftKings, it’s definitely a good idea to get exposure to Gonzaga’s players because they are projected to score the most on that slate and play a tight rotation despite blowing most teams out. Drew Timme has been the Zags’ key bench player all year but he’s now in line for a bigger workload with Killian Tillie possibly out tonight. Tillie sprained his ankle a week ago, sat out Saturday’s game and is questionable heading into tonight. Gonzaga is unsurprisingly playing it safe with Tillie because they need him more for the NCAA Tournament than against easier opponents like Loyola Marymount tonight. If Tillie is out, Timme would likely start like he did on Saturday. In that start, Timme saw an uptick in shot volume and scored 19 real points and 33.5 DK points as he basically took over Tillie’s role on offense. Coincidentally, Timme also had a really good game against Loyola earlier this season when he had a double-double and 34 DK points off the bench in a blowout win. The path is certainly there for him to repeat these performances and he’s the most affordable Gonzaga player on this slate.
Stone Gettings - Arizona ($4,800 DK / $4,300 FD)
We suggested Stone Gettings as an elite value play on Saturday and he came through in a big way with 38 DK points thanks to his 19 points scored and 12 rebounds. Gettings has now started five straight games with Chase Jeter still recovering from a back injury and he’s clearly becoming more comfortable with the extended playing time. The senior has scored in double figures in back-to-back games and his presence in the frontcourt has allowed center Zeke Nnaji to be better offensively. Although Jeter practiced this week and will be available tonight, we should still expect Gettings to continue to start because Arizona has now won four of the five games he’s been in the starting lineup. Gettings’ size and rebounding will be important in this matchup against USC’s strong frontcourt.
Chris Harris Jr. - Houston ($4,300 DK / $4,500 FD)
Houston’s starting lineup and rotations have fluctuated a lot this season, but Chris Harris looks to be one of the main beneficiaries of those changes recently. The senior center has now started the last six games - replacing Brison Gresham - and his 6-foot-10 size has allowed the Cougars to be better defensively when he’s out there. Just last week, Harris averaged nine points, nine rebounds, three blocks and 27 DK points over a two-game stretch where he played 26 and 28 minutes, respectively. In both those games, Harris played more minutes than usual because Houston needed his size down low to deal with a pair of taller opposing centers. That’s the case again tonight as Tulane boasts a taller frontcourt than most of the AAC. Plus, Tulane is the worst rebounding team in the conference - which should help Harris’ rebounding upside tonight. If we’re going to get another 25 or more DFS points from him at these prices, lock him into your lineups!
Other Forwards to Consider:
Filip Petrusev - Gonzaga ($7,700 DK Only)
Jeriah Horne - Tulsa ($6,500 DK / $5,600 FD)
Martins Igbanu - Tulsa ($5,700 DK / $5,200 FD)
Lucas Siewert - Colorado ($5,400 DK / $4,700 FD)
Branden Carlson - Utah ($4,500 DK / $4,400 FD)
DraftKings Example Lineup:
G: Jarron Cumberland - CIN ($7,500)
G: Caleb Mills - HOU ($5,400)
G: Rob Edwards - ASU ($5,200)
F: Onyeka Okongwu - USC ($8,700)
F: Timmy Allen - UTAH ($8,300)
F: Drew Timme - GONZ ($5,800)
U: Stone Gettings - AZ ($4,800)
U: Chris Harris Jr. - HOU ($4,300)
FanDuel Example Lineup:
G: McKinley Wright - COLO ($7,000)
G: Jarron Cumberland - CIN ($7,600)
G: Caleb Mills - HOU ($5,100)
G: Eli Parquet - COLO ($3,900)
F: Onyeka Okongwu - USC ($8,300)
F: Timmy Allen - UTAH ($7,300)
F: Stone Gettings - ARIZ ($4,300)
U: Nate Hinton - HOU ($6,400)