THE SLATE

(w/ Implied Team & Game Totals via KenPom)

  • 7 pm ET -- Western Kentucky (61) at Houston (75) -- 136 total

  • 7 pm ET -- Iowa (78) at Michigan (80) -- 158 total

  • 8 pm ET -- UCLA (69) at Utah (68) -- 137 total

  • 9 pm ET -- Boise State (66) at San Diego State (72) -- 138 total

  • 9 pm ET -- Ohio State (78) at Michigan State (71) -- 149 total 

  • 9 pm ET -- Northwestern (69) at Minnesota (74) -- 143 total

  • 9 pm ET -- Oregon (68) at Stanford (69) -- 137 total

  • 9 pm ET -- USC (68) at Colorado (69) -- 137 total

  • 11 pm ET -- Washington State (65) at Arizona (73) -- 138 total **DK ONLY**

 

Top Guards
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Noah WilliamsWSUAZ880025.83  
If you’re playing on DK, making room to roster Noah Williams in the late game might win you a GPP or two. We call it the late night hammer - but this is a completely different version of that because of the uncertain WSU injury situation. Stud PG Isaac Bonton is a game-time decision tonight as he’s sat out the last three games with ankle injury. In his absence, Williams has stepped up to become the major focal point of the Cougars’ offense. Specifically in the past two games, he’s scored 72 combined points on 55 total shot attempts - and nearly 120 DK points with a 50-burger in both outings. It’s hard not to overreact to performances like those from a player who’s taken full advantage of being the #1 playmaker with a teammate out. If Bonton is out tonight, Williams could easily break the slate once again.
Derrick Alston Jr.BSUSDSU780029.35800025.18
The DFS sites have interestingly included this Mountain West battle tonight - so why not get some exposure?! Alston is Boise’s best player as he leads them in usage rate and shot volume during conference play - and he’s got the potential to go for 35+ DK points when he’s hitting from deep. The senior wing is on fire lately, averaging 25.3 PPG and 31.9 DK over the last three games. Expect him to be heavily involved tonight as Boise will be very motivated to win and take over the conference lead. Plus, he has three-point upside tonight as he’s draining 44% from deep during conference games and San Diego State’s defense allows a ton of points from the perimeter.
Franz WagnerMICHIOWA730030.12810028.37
In his point-forward role, Wagner’s DFS floor is very attractive as he can rack up rebounds, assists and points nearly every time out. Michigan’s offense is headlined by Wagner, Isaiah Livers and Hunter Dickinson and all three are firmly in play tonight in an uptempo matchup vs. a shaky Iowa defense. We’ll get to Livers and Dickinson later, but Wagner deserves strong consideration among the high-end guards. He just went off for 35 DK and 20 points scored vs. Rutgers last week and he’s now averaging 32 DK over the last ten games with stat-stuffing lines. Expect him to be heavily involved on both ends in this high-scoring game.
McKinley Wright IVUCUSC710029.44750028.14
Wright can sometimes be the forgotten man for DFS, but he deserves to be considered amongst all the studs for all formats if Colorado is on the slate. His fantasy production hasn’t been as good as we’d like recently, but Wright gave us a good look at his ceiling on Saturday when we went off for 21 points and 31 DK. He still plays a high-usage role for the Buffs’ offense and has the nightly potential to drop 30-40 DK points at his best. Wright put up 36 DK and 19 points scored in the first meeting vs. USC - and we could easily see that tonight. Load him up in GPP’s if you’re fading the other studs on this playbook.
Tahj EaddyUSCUC660023.06640021.14
Although Evan Mobley is the headliner for USC’s offense, Tahj Eaddy has quietly emerged as the Trojans’ #2 option and he’s become one of the better bargains for DFS at sub 7k salaries. The senior is consistently getting double-digit shot attempts and actually leads the team in shot volume during conference play. He’s averaging 22 PPG over the last four outings with at least 31 DK in three of those games. With defenses keying on Mobley more, Eaddy is stepping up as a reliable scorer for USC. He had 31 DK and 16 points scored in the first meeting vs. Colorado - and that performance at these salaries would be a welcome sight.
        
Value Guards
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Jamal Mashburn Jr.MINNNW600011.64420010.65
Mashburn has now started two straight with Gabe Kalscheur out for Minnesota - a trend that will surely continue tonight. In these two starts, the freshman has taken on a big role offensively with 19 and 16 points scored, respectively, and 23+ DK in both. His shot volume, usage and overall role has taken a notable step forward - and he’s even more important now with Liam Robbins and Marcus Carr battling injuries. He’s only a GPP option on DK, but he’s still way underpriced on FD and should be popular in cash there.
Mike SmithMICHIOWA550020.47470018.60
Michigan’s secondary players continue to present solid value for cash games. You can also look at Eli Brooks and Chaundee Brown tonight, but Smith is the best among them. The senior starts at the point and provides a safe floor with his assists - putting up 22+ DK in two of the last three and now averaging 21.5 DK over the last ten. Plus, there’s some three-point upside against a forgiving Iowa defense that’s poor on the perimeter. Smith is draining a whopping 60% from deep during conference play and he’s currently Michigan’s fourth-best player behind Wagner, Livers and Dickinson. That secondary role is a lot better than it sounds on paper, though, and Smith could easily return value in a high-scoring game.
Alfonso PlummerUTAHUCLA540019.32600017.47
Plummer has moved back into Utah’s starting lineup for the last four games with Rylan Jones out - and that will likely be the case again tonight. In the past four, Plummer’s playing time and offensive role have taken a big step forward and he’s put up 16, 14, 18 and 21 DK points in those outings. His three-point shooting is what we like vs. a UCLA defense that’s poor on the perimeter - and that upside could help him 4x these salaries easily if he’s draining. In the mid-range, he’s a solid GPP option for the ceiling.
Ethan AndersonUSCUC470014.18460012.86
Remember we suggested Anderson on Monday’s playbook? Well, all he did was drop 31 DK with a stuffed stat sheet as he smashed his DFS salaries. The pricing is finally starting to creep up - but he’s still a massive bargain until he’s well above 5k, which may happen after tonight. Anderson re-entered USC’s starting lineup last game and he’s probably there to stay as he’s now fully healthy and was the lead PG before his early-season injury. His ball-handling and overall playmaking will be key tonight as Colorado likely focuses on slowing down Evan Mobley. That led to a big game from Anderson on Monday and we should get him to 20+ DFS points once again.
Rocket WattsMSUOSU420014.4430013.07
It seems Watts is now back in the good graces of Tom Izzo. The sophomore PG re-entered the starting lineup on Tuesday with Foster Loyer out - and he’ll likely continue in that role moving forward as he hasn’t disappointed. Watts put up 25 DK and 15 points scored in that last game. Plus, he’s now played 30+ minutes in the last two outings with Loyer out - and had 15 DK in the prior game. The Tuesday start was Watts’ first since Jan. 31 - but we should expect him to remain there as MSU upset Illinois and Izzo is rolling with the hot hands right now. Watts is way too cheap on both sites if he’s starting again.

Other Guards to Consider

  • Quentin Grimes - Houston ($8,300 DK / $8,000 FD)

  • Chris Duarte - Oregon ($7,400 DK / $7,900 FD)

  • Tyger Campbell - UCLA ($6,700 DK / $6,500 FD)

  • Duane Washington Jr. - Ohio State ($6,400 DK / $5,800 FD)

  • CJ Walker - Ohio State ($5,600 DK / $4,700 FD)

  • Eli Brooks - Michigan ($5,300 DK / $5,200 FD)

  • Will Richardson - Oregon ($5,000 DK / $5,600 FD)

  • Anthony Gaines - Northwestern ($4,800 DK / $4,400 FD)

  • Bryce Wills - Stanford ($4,100 DK / $5,900 FD)

 

Top Forwards
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Luka GarzaIOWAMICH980042.65920040.14
At this point, you know about Luka Garza. He’s always in play for DFS if Iowa is on the slate as one of the best collegiate players in the country as a high-usage, top-tier performer nearly every time out. He’s put up 42+ DK points in three of the last four games with at least 22 points and eight rebounds in those outings. With how good Garza is offensively, he has the potential to drop 50+ DK in any given game - and that could easily happen tonight. The matchup here vs. Michigan’s defense is a tough one, but Garza will see plenty of usage down low and from three-point range to still be a high-scorer on this slate. The expensive salaries put him more in GPP territory, though, as others priced below him could easily get you the same production in cash. It’s always a risk to fade Garza, though.
Evan MobleyUSCUC900038.58890036.10
We get another slate with both Luka Garza and Evan Mobley in action - and DFS players will again have to choose between the two at the high-end of forward tonight. Mobley is coming off a dud effort on Monday when he had just 20 DK and a sub-par 11 points and five rebounds. That game is very uncharacteristic of what we’ve become used to seeing from the stud center. In the three games prior, he scored 20+ points and stuffed the stat sheet in each with DK totals of 51, 53 and 43. That’s what we should expect tonight in a bounceback game for Mobley. Although this matchup vs. Colorado is tough and Mobley only had 22 DK in the first meeting, we should count on a big performance.
Hunter DickinsonMICHIOWA820029.34710027.59
Michigan continues to be one of the best teams in the country and its freshman center is a DFS stud lately. Dickinson has put up 40+ DK in two of the last three games since the Wolverines returned from a COVID break - which is right in line with what he was doing earlier in the year. Dickinson and Co. will benefit from playing in an uptempo matchup against an Iowa defense that allows plenty of scoring. Although Luka Garza is talented offensively, his defense in the paint is not strong and opposing big men usually have good games against him. If you’re not paying up for either Garza or Evan Mobley at forward, lock in Dickinson in all formats - especially on FD where he's underpriced.
E.J. LiddellOSUMSU790030.05760028.40
With Ohio State gearing up for a possible 1-seed in the Tournament, Liddell is now a major part of the offense and he’s been consistently putting up dominant DFS performances. The sophomore now has 30+ DK points in eight of the last ten games, averaging 18.7 PPG and 6.8 RPG during this hot streak. He’s coming off a 23-point double-double and 42 DK vs. Michigan on Saturday where he saw heavy usage offensively once again. Tonight, Liddell gets a soft matchup as Michigan State continues to give it up to opposing bigs. He had 20 points and 38 DK in the first meeting and we should see those types of numbers in the rematch. Though he’s priced below other stud forwards on this slate, Liddell is just too good right now to ignore.
Isaiah LiversMICHIOWA710028.72750026.54
With Iowa-Michigan having the highest total on the slate by far, it’s probably smart to get multiple pieces of this one into cash or GPP lineups. Hunter Dickinson, Isaiah Livers and Franz Wagner are the three Wolverines studs to target - and you could try to get two of those in the same build with a very favorable matchup vs. Iowa’s shaky defense. Livers has the potential to go for 30-40 DK tonight as his three-point shooting matches up well here. He’s the better GPP bargain on DK compared to Dickinson and Wagner - and he might be the lower-owned of the three.
 
Value Forwards
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Brandon JohnsonMINNNW550020.66500019.65
We have an interesting situation to monitor tonight with Minnesota. The Gophers’ big man Liam Robbins is battling an ankle injury that’s kept him very limited in recent games. He reportedly hasn’t been practicing this week and there’s a chance he sits altogether tonight. Even if he’s in, expect more limited minutes from Robbins - and Johnson is benefiting from an increased role. The senior has put up 20+ DK points in seven of the last eight games and is now averaging a healthy 22.7 DK over the last ten. We get a weird discount on him on both sites tonight, and he should be popular in cash whether or not Robbins plays. Minnesota is using Johnson more at the five in smaller lineups with Robbins hurt - and it’s resulting in more usage and rebounding opportunities.
Keegan MurrayIOWAMICH490017.59480016.91
Finding value in the slate’s highest-scoring game is always smart, and Murray is one of the better bargains from Iowa right now. The freshman usually comes off the bench but he’s playing an important role for the Hawkeyes as a versatile big man who can guard multiple positions, rebound and do the little things in a rotation that benefits from his energy. He’s put up 19 or more DK points in four of the last five games with 20+ in three of those - and he’s doing without having a big scoring role. Murray is back under 5k on both sites and that makes him a nice bargain if he’s returning 4x value or more. Iowa will need his length and athleticism more than usual tonight to keep up with Michigan.
Joey HauserMSUOSU430021.7540019.37
Hauser struggled mightily in January and early February - and Tom Izzo has moved the junior to a bench role for the last five games. The change has apparently helped Hauser get more comfortable and he’s benefiting in real life and for DFS. He’s now seeing more usage when he’s on the court - which is still 15-25 minutes per game - and his offensive game has improved. Hauser has put up 20, 18, 22 and 23 DK in four of the last five games as a reserve - and he’s now a bargain with cheaper price tags. On DK, he’s way too cheap and should be popular in cash on that site.
Aljaz KuncWSUAZ520013.1  
Washington State has a few value forwards to consider tonight and getting one of them in DK rosters could be a nice exposure to the late game. Dishon Jackson and DJ Rodman are both options in the cheap range, but Kunc has more of a role right now. The junior has re-entered the starting lineup for the last two games - his first starts since beginning the season in that spot. He recently returned from a non-COVID illness and has been playing 25-30 minutes or more for the past five games - including his two recent starts. In that span, he’s put up 25+ DK points in three of the last five - which would be a nice value at his bargain price tonight.
Zed KeyOSUMSU340012.49410011.87
With Kyle Young out tonight, Zed Key should be one of the main Buckeyes who fills that role in the frontcourt. The freshman big man has been the main backup to both Young and E.J. Liddell this season, though he hasn’t played more than 20 minutes in a game since mid-December. Yet, he should easily eclipse 20 minutes tonight with Young out - and we may even see him start next to Liddell. Even if he comes off the bench, Key should return 4-5x value easily with the big increase in playing time and rebounding role - especially against a Michigan State frontcourt that’s one of the worst in the Big Ten.

Example Lineups

The Example Lineups are meant to show roster construction based on players mentioned in the Playbook. They are not meant to be plugged and played in your DFS contests.

 

DK Cash FD Cash
Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
GFranz WagnerMICHIOWA30.12$7,300 GMike SmithMICHIOWA18.6$4,700
Pivot     $7,300PivotAnthony GainesNWMINN12.12$4,400
GRocket WattsMSUOSU14.4$4,200 GRocket WattsMSUOSU13.06$4,300
PivotTahj EaddyUSCUC23.06$6,600$6,600Pivot     
GEthan AndersonUSCUC14.18$4,700 GJamal Mashburn Jr.MINNNW10.65$4,200
Pivot     $4,700Pivot     
FE.J. LiddellOSUMSU30.05$7,900 GMcKinley Wright IVCOLOUSC28.14$7,500
Pivot     $7,900PivotFranz WagnerMICHIOWA28.37$8,100
FEvan MobleyUSCUC38.6$9,000 FLuka GarzaIOWAMICH40.13$9,200
PivotHunter DickinsonMICHIOWA29.34$8,200$8,200PivotEvan MobleyUSCCOLO36.09$8,900
FBrandon JohnsonMINNNW20.7$5,500 FHunter DickinsonMICHIOWA27.59$7,100
Pivot     $5,500Pivot     
UtilMike SmithMICHIOWA20.47$5,500 FE.J. LiddellOSUMSU28.4$7,600
Pivot     $5,500Pivot     
UtilCJ WalkerOSUMSU19.75$5,600 UtilJoey HauserMSUOSU19.37$5,400
PivotJoey HauserMSUOSU21.7$4,300$4,300Pivot     
    Total$49,700     Total$50,000
   Pivot Total$50,000    Pivot Total$50,000
             
DK GPP FD GPP
Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
GNoah WilliamsWSUAZ25.83$8,800 GDerrick Alston Jr.BSUSDSU25.18$8,000
PivotDerrick Alston Jr.BSUSDSU29.35$7,800$7,800Pivot     
GMcKinley Wright IVUCUSC29.44$7,100 GTahj EaddyUSCCOLO21.13$6,400
Pivot     $7,100Pivot     
GTre' WilliamsMINNNW9.61$4,200 GTyger CampbellUCLAUTAH23.2$6,500
Pivot     $4,200PivotChris DuarteORESTAN29.98$7,900
FIsaiah LiversMICHIOWA28.72$7,100 GJamal Mashburn Jr.MINNNW10.65$4,200
Pivot     $7,100Pivot     
FLuka GarzaIOWAMICH42.65$9,800 FIsaiah LiversMICHIOWA26.54$7,500
Pivot     $9,800Pivot     
FZed KeyOSUMSU12.49$3,400 FJoe WieskampIOWAMICH27.07$7,400
Pivot     $3,400PivotAaron HenryMSUOSU29.62$7,100
UtilKeegan MurrayIOWAMICH17.59$4,900 FZed KeyOSUMSU11.86$4,100
PivotAlfonso PlummerUTAHUCLA19.32$5,400$5,400Pivot     
UtilEthan AndersonUSCUC14.18$4,700 UtilDuane Washington Jr.OSUMSU22.08$5,800
PivotAljaz KuncWSUAZ13.06$5,200$5,200PivotKeegan MurrayIOWAMICH16.9$4,800
    Total$50,000     Total$49,900
   Pivot Total$50,000    Pivot Total$50,000