Highest Scoring Teams:
(by Implied Points & Spreads per KenPom)
LSU -- 86 Points (-5 vs. Alabama)
Alabama -- 81 Points (+5 vs. LSU)
San Diego State -- 77 Points (-10 vs. New Mexico) **DK ONLY**
Arkansas -- 76 Points (-10 vs. South Carolina) **FD ONLY**
Penn State -- 75 Points (-5 vs. Indiana)
Dayton -- 75 Points (-9 vs. Duquesne)
Baylor -- 74 Points (-7 vs. Iowa State)
Marquette -- 73 Points (-1 vs. Xavier)
Louisville -- 72 Points (-12 vs. Boston College) **DK ONLY**
Xavier -- 72 Points (+1 vs. Marquette)
Indiana -- 70 Points (+5 vs. Penn State)
Top Guards
Markus Howard - Marquette ($9,500 DK / $8,500 FD)
If you’ve paid attention to college basketball at all this year, you know about Markus Howard. He’s one of the most dynamic scorers in the country and his expensive price tags are certainly warranted as he has the nightly potential to be the top DFS scorer on any slate Marquette is on. Over the last ten games, the senior point guard is averaging 31 actual points and 43.3 DK points and he’s exceeded 44 DK points in seven of those outings. Howard’s DFS floor and ceiling are so high every game he plays because of his extremely high usage rate (39%) and shots share (42%) - both marks are among the top two of the whole country and even higher during conference play lately. When Howard faced Xavier a couple weeks ago, he had 35 points scored and 49.5 DK points in a 20-point win at home - and it’s not out of the question to see him do that again. The only pause we have in paying all the way up for Howard is that he averages just 33.7 DK points on the road this season compared to his 42.2 DK points at home.
Tyrese Haliburton - Iowa State ($9,000 DK / $8,600 FD)
If you want to pivot away from Markus Howard in tournaments (or save $500 on DK), Tyrese Haliburton is a definite option in the top-tier. The Iowa State point guard is one of the premier do-it-all playmakers in the country who has legit triple-double upside any time he’s on the floor. Haliburton has put up at least 34 DK points in eight of the last ten games and is averaging a stat-stuffing line of 15.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 2.2 steals over this recent span. Like Howard, his DFS floor is pretty safe - but not because he’s a high-volume scorer like Marquette’s star. Instead, Haliburton’s production as a passer and rebounder gives him a solid floor even when he’s not scoring real points. That was exactly the case when Iowa State faced Baylor a couple weeks ago as Haliburton scored just six points but finished with 38.5 DK points thanks to his nine assists and eight rebounds. Even in a tough matchup vs. Baylor’s defense, we can still bank on Haliburton playing big minutes and providing a ton of upside in all stat categories to return value.
Malachi Flynn - San Diego State ($8,400 DK Only)
If you’re playing on DK, getting exposure to the San Diego State players is a solid contrarian move as the team is projected to score the third-most points on that slate but they will likely go underowned overall because they aren’t as well-known. Still, we should seriously consider Malachi Flynn - who is the Aztecs’ best player and is averaging 18 actual points and 35 DK points over the last ten games - with at least 32 DK points in all but one of those outings. During conference play, Flynn’s usage rate, shots share and assist rate are all top 10 marks in the Mountain West and his home/road splits are pretty even - averaging 32 DK points at home and 34 DK points on the road. Judging by what he’s done lately, we can pretty much pencil in the junior point guard for 32 DK points once again on the road tonight - and he makes for a very safe cash game play on DraftKings.
Jaden Shackelford - Alabama ($5,200 DK / $5,100 FD)
Nearly all of Alabama’s regular starters are in play tonight because this matchup vs. LSU will be the highest-scoring game on tonight’s slate with how fast both teams like to play on offense. One affordable option to the Crimson Tide side, though, is their freshman guard who’s recently entered the starting rotation. After coming off the bench for the majority of the season, Shackelford has now started the past four games and he’s averaging 23.8 DK points in those outings. He was already a solid value before becoming a starter, but he’s much safer now that he’s guaranteed more playing time in a short ‘Bama rotation. Shackelford’s three-point shooting should help him return value tonight as well. He’s making 39% of his 59 three-point attempts over the last ten games and will face an LSU defense that allows a ton of opposing scoring via the perimeter.
Jermaine Couisnard - South Carolina ($4,500 FD Only)
If you’re playing on FanDuel tonight, one value play who can help you save salary and fit in more studs is South Carolina’s newfound starter. Jermaine Couisnard has now started the past four games after coming off the bench to begin the season. In the first three of those starts, the freshman averaged 19.7 points scored and 34 minutes played with a 29% usage rate - numbers that are much improved since entering the starting rotation. Since conference play began, Couisnard leads the Gamecocks in shots share (31%) and is a close second in usage rate (29%). We should expect him to continue his hot scoring and have the ball in his hands a lot in a fast-paced matchup vs. Arkansas as play both teams play quick tempos on offense.
Marlon Taylor - LSU ($4,400 DK / $4,400 FD)
One of the best values on both sites tonight is LSU’s current sixth-man who’s seen a big increase in playing time lately. Marlon Taylor was a regular starter for the Tigers last season but got off to a slow start this year after missing the first nine games due to injury. Over the last three games, though, the junior is finally getting big minutes again as he takes over LSU’s key reserve role from the injured Charles Manning. In these last three, Taylor has played at least 27 minutes each time out and he’s put up DK performances of 26.5, 27.25 and 14 points. We can expect him to play a ton again tonight in a fast-paced matchup vs. Alabama that will force LSU to play smaller with Taylor in the lineup to cope with ‘Bama’s guard-heavy rotation.
Other Guards to Consider:
John Petty Jr. - Alabama ($8,300 DK / $6,700 FD)
Skylar Mays - LSU ($7,700 DK / $6,900 FD)
Paul Scruggs - Xavier ($7,300 DK / $5,900 FD)
Jalen Crutcher - Dayton ($7,100 DK / $6,500 FD)
Sacar Anim - Marquette ($6,300 DK / $6,300 FD)
David Johnson - Louisville ($4,900 DK Only)
Top Forwards
Obi Toppin - Dayton ($8,800 DK / $8,300 FD)
If you haven’t seen Obi Toppin play basketball this season, try to make some time tonight to watch a guy who will likely be a top 10 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. Toppin has been a DFS beast all season as he’s played his way into the NBA lottery conversation - and he’s dominating Atlantic 10 competition lately as the clear-cut best player on the court night-in and night-out. The sophomore is averaging 19.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 37.4 DK points over the last ten games and is coming off a monster outing vs. Richmond when he had 52 DK points thanks to his 24 points scored, 12 boards and four blocks. You wouldn’t know it from his play but Toppin is nursing a sprained ankle - and he’s still averaging 21.5 actual points, 10 rebounds and 41.6 DK points over the last four games. On a slate without many expensive forwards worth paying up for, Toppin is nearly in a class of his own in terms of DFS floor and ceiling right now.
Freddie Gillespie - Baylor ($7,400 DK / $6,800 FD)
If you’re looking to save a little on forward tonight, one cheaper option in the high-end is Baylor’s center. Although Freddie Gillespie put up just 21 DK points last game, he recently had a string of at least 33 DK points in three straight games - and one of those outings came against tonight’s opponent. When Gillespie faced Iowa State a couple weeks ago, the senior center had 35 DK points thanks to his 14 points scored, 11 rebounds and two blocks. In that game, it was clear that Iowa State did not have the size to match up with Gillespie down low and that’s a trend we’re starting to see with him when facing undersized Big 12 teams. As long as Gillespie stays out of foul trouble, he has the potential to provide another 35 or more DK points tonight with an advantage on the boards against a faster-paced Cyclones offense. His emergence as a dominant big man is one of the main reasons why Baylor hasn’t lost since early November - and this trend should continue tonight.
Zach Freemantle - Xavier ($4,800 DK / $4,100 FD)
With Quentin Goodin missing the last two games, we’ve seen Freemantle enter the starting lineup and become a solid value play with the increased playing time. In these past two starts, the freshman center has played 28 and 36 minutes and put up 18 and 34 DK points, respectively. On Sunday vs. Creighton, Freemantle actually led the Musketeers in scoring (18 points) and grabbed a season-high nine rebounds. The insertion of the 6-foot-9 big man given Xavier a different look with three bigger bodies in the lineup with Goodin, the starting point guard, out. Goodin is still a game-time decision tomorrow and Freemantle would be a very good value play if he remains out. Plus, he may be needed more than usual anyway with Naji Marshall questionable to play tonight after missing practice on Tuesday. Be sure to follow me on Twitter (@dan_servodidio) for the latest Xavier injury updates before this 8:30 pm ET tip.
Montavious Murphy - Kansas State ($4,200 DK / $4,000 FD)
Can someone explain why Murphy is still priced this low? Both sites have not caught up to his DFS production lately and we should jump on his value right now while we still can. Murphy started the first three games of the season before an injury forced him to miss a full month of games. Since he’s been back, though, the freshman has returned to playing big minutes whether he’s starting or coming off the bench - and he’s been doing just enough to return value on these price tags. Murphy is coming off a 25 DK point performance last game and will usually provide 15-20 DK points with his 25-30 minutes on the court. At 6-foot-9, Murphy and his rebounding abilities will be needed in tonight’s matchup as Oklahoma is one of the worst rebounding teams in the Big 12.
Seth Lundy - Penn State ($4,100 DK / $4,500 FD)
Who’s willing to take a chance on a value play who busted for us last time out? Seth Lundy had just 1.25 DK points in only 16 minutes against Michigan a week ago despite it being his third straight start. In the previous two starts, though, Lundy was a slam-dunk value as he put up 25 DK points in back-to-back games while playing 26 minutes both times. It’s unclear whether or not Lundy remains in the starting rotation tonight, but it’s definitely possible as Penn State has won two in a row with him in there. The sign of upside for the freshman is his favorable matchup against an Indiana defense that allows a ton of opposing points via the three-pointer. In his first two starts, Lundy went a combined 6-for-12 from three-point range and the main reason he was benched last game was because he wasn’t hitting from deep. If Lundy gets hot from three, he’ll be the best value on the board tonight if you want to roster him as a GPP flier.
Other Forwards to Consider:
Tyrique Jones - Xavier ($8,100 DK / $7,100 FD)
Kevin Samuel - TCU ($7,500 DK / $6,600 FD)
Gabe Osabuohein - West Virginia ($4,800 DK / $5,100 FD)
Solomon Young - Iowa State ($4,600 DK / $4,600 FD)
Jamal Cain - Marquette ($4,300 DK / $4,300 FD)
Kai Jones - Texas ($4,100 DK / $3,600 FD)
DraftKings Example Lineup:
G: Tyrese Haliburton - ISU ($9,000)
G: Malachi Flynn - SDSU ($8,400)
G: Jaden Shackelford - ALA ($5,200)
F: Freddie Gillespie - BU ($7,400)
F: Zach Freemantle - XAV ($4,800)
F: Montavious Murphy - KSU ($4,200)
U: Marlon Taylor - LSU ($4,400)
U: Sacar Anim - MARQ ($6,300)
FanDuel Example Lineup:
G: Markus Howard - MARQ ($8,500)
G: John Petty - ALA ($6,700)
G: Jermaine Couisnard - SCAR ($4,500)
G: Marlon Taylor - LSU ($4,400)
F: Freddie Gillespie - BAY ($6,800)
F: Obi Toppin - DAY ($8,300)
F: Zach Freemantle - XAV ($4,100)
U: Kevin Samuel - TCU ($6,600)