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Tonight’s Strategy
A nine-game slate is less than ideal for me so I will only be running three lineups tonight on FanDuel, and two on Draft Kings. Value at the early hour seems unsure at best, so we will just have to wait until tip-off gets closer to see if anything pops. Outside of the center position, I really do not see the need to spend up tonight with so many players capable of scoring 30 fantasy points or more in abundance for a much nicer price.
As always, all fantasy ppg numbers are FanDuel specific.
So, with baseball knocking on my fantasy front door, I bring you today’s Position Coach article.
Point Guard
Not only is the Lakers-Celtics game historically fun to watch, but it also has the hottest PG in the NBA…Isaiah Thomas. The little man gets a great match-up with the Lakers allowing the fifth most fantasy ppg to the position while averaging over 50 fantasy ppg in his last three.
If you want to save a few bucks over Thomas, Kyle Lowry tonight versus an Orlando team allowing the third most fantasy ppg to the position is rather tempting. In DeMar DeRozan’s absence he is averaging well over 40 fantasy ppg.
If you are looking for 40-point upside at a bargain price, both Jeff Teague and D’Angelo Russell score high in my model. Russell gets a great match-up for dropping back-to-back 40-spots, while Teague gets the team allowing the most points to the PG position in the Nets.
To save money for big guns, Rajon Rondo, Darren Collison, and Mathew Dellavedova (playing in the two) all rank high on the value scale but nearly tip the risk-o-meter.
| FD | DK | Yahoo | |||||||||||||||||||
| Tm | H/A | Opp | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PT/G | Pts/G | Reb/G | Ast/G | Stl/G | Blk/G | TO/G | FG% | Usage | Pts/G | Pts/G | Pts/G | $FD | $DK | $Y | |
| Isaiah Thomas | BOS | H | LAL | 45 | 34.4 | 92% | 3.2 | 29.7 | 2.7 | 6.4 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 2.6 | 47% | 34.05% | 41.9 | 44.9 | 43.5 | $10500 | $10000 | $48 |
| Kyle Lowry | TOR | A | ORL | 49 | 37.6 | 82% | 3.3 | 23.3 | 4.7 | 6.9 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 2.9 | 48% | 24.97% | 40.2 | 43.5 | 41.8 | $9600 | $8900 | $42 |
| Jeff Teague | IND | A | BKN | 48 | 32.6 | 86% | 0.9 | 15.6 | 4.2 | 8.2 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 3 | 45% | 22.53% | 34 | 36.1 | 34.4 | $7600 | $7500 | $34 |
| D'Angelo Russell | LAL | A | BOS | 36 | 26.6 | 75% | 2 | 14.6 | 3.9 | 4.8 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 2.7 | 39% | 27.48% | 26.8 | 29.4 | 27.8 | $6100 | $5900 | $24 |
| Rajon Rondo | CHI | A | HOU | 41 | 27 | 57% | 0.5 | 6.5 | 5.4 | 6.6 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 2.4 | 37% | 16.56% | 23.4 | 25.1 | 23.7 | $4900 | $4000 | $15 |
| Darren Collison | SAC | H | PHX | 41 | 29.7 | 86% | 1.2 | 12.8 | 2 | 4.1 | 1 | 0.1 | 1.5 | 47% | 19.21% | 22 | 23.4 | 22.5 | $4800 | $5300 | $14 |
| Matthew Dellavedova | MIL | A | DEN | 43 | 26.7 | 83% | 1 | 7.8 | 2.2 | 5.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 1.9 | 39% | 16.38% | 18.2 | 19.7 | 18.7 | $4100 | $4100 | $11 |
Shooting Guard
I just can’t see paying for James Harden tonight when Giannis Antetokounmpo starting in the one is facing a Denver team allowing the second most fantasy ppg to the position. If I am spending up, here is where I am looking…but I’m not.
Devin Booker benefits from the best defensive match-up tonight and has scored over 30 fantasy ppg in five straight. He will spearhead my main lineup tonight at the two.
Dwyane Wade is also in a wonderful spot to shine tonight in a positive match-up against Houston as the game has a huge 223 O/U, the highest on the slate currently.
Lou Williams has a high usage rate coming off the bench and is in a nice match-up with the Celtics who allow the ninth most fantasy ppg to the position. I fully expect Williams to beat up on them tonight.
Wesley Matthews, Evan Fournier, and Gary Harris (in this order) all are excellent sources for mid-priced value and are all capable of dropping 30-spots tonight. Matthews is who I have paired with Booker in main lineup.
I am avoiding the SG value parade tonight.
| FD | DK | Yahoo | |||||||||||||||||||
| Tm | H/A | Opp | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PT/G | Pts/G | Reb/G | Ast/G | Stl/G | Blk/G | TO/G | FG% | Usage | Pts/G | Pts/G | Pts/G | $FD | $DK | $Y | |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | MIL | A | DEN | 47 | 35.2 | 79% | 0.7 | 23.1 | 8.7 | 5.5 | 1.8 | 2 | 3 | 52% | 28.24% | 46.1 | 48.4 | 46.5 | $10900 | $10300 | $53 |
| Dwyane Wade | CHI | A | HOU | 45 | 30.3 | 80% | 0.8 | 18.9 | 4.4 | 3.8 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 2.2 | 43% | 29.88% | 32.3 | 34 | 32.7 | $7800 | $7000 | $29 |
| Devin Booker | PHX | A | SAC | 48 | 34.6 | 83% | 1.8 | 20.8 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 2.9 | 42% | 27.79% | 28.5 | 31 | 29.4 | $6900 | $6800 | $28 |
| Lou Williams | LAL | A | BOS | 52 | 24.3 | 88% | 2 | 18.2 | 2.3 | 3.1 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 2 | 44% | 30.36% | 26.2 | 28.4 | 27.2 | $6400 | $5800 | $21 |
| Wesley Matthews | DAL | A | POR | 46 | 35.2 | 81% | 2.8 | 15 | 3.4 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 40% | 20.56% | 23.9 | 26.1 | 25.3 | $5400 | $5300 | $16 |
| Gary Harris | DEN | H | MIL | 24 | 27.5 | 75% | 1.4 | 12.7 | 3 | 2.8 | 1 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 48% | 18.77% | 21.8 | 23.2 | 22.4 | $5100 | $4700 | $17 |
| Evan Fournier | ORL | H | TOR | 38 | 32.7 | 83% | 1.7 | 16.7 | 2.9 | 3.3 | 1 | 0.1 | 2.1 | 44% | 23.4% | 25.2 | 27.3 | 26.1 | $5000 | $5000 | $20 |
Small Forward
Both Jimmy Butler and Paul George rank at the top for the SF position tonight. George gets a Nets team allowing the most fantasy ppg to the three, while Butler benefits from a Rockets team allowing the third most fantasy ppg to the position. Both games have +220 O/U’s which I plan to take advantage of.
The closest race tonight to decipher at SF for me was between Wilson Chandler (with Danilo Gallinari ruled out), Harrison Barnes (starting in the four versus a Portland team allowing the sixth most fantasy ppg to the position) and Jae Crowder (who is heating up in a great match-up). They have similar prices and I would plug them in depending on the order in which you can afford them.
For value, I find Rondae Hollis-Jefferson on his way to becoming my cheap SF go to guy. His price is dirt-cheap and he benefits from the best defensive match-up for the Nets starting in the four.
C.J. Miles may also be worth a look in an elite match-up but very, very risky.
| FD | DK | Yahoo | |||||||||||||||||||
| Tm | H/A | Opp | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PT/G | Pts/G | Reb/G | Ast/G | Stl/G | Blk/G | TO/G | FG% | Usage | Pts/G | Pts/G | Pts/G | $FD | $DK | $Y | |
| Jimmy Butler | CHI | A | HOU | 48 | 36.6 | 87% | 1.2 | 24.6 | 6.5 | 4.8 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 46% | 27.1% | 41.6 | 43.5 | 42.1 | $9400 | $9000 | $44 |
| Paul George | IND | A | BKN | 41 | 35.7 | 93% | 2.3 | 22.6 | 6 | 3.3 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 2.9 | 45% | 28.03% | 35.7 | 38.6 | 36.8 | $8700 | $8100 | $39 |
| Harrison Barnes | DAL | A | POR | 49 | 35.8 | 86% | 1 | 20.4 | 5.4 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 47% | 26.58% | 30 | 31.4 | 30.5 | $6600 | $6200 | $28 |
| Jae Crowder | BOS | H | LAL | 41 | 32.4 | 88% | 2.4 | 14.2 | 5.4 | 2.2 | 1 | 0.3 | 1 | 49% | 16.58% | 25.6 | 27.6 | 26.8 | $6500 | $6200 | $25 |
| Wilson Chandler | DEN | H | MIL | 44 | 30.2 | 74% | 1.5 | 15.4 | 6.7 | 2 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 45% | 22.53% | 27.2 | 29.1 | 28 | $6300 | $5700 | $22 |
| Rondae Hollis-Jefferson | BKN | H | IND | 45 | 21.6 | 77% | 0.2 | 8 | 4.8 | 2 | 1 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 41% | 18.55% | 18.2 | 19.3 | 18.3 | $4300 | $4100 | $10 |
| C.J. Miles | IND | A | BKN | 42 | 22.5 | 86% | 2.1 | 10.6 | 3 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 44% | 18.89% | 16.6 | 18.1 | 17.7 | $4100 | $4100 | $13 |
Power Forward
I cannot tell a lie, there is no one worth spending over $6,100 on at on FanDuel tonight in the PF slot.
Dirk Nowitzki is as expensive as I go tonight at PF. His last few games have been duds, but I look for him to get back on track tonight against a Portland team that allows the third most fantasy ppg to the center position (where he is starting).
Although I prefer Dirk more, Zach Randolph is mighty tempting tonight against a Thunder team that allows the ninth most fantasy ppg to the four. His last outing versus Oklahoma City was kind of a letdown. I see him fixing that tonight.
Thaddeus Young benefits from an elite match-up against a Nets team that allows the second most fantasy ppg to the four. I see him easily dropping 25-30 fantasy points here.
Trevor Booker is one of the few Nets I would even take a shot at right now outside of Jefferson. His price is low for a player with 30 fantasy point upside in a positive match-up.
Ryan Anderson is facing a Chicago team allowing the eighth most fantasy ppg to the four. He is a great cheap way to gain some more exposure to this expected shootout while providing you with the ability to also drop a 30-spot.
| FD | DK | Yahoo | |||||||||||||||||||
| Tm | H/A | Opp | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PT/G | Pts/G | Reb/G | Ast/G | Stl/G | Blk/G | TO/G | FG% | Usage | Pts/G | Pts/G | Pts/G | $FD | $DK | $Y | |
| Zach Randolph | MEM | A | OKC | 44 | 24.2 | 73% | 0.4 | 14.2 | 8.2 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 1.3 | 46% | 29.06% | 26.8 | 28 | 26.9 | $6100 | $5400 | $26 |
| Serge Ibaka | ORL | H | TOR | 50 | 30.4 | 84% | 1.5 | 15 | 6.9 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 48% | 21.15% | 28.2 | 29.9 | 29 | $6000 | $6200 | $25 |
| Dirk Nowitzki | DAL | A | POR | 23 | 25.2 | 86% | 1.4 | 12.9 | 5.9 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 1 | 41% | 25.98% | 23.8 | 25.3 | 24.5 | $5500 | $5200 | $18 |
| Thaddeus Young | IND | A | BKN | 48 | 31.3 | 57% | 0.9 | 11.5 | 6 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 52% | 16.45% | 24.2 | 25.7 | 24.7 | $5500 | $5400 | $23 |
| Ryan Anderson | HOU | H | CHI | 50 | 30.7 | 87% | 2.8 | 14.2 | 5.1 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 43% | 17.83% | 22.3 | 24.5 | 23.8 | $5400 | $5400 | $17 |
| Trevor Booker | BKN | H | IND | 44 | 26.4 | 67% | 0.3 | 9.9 | 8.6 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 52% | 17.18% | 25.3 | 26.8 | 25.5 | $5000 | $4600 | $18 |
Center
With all the mid-priced players, you should be able to spend up at center tonight.
DeMarcus Cousins is the one stud I plan on rostering in my main lineup tonight. He gets a great match-up while dropping four 60-spots in his last seven games.
If you don’t pay for Boogie, then you should consider Karl-Anthony Towns to save a few bucks (not much though). He is averaging over 53 fantasy points in his last four.
If I go cheap, Jonas Valanciunas is a nice price tonight facing a Magic team allowing the eighth most fantasy ppg to the center position. He can easily drop a 30-spot for under $6,000.
| FD | DK | Yahoo | |||||||||||||||||||
| Tm | H/A | Opp | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PT/G | Pts/G | Reb/G | Ast/G | Stl/G | Blk/G | TO/G | FG% | Usage | Pts/G | Pts/G | Pts/G | $FD | $DK | $Y | |
| DeMarcus Cousins | SAC | H | PHX | 48 | 34.4 | 78% | 1.8 | 28.2 | 10.5 | 4.4 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 3.5 | 45% | 37.37% | 49.4 | 52.6 | 50.3 | $11300 | $10900 | $55 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | MIN | A | DET | 49 | 36.4 | 81% | 1.2 | 23 | 11.9 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 2.8 | 51% | 27.43% | 43.6 | 46.1 | 44.1 | $10800 | $9900 | $47 |
| Jonas Valanciunas | TOR | A | ORL | 48 | 26.8 | 86% | 0.0 | 11.8 | 10 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 53% | 19.06% | 25.9 | 27.2 | 25.9 | $5600 | $5400 | $18 |
Good luck tonight, any questions email me JCFantasyAlarm@yahoo.com, or hit me up on Twitter @RealJerryColvin