.jpg)
Tonight’s Strategy
We do not have a ton of high dollar players to pay up for tonight, and the ones we do have are not on my list of usual go to guys. We also have more “what ifs” than an episode of Ripley’s Believe It or Not. I will play a little lighter tonight and try to pin the tail on the donkey in a few cheap GPPs and Quintuple Ups. The Chicago-Phoenix game is my biggest concern with a 10:30 tip off and both Jimmy Butler and Dwayne Wade GTD. Right now the Bulls are a complete fade for me outside of Taj Gibson.
As always, all fantasy ppg numbers are FanDuel specific.
So, with an exciting night of scrambling before lineup lock, I bring you today’s Position Coach Article.
Point Guard
Stephen Curry benefits from the best defensive match-up tonight for the Warriors while averaging over 50 fantasy ppg in his last five.
If you do not like the taste of Curry than perhaps a dose of Dragic can help.
Goran Dragic is facing a Nets team allowing the most fantasy ppg to the PG position while scoring more than 40 fantasy ppg in five out of his last eight games.
I would also consider Tyler Johnson in a pinch in the same match-up who is always capable of dropping a 30-spot off the bench for cheap.
With the Nuggets-Knicks game having the highest O/U at 228 and a close -2.5 Vegas line, I am going to have a ton of exposure to it tonight.
Derrick Rose is a prime target for me with Denver allowing the second most fantasy ppg to the position. He dropped nearly 40 fantasy points in his last game versus the Clippers.
Darren Collison is fast becoming a player I will use in a pinch and I love the match-up tonight versus the Hawks. If Ty Lawson sits I smell a 30-spot tonight.
Two players score high in my model for GPPs and could far exceed value. They are Rajon Rondo, and Jameer Nelson. Both are very risky but could pay huge dividends.
| FD | DK | Yahoo | |||||||||||||||||||
| PG | Tm | H/A | Opp | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM/G | PTS/G | REB/G | AST/G | STL/G | BLK/G | TO/G | FG% | Usage | Pts/G | Pts/G | Pts/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| Stephen Curry | GSW | A | MEM | 51 | 33.6 | 92% | 4.1 | 25.3 | 4.2 | 6.4 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 2.9 | 48% | 29.12% | 40.8 | 44.5 | 42.9 | $9500 | $9500 | $45 |
| Goran Dragic | MIA | A | BKN | 45 | 34.2 | 78% | 1.7 | 20 | 3.9 | 6.5 | 1 | 0.2 | 3.1 | 48% | 26.5% | 33.7 | 36.3 | 34.5 | $8100 | $7900 | $34 |
| Derrick Rose | NYK | H | DEN | 45 | 32.2 | 87% | 0.3 | 17.6 | 4 | 4.5 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 2.5 | 46% | 26.2% | 28.7 | 30.3 | 28.9 | $6200 | $6300 | $22 |
| Tyler Johnson | MIA | A | BKN | 45 | 30.5 | 75% | 1.3 | 13.6 | 4.2 | 3.2 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 1 | 42% | 20.59% | 26.4 | 27.8 | 27 | $5600 | $5500 | $19 |
| Darren Collison | SAC | H | ATL | 45 | 30.3 | 86% | 1.2 | 13.4 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0.1 | 1.5 | 48% | 19.52% | 22.5 | 24 | 23.1 | $5200 | $5400 | $14 |
| Rajon Rondo | CHI | A | PHX | 44 | 26.6 | 55% | 0.5 | 6.5 | 5.3 | 6.6 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 2.4 | 37% | 16.8% | 23.5 | 25.2 | 23.7 | $5000 | $4900 | $11 |
| Jameer Nelson | DEN | A | NYK | 52 | 25.6 | 73% | 1.2 | 8.5 | 2.2 | 4.6 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 43% | 16.31% | 17.8 | 19.4 | 18.5 | $4400 | $4400 | $13 |
Shooting Guard
Giannis Antetokounmpo is starting in the one facing the Lakers…do I need to say more?
My guy tonight is Devin Booker facing the Bulls. Although I am not sure which Bulls team he will face, I am sure he drops a 30-spot tonight. Something he had done in seven straight prior to his last two.
Klay Thompson is the other Warrior I will have exposure tonight. He may face a tough Grizzlies defense but the frontcourt is defended much better than the back. He’s also averaging over 38 fantasy ppg in his last five.
Wil Barton versus the Knicks has money written all over it tonight in a situation where he should see plenty of minutes in the three. If he gets hot…look out.
Gary Harris, Wayne Ellington, and Brandon Knight in this order all score high in my model tonight on the value scale, and may be worth throwing a dart at in GPPs.
| FD | DK | Yahoo | |||||||||||||||||||
| SG | Tm | H/A | Opp | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM/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 | H | LAL | 50 | 35.2 | 79% | 0.7 | 23.2 | 8.8 | 5.4 | 1.7 | 2 | 3.1 | 53% | 28.33% | 46.2 | 48.5 | 46.5 | $11200 | $10800 | $53 |
| Klay Thompson | GSW | A | MEM | 51 | 34.2 | 85% | 3.2 | 21.5 | 3.9 | 2 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 47% | 25.41% | 30 | 32.7 | 31.6 | $6800 | $6200 | $29 |
| Devin Booker | PHX | H | CHI | 52 | 34.8 | 83% | 1.8 | 21.1 | 2.8 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 2.9 | 42% | 27.88% | 28.7 | 31.2 | 29.7 | $6800 | $6500 | $30 |
| Will Barton | DEN | A | NYK | 38 | 28.6 | 75% | 1.4 | 13.5 | 4.4 | 3.3 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 1.7 | 45% | 20.44% | 24.7 | 26.5 | 25.4 | $5800 | $6100 | $16 |
| Gary Harris | DEN | A | NYK | 28 | 28 | 77% | 1.4 | 12.9 | 3 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 47% | 18.96% | 21.9 | 23.4 | 22.6 | $5100 | $5000 | $17 |
| Wayne Ellington | MIA | A | BKN | 33 | 26.5 | 90% | 2.2 | 11.2 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 42% | 17.76% | 16.7 | 18.1 | 17.8 | $3700 | $4200 | $10 |
Small Forward
Carmelo Anthony is my top play at the three tonight. As earlier mentioned I love this game and Melo is averaging 40 fantasy ppg in his last two.
Wilson Chandler starting in the four tonight is facing a Knicks frontcourt allowing the third most fantasy ppg to the position. He has scored over 35 fantasy ppg in two straight and should continue tonight.
Matt Barnes is a low $5,100 on FD tonight and gets a great defensive match-up coming off the bench in the three. He has scored over 30 fantasy points in three straight now.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson as you notice finds his way in a lot. At his price-point I find him a value tonight facing a pretty banged up Miami team. I smell a 25-to-30 spot.
Here are my gut GPP plays tonight. Michael Beasley facing the Lakers who are allowing the second most fantasy ppg to the three, and Mindaugus Kuzminskas who I feel is due for a big game at the minimum salary. Both are very risky though.
| FD | DK | Yahoo | |||||||||||||||||||
| SF | Tm | H/A | Opp | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM/G | PTS/G | REB/G | AST/G | STL/G | BLK/G | TO/G | FG% | Usage | Pts/G | Pts/G | Pts/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| Carmelo Anthony | NYK | H | DEN | 53 | 33.8 | 83% | 2 | 23 | 6.1 | 2.9 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 2 | 44% | 29.54% | 35.3 | 37.6 | 36.3 | $8100 | $7700 | $40 |
| Wilson Chandler | DEN | A | NYK | 48 | 30.7 | 73% | 1.5 | 15.6 | 6.8 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 1.7 | 45% | 22.44% | 27.6 | 29.6 | 28.4 | $6700 | $7100 | $26 |
| Matt Barnes | SAC | H | ATL | 50 | 25 | 74% | 1.3 | 7.5 | 5.3 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 38% | 16.46% | 18.2 | 19.9 | 18.9 | $5100 | $5600 | $13 |
| Michael Beasley | MIL | H | LAL | 43 | 16 | 71% | 0.3 | 8.7 | 3.5 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 51% | 24.92% | 14.9 | 15.8 | 15 | $4400 | $3900 | $10 |
| Rondae Hollis-Jefferson | BKN | H | MIA | 49 | 21.8 | 77% | 0.2 | 7.9 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 42% | 18.15% | 18.4 | 19.5 | 18.5 | $4500 | $4400 | $12 |
| Mindaugas Kuzminskas | NYK | H | DEN | 47 | 14.6 | 79% | 0.8 | 6 | 1.9 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 42% | 18.96% | 10.4 | 11.3 | 10.8 | $3500 | $3000 | $10 |
Power Forward
Bad match-up or not, Nikola Jokic is the Nuggets offense, much like Russell Westbrook is to the Thunder. Funny, this is from last week. Same goes for this week. Jokic is the top play with Anthony Davis dead to me.
Paul Millsap may have an up and down game log but should easily be the bug in the eye of Boogie tonight. The match-up is neutral but Millsap is anything but.
Kristaps Porzingis who brings out the fictional side of my writing is averaging over 33 fantasy ppg in his last four at what I consider a very reasonable price across the industry with is upside.
No BS, Taj Gibson is the only Bull you can count on right now. The team is a giant WTF at this early hour. Regardless, the Suns are allowing the seventh most fantasy ppg to the four and Gibson should be a cheap 25-spot tonight with some possible after lineup lock upside.
If Zach Randolph sits tonight JaMychal Green should see plenty of minutes facing a Warriors team allowing the 11th most fantasy ppg to the four. In the right position, he can drop a 40-spot.
| FD | DK | Yahoo | |||||||||||||||||||
| PF | Tm | H/A | Opp | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM/G | PTS/G | REB/G | AST/G | STL/G | BLK/G | TO/G | FG% | Usage | Pts/G | Pts/G | Pts/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| Nikola Jokic | DEN | A | NYK | 45 | 26.1 | 82% | 0.6 | 15.5 | 8.5 | 4.2 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 2 | 59% | 22.5% | 33.1 | 34.8 | 33.3 | $9900 | $9200 | $38 |
| Paul Millsap | ATL | A | SAC | 50 | 34 | 75% | 1.2 | 17.9 | 8 | 3.8 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 2.2 | 44% | 24.32% | 35.8 | 37.9 | 36.4 | $7800 | $7600 | $33 |
| Kristaps Porzingis | NYK | H | DEN | 46 | 33 | 78% | 1.9 | 18.6 | 7.2 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 45% | 24.16% | 32.7 | 34.8 | 33.6 | $6800 | $6900 | $29 |
| Taj Gibson | CHI | A | PHX | 51 | 27.5 | 70% | 0.0 | 11.8 | 7 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 1 | 1.4 | 52% | 19.24% | 23.5 | 24.6 | 23.5 | $5000 | $4900 | $16 |
| JaMychal Green | MEM | H | GSW | 53 | 29 | 80% | 0.7 | 9.2 | 7.3 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 48% | 14.15% | 21.2 | 22.6 | 21.6 | $4600 | $5100 | $12 |
Center
DeMarcus Cousins has the highest true usage rate at the PF position where he is playing and his coming back rested from a little league issued vacation. He is going to feast tonight.
The player I really like tonight is Marc Gasol. The Warriors surrender plenty of fantasy points to the center position and Gasol is the biggest chunk of Grizzlies offense. He is capable of dropping 50-spots, and has.
Guillermo Hernangomez should see plenty of action tonight for a fair price and is averaging over 32 fantasy ppg in his last five, in what should be a shootout.
With the Lakers allowing the second most fantasy ppg to the center position John Henson is looking very nice for the near minimum salary across the industry. He can drop 30-spots and has recently.
| FD | DK | Yahoo | |||||||||||||||||||
| C | Tm | H/A | Opp | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM/G | PTS/G | REB/G | AST/G | STL/G | BLK/G | TO/G | FG% | Usage | Pts/G | Pts/G | Pts/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| Marc Gasol | MEM | H | GSW | 52 | 34.3 | 84% | 1.5 | 20.8 | 6.1 | 4.1 | 1 | 1.4 | 2.1 | 47% | 26.97% | 37 | 39.1 | 37.7 | $8400 | $7400 | $34 |
| John Henson | MIL | H | LAL | 45 | 20.3 | 71% | 0.0 | 7.1 | 5.2 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 1 | 51% | 16.47% | 17.7 | 18.5 | 17.7 | $3900 | $4100 | $10 |
| John Henson | MIL | H | LAL | 45 | 20.3 | 71% | 0.0 | 7.1 | 5.2 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 1 | 51% | 16.47% | 17.7 | 18.5 | 17.7 | $3900 | $4100 | $10 |
Good luck tonight, any questions email me JCFantasyAlarm@yahoo.com, or hit me up on Twitter @RealJerryColvin