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Tonight’s Strategy
We have a giant 10-game slate tonight, one which this time of year I suggest playing light. We are in the dog days of DFS NBA and from here out, you should be looking ahead to baseball. At least I am. But, I still have the DFS itch to scratch so I will be going at it until the final days.
We have several great mid-priced options tonight and only one real superstar I see the need to pay up for.
As always, all fantasy ppg numbers are FanDuel specific.
So, with Friday kicking my proverbial ass, I bring you today’s Position Coach Article.
Point Guard
As if things were not bad enough, it looks as though Victor Odadipo will more-than-likely miss another game. Russell Westbrook is the entire offense for the Thunder and the only player I plan to spend this kind of dough on tonight.
Isaiah Thomas besides being the top offensive player on the Celtics, benefits from facing a Lakers team allowing the second most fantasy ppg to the PG position.
With the Thunder allowing the sixth most fantasy ppg to the one, Eric Bledsoe must come into play tonight. He’s averaging over 40 fantasy ppg in his last six.
Not only does Dennis Schroder benefit from a great defensive match-up tonight, but also provides a nice 40 fantasy point upside. I call a 35-spot here.
Tyler Johnson off the bench continues to be a force to be reckoned with, he is averaging nearly 30 fantasy ppg over his last four. Did I mention the Magic are allowing the fifth most fantasy ppg to the one?
For value, Cory Joseph tops the list tonight in a less than favorable match-up while in a longshot Spencer Dinwiddie is still playing a decent number of minutes and could drop a 25-spot for cheap.
| 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 |
| Russell Westbrook | OKC | A | PHX | 61 | 34.8 | 84% | 2.3 | 31.4 | 10.6 | 10.1 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 5.6 | 42% | 42.07% | 57.7 | 62.1 | 58.8 | $13000 | $13100 | $63 |
| Isaiah Thomas | BOS | A | LAL | 57 | 34.5 | 91% | 3.2 | 29.6 | 2.7 | 6.2 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 2.7 | 46% | 34.4% | 41.4 | 44.5 | 43 | $9800 | $9300 | $48 |
| Eric Bledsoe | PHX | H | OKC | 60 | 33.2 | 85% | 1.6 | 21.2 | 5 | 6.4 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 3.3 | 44% | 27.94% | 37.1 | 39.7 | 37.8 | $8800 | $8500 | $37 |
| Dennis Schroder | ATL | H | CLE | 59 | 30.9 | 83% | 1.2 | 17.4 | 2.9 | 6.3 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 3.1 | 46% | 27.26% | 29.2 | 31.5 | 29.8 | $6500 | $6200 | $27 |
| Tyler Johnson | MIA | A | ORL | 53 | 30.5 | 76% | 1.2 | 14 | 4.2 | 3.3 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 44% | 20.53% | 26.7 | 28 | 27.3 | $5800 | $5200 | $19 |
| Cory Joseph | TOR | A | WAS | 59 | 23.3 | 79% | 0.5 | 8.7 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 1 | 44% | 18.23% | 16.8 | 17.7 | 17.1 | $5000 | $5200 | $14 |
| Spencer Dinwiddie | BKN | A | UTA | 36 | 21.8 | 83% | 0.6 | 7.1 | 2.8 | 3 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 44% | 14.18% | 15.6 | 16.6 | 15.9 | $4200 | $3400 | $10 |
Shooting Guard
DeMar DeRozan may get a terrible defensive match-up tonight versus the Wizards, but he is the top dog on the Raptors offense right now and has the highest true usage rate among SG on the slate.
Although Bradley Beal gets a terrible match-up tonight versus the Raptors, he still has the third highest true usage rate on the slate among his fellow SG while averaging over 37 fantasy ppg in his last four.
Devin Booker who was the model of 30 fantasy ppg consistency is starting to show life again dropping two 30-spots in his last four games. On a slate with limited viable SG options, he is the cream-of-the-crop.
Evan Fournier has a nice price-point in comparison to his upside. For $5,300 on FD, I will gladly take a shot on a guy who dropped over 30 fantasy points in his last match-up versus Miami.
Courtney Lee, boom-or-bust is what you have here, but what you also have here is a shot at 30 fantasy points for peanuts. I suspect a lot of darts will be thrown at SG cheapies tonight, he is as low as I go.
| 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 |
| DeMar DeRozan | TOR | A | WAS | 54 | 35.6 | 85% | 0.4 | 27.8 | 5.3 | 3.6 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 2.4 | 47% | 34.56% | 39.9 | 41.5 | 40.1 | $9900 | $8900 | $45 |
| Bradley Beal | WAS | H | TOR | 55 | 34.6 | 82% | 2.9 | 22.6 | 2.9 | 3.6 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 2 | 48% | 26.31% | 32.1 | 34.7 | 33.6 | $7400 | $7000 | $32 |
| Devin Booker | PHX | H | OKC | 60 | 34.6 | 82% | 1.9 | 20.8 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 2.9 | 43% | 27.67% | 28.5 | 31 | 29.4 | $6200 | $6700 | $28 |
| Evan Fournier | ORL | H | MIA | 48 | 33.3 | 81% | 1.6 | 16.7 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 1 | 0.1 | 2.3 | 43% | 23.64% | 25.4 | 27.5 | 26.2 | $5300 | $5600 | $20 |
| Courtney Lee | NYK | A | PHI | 56 | 31.6 | 83% | 1.5 | 10.4 | 3.3 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 46% | 13.55% | 19.3 | 20.7 | 20.1 | $5000 | $4700 | $11 |
Small Forward
If you insist on spending a fortune tonight at the three, LeBron James is where to look. The Hawks are allowing the fifth most fantasy ppg to the three, not that LeBron needs it.
With the Nets allowing the most fantasy ppg to the three, and Gordon Hayward being one of the best SF in the NBA, this one seems like a no brainer.
Otto Porter benefits from the best defensive match-up on the Wizards side of things tonight and has dropped more than 30 fantasy ppg five times in his last nine.
I’m not a big Jae Crowder guy, but I really want some late bullet exposure to the high 220.5 O/U on the Celtics-Lakers game tonight. The match-up is also sweet with the Lakers allowing the fourth most fantasy ppg to the three.
Both Kent Bazemore and Thabo Sefolosha benefit from great defensive match-ups tonight for peanuts. I will have exposure to both guys in GPPs.
| 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 |
| LeBron James | CLE | A | ATL | 55 | 37.6 | 69% | 1.7 | 25.7 | 7.9 | 8.9 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 4.3 | 54% | 29.41% | 48.3 | 51.7 | 49.1 | $10800 | $11200 | $54 |
| Gordon Hayward | UTA | H | BKN | 54 | 34.5 | 86% | 2 | 22.3 | 5.5 | 3.5 | 1 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 47% | 27.65% | 34.8 | 37 | 35.8 | $8000 | $7600 | $35 |
| Otto Porter | WAS | H | TOR | 59 | 33.8 | 80% | 2.1 | 14.1 | 6.6 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 53% | 15.09% | 28 | 29.6 | 29 | $6300 | $5600 | $27 |
| Jae Crowder | BOS | A | LAL | 51 | 32.5 | 85% | 2.3 | 13.8 | 5.4 | 2.1 | 1 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 47% | 16.67% | 25.3 | 27.1 | 26.4 | $6100 | $5700 | $23 |
| Kent Bazemore | ATL | H | CLE | 58 | 27.3 | 72% | 1.2 | 10.9 | 3.2 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 41% | 20.54% | 20.6 | 22.3 | 21.3 | $4400 | $4000 | $13 |
| Thabo Sefolosha | ATL | H | CLE | 48 | 25.6 | 77% | 0.6 | 7.5 | 4.2 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 46% | 13.55% | 18.4 | 19.3 | 18.7 | $3700 | $3600 | $10 |
Power Forward
With the Bucks allowing the fourth most fantasy ppg to the four, Blake Griffin tops my list at the PF position tonight. He is averaging over 40 fantasy ppg in his last four, a number lowered by one bad night.
Serge Ibaka gets an elite match-up tonight with the Wizards allowing the second most fantasy ppg to the four. With Kyle Lowry out, both him and DeRozan should see plenty of extra shots.
With the Thunder lacking any viable scoring options outside of Westbrook, Enes Kanter becomes a prime play tonight off the bench, and an easy 30-spot.
I am all about the Jazz tonight, the problem is, so is everyone else. Derrick Favors seems like quite a bargain facing a Nets team allowing the most fantasy ppg to the four.
Aaron Gordon gets one of the better defensive match-ups for the Magic tonight and is in a position to drop 25-to-30 fantasy points.
Amir Johnson, yes, total crap. But, I will have him in at least one lineup tonight with the Lakers allowing the third most fantasy ppg to the four.
| FD | DK | Yahoo | |||||||||||||||||||
| Player | 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 |
| Blake Griffin | LAC | A | MIL | 40 | 33.7 | 75% | 0.4 | 22.2 | 8.6 | 5.1 | 1 | 0.5 | 2.4 | 49% | 29.52% | 40.8 | 42.6 | 41 | $9700 | $9100 | $43 |
| Serge Ibaka | TOR | A | WAS | 56 | 30.5 | 85% | 1.5 | 15.1 | 6.8 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 49% | 21.09% | 28.1 | 29.8 | 28.9 | $6900 | $6700 | $27 |
| Enes Kanter | OKC | A | PHX | 51 | 21.8 | 79% | 0.1 | 14.4 | 6.9 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 55% | 26.39% | 24.7 | 25.9 | 24.7 | $5900 | $5400 | $17 |
| Aaron Gordon | ORL | H | MIA | 59 | 27.5 | 66% | 0.9 | 11.2 | 4.6 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 43% | 19.65% | 21 | 22.2 | 21.5 | $5000 | $5300 | $19 |
| Derrick Favors | UTA | H | BKN | 44 | 23.7 | 63% | 0.0 | 9.4 | 6.2 | 1 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 47% | 20.9% | 20.8 | 21.7 | 20.8 | $5000 | $5300 | $15 |
| Amir Johnson | BOS | A | LAL | 60 | 19.5 | 66% | 0.3 | 6.3 | 4.6 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 57% | 13.64% | 15.8 | 16.6 | 15.9 | $3500 | $3400 | $10 |
Center
Rudy Gobert facing the Nets tonight in an elite match-up is where I am looking if I am paying up at all at center tonight. This should be one of them 35 fantasy point nights.
Both Steven Adams and Al Horford are blowing up my model tonight at their price-point. They both benefit from great defensive match-ups while having the ability to drop 30 fantasy points. Horford has more upside.
In a GPP to save a few bucks, I would look to Kyle O’Quinn. Although he is not flashy, he does offer some upside in an elite match-up off the bench. If he starts, he is cash game viable.
| 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 |
| Rudy Gobert | UTA | H | BKN | 61 | 33.3 | 67% | 0.0 | 12.9 | 12.7 | 1 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 1.9 | 64% | 16.18% | 34.2 | 35.7 | 34.2 | $7500 | $7300 | $30 |
| Al Horford | BOS | A | LAL | 49 | 32.8 | 82% | 1.4 | 14 | 6.7 | 5 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 45% | 20.14% | 32 | 33.9 | 32.7 | $6000 | $6200 | $25 |
| Steven Adams | OKC | A | PHX | 59 | 30.6 | 65% | 0.0 | 11.9 | 7.9 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 57% | 16.68% | 25.6 | 27 | 25.6 | $6000 | $5400 | $21 |
| Kyle O'Quinn | NYK | A | PHI | 59 | 15.5 | 74% | 0.0 | 6.3 | 5.7 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 1 | 53% | 18.53% | 18 | 18.7 | 18 | $4900 | $5600 | $11 |
Good luck tonight, any questions email me at therealjerrycolvin@yahoo.com or hit me up on Twitter @realjerrycolvin
Go Dodgers!