.jpg)
.jpg)
This feels like a weird time in the NBA. On the one hand, every team has gotten in a couple of games since the All-Star break and the trade deadline, so teams are starting to settle into new rotations. On the other hand, we are firmly in the middle of buyout season, so veteran role players are changing teams nearly every day. Throw in some minor ailments to major stars, and you get a Monday slate that feels like it could go a number of different ways.
It feels like it is more difficult than normal to find guys I actually want to pay up for in this slate. I wouldn’t tell you not to pay up for Karl-Anthony Towns or another stud like him, but I can’t say I feel great about his matchup, either. That being said, I am probably still going with the value plays first and then filling in with studs where I can. I want to make sure I get the players I want and don’t get stuck playing someone like Iman Shumpert because I cannot afford anyone else.
Point Guard
Stephen Curry tied the record for missed three-pointers after going 0-for-11 on threes Monday, but he still finished with a respectable 35.0 fantasy points on DraftKings. I fully expect a bounce back effort Tuesday, which makes Curry a pretty safe target in my eyes.
The Wizards are trying to avoid losing their third straight game since the All-Star break, and to do that they will probably need a big game from John Wall. Wall has at least 20 points and 11 assists in three consecutive games, and I like his chances to make it four in-a-row.
Mike Conley is averaging 30.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists against the Suns this season. Conley is the cheapest point guard in the tier below Curry and Wall, and I like him the best out of that group.
D’Angelo Russell is a tier below Mike Conley, but perhaps not for long. Russell is averaging 23.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2.0 steals and 32.5 minutes since Lou Williams was traded.
| PLAYER | TM | H/A | OPP | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | USAGE | FDPTS/G | DKPTS/G | YPTS/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| John Wall | WAS | H | GSW | 55 | 36.7 | 81% | 1.1 | 22.9 | 4.5 | 10.7 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 4.3 | 45% | 30.62% | 45.3 | 48.2 | 45.8 | $10,000 | $10,300 | $51 |
| Stephen Curry | GSW | A | WAS | 58 | 33.4 | 92% | 4 | 24.8 | 4.3 | 6.3 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 2.9 | 47% | 29.20% | 40.5 | 44.1 | 42.5 | $9,300 | $9,500 | $50 |
| Mike Conley | MEM | H | PHX | 48 | 32.7 | 84% | 2.4 | 19.4 | 3.6 | 6.2 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 2.2 | 45% | 25.93% | 34 | 36.5 | 35.2 | $8,000 | $7,900 | $33 |
| D'Angelo Russell | LAL | H | CHA | 44 | 26.8 | 77% | 2 | 14.6 | 3.8 | 4.7 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 2.7 | 40% | 27.11% | 26.6 | 29.1 | 27.6 | $6,400 | $6,500 | $24 |
Shooting Guard
Alex Abrines is averaging 16.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in two games as a starter this season. If Victor Oladipo is out again, Abrines should be a fine value play.
Gary Harris has scored at least 19 points in four consecutive games and at least 16 points in seven straight. I much prefer Harris to similarly-priced players like Will Barton and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
If you have to pay up at shooting guard, go with Nicolas Batum. Batum has taken at least 17 shots in three consecutive games, and he had 23 points, five rebounds and 10 assists against the Lakers earlier this season.
| PLAYER | TM | H/A | OPP | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | USAGE | FDPTS/G | DKPTS/G | YPTS/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| Alex Abrines | OKC | H | UTA | 48 | 14.8 | 88% | 1.3 | 5.8 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 40% | 16.07% | 8.6 | 9.5 | 9.2 | $3,600 | $3,900 | $10 |
| Gary Harris | DEN | A | CHI | 35 | 28.9 | 75% | 1.9 | 14.2 | 3 | 2.5 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 48% | 19.47% | 23 | 24.7 | 23.9 | $5,500 | $5,900 | $19 |
| Nicolas Batum | CHA | A | LAL | 56 | 34.9 | 86% | 1.9 | 15.3 | 7 | 5.9 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 2.7 | 40% | 21.69% | 32.9 | 35.5 | 33.8 | $7,500 | $7,500 | $31 |
Small Forward
Denzel Valentine is averaging 13.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals in 27.0 minutes per game since Doug McDermott was traded away. Valentine’s ceiling may be limited, but he appears to have a pretty high floor, and he is still quite cheap on DraftKings.
T.J. Warren has taken 14 shots in each of his games since the All-Star break, and even if he starts missing a few more of them, he should continue to be a solid DFS play going forward. It is also worth noting Warren has played at least 38 minutes in each of his last two games.
Brandon Ingram is finally looking like a player you might not want to trade away for Boogie Cousins. Since the All-Star break, Ingram is averaging 16.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 37.0 minutes per game. Ingram should keep getting plenty of minutes and shots with Lou Williams gone
| PLAYER | TM | H/A | OPP | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | USAGE | FDPTS/G | DKPTS/G | YPTS/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| Denzel Valentine | CHI | H | DEN | 34 | 13.4 | 70% | 1 | 3.9 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 35% | 15.44% | 8 | 8.9 | 8.5 | $4,300 | $3,400 | $10 |
| T.J. Warren | PHX | A | MEM | 46 | 29.5 | 78% | 0.4 | 13.1 | 4 | 1 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 47% | 19.36% | 21.8 | 22.6 | 22 | $5,300 | $5,500 | $17 |
| Brandon Ingram | LAL | H | CHA | 60 | 28 | 65% | 0.7 | 8.3 | 4 | 2 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 37% | 15.72% | 16.5 | 17.7 | 16.9 | $4,000 | $4,200 | $11 |
Power Forward
Trusting Nikola Mirotic is usually a fool’s errand, but there aren’t any cheaper power forwards in Tuesday’s slate I would feel good playing. Mirotic is averaging 17.0 points and 9.0 rebounds in 33.0 minutes since Taj Gibson was traded, and Bobby Portis hasn’t done anything to cut into Mirotic’s playing time. Mirotic will likely always be a streaky shooter, but his newfound rebounding prowess helps negate that a bit.
When Frank Kaminsky is the best option at power forward, you know it is a weak slate for the position. That being said, Kaminsky has scored at least 16 points in four consecutive games, and he has three double-doubles in his last eight contests. Kaminsky should be pretty safe, and he’s got some nice upside as well.
| PLAYER | TM | H/A | OPP | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | USAGE | FDPTS/G | DKPTS/G | YPTS/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| Nikola Mirotic | CHI | H | DEN | 50 | 22.9 | 77% | 1.5 | 9.3 | 5.3 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 39% | 19.27% | 18.9 | 20.5 | 19.6 | $4,400 | $5,000 | $10 |
| Frank Kaminsky | CHA | A | LAL | 57 | 25.5 | 76% | 1.4 | 11.2 | 4.6 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 1 | 40% | 21.66% | 21.4 | 22.8 | 22.1 | $5,900 | $6,900 | $22 |
.jpg)
Center
It feels weird to say, but Andre Drummond might be the safest center on Tuesday’s slate. Drummond has double-doubles in seven of his last eight games, and nobody in Portland’s frontcourt is capable of keeping him out of the paint.
Jusuf Nurkic is averaging 11.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.0 blocks and 2.3 steals in three games since joining the Trail Blazers. I will happily take those numbers and run, especially on FanDuel, where Nurkic remains a bit underpriced.
Nikola Jokic is a bit risky considering he has 16 points combined over his last three games and he is still the most expensive center on the slate. That being said, he is probably too good to go into a prolonged slump, and nothing will help you break out of a slump like going against guys like Robin Lopez and Cristiano Felicio.
| PLAYER | TM | H/A | OPP | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | USAGE | FDPTS/G | DKPTS/G | YPTS/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| Jusuf Nurkic | POR | A | DET | 45 | 17.9 | 50% | 0 | 8 | 5.8 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 51% | 23.31% | 17.7 | 18.9 | 17.7 | $5,300 | $5,800 | $11 |
| Andre Drummond | DET | H | POR | 58 | 30.5 | 42% | 0 | 14.6 | 13.8 | 1 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 53% | 23.49% | 36.4 | 38.1 | 36.4 | $8,100 | $8,200 | $34 |
| Nikola Jokic | DEN | A | CHI | 52 | 26.8 | 82% | 0.6 | 15.6 | 8.9 | 4.4 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 2.1 | 58% | 22.69% | 34 | 35.8 | 34.3 | $9,500 | $8,900 | $48 |
Player News
{{item.text}}
{{analysis.analysis}}