NBA DFS Playbook Position Coach: November 4, 2015

Point Guard

Both guard positions are the best places to find values Wednesday. Matthew Dellavedova played a season-high 34 points Monday, thanks mostly to J.R. Smith leaving the game after five minutes. Dellavedova responded with 12 points, five rebounds and nine assists, giving him at least five rebounds and nine assists in consecutive games. He should see plenty of minutes with Smith out Wednesday, and he is still pretty cheap. His teammate Mo Williams is a nice play as well, as he scored a season-high 21 points Monday, thanks to Smith’s injury.

Isaiah Thomas is averaging 17.8 field goal attempts and eight free throw attempts per game this season. He is a bit underpriced given his usage, and is a cheaper alternative to the stud point guards. 

I want to use Stephen Curry and/or Chris Paul, because that should be a high-scoring game in which both point guards get off, but I would rather pay a bit more for a surer thing in Russell Westbrook, especially in cash games. The Thunder are hosting the Raptors, who are playing for the second time in two nights. Unlike Kevin Durant, who will likely be harassed by DeMarre Carroll all night, Westbrook should be able to get to the rim at will against Kyle Lowry.

Ty Lawson finally seemed to find his footing against the Thunder Monday, with a season-high 14 points, 11 assists, five rebounds and four steals. The Magic are averaging more than 17 turnovers per game this season, and Lawson should be able to get out in transition and rack up fantasy points.

Shooting Guard

As I mentioned above, there are some opportunities to save money at shooting guard. Unlike point guard, there are fewer midpriced options I like at shooting guard. I’m likely either going cheap or paying up at this position. Marcus Thornton has averaged 34 minutes and 16.5 points per game in his two games this season. He will be a worthy DFS play if Terrence Jones is out again.

With Matthew Dellavedova and Mo Williams playing most of the backcourt minutes Wednesday, Langston Galloway should be able to score at will. He is probably too risky for a cash game, but he is worth a shot for tournament lineups.

Rockets vs. Magic has the second-highest total of the day, according to Vegas, so I’m not too concerned about recommending three Houston backcourt options. James Harden is the best shooting guard going Wednesday, and it is not even close. Harden, Thornton and Lawson all had good games Monday, and I see no reason that wouldn’t be the case again Wednesday.

The Thunder have allowed Victor Oladipo, James Harden and even Will Barton to have big games this season, and I like DeMar DeRozan to follow in their footsteps. At the very least you are locking in 15 points and a few assists, with the potential for a monster day.

DeRozan gets the slight nod over Oladipo, but I could easily see passing on Harden and playing both DeRozan and Oladipo. If this game is as frenetic as expected the Magic will benefit as well, and I could easily see Oladipo putting up his second triple-double of the season.

Small Forward

Unlike shooting guard, where I’m avoiding midpriced players, at small forward I’m almost exclusively playing them. Gordon Hayward is off to a slow start, but he wouldn’t be the first star to break out after a few poor games to start the season. Just as James Harden eventually broke out, so too will Hayward. This game is as good a bet as any. This could be the lowest his price falls all season.

Kawhi Leonard has scored at least 16 points in every game this season after averaging just 16.5 ppg in 2014-15. His fantasy price still hasn’t caught up to his improved game, and to make this matchup even more enticing, the Wizards have allowed more fantasy points to opposing small forwards than any team this season.

Al-Farouq Aminu’s price hasn’t caught up to his production, and there is no reason to believe his production will slow down. His shooting appears to have improved drastically in the offseason, and even more importantly, he is averaging more than 32 minutes per game.  

In the six games DeMarcus Cousins missed last season with George Karl as head coach, Rudy Gay averaged 25.5 points per game. Cousins is out Wednesday against the Suns.

Power Forward

Draymond Green averaged 19.0 ppg on 52.6 percent shooting against the Clippers last season. He gets fired up for this matchup, and it showed on the scoreboard.

The 76ers have allowed the most fantasy points to opposing power forwards so far this season, and that will likely remain the case while Jahlil Okafor is averaging 30-plus minutes per game. Greg Monroe has been great in his new home, and is a safe cash game play.

Trevor Booker started four games last season and averaged 16.8 points and 9.2 rebounds in those games. Derrick Favors is questionable for Wednesday with flu-like symptoms, and Booker would be a nice play if Favors is out.

The Knicks don’t have anyone who can guard Kevin Love. It is hard to picture a scenario where he doesn’t go for 20 and 10.

Center

Brook Lopez faces the Hawks, who are on the second night of a back-to-back. Just two teams have allowed more points to opposing centers than the Hawks.

At the very least, you should get what you pay for with Willie Cauley-Stein: double-digit points, near double-digit rebounds, and at least one block. Cauley-Stein didn’t do anything with his increased minutes Tuesday, but that could change Wednesday.

I’m rooting for an epic back-and-forth battle between Jonas Valanciunas and Enes Kanter of skilled centers who don’t play defense. I’m not sure we will get it, but at the very least they are safe cash game plays.

Andrew Bogut missed one game against the Clippers last season, and DeAndre Jordan went for 14 points and 12 rebounds in that game. Bogut is questionable Wednesday, and while Jordan should be just fine either way, he would be a very nice play if Bogut is out.