NBA DFS Position Coach: March 18, 2016

I often find the hardest part of filling my lineup is choosing which studs I want to spend big on, and that is again the case Friday. The good news is there are a bunch of attractive cheap options, so playing multiple studs is pretty easy. Most of the cheap plays are at the guard position, so I will mostly pay up at forward and center.

Point Guard

No team has allowed as many fantasy points to opposing point guards as the Kings this season, and whoever starts at the point for the Pistons will be a very attractive DFS play. Reggie Jackson’s status is up in the air after he suffered shortness of breath Wednesday, and Steve Blake would likely get the start if Jackson cannot play.

In fact, I may just play both starting point guards from this game, whoever that winds up being. Rajon Rondo is questionable Friday, but I would love him if Reggie Jackson is out. If Rondo is out, Darren Collison would be a great play. Collison is averaging 17.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 8.5 assists when Rondo sits this season. Given the Kings’ injuries at shooting guard, Collison would be worth considering even if Rondo plays.

Brandon Knight has been remarkably inconsistent since returning from a groin injury, but he did have 30 points, six rebounds and seven assists against the Warriors Saturday. Only the Suns, Kings and Magic have allowed more fantasy points to opposing point guards than the Lakers this season, and at the very least Knight is a GPP consideration.

Damian Lillard has failed to top 23 points in four consecutive games, just his second such streak this season. I doubt very much the streak reaches five games, especially considering the Pelicans are 23^rd in fantasy points allowed to opposing point guards. I would probably like Lillard better than Westbrook and Curry Friday even if they cost the same.

Shooting Guard

James Anderson and Seth Curry both scored in double digits in 34 minutes with Rondo, Marco Belinelli and Ben McLemore all out Wednesday. Belinelli is probable, but with Omri Casspi and Rondo both questionable and McLemore out, both could play heavy minutes again Friday. Belinelli is probably the safest of the three, but Curry is the better play on FantasyFeud, where he is far cheaper.

The Kings are 28^th in fantasy points allowed to opposing shooting guards, and while I would like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope even if Sacramento’s backcourt was healthy, he is nearly a must-play Friday. Caldwelll-Pope may be an even better play if Reggie Jackson sits.

Evan Turner seemed like an obvious candidate to pick up extra minutes with Jae Crowder and Jonas Jerebko out; instead he has 10 points total over the two games Crowder has missed. Turner has gone through a couple of lengthy slumps this season, and we could be in the midst of another now, but Turner could be worth a shot if you don’t trust any of the Kings’ shooting guards.

Small Forward

With so many cheap options at the guard positions, small forward is a good place to pay up. I am concerned Kevin Durant will sit most of the fourth quarter with Oklahoma City up big, so I’m going with LeBron James. LeBron is averging 23.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 8.0 assists in three games against Orlando this season, and I will be perfectly content to get similar production Friday.

After LeBron, you pretty much have to go cheap, and the options are pretty underwhelming. Mirza Teletovic is pretty safe against a Lakers team that has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing small forwards, but he doesn’t provide much beyond scoring.

Rudy Gay is interesting considering the Kings’ backcourt has been decimated by injuries, but Gay’s results have been inconsistent, even when Rajon Rondo sits. Gay should provide more production than Teletovic, but perhaps not enough to be worth the extra money.

If I can’t afford LeBron, or decide to spend big elsewhere, I will probably just go cheap with Michael Beasley. Beasley has at least 11 points in four consecutive games, and he has even contributed eight or more rebounds in three of those four.

Power Forward

I am probably playing studs at both the small forward and power forward positions Friday, but if I have to choose between the two, I’m going with Anthony Davis. Davis has at least 22 points and 10 rebounds in seven consecutive games, and the Trail Blazers are 23^rd in fantasy points allowed to opposing power forwards.

Serge Ibaka may be the best example of somebody who is much better in real life than in fantasy, but he could be good in both against the lowly 76ers. Philadelphia has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing power forwards, and they have been even worse against centers. If Ibaka can just get a double-double he would be well worth his decreased price.

Aaron Gordon laid a huge egg Wednesday, playing just 13 minutes despite Ersan Ilyasova and Nikola Vucevic both sitting. There is some risk that happens again Friday, but I’m willing to take that risk now that Gordon’s price has plummeted. Gordon is still averaging 12.5 points and 7.9 rebounds since the All-Star break, and the potential for 20 points or a double-double is too good to pass up at this price if Ilyasova sits again.

If you don’t care for those options, I suggest you just go super-cheap with Luis Scola. Scola has played 20 or more minutes in each of the last two games with Jonas Valanciunas out, and he could easily get double-digit rebounds in 20 minutes against the Celtics, who are allowing 46.3 opponent’s rebounds this season.

Center

Bismack Biyombo has two consecutive double-doubles with Jonas Valanciunas out, including a franchise-record 25 rebounds Thursday. The Celtics have allowed the fifth-most opponent’s rebounds this season, and Biyombo is a good bet for another double-double if Valanciunas sits again.

Enes Kanter is averaging 17.0 points and 11.4 rebounds in 22.8 minutes over his last five games. The 76ers have allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing centers this season, and Kanter would likely benefit from some garbage time if the Thunder win big as expected. Steven Adams is worth a shot as well due to his low price and Philadelphia’s poor rebounding, but he cannot come close to Kanter’s upside.

Alex Len has double-digit rebounds in 10 consecutive games, with double-digit points in eight of those. The Lakers have allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing centers this season, and Len’s upside makes him an intriguing GPP play.

Last, but not least, Karl-Anthony Towns gets the nod if you want to pay up at center. He had 12 points and 16 assists in his only meeting with Houston this season, and he is averaging 20.3 points and 10.4 rebounds in March.