We have an early showdown slate featuring the game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Indiana Pacers that kicks-off at 3:00 PM ET! The spread on this game sits at Pacers -7.5, while the Over/Under on this game is posted at just 217.5 as of Thursday morning. Looking in terms of PACE for both of these teams on the early season, the Pacers sit with the ninth-fastest PACE in the Association after playing four games, while the Cavs are just 19th after four games as well. The Cavs sit at 3-1 so far to start the season, while the Pacers are also sitting at 3-1. One team will move on to 4-1, while one of these teams will move to 3-2. With that said, in daily fantasy we just want to know what players will play well! Let’s discuss.

Player Breakdowns

*Players already ruled OUT: Kevin Love (Calf), T.J. Warren (Foot), Kevin Porter Jr. (Personal), Isaac Okoro (Foot), Jeremy Lamb (Knee), Matthew Dellavedova (Concussion), Goga Bitadze (Ankle)

MVP/CPT

1.) Andre Drummond C (CLE) $15,600

The price on Drummond is the highest on the slate, but for very good reason. For one, we faded the Indiana frontcourt just about every chance we got last season, and nothing has really changed since then. Also, Drummond leads the team currently after four games with a massive 31.1% usage rate with only Collin Sexton sitting next closest at 24.1%. Lastly, so far over four games, Drummond is averaging 55 fantasy points, while putting up two 20-point double-doubles out of the four games. In five total games against the Pacers last season, Drummond averaged 37.8 mpg, 25.9% usage rate, 23.4 PPG, 17.8 RPG, 3.2 APG, 2.0 SPG, and 2.0 BPG so to say he has had a lot of success against this frontcourt is an understatement.

2.) Domantas Sabonis PF/C (IND) $15,000

On the opposite-side of Drummond, we have Domantas Sabonis , who has been playing lights-out basketball to start the season for the Pacers. Sabonis leads the team in usage rate at 24.6%, while turning in average fantasy point out-put of 50.4 over the first four games of the season. He has played 34, 37, 41, and 37 minutes in those games as well, so we can basically lock him into 35 minutes or more for this game. I believe you will have to have at least one, if not both of these guys in your lineup today to be competitive.

3.) Victor Oladipo SG (IND) $11,700

If you are looking to spend-down at the CPT/MVP spot to be able to hopefully afford both Sabonis and Drummond, you can look at Oladipo here at a much cheaper, and affordable price for the production he has provided lately. Vic is basically carrying the same usage rate as Sabonis, as his sits at 24.5%, and we noticed that Sabonis’ is only 24.6%. Oladipo has turned in a floor of around 35 fantasy points so far this season, going for 35.5, 37.75, and 42.5 in his most recent game against the Celtics. With T.J. Warren not playing this game, I will be gravitating more towards the high-usage players for the Pacers, and those two are clearly Vic and Sabonis.

MID-TIER

1.) Darius Garland PG (CLE) $7,200

I’ll start the mid-tier plays with Garland here, who has really come on strong to start the season for the Cavs after being raved about during the preseason. Garland has played at least 33 or more minutes in three of the four games played so far, while going for 42, 53, 28, and 38 fantasy points in the four games, as well. He is carrying a modest usage rate of 20.3% but has really stepped-up his game in the assists area, as he has dished out six, 12, seven, and six so far this season, while also grabbing at least five or six boards in three of the four games and having two steals in three-straight. Not to mention, he has scored 14, 17, 21, and 22 actual in all four games to boot. He has excellent value at this price.

2.) Larry Nance Jr. PF/C (CLE) $7,600

With Kevin Love hitting the shelf once again, this opened up a starting spot for Nance Jr. Larry had no problems in the spot-start against the Knicks in the Cavs most recent game playing a whopping 43 minutes, while recording nine points, six rebounds, three assists, four steals, and two blocks in route to a 33-fantasy point outing. He has now topped at least 29 fantasy points in three of the four games played, while also seeing at least 24 or more minutes in all four. His 13 total steals and four blocks over the four-game span are something to hang your hat on, as we cannot expect him to be a main scorer but couple those defensive numbers with his rebounds and handful of assists, and he comes with some nice value here today with the starting nod likely again.

3.)  Myles Turner C (IND) $7,000

I chose to go with Turner here and leave Malcolm Brogdon out of this article simply due to price constraints, as Brogdon is very expensive on this slate. Turner provides a nice floor here at his price, right around a 30-fantasy point mark that could really help to balance the lineup if need be. Turner has played at least 29 minutes or more in three of the four games so far to start the season, and has been an excellent source of points, rebounds, and both defensive stats in steals and blocks (he has 20 blocks in four games!). I think he may have much more value on FD where you get those extra bonus points for blocks and steals, but I think he is a play on both sites to be flat out honest in the mid-tier.

DART THROWS

1.) Cedi Osman SF (CLE) $5,200

With the Cavs being down both Kevin Porter Jr., and Isaac Okoro, this leaves most of the SF duties to be handled by Osman. Cedi has played 22, 26, and 29 minutes over his last three games, and has totaled at least 20 or more fantasy points in three of his four games played this season, as well. He has taken at least eight shot attempts or more each game, while averaging 13.5 PPG, a smidge under three boards per game, and an assist for the span, so we are basically banking on his scoring upside here at this price.

2.) JaVale McGee C (CLE) $4,200

A guy that has potential to score you 15-20 fantasy points on any given night and in basically 15-16 minutes is McGee. We saw him do this plenty of times last season for the Lakers, and this is exactly how he is being used for the Cavs – as a direct back-up to give Drummond a few breathers during the game. McGee has played 19, 14, 16, and 16 minutes in the four games, while putting up 21 or more fantasy points in three of the four to boot. He has pulled down at least six or more boards in three of the four (mainly what you are paying for here), while scoring in double-figures in three of the four also. Not to mention he has a handful of blocks and steals he has accumulated in limited fashion as well. We are fading the Indiana front court, and this is definitely one of the better value plays at the price.

3.) Justin Holiday SF (IND) $4,000

With T.J. Warren on the shelf, we can turn to the durable Justin Holiday for a little value in our lineups here today. Holiday has played good minutes to start the season, playing 22, 31, 28, and 26, while also scoring 20 or more fantasy points in his last two games (right about the time Warren’s injury starting hampering). He has scored in double-figures (12 and 13) in his last two games, while also grabbing five boards, one dime, and five steals, which will really help his fantasy value here today. The minutes are solid, and at the price you really don’t need him to do a ton, especially in showdown.