New Orleans Pelicans @ Golden State Warriors
Spread: Warriors -9
Total: 214
Injuries:
New Orleans Pelicans:
Zion Williamson – Out
Brandon Ingram – Questionable (Hip)
Herbert Jones – Questionable (Concussion)
Golden State Warriors:
Klay Thompson – Out
James Wiseman – Out
Gary Payton II – Questionable (Ankle)
**Please note that players not listed below are not necessarily a complete fade and any player listed can certainly be used as the MVP/Captain. These are merely suggestions for players to use when setting Showdown lineups.
MVP/CPT
Jonas Valanciunas NOP, C – Let’s be a little different here to start. No, we didn’t forget about a certain Golden State point guard, but Valanciunas is $3,300 cheaper in the captain seat on DK and he is only averaging seven less fantasy points per game. I know that 10.5 points could make a real difference tonight at the top of your lineup, but the same could be said for the lineup construction with that savings. And it’s not like Valanciunas isn’t worthy as he is averaging 19.2 points and 14.1 rebounds per game this season and he has 60 fantasy point upside on a nightly basis.
Stephen Curry GSW, PG – Curry still possesses the most upside of anyone on tonight’s slate, but in his last four games, he is averaging just 45 DK points. It’s going to hard to build a lineup without Curry tonight based on his star power, but based on what we have been seeing from him as of late, this isn’t a situation where you need to force him into your lineup either. Curry has struggled with shooting efficiency and with just 6.9 assists per game, he doesn’t offer up a ton of upside there either.
Devonte’ Graham NOP, PG – If you want to get contrarian here, Graham is the only option I truly feel comfortable with. With the Pelicans expected to trail they will need their point guard to push the pace and he generally takes around 15 shots per game and is averaging 17 points and 5.4 assists per game. The problem though is that we have yet to see Graham flash anything more than 40 fantasy point upside.
Util
Brandon Ingram NOP, SF/PF – The doubt surrounding Ingram’s status for tonight after missing the last three games with a hip contusion is the only factor that relegates him down a tier. When in the lineup, Ingram has been busy this season taking around 20 shots per game, although we would like a little more efficiency, which gives him an average of 25 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. We are going to have to keep our eyes peeled for news surrounding Ingram leading up to tip off to determine whether or not he will be active, but if he does take the court, we know we are getting a solid 40 to 45 fantasy points. Ingram was part of the shoot around, so things are trending in the right direction.
Jordan Poole GSW, PG.SG – Poole has been a popular DFS option all season as he is fitting nicely alongside Curry in the starting lineup and the price hasn’t been too restrictive. We are also getting Poole as he comes off his best performance of the season on Wednesday as the guard scored 31 points while also picking up four steals. Poole is averaging 16.4 points and 3.6 assists per game on the season while playing a consistent 30 minutes per night.
Draymond Green GSW, PF/C – Green might be a little pricey for what we are looking to do here, and he is option likely better for cash lineups, but we shouldn’t be overlooking him either. My main issue with Green is that he simply isn’t a part of Golden State’s offense as he scored just five points on Wednesday and is averaging 8.7 points per game. At the same time, Green is at 8.9 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game so he is filling the stat sheet, but it would be nicer if he was closer to 15 points per game.
Andrew Wiggins GSW, SG/SF – Wiggins has been a solid scorer for the Warriors averaging 15.9 points per game but with just 4.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists, his value and upside are limited. However, there is something to be said about consistency though.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker NOP, PG/SG – Alexander-Walker takes a bunch of shots and plays around 30 minutes per game but he is shooting just 35.5% from the field. All it takes is for Alexander-Walker to get hot and make a few more shots and we have 40 fantasy point upside. That isn’t a crazy leap considering he is averaging 29 DK points per game thanks in part to 5.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.
Dart Throws
Herbert Jones NOP, SF – Jones took part in the shootaround today so I am expecting him to return to action. The same can be said for Ingram which means that Jones will revert to playing a supporting role but he gets around 25 minutes of run per night. What is concerning though, is that Jones doesn’t do much from a fantasy perspective with that playing time averaging just 14 DK points per game, but the minutes are there and the price is right.
Kevon Looney GSW, C – You know what you are getting out of Looney and that is roughly six points and six rebounds in about 15 minutes of playing time. The price is right to fill out your roster, but don’t expect anything more.
Nemanja Bjelica GSW, PF/C – We are getting efficiency here from Bjelica as he is averaging just over a fantasy point per minute, but that also means there is a cap on his value. Don’t expect anything crazy here, but a guaranteed 15 to 20 fantasy points has it’s value here.