For Pivots to work
Charlotte Hornets @ Indiana Pacers
Total: 218.5
IND -8
Hornets
The Pacers have allowed the fewest fantasy points in the NBA to opposing point guards, but Kemba Walker is still in play simply because the slate is pretty ugly for point guards. Charlotte has been getting strong play from its bench of late, and while that is good for them, it isn’t good for fantasy players. Walker’s backcourt mate Jeremy Lamb has been surprising consistent in January, scoring at least 21 fantasy points in all six of his games. He had 21 points, seven rebounds and four assists in his only game against Indiana this season.
Pacers
Charlotte matches up quite poorly with Indiana’s frontcourt, but you have to pay full price if you want to take advantage. Thaddeus Young has probably been the most consistent Pacers forward in the three games since Myles Turner returned, and he is also the cheapest. The Hornets have allowed the second most fantasy points to opposing centers among teams playing Sunday, so Turner feels relatively safe. Bojan Bogdanovic isn’t exactly safe, but he is also due to start shooting better after shooting 23.8 percent from the field and 09.1 percent on threes over his last two games. Only three teams have allowed more fantasy points to opposing small forwards than the Hornets this season.
Los Angeles Clippers @ San Antonio Spurs
Total: 223.5
SAS -8
Clippers
I don’t think it is much of an exaggeration to say this entire slate hinges on Lou Williams ’s health. With Williams out Friday and Danilo Gallinari only playing seven minutes due to a back injury, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 24 points in 17 field goal attempts in 43 minutes, all career highs. Avery Bradley played 33 minutes Friday and had 13 field goal attempts, though he ended the day with just six points and four rebounds. Lou Williams is questionable while Danilo Gallinari is doubtful, and those two are combining to average 27 field goal attempts per game this season.
Tobias Harris is basically a must-play with Danilo Gallinari out, though he will likely get even more shots if Williams is out as well. In the only game Gallinari missed this season, Tobias Harris scored 24 points on 15 field goal attempts. Mike Scott scored 18 points in 28 minutes in that game, and he had five points and six rebounds in 14 minutes Friday. If Lou Williams plays, he would likely see a few more shots with Gallinari out as well.
Spurs
This should be a good spot for DeMar DeRozan , though I would probably like him better if Lou Williams plays. Even so, DeRozan is averaging 24.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists in three games against the Clippers this season. He is also averaging 29.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists in two games with 3+ days of rest.
As for his teammates, LaMarcus Aldridge should be a strong play against the team that has allowed more fantasy points than any other to opposing power forwards. Aldridge is averaging 25.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks against the Clippers this season. Rudy Gay is averaging 30.4 fppg on DraftKings against the Clippers while Derrick White has scored at least 27 fantasy points on DraftKings in four of his last five games.
Phoenix Suns @ Minnesota Timberwolves
Total: 228.5
MIN -12
Suns
Deandre Ayton and Richaun Holmes are both out, so whoever starts at center for Phoenix is be a punt play. That being said, I don’t know how excited you can get about Dragan Bender , Ryan Anderson or Quincy Acy .
With Robert Covington out, who do the Timberwolves have to defend Devin Booker ? I’ll hang up and wait for your answer. Booker is cheap on FanDuel and coming off a 32-point, 11-assist game Saturday at Charlotte. In his only game against Minnesota this season, Booker had 28 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. I will probably end up playing Booker in GPP lineups and DeMar DeRozan for cash, but you could talk me into Booker for cash.
With Ayton out, you have to figure T.J. Warren, Josh Jackson and Kelly Oubre Jr. get more shots. It also doesn’t hurt that the Timberwolves have allowed the third most fantasy points to opposing power forwards this season. Josh Jackson is probably better for tournaments than cash, but Kelly Oubre Jr. feels safe after playing 30 minutes in four of his last five games.
Timberwolves
I’m probably playing Karl-Anthony Towns no matter who plays center for Phoenix, though I would certainly like Towns better if Richaun Holmes sits. Tyus Jones will sit, and while Jerryd Bayless will be involved, Derrick Rose and Jeff Teague should have the ball in their hands even more than normal. No team has allowed more fantasy points to opposing point guards than the Suns this season, so both Rose and Teague are strong DFS plays. Of the two, I prefer Rose, but I could see playing them both in the same lineup.