Daily Fantasy Basketball is back, which means each day XN Sports will have a column detailing advised plays and lineups for the remainder of the NBA season. For those familiar with DraftKings, their daily fantasy basketball is formatted differently this season. There is no multi-position eligibility, which makes it a bit harder to set your lineup.
For those unfamiliar with DraftKings, you are given $50,000 in cap space to select a point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward, center, a guard, a forward, and a utility player. There are no points deducted for missed shots, which changes the strategy from other sites. To read the full scoring, click here. Keep in mind that a double-double awards a bonus, which can be the difference between cashing in and winning nothing.
Generally, the goal for value is at five times a player’s salary. That brings a lineup to 250 fantasy points, which will cash on most days.
Give DraftKings a shot, as there will be a few freeroll opportunities each night in Daily Fantasy Basketball. Click here to play.
Without further ado, the value plays and lineups for November 24th:
Value Plays
Guard
Jose Calderon, Point Guard, New York Knicks $3,000
At the minimum, Calderon is almost impossible to fade at his price. He is slated to start at point guard again for the Knicks tonight, and will see the majority of the minutes at the point. Last game, Calderon played 21 minutes against the Sixers, shot 1-of-6 from the field, and still reached value of over five times salary. Tonight, the Knicks will face the Rockets who are among the best in the NBA in terms of defense, but keep in mind that at Calderon’s price, he only has to reach 15 fantasy points. In a triangle offense, that’s a bet to take.
Other values at guard: Elfrid Payton, ORL $3,400 and Gary Neal, CHA $3,000
Forward
Nikola Mirotic, Power Forward, Chicago Bulls $4,300
Mirotic is coming off the best game of his NBA career, scoring 24 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in 34 minutes against the Trail Blazers. His price rose, but with Taj Gibson set to miss tonight’s game, Mirotic will be the Bulls’ top option off the bench. In the event that Pau Gasol is out, Mirotic would then become a must-start, but even with Pau in (he is probable) he is a value. At his price, value would be reached at anything over 21.5 fantasy points. The Bulls will face the Jazz tonight, who are allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing power forwards. The only thing preventing Mirotic from reaching value is foul trouble, which he has definitely had issues with (three or more in every game where he played double-digit minutes).
Other values at forward: Kostas Papanikolaou, HOU $3,600
Center
Alex Len, Phoenix Suns, $3,800
Len’s price is slowly, but steadily, increasing so he will not be a value play for long. But, he has played 15 minutes or more for five consecutive games and has eclipsed great value of seven times his salary three times in the last five games. Tonight, Len and the Suns will take on the Raptors, who are 26th in the NBA in rebounding, giving Len an excellent chance for a double-double. In addition, the Raptors are allowing the second-most fantasy points to opposing centers this season. If you choose to punt center, Len is your guy.
Other values at center: Rudy Gobert, UTAH $3,500
Lineup (GPP)
PG – Jose Calderon $3,000
SG – James Harden $10,300
SF – Kostas Papanikolaou $3,600
PF – Pau Gasol $7,300
C – Anderson Varejao $5,200
G – Elfrid Payton $3,400
F – Gordon Hayward $7,600
UTIL – Chris Paul $9,500
Lineup (Cash)
PG – Elfrid Payton $3,400
SG – Gary Neal $3,000
SF – Gordon Hayward $7,600
PF – Pau Gasol $7,300
C – Al Jefferson $7,900
G – Kyle Lowry $8,000
F – Blake Griffin $9,200
UTIL – Kostas Papanikolaou $3,600
*Keep an eye on the inactives, as things in the NBA change at the last second. Good luck tonight.
