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 December 3rd:
Value Plays
Guard
Michael Carter-Williams, Philadelphia 76ers $8,000
A value guard at $8,000?! Yes, that is exactly what MCW is tonight. With Tony Wroten out, Carter-Williams has carried the Sixers offense, and it has rewarded those who play him. In the last two games, MCW is averaging 21 points, 11.5 assists, and 10.5 rebounds. His usage rate is an absurd 30.5 without Wroten on the floor, which gives him a high chance to reach value of 40 fantasy points regardless of matchup. The Sixers face the Timberwolves tonight, which should be a high-scoring contest as Vegas has set the over/under at 213.
Other values at guard: Avery Bradley, BOS $4,100 and J.J. Redick, LAC $4,100
Forward
Josh McRoberts, Miami Heat $3,300
McRoberts’ fantasy value is starting to come back, as it was expected to with LeBron leaving Miami. At his price of $3,300, value can be reached at anything over 16.5 fantasy points. The Heat face the Hawks tonight, who have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing power forwards this season. In addition, the Hawks are allowing opponents to shoot over 36 percent from beyond the arc, which is 22nd in the NBA so McBob could drop a few treys to help his value. He has played over 20 minutes in each of his last three games including 49 in his last two.
Other values at forward: K.J. McDaniels, PHI $5,600 and James Johnson, TOR $3,800
Center
Kyle O’Quinn, Orlando Magic $3,300
O’Quinn had an excellent performance last night as the starter in place of injured Nikola Vucevic (back spasms), posting 21 points and 11 rebounds en route to a 42.25 fantasy point performance on DraftKings. All reports indicate that Vucevic will play tonight, but O’Quinn is still a value play at just $3,300. The Magic face the Clippers, who rank in the bottom third of the NBA in rebound percentage, and they have allowed the 13th-most fantasy points to opposing centers this season. If Vucevic doesn’t play, O’Quinn is a must-play, but even if he comes off the bench get him into your lineups as a value center.
Other values at center: Tyler Zeller, BOS $3,700
Lineup #1
PG – Kyle Lowry $8,700
SG – Kobe Bryant $9,400
SF – James Johnson $3,800
PF – Josh McRoberts $3,300
C – Kyle O’Quinn $3,300
G – Michael Carter-Williams $8,000
F – Tobias Harris $6,800
UTIL – Joakim Noah $6,700
Lineup #2
PG – Michael Carter-Williams $8,000
SG – Nick Young $4,400
SF – K.J. McDaniels $5,600
PF – Josh McRoberts $3,300
C – Kyle O’Quinn $3,300
G – John Wall $10,200
F – Jabari Parker $5,300
UTIL – Chris Paul $9,900
Lineup #3
PG – Michael Carter-Williams $8,000
SG – Nick Young $4,400
SF – Tobias Harris $6,800
PF – Pau Gasol $8,200
C – Kyle O’Quinn $3,300
G – Brandon Knight $7,000
F – Jabari Parker $5,300
UTIL – Dwyane Wade $7,000
*Keep an eye on the inactives, as things in the NBA change at the last second. Good luck tonight.
