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 5th:
Value Plays
Guard
C.J. Watson, Indiana Pacers $3,700
Watson has added a much-needed boost to the Pacers’ offense since his return, and he can add a boost to your lineups tonight as a value guard. At just $3,700, value can be attained with 18.5 fantasy points. Watson is averaging 19.4 in the four games since his return, and has eclipsed six times his salary three times, and has reached value in each game. This is the highest price for Watson so far, but he is slated to play over 20 minutes against the Kings, who have allowed close to a fantasy points per minute to opposing point guards this season.
Other values at guard: Rasual Butler, WAS $3,700 and Norris Cole, MIA $3,000 (if he plays)
Forward
Quincy Acy, New York Knicks $3,000
Acy was on fire last night, totaling 15 points and six rebounds en route to a 27.5 fantasy point night, good for nine times his salary. He played 31 minutes, which is the most he has had in the last four games, but with his effort last night it will be hard for head coach Derek Fisher to sit him. The Knicks face the Hornets tonight, who are 24th in rebounding and have given up over a fantasy point per minute to opposing power forwards this season.
Other values at forward: Shawne Williams, MIA $3,400 (if Deng is out) and Robert Covington, PHI $3,700 and Reggie Evans, SAC $4,200
Center
Kyle O’Quinn, Orlando Magic $3,600
Just thinking about the other night makes daily fantasy player’s blood boil, as O’Quinn was called for a flagrant two on Blake Griffin, ending the Magic’s center’s night. But I digress, as tonight is another night. If Nikola Vucevic is out again tonight, O’Quinn is a must-start against the Jazz. But even if Vucevic plays, O’Quinn should still have an opportunity to reach 18 fantasy points, which is his projected value. The Jazz allow the third-most fantasy points to opposing power forwards this year (where O’Quinn would play with Vucevic on the floor) but if Vucevic is out, the Jazz allow the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing centers. This means O’Quinn would have a “bad” matchup, but with Vucevic out, it wouldn’t matter. O’Quinn is in one of those situations at his price, that he is a suggested play either way. Let’s hope he doesn’t get ejected tonight.
Other values at center: Zaza Pachulia, MIL $3,000
Lineup #1
PG – Rajon Rondo $7,800
SG – Rasual Butler $3,700
SF – Kostas Papanikolaou $4,300
PF – Carlos Boozer $5,900
C – Chris Bosh $8,600
G – Greivis Vasquez $4,600
F – Amar’e Stoudemire $5,600
UTIL – Kobe Bryant $9,400
Lineup #2
PG – Kyle Lowry $9,600
SG – Kyle Korver $5,600
SF – Tobias Harris $6,800
PF – Reggie Evans $4,200
C – Jordan Hill $6,500
G – Rajon Rondo $7,800
F – Amir Johnson $5,000
UTIL – O.J. Mayo $4,200
Lineup #3
PG – Kyle Lowry $9,600
SG – Rasual Butler $3,700
SF – K.J. McDaniels $5,700
PF – Carlos Boozer $5,900
C – Tyson Chandler $6,800
G – Rajon Rondo $7,800
F – Tobias Harris $6,800
UTIL – C.J. Watson $3,700
*Keep an eye on the inactives, as things in the NBA change at the last second. Good luck tonight.
