Victiv Daily Fantasy Basketball: Lineup for February 4

Giannis

XN Sports is introducing a new daily fantasy site called Victiv, which has one of the best features in all of daily fantasy, in addition to a sleek design, and a few ways to play daily fantasy basketball.

Victiv has what is called a substitution position, which you can learn more about on the site. Essentially, it’s one extra position for under $5,000 (does not affect your salary cap) where you can select a bench player. This player will come in handy, as it replaces anyone in your lineup that scores less than the substitute. Think of it as a free mulligan, and an option to take a risk on a player.

For example, if you like a specific player one night but he is a game-time decision, put him into your lineups. The substitute can be his backup, or another player that you think could have an excellent night, and if your player does not play, no worries. In addition, this adds another level of strategy. On Victiv, the minimum price for a player is a lotlower than on other sites. You can afford to take risks with these cheap players, because if this player does not have an excellent game, your substitute can pick up the slack. Be sure to take advantage of this, and try Victiv today.

After you have signed up, be sure to take on Victron. This is Victiv’s computer, and if you beat it, you can win cash prizes. This is yet another way to play daily fantasy basketball.

On Victiv, you are given $50,000 in cap space to play a lineup composed of two guards, three forwards, a center, and two flex positions. As aforementioned, the substitute does not count against your cap. The scoring is as follows (taken directly from Victiv’s website):

– Point +1

– Rebound +1.25

– Assist +1.25

– Steal +2

– Block +2

– Turnover -0.5

How can we beat Victron, other players and win real money? First, sign up for Victiv here.

Second, take a look at XN Sports’ suggested plays and lineup for Victiv for tonight’s slate:

Point Guard

Stephen Curry ($11,100) vs DAL- Curry scored 46 fantasy points in less than 30 minutes last night, averaging around 1.6 fantasy points per minute, an elite number. Dallas should be able to keep this game relatively close, meaning Curry should play more than 29 minutes. In a high-scoring game that features the number-one and twelve teams in terms of pace, Curry could very easily finish the night as the highest-scoring player.

JJ Barea will be playing point guard for Dallas, a smaller guard who won’t stand a chance against Curry. Dallas is allowing 15.2 fastbreak points per game on the year, the third-most in basketball, so expect Golden State to get out and run a lot in this contest. It also helps Curry’s case that 25.5 percent of total points allowed by the Mavericks this season have come from beyond the arc, good for the fifth-highest rate in the NBA. Curry has scored at least 40 fantasy points in each of his last five games, and he should do it again tonight.

Note: Barea himself makes for a good punt play at PG tonight. Rajon Rondo won’t play, while Devin Harris is questionable with an ankle injury. Barea played 29 minutes on Monday night, posting 10 points, four rebounds, and eight assists. 

Mario Chalmers ($5,900) @ MIN- Chalmers hasn’t been getting it done lately, totaling less than 45 fantasy points over his last three games combined. However, I’m willing to roll with him in tournaments tonight, especially since Dwyane Wade is still sidelined with injury. Chalmers is going to play around 30 minutes, at the least, and the matchup is too good to ignore. Minnesota ranks dead last in both defensive efficiency, as well as points per game allowed. A less-than-100 percent Ricky Rubio will be guarding Chalmers for a bit tonight, and Minnesota already coughs up nearly 44 fantasy points per game to opposing point guards, the third-most in basketball to this point.

Note: Kevin Durant is listed as doubtful for tonight’s game against the Pelicans. Fire up Russell Westbrook and his near 50 usage rate with Durant off the floor.

Shooting Guard

Giannis Antetokounmpo ($6,900) vs LAL- Not only is Giannis’ full name my favorite to say in all of sports, but he’s quickly becoming one of my favorite players in the league. With tons of injuries in Milwaukee, Giannis is playing heavy minutes for the Bucks, logging at least 33 minutes in six straight contests. An extremely versatile player, Giannis can play all five positions on the floor, which bodes well for his awesome matchup against another banged up team in the Lakers. Los Angeles is allowing a healthy 23.7 assists per game (fourth-most), 34.1 defensive rebounds per game (third-most) and the 12th-most fantasy points per game to shooting guards on the season. The Lakers are one of the worst defenses in the league, and Wayne Ellington (6-foot-4, 200 lbs) is a nice matchup for Giannis (6-foot-11, 217 lbs).

Tyreke Evans ($8,700) vs OKC- Evans has been absolutely balling as of late, averaging 16.2 points, 10 assists, 4.6 rebounds, and a steal per game over his last five outings. During that span, his assist totals have been 12, 12, 2, 12, 12, playing terrific basketball serving as the Pelicans point guard with Jrue Holiday hurt. I love his matchup with the Thunder and Westbrook, who isn’t the greatest defender in the world. OKC is allowing a strong 42.57 fantasy points per game to opposing point guards this season, good for the seventh-most in the league. They are also notching just under nine assists per game against the Thunder, and Evans is a lock for at least 35 minutes in this one. Evans’ usage rate with Holiday off the court is climbing towards 30, and I think this game is pretty high-scoring. Triple-double watch for Tyreke tonight, folks.

Small Forward

So Kevin Durant is doubtful, LeBron James and the Cavs don’t play tonight, so yeah, you can almost certainly go ahead and punt the small forward position this evening. However, there are some viable options, still.

Wilson Chandler ($6,200) @ BOS- Chandler is never necessarily my favorite option, but he plays pretty heavy minutes for the Nuggets, and again, small forward is so bad on most nights. Over his last five games, Chandler is posting a serviceable 13.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and two assists per game for Denver. Meanwhile, the Celtics just tweaked their starting lineup, and Evan Turner is the new starting small forward, a nice matchup for Chandler. This game features two very bad defenses and one of the top-three overall paces of the evening. Chandler has some nice appeal tonight.

Power Forward

Jared Sullinger ($7,000) vs DEN- On the other side of the ball, Sullinger tends to be overlooked on many nights, but that might change tonight. Sully is coming off a nice outing, scoring 22 points while adding nine rebounds and six assists, and now gets an elite matchup with the Nuggets’ weak interior defense. Power forwards are accumulating the third-most fantasy points per game against Denver this season, while opposing centers are scoring the sixth-most points, so either position Sullinger plays tonight, the matchup is good. Only the 76ers are allowing more total rebounds per game than Denver (54.4) this season, and this unit just allowed the 76ers to score 105 points and haul in 50 total rebounds. Sullinger played 36 minutes last night, a nice sight for fantasy owners.

Pau Gasol ($10,900) @ HOU- Gasol has one of the safest floors in all of fantasy, averaging nearly 40 fantasy points per game on the season. He’s been a beast for the Bulls in his inaugural season, averaging 18.2 points, 12 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game, while ranking first in all of basketball in double-doubles with 30. He’s double-doubled in nine straight games, and I like him to make it 10 tonight against a banged up Houston frontcourt. The Rockets rank 23rd in total rebounds allowed per game, and allow the opposition to block 5.6 shots per game, good for the sixth-most in the league. Chicago should see an uptick in pace against the fast Rockets, and I think Pau makes a nice pivot if you don’t want to spend up for Anthony Davis.

Center

Hassan Whiteside ($9,400) @ MIN- Whiteside’s price continues to rise, while I continue to not care. He’s simply putting up numbers, posting at least 32 fantasy points in five straight games. During that span, he’s averaging 14.4 rebounds and 4.2 blocks, to go along with 15.4 points. That’s just stupid. His usage will keep rising as Miami relies on him more and more, and the matchup with Minnesota is a favorable one, as only the 76ers and Magic are coughing up more fantasy points per game to opposing centers on the season. Minnesota is also being blocked at a higher rate than all but two teams this season.

Lineup:

G- JJ Barea

G- Tyreke Evans

F- Ed Davis

F-Kent Bazemore

F-Jared Sullinger

C-John Henson

FX-John Wall

FX-Marcus Smart

author avatar
Adam Pfeifer
Adam Pfeifer is a fantasy sports writer for ProjectRoto and XN Sports. He covers the NFL, NBA and MLB. You can follow him on Twitter @aPfeiferRS.