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 lot lower 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 mentioned, 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
Assuming Kevin Durant (questionable) sits out again tonight, it’s going to be nearly impossible to fade Russell Westbrook, who is seeing a usage rate well over 40 with Durant off of the court. The other night when Russ faced the Pelicans, he went off, dropping a career-best 45 points, adding six rebounds and six assists.
Marcus Smart ($5,900) vs PHI-Â With Smart now the starting point guard in Boston, he’s been a fun player to roster in fantasy. Over his last three games, he’s logged 30, 37 and 41 minutes, averaging 6.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game during that span. Not out-of-this-world numbers, but still fantasy relevant, and Smart is suddenly developing a three-point shot, sinking 1.6 per game over his last five outings. Tonight’s game against Philadelphia is going to be one of the highest-paced games of the slate, featuring the number-three and six-ranked teams in terms of pace this season. The 76ers also allow the 7th-most fantasy points per game to opposing point guards, while allowing the third-most rebounds (6.18) and third-most assists, too (9.54). Smart is an aggressive defender, while Philly turns the ball over as much as anyone in basketball, surrendering a league-leading 10.3 steals per game. Smart’s price hasn’t gone up much, either.
Chris Paul ($9,900) @ TOR-Â The Clippers were just absolutely blown out by the Cavs last night, so look for them to bounce back tonight in Toronto, and it all starts with CP3. Paul had a rough go last night, but the Raptors have been extremely generous to opposing point guards lately. Over their last seven games, Toronto is allowing an average of 22 points, 7.5 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game to opposing point guards. The Raptors are also surrendering a healthy 22.7 total assists per game, good for the 10th-most in the NBA.
Shooting Guard
James Harden ($10,700) vs MIL-Â It’s difficult to fade Harden in general, but especially when Dwight Howard remains sidelined due to injury. Harden is already 7th in the NBA in usage rate (30.5), but with Dwight off the floor, that number climbs up to 36.1. Now, Milwaukee is actually one of the better defenses in the league, but they do suffer in terms of guarding talented wing players, and, let’s be honest. It’s Harden, who is averaging around 37 minutes per game over his last fave outings, despite still nursing a banged up knee. Harden gets to the line more than anyone in the NBA, and the Bucks’ opponents draw an average of 19.9 personal fouls per game, the 9th-most in the league this year.
Victor Oladipo ($8,200) vs LAL-Â Oladipo was dealing with an Achilles injury, forcing him to miss one game. However, he followed it up by playing an awesome 34 and 42 minutes over his last two games, and appears to be perfectly fine logging plenty of minutes for the Magic. Tonight’s tilt between the Magic and Lakers is going to be heavily targeted, featuring two of the worst defenses in the league to this point. Orlando is allowing the 7th-most points per game (102.3) while the Lakers lowly defensive unit ranks second-to-last, surrendering a whopping 106.1 points per night. Los Angeles is also allowing the 10th-most fantasy points per game to opposing shooting guards, and I love the matchup for the thrashing Oladipo, who averages 9.5 drives per game this year, the 9th-most in all of basketball. Meanwhile, 42 percent of total points allowed by the Lakers this season have come from inside the paint, so look for Oladipo to get to the rim quite often in this contest.
Small Forward
Update: Kevin Durant expects to play this evening against the Pelicans, who will likely be throwing the likes of Dante Cunningham, Luke Babbit and John Salmons his way. Me likey.
Gordon Hayward ($8,800) @ PHO-Â Hayward has been playing really well as of late, averaging 21 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.2 triples, one block and 1.4 steals per game over his last five contests. So, basically, he’s literally doing everything for fantasy hoops owners. He’s logging just under 37 minutes per game during that span, and I love his matchup tonight against the Suns, who are coughing up the third-most fantasy points per game to opposing small forwards this season. Earlier in the season, Hayward squared off against the Suns, going off for 24 points, 10 rebounds and three assists. Only the Warriors and Blazers allow more rebounds per game to the small forward position, and Hayward can grab plenty of boards, averaging five per game over the course of the season.
Power Forward
Greg Monroe ($9,000) vs DEN-Â I love targeting bigs against the Nuggets. I’m a firm believer in it. So, having said that, I’ll be doing it tonight with Monroe, who has accumulated at least nine rebounds in 10 straight games, including eight of those games where he’s hauled in double-digit boards. Denver’s interior defense is bad, and they allow tons of rebounds, surrendering 54.4 total rebounds per game this year, second-worst to only the 76ers. Along with his teammate Andre Drummond, Monroe sees plenty of rebounding chances per game, coming into this contest with 15.9 rebounding opportunities per game, good for the 12th-most in the league. Denver is really, really bad, allowing 104 points per game (5th-most), as well as ranking just 22nd in terms of defensive efficiency on the year. Meanwhile, opposing power forwards are posting the third-most fantasy points per game against the Nuggets this year, notching 21.6 real points and 11.9 rebounds per game.
Nerlens Noel ($7,400) @ BOS-Â Noel makes for an intriguing GPP play tonight, seeing as Monroe, Anthony Davis and others will be more popular options. But Nerlens has played well for the 76ers all year, quickly creeping up on 100 blocked shots on the season. He’s averaging 1.7 swatted shots per game over the course of the season. This is a game I’ll be targeting, and Noel intrigues me. In two games against the Celtics this season, Noel is averaging 14.5 points and eight rebounds, while shooting 63.6 percent from the field. Boston’s frontcourt is bad, allowing the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing power forwards, and the 1.63 blocked shots per game by power forwards ranks top-seven in the league. Opposing defenses are also averaging 5.5 blocked shots per game against the Celtics this year, good for the 8th-most in basketball. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Nerlens block close to five shots in this game, while Boston isn’t the greatest rebounding team in the world, either.
Center
Nikola Vucevic ($10,000) vs LAL-Â Vucevic is almost a lock for at least 20 and 10 on any given night, posting 12 double-doubles since the month of January alone. He ranks second in the league in that category with 30, only trailing Pau Gasol (31). Over his last five games, Vucevic is averaging 19.4 points, 12.2 rebounds and is shooting an awesome 92 percent from the free-throw line. Fire him up against this putrid Lakers defense that surrenders 54 rebounds per game, as well as 44.7 points per game from the paint. Vucevic ranks 11th in the entire NBA in rebound chances per game, and with the way he’s been playing lately, he should be in for a huge night.
Lineup
G-Marcus Smart
G-Jordan Clarkson
F-Jared Dudley
F-Joe Ingles
F-Jerami Grant
C-Tyler Zeller
FX-Greg Monroe
FX-Nikola Vucevic
