Point Guard
Jeremy Lin ($4500, 23.65 USG) – With only a 5 game slate, the value pickings are slim as opposed to last night. Lin won’t be getting the minutes (23.25) that we’d usually hope for when slotting players into our lineups but he’s been very efficient with the time he gets, being the first guard off the bench in CHA. You’re hoping for 22.5 DK points here. He’s yet to have a game under 21.3. I do think I’d prefer to pay up for PG tonight, likely trying to fit in both Westbrook and Lillard.
Shooting Guard
Alec Burks ($4600, 24.95 USG) – The SG position is a wasteland tonight. In my opinion, there’s a massive gap between Jimmy Butler and the next best option. But if you had me going anywhere else besides Jimmy, it would have to be Burks. Looking at the spread tonight, Utah are only 2.5 favorites. I have no idea why Vegas sees this game being so competitive. My gut tells me the Jazz run away with this game early giving some extra minutes to the bench. Burks has only had one bad game this season but has averaged 27.6 DK points in all others. You’re only looking for him to reach 23 tonight which is very likely in a friendly matchup against DEN.
Small Forward
Doug McDermott ($3300, 18.91 USG) – I usually don’t like putting too much stock into players minutes during blowouts, but you can’t ignore the 30 that McDermott received in the Bulls’ lopsided loss to the Hornets on Tuesday. The over/under total for tonight’s game against the Thunder is by far the highest of the night at 211. You’re going to want some exposure to this one. Rose has been playing awful with his blurred vision, the big man rotation is a game of roulette and Butler can’t do it all by himself. I could easily envision a scenario where McDermott gets near 20 min tonight and if his shot is on, then you’re golden.
Power Forward
Brandan Wright ($3000, 15.88 USG) – As of now, Marc Gasol is a game-time decision with a neck strain. If Gasol sits, Wright is the chalk play at PF tonight. It’s the biggest story of the night to monitor. When Wright gets his minutes (15 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 3.4 BPG per 36), he gets you fantasy points. He doesn’t score much but his peripherals are everywhere else. I always love to target Portland’s opposing center. Keep a close eye on this moving closer to game time.
Center
Mason Plumlee ($4900, 19.41 USG) – I was already going to mention Mason before Marc Gasol was questionable but if Gasol sits, Plumlee becomes chalk as Wright. In a brutal matchup against the Jazz big men last night, Plumlee exploded for 42 DK points (12 points, 16 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks and 2 steals). Meyers Leonard is doubtful for tonight, meaning the cluster of minutes usually divided between the Blazers big men won’t be as hard to predict. This is one of my favorite value plays of the night with or without Gasol starting.
