Poing Guard
Beno Udrih (DK $4000, FD $3800, 14.3 USG) – If you’re playing on FanDuel, I’d prefer options like Archie Goodwin (see below) or Donald Sloan but on DK, Udrih is the only guy at PG I’d consider under 5K. Honestly, PG is a position I’d recommend paying up for tonight with guys like Dame and Ish in great matchups but some would prefer to save $$ here. If you read yesterday’s column, you’re probably wondering why I’m going back to the Udrih well after such a disappointing performance against CHI last night. Well personally, I’m not. He’s just the only guy I’d consider if I was to punt the position because A) He’s likely to be starting tonight (Dragic Questionable) B) He’s only $4000 C) He’ll be facing a Nets team that gives up the 4th most fantasy points to PG’s. The logic is there so I get why you’d choose this route and quite honestly, he makes for a great GPP play after last night’s dud (nobody will be on him) but for cash, the move would be to save at center tonight and spend up on PG’s.
Shooting Guard
Archie Goodwin (DK $4500, FD $4100, 22.2 USG) – Goodwin has been the most popular value play over his last two games. He’s been starting at PG for and injured Brandon Knight and playing about 40 minutes due to all the injuries the Suns are dealing with. He’ll be the chalk play on DK where he’s SG eligible and rightfully so. The matchup against the Sixers is why the NBA needs Daily Fantasy. They know that without DFS, there would literally be no interest in this game but if you’ve played DFS as long as I have, you’ll know that these games are everything you’re looking for in matchups. You have 2 of the top 5 teams in PACE and 2 of the worst teams in defense. It’s a match made in heaven so anytime you can roster a PG who’s going to play about 40 min (averages .85 FPPM in starts) in a game like this and priced so cheap, you just lock and load.
Note: Goodwin is PG eligible on FD. Devin Booker is the value play over there for only $4500
Small Forward
Aaron Gordon (DK $4800, FD $4300, 16.6 USG) – We finally got what we all wanted when Gordon was inserted into the starting lineup for Channing Frye but with Skiles and ORL, that doesn’t seem to mean much. Gordon has only played 24 minutes in the two starts. He has all the talent in the world but with playing time being so insecure, I’d rather spend up a little bit to roster guys like Tucker, Casspi, Covington, Parsons or Harris. On FD, Tucker is only $4500 and playing all the minutes he can handle against Philly so I’d look there but on DK, Gordon is the only guy that I’m interested in under the 5K range. He’s still averaging close to a fantasy point per minute (.96) and has a superb matchup against a Bucks team that struggles to defend the power forward position (he’s PF eligible on FD, where he will be playing). The Bucks give up the 4th most fantasy points to PF and have the worst defensive rebounding rating in the league. It’s a matchup that should allow Gordon to wreak havoc on the boards, as he owns a 19.7 DRB%. So yeah, the hope is that he gets minutes near the 30’s because if he does, he’s a lock for a productive fantasy night.
Power Forward
Markieff Morris (DK $4900, FD $4600, 26.1 USG) – Markieff has been upgraded to probable for tonight’s game against Philly after sitting out his previous two with a shoulder injury. I believe the Suns will still be starting both Alex Len and Tyson Chandler tonight but Morris was getting some run in the 3 games before getting hurt, averaging 27.66 minutes. In those 3 games, he was sporting a 27.6 USG% and getting 1.09 fantasy points per min. If he’s getting those kind of minutes in this matchup, that adds up to 30.14 fantasy points. Obviously a very solid return on a player priced so cheaply. I’d prefer it if he was starting, but I don’t think Alex Len matches up too well against Nerlens Noel. I can easily see a scenario where Hornacek pulls Len out early and sees what Morris can do.
Center
Salah Mejri (DK $3500, FD $3900, 14.9 USG) – Man, these are the times that I really can’t stand FD. How can they still be listing Boogie at center? The reason I bring that up is because I don’t see how you can fade Boogie at this point with the way he’s been playing. But I also don’t see how you fade someone like Salah Mejri against the Lakers tonight being priced near min salary. Zaza Pachulia is listed as doubtful and Mejri started in his place on Sunday against the Rockets (Mejri is listed as the probable starter tonight). In 29 minutes against the Rockets, he recorded a double-double with 3 blocks adding up to 29.8 DKPTS/26.2 FDPTS. Now he gets to face the Lakers, a team that we always love rostering centers against (gives up the most fantasy points to centers). He’s easily my favorite value play of the night and likely to be up there with Archie Goodwin as the 2 highest owned players of the night. Fade at your own risk … unless you’re playing on FD and rostering Boogie.
Featured Image Credit: By photo taken by flickr user ReneS (flickr) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
