Point Guard
George Hill (DK $4800, FD $5500, 16.0 USG)
This is more of a DK play because $4800 is just too cheap for a starting point guard who’s actually kinda good and facing the Sixers. He’s surprisingly been cheaper this past week but even at this price, it’s time to jump on it. He just blew up for 42.3 DKPTS against OKC on Saturday with 20 points, 9 rebounds and 2 steals. Now against a Sixers team that’s given up the most fantasy points to point guards over their last 10 games and likely going to see close to 35 minutes, it’s my favorite kind of value. The kind that has everything going for it. Due to injury, Hill has seen Philly just twice over the last 2 years, with only one playing at least 30 min. In that game, he shot 8 for 16 and recorded 37.75 DKPTS.
Shooting Guard
Tim Hardaway Jr. (DK $3800, FD $4100, 15.3 USG)
Two games ago, Hardaway started for an injured Kent Bazemore, played 30 minutes against DEN and scored 38.8 DKPTS with 21 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Bazemore returned to the starting lineup a game later against Houston but Hardaway still saw 20 minutes and scored 30.3 DKPTS with 20 points (5-7 3PM). I don’t know if this kind of production can continue with his bench role but the way Coach Budenholzer is talking about him, you have to think he’ll get his opportunity
“He’s doing it with a defensive mindset,” Budenholzer added. “He’s coming out and doing the stuff he’s been doing all year since he got back into the rotation. There’s confidence on his part. There’s a confidence on our part that the offense would come. His focus is where it needs to be. His focus is on continuing to be great on the defensive end, and now I think he’s a little more natural, a little more comfortable. Hopefully you’re seeing that manifest itself now on the offensive end of the court.”
At this time of the year with the playoffs looming, teams are going to rest players more frequently and surprisingly, which is frustrating for DFS purposes. But this is beneficial for young guys who have promise and who teams believe in. If he’s going to see at least 20 minutes again vs the Wizards, I might be willing to roll the dice on him. Washington can not defend wings and you’re likely to get some really low ownership here. Despite back to back solid games, no one can really trust Hardaway yet because of the minutes split in ATL. By no means am I recommending him for cash.
Small Forward
Otto Porter (DK $4900, FD $4800, 16.6 USG)
Porter is slowly starting to come around again and based on his pricing, no one seems to be noticing. He’s now reached or exceeded value in 5 straight games, playing at least 30 minutes in all of them. He does it with a little bit of everything. For instance, he’s had 2 games with multiple steals and another 2 games with multiple blocks. Also averaging close to 5 rebounds and shooting over 60% from 3, I like him as long as he continues to see the minutes. With Alan Anderson missing shootaround this morning and looking doubtful, I see no reason to doubt the playing time.
Power Forward
Darrell Arthur (DK $4100, FD $3700, 15.8 USG)
Kenneth Faried has already been ruled out for tonight’s game against the Cavs so Arthur is looking like he’s going to draw his 3rd start in a row. With Faried and Gallinari out of games, Arthur averages .92 DKPTS per minute and over his last 2 starts filling in for Faried, he’s averaging 26.5 minutes, one of them was an outlier with only 18 minutes against ATL, in a game which he struggled. His last start against CHA maybe a better idea of what to expect when starting for Faried, playing 35 minutes and scoring 36 DKPTS. The matchup against CLE isn’t great but they might be without Kevin Love tonight meaning, he maybe matched up against the likes of Channing Frye (who also makes for an interesting punt). Either way, this is a situation where volume should trump matchup regardless.
Center
Tyson Chandler (DK $5000, FD $4700, 12.6 USG)
Maybe the least sexiest center to roster currently with how his partner Alex Len has looked at times but Chandler is the one that’s doing the damage as of late and is getting very little credit for it. This is a guy that’s recorded at least 35 DKPTS in 3 out of his last 4 games while Len has struggled. He played 30 minutes in all of those games and now faces a Memphis team that has given up the 5th most fantasy points to centers over their last 5 games. You can count on the rebounding being there with a couple blocks sprinkled in but if he can get you that double double bonus by scoring at least 10, then you’re set, given his price tag.
