Daily Fantasy Basketball is back, which means each day XN Sports will have a column detailing advised plays and lineups for the remainder of the NBA season. For those familiar with DraftKings, their daily fantasy basketball is formatted differently this season. There is no multi-position eligibility, which makes it a bit harder to set your lineup.
For those unfamiliar with DraftKings, you are given $50,000 in cap space to select a point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward, center, a guard, a forward, and a utility player. There are no points deducted for missed shots, which changes the strategy from other sites. To read the full scoring, click here. Keep in mind that a double-double awards a bonus, which can be the difference between cashing in and winning nothing.
Generally, the goal for value is at five times a player’s salary. That brings a lineup to 250 fantasy points, which will cash on most days.
Give DraftKings a shot, as there will be a few freeroll opportunities each night in Daily Fantasy Basketball. Click here to play.
Rather than value plays and lineups tonight, XN will give you a cheat sheet with the best plays at each position.
For those who frequent this column: if you like this idea let us know. If you prefer the other format, let us know as well.
Each position will have a few guys that we like for each night, ranked from top to bottom. To find these players, tools like usage rate, defense vs. position, injuries, minutes, and more are used.
There is a lot of news that will affect lineups tonight, stay informed before tip!
Point Guard
Derrick Rose $6,400
Chris Paul $10,300
Jrue Holiday $7,800
John Wall $10,400
Cheap Plays: Norris Cole, MIA $3,400 and Jarrett Jack, BKN $4,200
Cole is the starter for the Heat, despite Mario Chalmers‘ performance with Cole out. At $3,400, it’s hard to pass on a starting point guard who is a lock to play at least 25 minutes a night, barring unforeseen circumstances. The Heat face the Nuggets, who have allowed the 11-most fantasy point to opposing point guards this season, and will be playing their third game in four days tonight.
Shooting Guard
Jimmy Butler $7,300
Tyreke Evans $7,400
Wesley Matthews $6,200
Arron Afflalo $5,500
Cheap Plays: J.J. Redick, LAC $4,300
Redick has been on fire of late, reaching value in each of the last five games. In addition, the Clippers face the Pacers tonight, who are allowing opponents to shoot 34.7 percent from beyond the arc, and are in the bottom half in terms of points allowed to shooting guards this season.
Small Forward
DeMarre Carroll $5,600
Nicholas Batum $6,900
Chandler Parsons $7,300
Cheap Plays: Marvin Williams, CHA $3,500 and Bojan Bogdanovic, BKN $4,400
Joe Johnson is out for the Nets, meaning Bogdanovic could get more run as the two guard in Brooklyn. At $4,400, he’d need 22 fantasy points to reach value, and he has eclipsed that mark last week in a 34-minute performance against the Spurs.
Power Forward
Pau Gasol $9,000
LaMarcus Aldridge $10,200
Taj Gibson $5,500
Cheap Plays: Robert Covington, PHI $4,300, Marreese Speights, GSW $4,100, and Matt Bonner, SA $3,000
Keep an eye on Andrew Bogut tonight, because if he is out, Speights becomes a must play at $4,100. Speights continues to be one of the most efficient players in the NBA, and when given big minutes he has been a steal in daily fantasy, as he had just under 40 fantasy points in his last two games with 24 or more minutes.
Center
DeAndre Jordan $7,600
Gorgui Dieng $7,100
Tyson Chandler $7,100
Cheap Plays: Jerome Jordan, BKN $3,500
Brook Lopez is OUT tonight, leaving the minutes at center to Jordan and Mason Plumlee. Coach Hollins has expressed his preference for Jordan, and at $3,500 he will be the value play at center tonight. The Nets face the Bulls tonight, who allow the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing centers this season. In addition, the Bulls will be without Joakim Noah tonight, which weakens their defense in the paint.
*Keep an eye on the inactives, as things in the NBA change at the last second. Good luck tonight.
