Point Guard
Ramon Sessions (DK $4600, FD $4200, 24.3 USG w/ Wall out)
The Wizards have been eliminated from playoff contention, meaning we’ve likely seen the last of John Wall for the remainder of the season. Remember, there’s going to be lots of this going on over the next 3 days so if you don’t have access to a phone or computer later into the night, you’re better of avoiding NBA DFS until the playoffs. We’ve seen the upside Sessions can bring to the table when starting, scoring over 40 DKPTS in 2 of the 3 starts for Wall (one of those being against this same Nets team 5 days ago for 43.3 DKPTS). There’s no need to talk about the matchup here. We know that the Nets are a lovely team to target point guards against, giving up the 4th most DKPTS to opposing PG’s over their last 3 weeks. At this point, guys like Frazier and even Collison are really close to pricing themselves out of the “value” range so Sessions is my preferred play of the cheaper options. Also, with Archie Goodwin listed as doubtful, Ronnie Price should play near 35 minutes against the Kings in my favorite game of the night to target. It’s Booker who’s essentially playing point guard currently for the Suns (Price’s USG% is only 14.4 without Knight and Goodwin) but if you’re going to get that many minutes in a game that features a 220 Over/Under, I’m interested.
Update: Rondo and Collison have been ruled out along with Boogie, making Curry an elite value play against the Suns.
Shooting Guard
Justin Holiday (DK $3100, FD $3700, 15.9 USG)
Like the Wizards, the Bulls were eliminated from the playoffs last night. As expected, Chicago has already shut down Rose, Gasol, Taj and Moore for the remainder of the season. I have no idea why but Jimmy Butler is planning on playing. Part of me wants to believe that management steps in and tells him there’s no reason to and if that doesn’t work, I see no reason he’ll play a bunch of minutes. With that being said, I really like Holiday as a sneaky play in an extremely favorable matchup against the Pelicans. I’m guessing he plays 30+ minutes playing PG and backup SG (he’s seen at least 22 minutes with everyone healthy in 4 of his last 5 games). He’s only attempted double-digit field goal attempts in 3 games as a Bull but with all this offense now missing, I can see him getting a few extra shots. There’s obviously tons of value on this slate so this is definitely not recommended for cash, but I do like it for GPP’s. We’re likely all going to be on the same value plays tonight so Holiday presents some separation from the field.
Small Forward
Jordan Hamilton (DK $4500, FD $4500, 21.1 USG)
Personally, I won’t be going this cheap with all the value elsewhere but I don’t mind Hamilton. Worth noting with rostering anyone on the Pelicans: Do not trust their starting lineups they release before lock time. They’ve changed them on us twice over their last 4 games after lock so if you’re going to play someone on this team, play them cause you believe the minutes will be there and you like the matchup. I don’t think the minutes are as secure as they once were about a week ago but he’ll see see near 25 against a depleted Bulls team with nothing to play for. Chicago has struggled defending the SF position all year long, giving up the 6th most DKPTS (3rd most real life points) so him and the more expensive Babbitt are both in play but with the recent news out of SAC, I’m going to have to take a hard look at Rudy Gay or even lesser priced options like Mirza Teletovic and P.J. Tucker.
Power Forward
Trey Lyles (DK $3400, FD $3600, 17.8 USG)
This is the position you’re going to need to keep a close eye on tonight. There are a few quality plays down here but if Derrick Favors (questionable) sits, Lyles might be my favorite, likely getting the start in a very important game for the Jazz, in a very nice matchup against the Mavs (Now that’s a helluva run on sentence). There are about 4 or 5 guys here I really like under 4K though, that’s the problem. Portis could finally be unleashed with the Bulls having nothing to play for for the first time all year. Tyson Chandler has been ruled out already, meaning Leuer could return to the starting lineup against the Kings. Thomas Robinson is going to be out tonight, making Chris McCullough an interesting but not sexy play. And lastly, Nemanja Bjelica has had really nice games over his last 2 and now gets to face HOU. The way I’m ranking them if all the dominoes fall like we’d hope 1) Lyles 2) Leuer 3) Portis 4) Bjelica 5) McCullough
Center
Alexis Ajinca (DK $4500, FD $4900, 20.4 USG)
God, this is such a great GPP play. Ajinca went HAM against the Lakers on Friday (56.3 DKPTS) making him a very popular play the following night against Phoenix. He disappointed everyone finishing with only 11 DKPTS in 23 minutes, leaving early with a shoulder injury. People are going to still have that taste in their mouths and be reluctant to use him tonight against this weak interior front court the Bulls are throwing out there. The injury wasn’t considered to be serious (wasn’t even on the injury report) so he should play tonight. We’ve done it all year, bigs against the Bulls. It always pays off. Since Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson have been out, Ajinca leads this team in USG at 27.0%. The only thing tilting about him is the minutes he plays because Gentry chooses to keep him under 30 min more often than not. In the 3 games he’s played at least 30 minutes, he’s averaging 40.58 DKPTS highlighted by that game against the Lakers. But in the slight chance he sees real playing time tonight and against this Bulls team after what he did in that Phoenix game, this is an elite GPP play.
Featured Image Credit: By photo taken by flickr user ReneS (flickr) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
