Point Guard
Top Tier: Steph Curry- Point guard is definitely a spend up spot for me on this loaded ten game slate, and it starts with Steph Curry despite him reaching over $10,000 on DraftKings. He remains $9,900 on FanDuel, and is in the clear game of the night against the Bucks with a massive 239 O/U. It pains me that I was one game early on the Curry explosion, but I’m not concerned with the Bucks defense in a game with a total like this. Curry does take a slight hit for me if Draymond ends up playing, but for now I’m going with him as the top overall option at this position.
Mid Tier: Ben Simmons- I’m really upset about Embiid missing this game, yes it’s fun to watch him destroy Drummond, but I was already on Ben Simmons in this spot and now extra ownership is going to be pushed onto him, that otherwise wouldn’t have been there. Simmons is way, way too cheap on DraftKings at under $9,000…and even $9,100 on FanDuel is mightly enticing. The Pistons are one of the worst teams in terms of rim protection this season, allowing a top-three FG% at the rim and we know that will factor in heavily to Simmons’ success.
Low Tier: Jamal Murray- I was on Murray big-time in his last game, and I think we can go right back to the well tonight against Charlotte. This game features just a one point spread, and we saw how dominant Murray can be with Gary Harris out of the lineup. The usage still sits at over 26% with Harris out this season, and Murray’s price barely moved.
Shooting Guard
Top Tier: DeMar Derozan- The Spurs/Lakers are in the midst of a home and home series, this installment taking place in San Antonio and it comes with the Spurs NOT on a back-to-back. Derozan has put up totals of 48, 62 and 66 in this matchup and I am 100% comfortable going right back to him tonight, especially with Jrue Holiday in a “tough” matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Mid Tier: Khris Middleton- Given the 239 O/U in this game, large amounts of focus will be placed on the players in cash games and I am even comfortable recommending Middleton. He should be back tonight after being late scratched in the Bucks last game due to personal reasons, and he finds himself at just $6,700 on DraftKings.
Low Tier: Alec Burks- Burks is someone I’ve been riding with since he got to Cleveland, and he still has yet to log under 20 minutes for the Cavaliers. I’m willing to write off the 12 point dud against the Warriors, and at his price it won’t matter because he can be in consideration for the low score drop on FanDuel regardless.
Small Forward
Top Tier: Giannis Antetokounmpo- As I’ve mentioned a few times, given this game atmosphere Giannis the top overall play on this slate for me…no questions asked. Giannis thrives in games like this, and there are no blowout concerns here as the Bucks are two point favorites at home. He had ripped off 50+ fantasy points in seven straight games before being forced into just 26 minutes against the Pistons in their last game, and I’m expecting a full-on Giannis game tonight.
Mid Tier: Rudy Gay- I really don’t want to play Rudy Gay, but at his price on FanDuel he is forced into consideration given that you have to roster two small forwards. He should be locked into 30+ minutes tonight given the one point spread in San Antonio, and you can’t argue the potential of him hitting value should the minutes be there.
Low Tier: Stanley Johnson- I do expect Stanley Johnson to gather some decent ownership as a value play tonight, Reggie Bullock and Ish Smith are out for the Pistons again tonight and Johnson logged 27 minutes in this situation in the Pistons last game. Pairing Johnson with Giannis is a very optimal route on FanDuel for cash games.
Power Forward
Top Tier: Anthony Davis- AD sets up in a fantastic GPP spot tonight against the Memphis Grizzlies. I’m really not overly concerned with the Grizzlies defense, though Jaren Jackson looks like a star in the making, it more comes down to the pace of the game and with Giannis being cheaper, he is the better play tonight. I definitely still want tournament exposure to him, and he will probably be on my main GPP team.
Mid Tier: Blake Griffin- Griffin has absolutely smashed in both meetings with the 76ers so far this season, going over 60 fantasy points in each contest. The 76ers defense definitely improved against big men once Dario Saric was shipped off, but now neither Blake or Drummond will have to deal with Embiid down low. Griffin makes more sense for cash games tonight than AD, but I’m still prioritizing Giannis and probably Ben Simmons as well.
Low Tier: Bam Adebayo- This is probably the value lock of the slate for me, with Hassan Whiteside out for personal reasons. The matchup against the Suns is incredible, but even without the solid matchup he was already a lock given that he is priced for his normal role. He played over 27 minutes in the one game without Whiteside this season, and I will probably just end up with 100% bam bam tonight.
Center
Top Tier: Nikola Jokic- I was all over Joker in his last game against the Magic, and he went out and posted a solid 43 fantasy point game on the back of a 12-8-13 line. Nobody in this Charlotte frontcourt will be able to stop Jokic tonight, and he still is seeing a +8% usage increase with Gary Harris off the floor this season. I LOVE him in GPPs again, and he will be low owned.
Mid Tier: Andre Drummond- Drummond will definitely be the focus of the center position in my opinion with Embiid ruled out. He’s coming off back-to-back down games, which means his price is down as well, and he should be able to have his way with Mike Muscala on the glass. Drummond probably makes more sense for cash games, but I have him slightly behind Jokic overall. Pairing them together on DraftKings would be a great tournament play.
Low Tier: Mike Muscala- Speaking of Mike Muscala, he is the top overall value play at center tonight and he is increasingly valuable on DK where you can roster two centers. He is going be forced into heavy minutes against a big Pistons team and it would be hard for him to hurt you at his price.
Written by Ben Hossler (Follow @BenHossler on Twitter)
