The Locks
Today is a weirdly already chalky slate, so I’m going to identify what I think is the most logical cash game build route as of right now.
Ante Zizic- With Kevin Love out for rest, and both of Tristan Thompson/Larry Nance Jr missing as well, the Cavs have one man and one many only to throw at Joel Embiid…and his name is Ante Zizic. He’s extremely cheap on both sites, and I don’t see how he doesn’t play 28+ minutes tonight when the Cavs are going to need him to match up with Embiid for as long as he can. This makes the other center plays fantastic GPP plays, but for cash games I think we have to start with Zizic tonight.
Chicago Bulls- What a slate this is set to be if we are locking in Ante Zizic and some Bulls! Zach LaVine is doubtful tonight, which is going to bring the cheap guard plays like Kris Dunn and Ryan Arcidiacono to the forefront of ownership, as well as secondary plays like Lauri Markkanen and Otto Porter. This is a great matchup for them at home, against the Lakers in a game featuring a 225 O/U and just a one point spread, so it makes sense why we want to go here given their prices. I see no issues locking in two-four of these guys alongside Zizic and doing whatever you want with all of the salary you have left, and if we don’t get anymore value before lock that’s probably the route I will go. I think Dunn/Archie are absolute locks for me, and both of Porter and Markkanen are solid cash game options as well.
Giannis Antetokounmpo- Now that we have all of this value locked on, we have plenty of room to spend up and that starts with the Greek Freak for me. You can be a bit concerned with the 10 point spread, but you know I don’t attempt to predict blowouts and the Pelicans have been decebt at staying in games with teams better than them down the stretch of the season. Antetokounmpo has been the best player in fantasy basketball this season averaging over 1.7 fantasy points per minute, and with a slate like this packed with value it’s easy to jam in his floor and move on in a fast-paced game.
Jusuf Nurkic (DraftKings)- On DraftKings, I will most likely go with the double-center route tonight given Zizic and Nurkic’s respective prices. Nurk comes in appropriately priced at $9,000 on FanDuel…but just $7,100 on DraftKings! We have attacked the Clippers with big men all season and Nurk has topped 1.4 fantasy points per minute in every matchup with the Clippers so far this season. It’s just too cheap for him and his ceiling and I will be building around him in all formats on DK.
I will note, if Luka Doncic plays he is a cash game option for me as well on DraftKings at only $8,800.
Injuries to monitor– Minnesota (Towns/Wiggins), Mavericks (Luka), Los Angeles Lakers (Kuzma)
If Wiggins out- bump Teague
If Towns out- bump Gibson, Saric
If Luka out- bump Brunson
If Kuzma out- bump Wagner
UPDATE: Jeff Teague AND Derrick Rose are now questionable in addition to Towns/Wiggins…check Final Thoughts for an update should we have news before lock.
Written by Ben Hossler (Follow @BenHossler on Twitter)
