My Core
LeBron James- It’s no doubt that we should be looking to prioritize LeBron James in cash games tonight, who will be playing without Anthony Davis once again. The Lakers are also still without Rajon Rondo, and James sports a massive 39% usage rate and 1.71 fantasy point per minute total this season with them both off the floor. Even though the point per minute total isn’t as big as some other superstars, we can fully expect LeBron to dominate the offense for the Lakers even more so than usual. He comes in at just $10,400 compared to someone like James Harden, who is $12,400.
Kemba Walker- Walker replaced Ben Simmons in this spot once Jayson Tatum was ruled out. He gets the biggest bump on the Celtics with Tatum off the floor — a 26.9% usage rate and 1.14 fantasy points per bumps to a 31.9% usage rate and 1.37 points per minute. Walker has averaged 36,8 DraftKings points per game over his last five excluding the game where he logged just 18 minutes due to an ejection. His price of just $7,200 sticks out and he will be a staple across my rosters tonight.
Al Horford- Horford edges out Tobias Harris for my favorite 76er tonight, as they are still without Joel Embiid. Not only does Horford get one of our favorite matchups as a big man against the Nets, he’s tied with Harris for the biggest bump on the team with Embiid off the floor — up to 1.17 fantasy points per minute. Philly as a team plays much better at home, and this is the exact type of matchup that Horford could post a huge game in Embiid’s absence.
Note: If Domantas Sabonis (currently Questionable) is ruled out, I would add in Malcolm Brogdon to the core section as well.
Value Plays
Cody Zeller- Zeller has burned me a few times this season, but it’s hard for me not to consider him at under $4,000. We never truly know how many minutes he will play, but he has logged 30 and 23 over his last two games, and should be needed tonight against Nikola Jokic. He moved back into the starting lineup in the Hornets last game, and as long as he starts again tonight I think mid-20’s in minutes is certainly in play. He remains the only Hornets player aside from Devonte Graham to boast over a fantasy point per minute this season.
Outside of Zeller, there’s a few other cheap plays I would love to cram in my lineups, but they are contingent on different injury situations. Enes Kanter would jump to the top of my board with Daniel Theis is out — he sports over 1.4 fantasy points per minute without Tatum or Theis on the floor this season. The other is Monte Morris who would start if Jamal Murray misses.
I also don’t mind Dwight Howard, who has been going absolutely ham with Anthony Davis out and gets a #REVENGE game against the Orlando Magic.
Written by Ben Hossler (Follow @BenHossler on Twitter)
