My Core
Kristaps Porzingis- I have no issues admitting I was wrong about something, and that was the case last week with Porzingis. The Mavs had been so cautious with his minutes since returning from injury, I didn’t see him getting that much extra run even with Luka Doncic…that couldn’t of been further from the truth. He ended up topping 25 minutes without Doncic in the lineup while posting a monster 56 DK point performance. He should be rested after sitting out their last game and he is actually averaging around 50 fantasy points per game with Doncic out this season. That’s more than enough for me to consider him a must play at $7,000, and he will be the first player in my main build tonight.
Jayson Tatum- The Boston Celtics are once again dealing with injuries — both Kemba Walker and Marcus Smart will miss tonight’s game. This results in the entire team getting a huge bump up, but Tatum seeing a massive 8% usage rate increase. With those two players off the floor, he leads the team with a 35% usage rate and adds in 1.23 fantasy points per minute. This is also a nice pace-up spot for the Celtics with the Hawks ranking top-five in pace — hence the C’s 117 implied team total. The Hawks are a smash matchup due to their poor defensive tendencies, making Tatum the top play from this game for me in cash games.
DeAndre Ayton- The minutes have been trending up for Ayton in recent weeks, and that should continue tonight with all of Frank Kaminsky, Aron Baynes and Dario Saric out. He is affordable at $7,700 and draws an elite matchup with the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets have been one of our favorite target’s with the Center position over the last two years and they have coughed up the sixth-most rebounds to the position this season. It doesn’t look like I will be going with a stars and scrubs build tonight on DK, so I think I will easily be able to load my front-court with these three options.
Value Plays
Pistons- The Pistons could be one of our biggest sources of salary relief tonight with Derrick Rose out. Now Reggie Jackson is also listed as questionable, so we need to monitor this news closely up until lock. If Jackson is active, he would be a strong play in all formats boasting a 1.13 fantasy point per minute mark with Rose off the floor. Even if he is in, we can also look at Bruce Brown who is under a point per minute, but will pick up some extra ball-handling duties. Furthermore, Markieff Morris is also listed as questionable to play, if he’s out we can look at rookie Sekou Doumbouya for a value play.
Caris LeVert- LeVert is second to only Spencer Dinwiddie in usage with Kyrie Irving off the floor (30%) yet is priced under $5,000 tonight. He should be counted on for closer to 30 minutes, and will take Dinwiddie’s spot manning the second-unit.
Written by Ben Hossler (Follow @BenHossler on Twitter)
