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Guard
Joe Ingles- The Jazz will definitely be a main focus on this slate, not only is starting PG Mike Conley out for tonight’s game, but they get everyone’s favorite matchup vs the Washington Wizards. We see a minimal boost in per minute production from Ingles by taking Conley off the floor, but the big boosts are in minutes and fantasy points. This absence opens up more shot attempts for Ingles, and he is averaging north of 30 fantasy points without Conley this season. Guys like Donovan Mitchell and Jordan Clarkson are also great plays, but for only $5,200 in salary, Ingles is one of my top plays on Thursday night’s slate.
Forward
Talen Horton-Tucker- As always in NBA DFS, we could get value opening up closer to lock, but for now THT is one of my favorite values on Thursday night. Anthony Davis’ absence boosts the minutes floor for Horton-Tucker, as he averages four minutes more per game in contests that AD misses this season. In addition to Davis, Alex Caruso remains out for tonight’s game and I think that affects Horton-Tucker positively as well. Over the Lakers last two games, THT has logged minute totals of 26 and 28, and he this would only be aided in a blowout. We have him projected for mid-20’s in minutes again tonight, and he is viable in all formats for me.
Center
TBD- I’m listing this as TBD because I’m writing this earlier in the day than usual and there are currently two plays sticking out to me. The first being Montrezl Harrell, and the second being John Collins. While Harrell is a complete disaster on the defensive end, he has been his normal self fantasy-wise with over 1.1 fantasy points per minute in his first season with the Lakers. The absence of both Anthony Davis and Marc Gasol has created more opportunity for him, and he has put up 14 and 16 shots over the Lakers last two games. The minutes won’t ever get super high, but he can easily dominate this Hornets frontcourt in upper-20’s minutes and remains priced in the mid-tier.
Collins is a guy that’s going to be contingent on injury news we get later on in the day. His price has risen, but that’s because he’s coming off two big games. Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu are both listed as questionable again for the Hawks tonight. Capela has missed the last two games, which allows Collins to get more time at the five where he has historically been much better for fantasy purposes.
Written by Ben Hossler (Follow @BenHossler on Twitter)
