Welcome to another edition of Bales’ Top GPP plays. In this article, I will outline my favorite NBA GPP plays for today’s games. If you want all of my core plays along with our staff’s Final Thoughts articles and access to our Discord, click here.
Guards
Tyus Jones
Jones has enjoyed a solid career as a backup point guard, finding success in limited minutes. Surprisingly, he struggled in his only game with 30 minutes last season, although he consistently found success when given 25+ minutes. Through 3 games this season, he’s averaging 5.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists (13.8 fantasy points) in only 21.3 minutes per game. He saw 35 minutes in his last game, scoring 24.75 fantasy points against the Brooklyn Nets.
Jones gets a tough matchup against the Boston Celtics tonight. They ranked 16th in the NBA in pace and fourth in defensive efficiency last season. Jones isn’t a player that boasts elite usage, although it’s expected to increase to roughly 21% tonight. He’s also expected to find 30+ minutes as the starting point guard with Ja Morant and De’Anthony Melton out tonight. Jones isn’t an elite fantasy option, but he’s averaging 11.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 7.1 assists, and 2.0 steals on a per-36 minute basis throughout his career. He boasts double-double upside with the potential to add rebounds and steals nightly. Jones got a massive price bump, which could keep his ownership from exploding, and he’s a great option on this slate.
Bigs
Kyle Anderson
Anderson saw his role lessen last season, but he’s back to a focal point of the rotation for the time being in Memphis now. He’s averaging 18.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists (36.3 fantasy points) in 33.6 minutes per game through 3 contests. Anderson’s seen 30+ minutes in each of his last 2 games, scoring 41.25 and 45.5 fantasy points.
He gets a plus matchup against the Boston Celtics, who have already been outlined as a tough matchup in the Tyus Jones recommendation. Anderson’s seen the highest usage rating of his career (20.5%) early this season, and that may continue as he takes on a larger role in the offense. He’ll continue to see 30+ minutes, as Jaren Jackson Jr., Justise Winslow, and others recover from injury. Anderson’s quietly taken 32 shot attempts over his last 2 contests. He’ll continue to see an increased offensive role, along with Dillon Brooks, as more players have to create their own shots with Morant in the lineup. After a pair of massive outings, Anderson’s price saw an increase, although it doesn’t match his recent upside. The matchup against Boston should keep his ownership relatively low, making him an outstanding option to pair with Jones in tournaments.
De’Andre Hunter
Hunter saw mixed results as a rookie, although he gained valuable experience by playing over 30 minutes per game. He’s also seen ups and downs early this season, averaging 12.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists (26.2 fantasy points) in 31.0 minutes per game through 3 contests. Hunter hasn’t been consistent, but he posted 39.25 fantasy points in 35 minutes against the Memphis Grizzlies.
He gets a plus matchup against the Brooklyn Nets tonight. Brooklyn ranked eighth in pace and ninth in defensive efficiency last season, and that could carry over to their new lineup this season. Hunter is more or less a 3-and-D player with a low usage rating. He boasts double-double potential with the ability to add assists, blocks, and steal, although most of his value comes from points and rebounds. Atlanta’s dealt with injuries early this season, but look relatively healthy for this game, but Hunter is expected to continue to see 30+ minutes. He’s a young, athletic player that will benefit from an uptick in pace. He certainly comes with plenty of risk, but he’s a cheap option with 35+ fantasy point upside.
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