Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
HIGH FIVE/low five
Daily Fantasy can be quite the grind! Let us do the grinding for you with “High Five/Low Five”. Each day we help put you in the money by presenting you with FIVE of the “top-tier” plays, as well as a quick list of FIVE “value plays”. Detroit Pistons’ SF Josh Smith flies high as Monday’s top Daily Fantasy Basketball play.
Let’s rip it up.
HIGH FIVE:
Point Guard: Isaiah Thomas, SAC ($8,500): Thomas has a superb matchup against the 29th ranked defense vs. PGs, when he squares off against the New Orleans Pelicans at home. The 205 over/under in this game is one of the highest of the night and with a spread of just four points, it’s also a game that should remain competitive. Thomas has averaged 35+ FPs over his last five games and should have similar success again tonight, with considerable upside.
Damian Lillard also has a similarly enticing matchup vs. the Los Angeles Lakers, though with the risk of blowout given the 12-point spread, I’ll consider Thomas to be a slightly safer play.
Shooting Guard: Gordon Hayward, UTA ($6,500): Hayward has averaged above value over his last three games and seems to have found his stroke, shooting over 50 percent in that time. He’s also averaging over six rebounds and six assists, to go with nearly 19 points in that span. In a close game against the Milwaukee Bucks tonight, Hayward will need to produce and I expect he will. 30 FPs seems like the floor, while the upside of a 40 FP night is definitely there.
Small Forward: Josh Smith, DET ($8,600): Smith has been averaging nearly 40 minutes a game over the past week and producing nearly one fantasy point per minute, regardless of matchup. Smith will need 43 FPs for value tonight, and while that number may not be a guarantee, I think 35 FPs or so is doable. That 35 FP floor is what puts Smith slightly ahead of my other top play at SF, Rudy Gay, whose floor is slightly lower at just 30 FPs. Either way, both players are fine plays tonight with similar upside.
Nicolas Batum is also worth considering for about $1,500 less. Batum doesn’t have near the upside of Smith or Gay, but could possibly represent a better value play given his lower price and matchup vs. the Los Angeles Lakers, who’ve given up the most points to opposing SFs.
Power Forward: Kevin Love, MIN ($11,600): His name is Kevin Love and he’s averaging over 56 FPs over his last five games. Not that matchup is really a factor with him, but his opponent for tonight, the Denver Nuggets, have given up the 11th most points to opposing PFs over the last ten games. Love will likely be among the top-three performers tonight with perhaps the best chance at being the top performer. I won’t tell you that he’s a must play across the board, but you should at least have some exposure to him if you are playing multiple rosters.
Center: DeMarcus Cousins, SAC ($9,300): Among the three players at his price point tonight, I consider Cousins to be the top option. In two games vs. the New Orleans Pelicans this year, Cousins has averaged over 48 FPs, including 51.2 FPs in his most recent game against them. This game should be high scoring and competitive throughout, which should only adds to Cousin’s value, considering that his previous two games vs. New Orleans were decided by 13 and 17 points.
Stepping down a tier, I’m all about Nikola Pekovic, MIN ($7,100) who seemingly never missed a beat following his return from an ankle injury. In just 29 minutes vs. the Kings, Pekovic able put up 31.8 FPs. With similar or slightly increased minutes tonight he should at least be able to replicate that performance against a Denver Nuggets team that has given up the fourth-most points to opposing centers in the past 15 days.
Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
low five:
Point Guard: Will Bynum, DET ($4,600): It’s looking like there won’t be a lot of clear cut value plays at PG tonight, and that you’ll probably be better off spending up for the top guys and going with value plays elsewhere. That said, Bynum has been getting consistent minutes and producing above value for some time and should again be good for 20-25 FPs tonight.
I also think Mo Williams, POR could be a sneaky play if the Portland Trail Blazers were to get up big early and he received extra run.
Shooting Guard: Kent Bazemore, LAL ($4,400): So long as Bazemore’s price remains this low and he continues to produce as he has, he will be the top value play at the shooting guard position.
Eric Gordon, LAC also feels like he could be a slick play for tourney rosters. Although a tad more expensive, Gordon’s teammate, Tyreke Evans, also looks to be in a good spot tonight going against his former team and having seen an uptick in minutes and production of late
Small Forward: Wesley Johnson, LAL ($4,900): With three straight games over value, Johnson should be a good bet for another 20-25 FPs tonight against the Portland Trailblazers, with possible 30 FP upside. Also consider Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton for $4,800.
Power Forward: Trevor Booker, WAS ($3,500): It’s hard to trust Booker, even for $3,500, especially in a tough matchup. However, he did play well above value in his last game and is really the only worthy punt option at his position. Consider him in play, but also consider the risk and play with caution.
Center: There are no real value plays at center tonight, however if you must, both Alexis Ajinca, NO and Timofey Mozgov, DEN can be considered for $4,200, but neither has a matchup that is particularly appealing. Personally, if I were looking to spend down at center tonight, Robin Lopez, POR ($6,100) would be the cheapest player that I’d feel comfortable rostering.
Thank you and good luck tonight !!!
Follow @DrMajestyk
Add us as a preferred source on Google