Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-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”. New York Knicks’ PF Carmelo Anthony flies high as Monday’s top Daily Fantasy Basketball play.
Let’s rip it up.
HIGH FIVE:
Point Guard: Chris Paul, LAC ($9,300): Paul is the highest priced PG on the board tonight by a few hundred dollars, but I like him significantly more than the other two players (Wall, Lawson) in the 9K range.
Not only is the matchup ripe against a Phoenix Suns defense that that is just 25th vs. opposing PGs over the last 15 days, but a 220 over/under in a home matchup also bodes well.
Yes, Paul did not perform so well just about a week ago against this same Suns team (14 points, 9 assists, 28.1 FPs), but I think that “bad” game gives Paul the incentive he’ll need to perform well tonight. Also, given that most recent performance against the Suns, he could be under owned.
Another top-tier PG worth considering is Kemba Walker, CHA ($8,400) in a home matchup against a Denver Nuggets team that has given up the 5th most FPs to PGs in recent weeks. Value for Walker is 42 FPs tonight, and he has averaged just over 43 FPs in his last five home games.
Shooting Guard: Gordon Hayward, UTA ($6,600): Hayward’s price and by proxy, his value threshold of just 33 FPs, both seem a little low given his recent play. Over the past seven games Hayward has chipped in nearly 35.0 FPs, and in a close game against an Atlanta Hawks defense that has been in the bottom third of the league against opposing SGs, 30-35 FPs seems like a safe bet for the young guard from Butler.
Small Forward: Wilson Chandler, DEN ($5,700): When LeBron James is nearly $4,500 more than the next highest priced SF, it should go without saying that he will most likely be the highest scoring player at the position. The question with LeBron is, “Will he be worth it?” My guess is, probably not — unless Dwyane Wade is out, which he very well could be. The next question is, “Who will be worth it ?”
My guess is Wilson Chandler, who still seems a bit underpriced and has scored above value in four straight games. He should continue to be widely owned and with a value threshold of just 28.5 FPs, stand a good chance at producing that against a Charlotte Bobcats defense that is middle of the road against opposing SFs.
Also consider: J.R. Smith, NY ($5,500) against Philadelphia.
Power Forward: Carmelo Anthony, NY ($10,300): Melo should be amongst the most widely-owned players in tonight’s contests. He has a matchup against a putrid Philadelphia 76ers defense that ranks 25th and 29th against PFs and SFs, the positions he is most likely to see time at.
The only thing capable of coming close to slowing Melo down tonight is a blowout, and yes the risk of one here is considerable, but either way, I think Anthony is a lock for 40-50 FPs. Roster with confidence, and don’t fear the blowout like you normally would considering he will be so highly-owned.
Center: Nikola Vucevic, ORL ($7,400): Vuc is another player that I suspect will be highly-owned tonight, given his price and matchup with a Milwaukee Bucks defense that ranks just 22nd against Cs in recent weeks. Value for Vucevic is only 37 FPs this evening, a number he has averaged well above over his last five games or so. This game should be close and Vucevic should play a big part. I’m expecting an above-value performance in the 40-45 FP range, with possible 50 FP upside.
Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
low five:
Point Guard: Raymond Felton, NY ($5,600): Felton has a good chance of meeting his value threshold of 28 FPs tonight against a Sixers team that ranks dead last vs. PGs.
Also worth considering as cheaper plays are Shaun Livingston, BKN ($3,800) and Nate Wolters, MIL ($3,600).
Shooting Guard: Chris Douglas-Roberts ($4,000)/ Marcus Thornton, BKN ($3,700): Keep an eye on the statuses of Gerald Henderson (CHA) and Paul Pierce (BKN). Should either of them be out tonight, both Thornton and Douglas-Roberts have proven to be viable options lately.
As always, James Anderson, PHI ($4,400) is a favorite play of mine, especially against a New York Knicks team that has had their share of troubles against opposing SGs.
Small Forward: Khris Middleton, MIL ($4,900)/Maurice Harkless, ORL ($4,600): Who to choose here depends on the playing status of certain players from the Orlando Magic. If Victor Oladipo or any other Magic backcourt player is out, I’m choosing Harkless. However, all things equal, Middleton is a fine play against a Magic team that has had trouble with opposing SFs.
Power Forward: Amar’e Stoudemire, NY ($4,200): Stoudemire could hit the bench early if this game gets out of hand quickly, so there is some risk in this play. However, with a value threshold of just 22 FPs, I like my chances with Stoudemire, even in a blowout.
Center: Timofey Mozgov, DEN ($4,200): Not the greatest matchup for Mozgov here, but I’m suspecting he may see a little more court time than we’ve become accustomed to as the Nuggets try to deal with Al Jefferson. With something like 25 minutes tonight, Mozgov can probably get 20 FPs and be right around value while allowing you to spend up at some other positions.
Thank you and good luck tonight !!!
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