Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-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”. Sacramento Kings’ C DeMarcus Cousins flies high as Wednesday’s top Daily Fantasy Basketball play.
Let’s rip it up.
HIGH FIVE:
Point Guard: Isaiah Thomas, SAC ($7,900): I recommended Thomas in this spot last night, and though he narrowly missed value, he was worth it on a low scoring evening.
Tonight, Thomas will take his talents to Philadelphia to square off against Michael Carter-Williams and the Sixers’ 30th-ranked defense vs. PGs. This game should be high scoring (with an over/under of 216) and remain somewhat competitive — by Philly’s standards — with a spread of just ten.
With a value threshold of 39.5 FPs, both of those factors should be all Isaiah will need to get in that range. Expect 35-40 FPs.
A few other players that could give you excellent (perhaps better) value tonight are: Damian Lillard, POR ($7,300), Mike Conley, MEM ($6,700), and Tony Parker, SA ($6,600).
Each of these men have nice matchups and should be able to produce in the 30-35+ FP range. Feel safe rostering them above Thomas if their price puts you in a more comfortable spot at another position.
Shooting Guard: Gordon Hayward, UTA ($6,800): DeMar DeRozan, TOR ($8,200) has an excellent matchup vs. the Detroit Pistons, but for $1400 less, I think an underpriced Hayward represents a better value play.
Hayward has topped 30 FPs in seven of his last eight games, with a few 40+ FP games sprinkled in. Tonight, in a competitive game vs. a Dallas Mavericks squad that has been middle of the road against SGs, Hayward should have no problem getting 30-35 FPs.
Small Forward: Rudy Gay, SAC ($7,700): Rudy Gay is other player from yesterday’s column that I’m going to have to recommend again tonight in a better matchup.
Last night, Gay got back on track vs. Detroit, posting 34.7 FPs. Similar production should not be a problem tonight in a high scoring game vs. the Sixers who have allowed the 2nd most FPs to the SF position over the past 15 days. Roster for value, with possible 45 FP upside.
Power Forward: Carmelo Anthony, NY ($10,300): I recommended Anthony a few days ago, and though his 39.3 FPs were a bit of a disappointment, he was so widely owned (80%) that it didn’t matter much. With the news that the New York Knicks will be without Tyson Chandler and Amar’e Stoudemire, Carmelo should again be widely-owned.
Tonight, he will face off against a Boston Celtics team that has been middle-of-the-pack vs. PFs in what should be a close game. With a bit more needed from Melo down low, I think a big-time double-double is in store. Expect 45-50 FPs this evening, with possible 55+ FP upside.
Center: DeMarcus Cousins, SAC ($9,500): Cousins should have his way with the Philadelphia 76ers this evening. He absolutely thrashed them earlier this year for 33 points and 14 rebounds in 29 minutes of limited action due to foul trouble. Similar minutes tonight should yield similar production. The floor is 40 FPs, the upside is 55. Roster him and be prepared for “Boogie” to dominate.
Also worth your considerations at a lower price point is Nikola Vucevic, ORL ($7,500), who should have a big game against a weak Denver Nuggets’ frontcourt.
Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
low five:
Point Guard: Jerryd Bayless, BOS ($5,000): Rajon Rondo will be out for the Celtics tonight. As a result, Bayless becomes the top value play at PG this evening against the New York Knicks. Value for Bayless is 25 FPs and he should have no problem reaching that in 30+ minutes.
Also worth consideration is his backcourt teammate, Phil “Flip” Pressey, who could very well reach the 15-20 FPs he’ll need for value on his minimum salary of $3,500.
Shooting Guard: James Anderson, PHI ($4,500): If you read this column with any regularity, you know I love some James Anderson. In a matchup vs. the Sacramento Kings’ league-worst defense against SGs, I’m going to love him again tonight. Anderson has been right around 25 FPs in each of the last three games, and should be able to get near that again tonight
Small Forward: J.R. Smith, NY ($5,500): I expect Smith will be among the most widely-owned players at his position tonight, not only in light of the injury news coming from New York, but also due to recent performance.
Value tonight for Smith is 27.5 FPs, right in line with his average of 27.3 FPs over his last five games. Smith should have no problem getting 25-30 FPs as the Knicks’ second option on offense against a team that ranks just 26th vs. SFs in recent weeks.
Power Forward: Kris Humphries, BOS ($4,800)/Reggie Evans, SAC ($3,800): A couple of different price points here, but I like both of these players chances to produce value tonight in their respective games, especially Humphries.
Center: Jeremy Tyler, NY ($3,500): With both Stoudemire and Chandler out tonight, Tyler should see enough minutes in the New York Knicks’ frontcourt to produce beyond the 17.5 FPs he’ll need for value.
Thank you and good luck tonight !!!