Daily Fantasy Basketball: Blazers’ PG Damian Lillard is Friday’s top play
By John Hillier
Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-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”. Portland Trailblazers’ PG Damian Lillard is Friday’s top Daily Fantasy Basketball play.
Let’s rip it up.
HIGH FIVE:
Point Guard: Damian Lillard, POR ($7,300): LaMarcus Aldridge is out vs. the New Orleans Pelicans, which is great news for Lillard. If you’ll remember back to the last time Aldridge was out, Lillards’ usage rate and performance when through the roof. Tonight should be no different against a Pelicans’ defense that ranks just 20th vs. PGs in the past 15 days. Value for Lillard is 36.5 and that seems likely to be his floor, with possible 45 FP upside. Consider Lillard close to a must-play.
Also consider: John Wall, WAS ($8,600) and Stephen Curry, GS ($8,600)
Shooting Guard: Lance Stephenson, IND ($7,200): Stephenson’s production has been allover the board lately, but if there’s one team that a player can get back on track against, it’s the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite a recent surge in their ranking against SGs lately, they’ve been bad most of the season and should be bad again tonight. Value is just 36 FPs for Stephenson and somewhere in that vicinity seems likely.
Also strongly consider Wesley Matthews, POR ($6,000) in a nice matchup vs. New Orleans.
Small Forward: Trevor Ariza, WAS ($6,600): As always, LeBron James is worth consideration, but I think Trevor Ariza could be a great, if not also, sneaky play tonight. Ariza has really stunk up the gym in his last two games, scoring just 12.5 and 9.6 FPs. Thankfully though, he’ll be playing a Orlando Magic team that has surrendered the 3rd most FPs to opposing SFs in recent weeks. This game should be close and I see Ariza making owners happy with a 30-35 FP performance.
Power Forward: Anthony Davis, NO ($9,900): Anthony Davis has been on fire lately, with four straight games over 50 FPs. Add in that he’s playing at home tonight, where he’s fared better all season long and against a Blazers team that will be without Aldridge and you’ve got nearly a “must-play”. Value for Davis is a tick below 50 FPs, and that seems like a reasonable expectation this evening.
Center: Nikola Vucevic, ORL ($7,300): Vucevic has scored over 30 FPs in eight out of his last ten games, including 39.8 against the Washington Wizards team he’ll face this evening. Given his recent consistency and past performance versus opponent, Vucevic should be a lock for 35-40 FPs tonight.
Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
low five:
Point Guard: Two possible value plays for me here tonight. First up, I like Patrick Mills, SA ($4,700), figuring he gets some extended run in a blowout vs. the Los Angeles Lakers. Second, I think C.J. McCollum, POR ($3,500) could be a great tournament play with Mo Williams out.
Shooting Guard: A three player scenario here. First, Danny Green, SA ($4,800) for the same reason as Patrick Mills. Next up, and as always, I like James Anderson, PHI ($4,600) against a Pacers defense that has been bad against SGs lately. Also, Xavier Henry, LAL ($4,100) is a player that I used last night and who seems capable of hitting value again vs. San Antonio
Small Forward: Harrison Barnes, GS ($4,000): Keep an eye on the situation here, but it appears that Barnes could draw the start against a very bad Cleveland Cavaliers team tonight. Another option to consider, one that I mentioned last night and paid off big time, is Ryan Kelly, LAL ($4,500).
Power Forward: Kris Humphries, BOS ($4,800): Humphries has been averaging above his value threshold during the last four games and should again produce somewhere in the 20-25 FP range again in this game.
Also consider: Drew Gooden, WAS ($3,500).
Center: Tiago Splitter, SA ($4,500)/Timofey Mozgov, DEN ($4,500): Both these men seem capable of hitting value this evening in garbage time vs. the poor interior defenses of both the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat. Expect about 20 FPs from each of them. Also worth a thought, Henry Sims, PHI ($3,9000), who might also be capable of 20 FPs.
Thank you and best of luck tonight !!
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