Daily Fantasy Basketball: Pistons’ SF Josh Smith is Wednesday’s top play
By John Hillier
Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-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 Wednesday’s top Daily Fantasy Basketball play.
Let’s rip it up.
HIGH FIVE:
Point Guard: Kyle Lowry, TOR ($9,100): Ty Lawson seemed like the top PG play, but with the possibility he’ll be out, Lowry moves into the top spot. Obviously, if we receive confirmation before lock time that he’s in, Lawson would again be the top play.
Nonetheless, Lowry has been playing extremely well of late, with five games over 40 FPs in his last six contests, including three 50+ FP games. A matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans (24th in recent weeks vs. PGs) should be all Lowry will need for another 40+ FP game. He’s your man if you’re looking to spend up at PG tonight.
Shooting Guard: Tyreke Evans, NO ($7,900): Evans is another player who has been on a roll lately. With four games over 38 FPs in his last five, and a good chance for another 35+ FP game, Evans should be the top play at SG.
To be fair, the matchup doesn’t look great on paper, but Toronto is playing their third game in four nights. They are also playing the second game of a back-to-back, and had to play an overtime period last night. Perhaps tired legs on the Toronto side will be all that Evans needs to get rolling early.
Randy Foye, DEN ($5,500) also makes a nice play, especially if Lawson sits.
Small Forward: Josh Smith, DET ($8,300): Andre Drummond will be out for this game, giving Smith more run at the PF position against a Denver Nuggets’ team that has been nothing short of abysmal on the interior. Also of benefit to Smith, is that this game should feature plenty of the up and down style of play that suits his style of play. All factors considered, Smith should be a lock for a 40 FP game, with possible 45-50 FP upside.
Power Forward: This is where you’ll want to spend your money this evening, and there are several ways you could go about it. You could spend big on Kevin Love, MIN ($11,300) and/or Anthony Davis ($10,700), who both have excellent matchups, or you could also spend down a bit on Kenneth Faried, DEN ($7,200) and/or Greg Monroe, DET ($7,700), who also find themselves in good situations.
I definitely think that Love and Davis will outscore the two cheaper options, and of the two, I prefer Davis (due to his cheaper price tag). However, I would not at all be surprised if Faried and Monroe provided a better return on investment.
Center: Joakim Noah, CHI ($9,300): “You need a center ? I Noah guy.” Joakim Noah is the top play at center in a matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers. This pick needs no explanation.
Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
low five:
Point Guard: Aaron Brooks, DEN ($4,400): Brooks will be the top value play at PG if Lawson is out — hands down. Otherwise, I like the Bulls’ D.J. Augustin for $5,800 in a matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Shooting Guard: Rodney Stuckey, DET ($3,500): With Andre Drummond out of the lineup, Stuckey is always one of the primary beneficiaries. This game should be no different and with extra minutes in a plus matchup, 20-25 FPs doesn’t seem like an unreasonable expectation.
Small Forward: Shawn Marion, DAL ($4,900): Call this a hunch more than anything, but I think Marion does work against a Minnesota Timberwolves’ defense that ranks just 22nd vs. SFs.
Also consider, Mike Dunleavy, CHI ($5,000)
Power Forward: Amir Johnson, TOR ($5,900): Yes, the matchup with Anthony Davis isn’t ideal, but with Jonas Valanciunas likely out, Johnson will get all the minutes he can handle and should be able to continue his recent hot streak.
Center: Joakim Noah, CHI ($9,300): Don’t even think about getting cute at the center position tonight. Everyone will be all over Noah and so should you.
Thank you and good luck tonight!!!