Mandatory Credit: David Richard-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”. Cleveland Cavaliers’ SG Dion Waiters flies high as Thursday’s top Daily Fantasy Basketball play.
Let’s rip it up.
HIGH FIVE:
Point Guard: John Wall, WAS ($8,600): I also really like Damian Lillard at this spot, as I believe they each have relatively equal odds of reaching value on their respective salaries (and Lillard is a bit cheaper).
However, I’m listing Wall as the pick here, if only because he has the higher ceiling of the two in this matchup between the two All-Star PGs.
Ultimately, the choice you make here could come down to whose salary fits your roster, and that’s fine, as they’re both fine plays. However, if I’m building my roster around this position, Wall is my choice.
Shooting Guard: Kevin Martin, MIN ($6,500): Defense has never been James Harden‘s priority, as evidenced by Houston’s 23rd ranking vs. SGs. I think it’s even less of a priority vs. the Wolves, as he’ll be taking on a larger share of the offensive load with Dwight Howard out.
Similarly, Kevin Martin will also take on a larger share of the offensive burden with Nikola Pekovic expected out and Ricky Rubio being hounded by Patrick Beverley. All said, Martin should be able to post a total somewhere in the 30 FP range. Not bad for a player whose value point is 32.5.
Small Forward: Kevin Durant, OKC ($11,700): Durant makes a fine play on nearly any day he’s available, but I especially like him against a Cleveland Cavaliers defense that has allowed the sixth-most FPs to SFs over the past 15 days. It’s also worth noting that he scored the ball well, while nearly posting a triple-double in his last game played vs. Cleveland. Value is high for Durant at 58.5 FPs, but production is the 50 FP range seems likely. Should Russell Westbrook be out, I like this pick even better and could see a 60 FP game in the cards.
I also really like Nicolas Batum, POR ($7,800) in a matchup vs. the Washington Wizards (27th vs. SFs over the last 15 days). One thing that does scare me off of Batum a bit, is that he’s been spending time a lot of time a PF for the Blazers, a position against which the Wizards have given up the least amount of FPs in recent weeks.
Power Forward: Kevin Love, MIN ($11,300): Love should have a monster game vs. the Houston Rockets, who have been horrible against PFs all season long and rank just 25th over the past couple of weeks. The only Rocket who could’ve contained Love on the boards (Dwight Howard) is out, making him a fantasy goldmine. Love should find himself in the 50-60 FP range and could very well be the top producer on today’s NBA slate.
Center: Robin Lopez, POR ($6,000): Given the value plays available, center is not a position I’d advise spending up on, even in cash games. However, if you’re feeling froggy, Lopez should be able to reach close to his value threshold of 30 FPs, a number he’s bested in each of the last two games.
Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
low five:
Point Guard: Jarrett Jack, CLE ($4,400): Jack should be the industry-wide top value play at PG , even in a less than ideal matchup vs. a Oklahoma City Thunder defense that ranks third vs. PGs over the past 15 days.
Mo Williams, POR ($4,400) could be a nice contrarian play for the same price, as he’s topped 20 FPs in each of the last two. I’d probably lean Jack though, given that his minutes are more of a sure thing.
One other name worth mentioning is Reggie Jackson, OKC ($5,400). He’s a bit more expensive, but if Westbrook is confirmed out, he’s also a much better play. Either way, I think he’s a fine play.
Shooting Guard: Dion Waiters, CLE ($5,200): Waiters should be the most highly-owned player and is probably the top SG play overall, given his likely production relative to his salary. He is dealing with a few injuries so there is some chance he could be out, but if he’s in, you must play him.
Small Forward: Harrison Barnes, GS ($3,900): Andre Iguodala is out tonight, which moves Barnes into the starting lineup. With ample minutes, he should be able to make good on his value threshold of just 19.5 FPs.
Alonzo Gee, CLE ($3,500) Is also worth a look with Luol Deng sidelined.
Power Forward: Terrence Jones, HOU ($5,800): Jones has been a beast with Dwight Howard out. That trend should continue for Jones against the weak defense of Kevin Love. Jones posted 47.5 FPs last game out and while a repeat may not be in order, 30+FPs should definitely be.
Drew Gooden, WAS ($3,500), who has put up back-to-back 30+FP games, is also worth a look for the bare minimum in salary.
Center: Omer Asik, HOU ($3,700): “Asik and destroy!!!” With Dwight Howard out, Asik is the definite top value play at center, if not the top overall play at the position. Look for Asik to crush his value threshold of 18.5 FPs.
Gorgui Dieng, MIN ($3,900) is also in play if Nikola Pekovic is ruled out.
Thank you and good luck !!!