Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-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 Trail Blazers’ SF Nicolas Batum flies high as Saturday’s top Daily Fantasy Basketball play.
Let’s rip it up.
HIGH FIVE:
Point Guard: Chris Paul, LAC ($9,400): Paul has been on quite the roll lately, averaging nearly 42 FPs over his last seven contests. A favorable matchup against the Detroit Pistons who’ve had trouble with PGs all season and have been especially poor over the last 15 days bodes well for Paul. Value is 47 FPs and production in the 40-45 FP range, with possible 50 FP upside, seems to be a reasonable expectation for Paul in this high scoring matchup.
Two other players worth a mention are Kemba Walker, CHA ($7,700) and Damian Lillard, POR ($7,900). They square off against one another in Charlotte tonight, where Kemba Walker has performed much better than on the road and Lillard will again be benefitted by the absence of LaMarcus Aldridge. It’s safe to expect production in the 35 FP range for both players.
Shooting Guard: Arron Afflalo, ORL ($5,900): James Harden will likely be the top scoring SG, but I prefer the value of Afflalo. Especially on a night when I think you’ll want to spend up at the other positions. It’s a plus matchup as it is vs. the Utah Jazz, who rank 28th over the last 15 days vs. SGs, and with the added bonus of no Jameer Nelson, it looks even better. Expect Afflalo’s production to top value and be somewhere in the 35 FP range.
For what it’s worth, Afflalo’s partner in the backcourt, Victor Oladipo, ORL ($6,500) is also worth a look.
Small Forward: Nicolas Batum, POR ($7,800): Small Forward looks like a minefield today. LeBron is expensive and dealing with a back issue, Paul George is playing Memphis, Josh Smith‘s production has been all over the place, Kawhi Leonard might not play, and Chandler Parsons is only viable if Dwight Howard is out. That leaves us with Batum, who has played excellent lately, besting value in three out his last four. The matchup is slightly less than ideal, but with the way Batum has been playing, he should still be good for about 35 FPs.
Power Forward: Anthony Davis, NO ($10,700): How do you not play a guy who has topped 50 FPs in each of his last seven games and is playing a team that ranks in the bottom half of the league vs. PFs ? You don’t. You roster him and don’t look back.
Center: Joakim Noah, CHI ($9,400): Noah had a below average game vs. the Philadelphia 76ers earlier in the week and still managed to put up over 40 FPs. The ability to produce like that when not playing up to your standards, makes you a safe play. So, while Noah may not have quite the upside of Al Jefferson, I feel his floor is much safer and he’s the player I’ll be rostering in places where I spend up at center.
Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
low five:
Point Guard: Jarrett Jack, CLE ($4,300): Jack will likely be one of the more popular value plays this evening, but I’m not so sure I trust him against the defense of Patrick Beverley. In fact, for $5,400, Beverley may be the better play in the same game. Another player to look at in this game is Matthew Dellavedova, CLE ($3,800), who put up the production (29.8 FPs) that many people were hoping to get from Jack last time out.
Shooting Guard: Dion Waiters, CLE ($5,600): Say hello to the highest owned player. Waiters has the starting job and should produce well above value in a high scoring game vs. the Houston Rockets. Must own.
Rodney Stuckey, DET ($4,000) is another SG that could be a great value tonight.
Small Forward: Alonzo Gee, CLE ($3,500): With Deng expected out, Gee will be playing big minutes and should be able to hang value on the Rockets in a high scoring game.
Power Forward: Boris Diaw, SA ($4,700): Tim Duncan played big minutes last game, while Diaw played only 16. Early indications are that Duncan will either sit or play limited minutes this evening. If that were the case, expect Diaw to be one of the primary beneficiaries.
Center: Omer Asik, HOU ($3,900): I’m guessing that Dwight Howard is out, and in that case, Asik should be a very popular pick and worth the money.
Also, TIago Splitter, SA ($4,900) could be worth a play for much of the same reasons as DIaw. If you’re looking mid-tier, Robin Lopez, POR ($5,800) should be able to get near value against the Charlotte Bobcats.
Thank you and good luck tonight !!!