Fantasy Basketball: FanDuel Lineups For January 8th

Jan 5, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker (15) drives to the basket against the Boston Celtics in the second quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

It was a rough night for my A lineup last night. John Wall was the only one that topped 30 fantasy points. Oh well, can’t win them all, I guess.

There are only three games in the NBA tonight, which makes for a light night on the FanDuel circuit. There are only two players that cost more than $10,000. Can you get both of them in your lineup? Better question: should you?

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Here are my FanDuel lineups for January 8th:

Point Guards:

Bargain:

Shane Larkin, Knicks ($4,300): Pablo Prigioni got the nod to start alongside Jose Calderon last night, but it was Larkin who played more minutes. He also played better. Larkin now has 49.2 fantasy points in his last two games, making him a good bargain at this price. If you want both of the big dogs, you have to go cheap somewhere. Larkin is likely the best best because he is certain to play at least 25 minutes. Heck, he may even earn the start as well as he has played in the last two games.

Worth The Cost:

Damian Lillard, Trailblazers ($9,500): Lillard lit up the Lakers on Monday, but hey, who hasn’t lately? Tonight sees him get a Hornets team that is still without Lance Stephenson, so it will be either Gerald Henderson or Gary Neal to help out Kemba Walker with Lillard. This is not a great matchup for Lillard, but he has scored at least 35 fantasy points in five of his last six games. I think he will at least get to that mark. That would be great production on a light night with very few mid-level options.

Kemba Walker, Hornets ($9,000): Walker has four straight games of over 40 fantasy points, and takes on a Toronto team that has given up its share of fantasy points to point guards. He has been more consistent that Kyle Lowry, well for this week anyway. Lowry is probably a little bit more of a safer pick if you have the money, but for $800 less, Walker is a good investment.

Risky Play:

Patrick Beverley, Rockets ($5,600): I love Beverley’s matchup, but I hate his inconsistency. He has been under 20 fantasy points in five of his last seven games. I am inclined to say that will change against the Knicks, but nothing is certain.

My Lineups:

A: Lowry and Lillard ($19,300)

B: Walker and Larkin ($13,300)

Next: Star Power Available At SG

Jan 3, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) and Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) talk during the second quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Shooting Guards:

Bargains:

Tim Hardaway Jr., Knicks ($5,400): Hardaway is probably the most certain option on a team full of uncertainty. With J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert both gone, the Knicks are going to see what they have in Hardaway, for better or for worse. So far, it has been for the better. He has topped 20 fantasy points six times in his last ten games, and only one of those was with Smith gone. He is a certain 20 for a low price. That is all you need on a light night like tonight.

Gary Neal, Hornets ($3,600): Yes, Neal has been displaced by Gerald Henderson, but the Hornets are beat up tonight. P.J. Hairston and Al Jefferson are out. Cody Zeller is questionable. It will be all hands on deck for Charlotte, which should mean an uptick in minutes for Neal. Henderson may be used at SF when Michael Kidd-Gilchrist needs a breather, and they won’t have Marvin Williams to move to SF because he will likely start in Zeller’s stead. That means Neal is the primary backup for both guard positions. I can see around 30 minutes for him tonight, which should result in great production for his price.

Worth The Cost:

James Harden, Rockets ($11,000): Yes, Harden may sit when this game gets out of hand, but there is a good possibility that he has more than 40 points by then. And I mean 40 real points, not fantasy. He is a great option against the D-league Knicks.

Dwyane Wade, Heat ($8,900): Wade has been fantastic in every game since his return except against the Rockets. Go figure. At any rate, Wade is a solid option against the Trailblazers, who are likely without Wesley Matthews tonight. And really, you don’t have many options tonight.

Risky Play:

Allen Crabbe, Trailblazers ($3,500): Crabbe played well in the absence of Nicolas Batum. He may get a chance at the starting lineup again tonight with Wesley Matthews battling a hyperextended knee. If he can’t give it a go, it will be Crabbe who benefits. The bad part is that the decision on Matthews likely will not come before the early games tip off, making this a huge risk.

My Lineups:

A: Hardaway and Neal ($9,000)

B: Harden and Lou Williams ($16,200): Lou Will is a threat to go off on any given night. He could be the one that separates you from the pack tonight, or he could land you out of the money entirely.

Next: With Carmelo Anthony, There Is No Star Power At SF

Oct 23, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (14) during the first half of the game against the Indiana Pacers at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

Small Forwards:

Bargains:

Gerald Henderson, Hornets ($4,900): Henderson took the starting SG job back from Gary Neal, and has backed it up with 66 fantasy points over his last two games. He is the best option of the night for under $5k.

Quincy Acy, Knicks ($4,700): Acy has played more than 25 minutes in each of his last four games with solid results. He has averaged 25 fantasy points per game in that span. The Knicks have few other options, so expect Acy to continue to get between 25-30 minutes a game. He should post numbers worthy of his cost, especially on a night like tonight with limited options.

Worth The Cost:

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Hornets ($5,400): I mentioned in the previous section just how many Hornets players are sitting tonight. That gives MKG a chance to shine. He has been over 30 fantasy points in three of his last five games, so it appears as if he is finally in the swing of things. You can do far worse tonight.

Trevor Ariza, Rockets ($5,500): Keep in mind that his minutes could be limited against the Knicks. That said, Ariza produces across the board, making him a fantasy asset even if he isn’t scoring points. He may be the safest option at the position tonight.

Risky Play:

Terrence Ross, Raptors ($4,500): Like Lou Williams, Ross is a threat to go off on any given night. The bad part is that when he doesn’t produce, he doesn’t play as much. That severely limits his value. That said, Ross has consistently played 30 minutes over each of his last seven games. That gives him a good chance to at least get you something.

My Lineups:

A and B: Kidd-Gilchrist and Henderson ($10,300)

Next: You Have To Spend At PF Tonight

Dec 31, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward Marvin Williams (2) reacts during the second half against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Power Forwards:

Bargain:

Marvin Williams, Hornets ($4,500): Williams has been receiving more minutes recently with the injury to Al Jefferson with mixed results. That said, he has not been under 15 points since his promotion. That makes him a bargain with no mid-level options available at PF. Amare Stoudemire, Terrence Jones, and Cody Zeller are all out tonight.

Worth The Cost:

LaMarcus Aldridge, Trailblazers ($10,100): Aldridge is showing no ill effects of a battle with a respiratory infection. In the three games since his return, he has averaged 42 fantasy points per game. He is by far the safest option at an position tonight. The fact that he is playing the Heat only adds to his value.

Josh Smith, Rockets ($6,700): Smith has found his niche coming off the bench for the Rockets. He didn’t do well in the starting lineup, but in the three games since returning to the bench, he has averaged 27 fantasy points per game. That make him an elite option at PF tonight, believe it or not.

Risky Play:

Jason Smith, Knicks ($3,900): Smith has also been a beneficiary of the Knicks fire sale, garnering 20+ minutes in each of the last three games. He is averaging right at 20 fantasy points in those games, so he should be good for 20 points. At this price, that works out very nicely.

My Lineups:

A: Aldridge and Josh Smith ($16,800)

B: Alddridge and Jason Smith ($14,000)

Next: Once Again, C Has The Most Options

Dec 23, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Portland Trail Blazers center Chris Kaman (35) drives to the basket against Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams (12) during the first quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Center:

Bargain:

Chris Kaman, Trailblazers ($4,600): Both Robin Lopez and Joel Freeland are out. That means that “Caveman” is the starter by default for the near future. He has steadily produced as a backup so far this year, and should be able to net you at least 20 points on any given night. That makes him a good value.

Worth The Cost:

Chris Bosh, Heat ($8,100): Bosh has done little since his return from injury, but he is taking on Portland, who is missing their top two centers. Even if Bosh starts at PF again, he is still a solid option. More reliable than say, Dwight Howard, who will likely get some rest against the Knicks once the game gets out of hand.

Risky Play:

Cole Aldrich, Knicks ($5,600): The obvious answer here is Dwight Howard since you don’t know how much he will actually play, so I will give you another name to chew on. That name is Aldrich. Not only does he have to jostle with D12, he is also fighting Jason Smith and Travis Wear for minutes up front. It is probably in your best interest to stay away from this tonight. However, there is a good chance that the Knicks leave Aldrich in there to get some experience long after the game is out of hand.

My Lineups:

A: Kaman ($4,600)

B: Aldrich ($5,600)

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