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Fantasy Basketball: FanDuel Lineups For February 23

By Mike Marteny

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Feb 4, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Denver Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson (3) and Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley (0) scramble for a loose ball during the fourth quarter at TD Garden. The Boston Celtics won 104-100. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

There are eight games in the NBA tonight. That provides plenty of different choices for our FanDuel lineups.

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Here are my FanDuel Lineups For February 23:

Point Guards:

Bargains:

Ricky Rubio, Timberwolves ($6,500): Rubio has had 79.9 fantasy points in his last two games, and he seems to be regaining his old form. The most promising thing was that he played 37 minutes against the Suns on Friday. That means he has no minute restrictions, and should be a lock for around 30 fantasy points a night. That is 4.5x value on average.

Isaiah Canaan, 76ers ($3,500): Canaan got the start yesterday and put up 22.3 fantasy points in his Philadelphia debut. Tim Frazier still saw plenty of run, but if Canaan is getting 20 fantasy points, that is 6x value. He is worth playing so long as his price doesn’t rise too much. You know he wont be this cheap again this season, so ride him tonight!

Isaiah Thomas, Celtics ($6,000): Thomas racked up 31 fantasy points in his Boston debut even though he didn’t start the game. He is being worked into the offense, but as he showed last night, he can still get it done. After all, he came off the bench for the Suns most of the year. Speaking of the Suns, that is his opponent tonight. Expect him to have a little extra incentive, making him a rather strong play.

Worth The Cost:

Ty Lawson, Nuggets ($8,400): Lawson is not a great option tonight against Brooklyn, but all of the high priced options have worse matchups than this. Lawson hit 29 fantasy points against the Thunder. He has the best shot of any of the high priced options to hit 35 tonight. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if Lawson was the highest scoring PG tonight.

Derrick Rose, Bulls ($7,000): Rose has struggled since the break, but might have his best matchup since then if Michael Carter-Williams can’t go tonight. I don’t know if he is going to get near 40 like he was before the break, but 30 seems likely. Even if MCW does play.

Risky Plays:

Chris Paul, Clippers ($10,000): Paul struggled against the Collison-less Kings on Saturday. Now he gets the Grizzlies, who are likely the best defensive team in the league. They have dominated opposing PG’s all season long. Paul’s chances of getting back on track are not good tonight. This is one of the few nights that it should pay to go cheap at PG.

Kyle Lowry, Raptors ($7,400): Lowry was absolutely miserable against Houston on Saturday. He scored just 11.2 fantasy points and turned the ball over a whopping seven times! He gets a pretty strong New Orleans defense tonight, so you should likely stay away from him tonight.

My Lineups:

A: Rubio and Thomas ($12,500)

B: Lawson and Canaan ($11,900)

Next: Who Should You Spend On At SG?

Feb 10, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) leaves the court after facing the Houston Rockets at US Airways Center. The Rockets won 127-118. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Shooting Guards:

Bargains:

Elijah Millsap, Jazz ($3,900): Millsap is starting to get a feel for the NBA, and his fantasy output is reflecting that. He has averaged 22.4 fantasy points per game in his starts. That puts him at nearly 7x value. If you need to go cheap, Millsap is a solid option.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks ($6,700): Another day, another 28 fantasy points for Giannis. He provides consistent production for a reasonable price. He does have upside, but I wouldn’t expect him to go much over 30 against the Bulls. They are a solid defensive team.

Kevin Martin, Timberwolves ($6,800): Martin is picking up like he never left off. He has averaged 30 fantasy points per game since his return, which makes him a 4.5x value. With Shabazz Muhammad out, Martin will continue getting as many minutes as he can handle, and he will continue putting up 30 fantasy point games or more. That makes him a solid option.

Worth The Cost:

Eric Bledsoe, Suns ($8,400): Bledsoe had a nice game against the Bulls on Saturday with Brandon Knight in town. He has a nice matchup against Boston and former teammate Isaiah Thomas tonight. The potential is there for both of them to have a good game. Neither team defends the perimeter very well.

Jimmy Butler, Bulls ($8,600): Butler has become a force in fantasy. Especially in daily leagues with good matchups. He has a solid matchup against the Bucks tonight, and should have no problem reaching his 35 fantasy point average. He has been right around that mark all season long.

Risky Plays:

James Harden, Rockets ($10,600): Harden has been in a slump (for him) lately. He has only hit 50 fantasy points once in his last four games. He has a chance to get there against the Timberwolves tonight, but they have defended the perimeter fairly well lately. Kevin Martin be damned! Harden may get you 40 tonight, but you need more than that if you are spending nearly 1/5 of your budget on one player.

Dwyane Wade, Heat ($7,600): Wade has scored just 43.1 fantasy points in the two games since his return. That is not nearly enough for what you have to pay for him. Others have been picking up the slack with Chris Bosh out. Who knows, maybe Wade’s hamstring is still troubling him. If not, it may keep him more healthy if he doesn’t have to carry the load all by himself. With Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside around, he has more help than the last time Bosh was hurt. Wade not carrying the load is great for the Heat, but not so much for us fantasy players.

My Lineups:

A: Martin and Antetokounmpo ($13,500)

B: Harden and Butler ($19,200)

Next: Good Options Available At SF

Feb 11, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) warms up before the game against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Small Forwards:

Bargains:

Bojan Bogdanovic, Nets ($3,700): Bogdanovic is back in the starting lineup, and actually producing decent numbers for his price. He has averaged 19 fantasy points per game over his last three games. When the matchup is right, Bogdanovich is worth trying out. The Nuggets are not a good defensive team. Bogdanovic should be around 7x value. You likely wont get that anywhere else. UPDATE*** BOGDANOVICH IS OUT**** Alan Anderson now becomes a nice option for the Nets at $3,500. He would seem to be the logical fill-in though the team has made no official designation.

Danilo Gallinari, Nuggets ($3,600): With Wilson Chandler questionable with adductor soreness, Gallinari could be in line for a huge amount of playing time. As he has shown, he can produce when he sees ample court time. If he starts, or even if Chanlder is limited which seems likely, Gallinari should be at at least 8x value.

Khris Middleton, Bucks ($6,600): Middleton has been one of the most consistent producers on the Bucks, and for fantasy owners since Jabari Parker went down. He has not been under 20 fantasy points since joining the starting lineup, and is often over 25. He is a solid 4x value with the potential for much more.

Worth The Cost:

Gordon Hayward, Jazz ($8,400): Hayward has been on a roll since the calendar turned to 2015. He has not been under 20 fantasy points in that span, and is averaging 38.8 fantasy points over his last ten games. That means he is a solid 4.5x value on average. I don’t know if he will hit that mark against the Spurs, but he will likely be the top scoring SF on the night if you can afford him.

Robert Covington, 76ers ($6,600): Given the choice at this price, I would go with Middleton because of the consistency. However, if you can’t afford Hayward and don’t have a lot of faith in Middleton against the Bulls, Covington has a nice matchup against the Heat. Luol Deng is not the defender he used to be. Covington is still a very good play when the matchup is right, and it seems to be tonight.

Risky Plays:

Kawhi Leonard, Spurs ($7,700): There are simply too many weapons on the Spurs for Leonard to consistently produce the kind of numbers that you need from his price. He has been under 20 fantasy points three times in his last five games. If you take that kind of hit from a $7,700 player, you are likely not going to wind up winning any money.

Andrew Wiggins, Timberwolves ($6,500): The return of Kevin Martin and Ricky Rubio means that Wiggins no longer has to be “the man” for the Timberwolves. He is playing better basketball overall, but he is not being asked to do nearly as much. Therefore, for fantasy purposes, it hurts his value. he has not played less than 36 minutes in his last ten games, but his production has not been steady. He has scored between 15.5 and 42.7 fantasy points over that span. That is too much inconsistency for my liking, but you can’t ignore the upside. That will lure some people in.

My Lineups:

A: Hayward and Middleton ($15,000)

B: Hayward and Gallinari ($12,000)

Next: I Will Take The Kung Pao

Feb 4, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph (50) reacts during the second half against the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena. Memphis won 100-90. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

Power Forwards:

Bargains:

Dante Cunningham, Pelicans ($4,100): It will be a free-for-all in the Pelicans’ frontcourt with Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson both out for a couple of weeks. That likely means that Cunningham will slide down to the four and back into the starting lineup. He has little upside, but when given the minutes, he consistently scored right around 20 fantasy points per game. I will take 5x value where I can get it.

Brandon Bass, Celtics ($4,600): Bass has put up 55.5 fantasy points in his two starts filling in for Jared Sullinger. No one else is going to take the job, and Bass has proven to be an able fill-in. He is giving you 5x value, and there is always the potential for more. He has put up three 40+ point fantasy games this year while in the starting lineup. A solid 5x value with potential for 9x? Yes, please!

Nerlens Noel, 76ers ($6,100): His offense is a work in progress, but if he keeps blocking shots and rebounding the way he has been, it really doesn’t matter if he doesn’t score at all. Noel has 30 blocks and 65 rebounds over his last ten games. That is an average of 14 fantasy points per game right there. Even if he only manages ten points and doesn’t pick up an assist, he is at 4x value. He borders on a great play against the Chris Bosh-less Heat tonight.

Worth The Cost:

Pau Gasol, Bulls ($9,700): Gasol struggled against Detroit, which is understandable. He got back on track against Phoenix, and seems poised to have another 40+ point fantasy game against Milwaukee because of their lack of size up front. Add in the fact that Taj Gibson is expected to miss tonight’s game, and Pau goes from a good play to a great one. He has played more than 40 minutes a few times this year, and has put up more than 45 fantasy points in all of them. He could hit that threshold tonight with relative ease.

Zach Randolph, Grizzlies ($8,500): Randolph had solid games against both LaMarcus Aldridge and Serge Ibaka, two good defenders. Now he gets to take on the Clippers, who have a big hole in the middle where Blake Griffin used to be. Now, Griffin was not a great defender by any means, but he was good, and an excellent rebounder. Randolph has only been under 30 fantasy points once since mid-January. He won’t fall under that tonight either.

Risky Plays:

Udonis Haslem, Heat ($3,500): The upside is limited, but he is an able-bodied fill in while Chris Bosh is out. For fantasy purposes, he is not as valuable. That said, he has scored 37 fantasy points in his two starts, putting him at 5.4x value. He is a good, cheap option against Philadelphia, but he will have some issues with Nerlens Noel in the middle.

Tim Duncan, Spurs ($7,700): He followed up what might have been his best game of the year against the Clippers with a 18.1 fantasy point performance against the Warriors. Duncan still looks great in good matchup, but he does not have that luxury tonight. The Jazz are one of the best defending frontcourts in the league. The Spurs have been off since Friday, so Duncan should be well rested, but I don’t like this matchup. He will have a hard time getting 30 fantasy points, which is where you need him on the low end to get value out of him.

My Lineups:

A: Gasol and Bass ($14,300)

B: Bass and Haslem ($8,100)

Next: Is Whiteside The Best Option At C?

February 19, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) reacts after dunking a basket against the San Antonio Spurs during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Center:

Bargains:

Alexis Ajinca, Pelicans ($4,200): Ajinca has put up an average of 24.3 fantasy points in his last three games with A.D. out. With Davis out again, that makes Ajinca nearly a lock for 6x value. He is a very good play if you find yourself short on funds at C, or just don’t like any of the top options.

Alex Len, Suns ($4,500): Len has put up 57.7 points in two games since the roster turnover. He is playing the best basketball of the season without Miles Plumlee lurking, and is a great value play right now. He even put up 25 fantasy points, over 5x value, against Joakim Noah and the Bulls. He should be able to do the same against the Celtics and whoever they throw at him.

Worth The Cost:

DeAndre Jordan, Clippers ($8,900): Jordan is on such a roll that he even put up 35 fantasy points against DeMarcus Cousins and the Kings on Saturday. Before Griffin got hurt, Jordan struggled against teams with size in the middle. Now his idea of struggling is a 35 fantasy point game. He has a tough matchup against the Grizzlies tonight, but he may be the only C that can get you 35 points if you have the money to put him in your lineup.

Hassan Whiteside, Heat ($7,800): His ankle issues finally seem to have subsided. He is one of the few guys at his price that is a constant threat to hit 50 fantasy points, but he is also one of the few that scores in the low 20’s on occasion. that said, those games were when he was either battling ankle issues or playing time, both of which seem to be non-factors now. Play him with confidence against the Sixers tonight.

Marc Gasol, Grizzlies ($7,900): Gasol is still one of the most consistent options anywhere. He has only been under 20 fantasy points once since Christmas, and usually is right around his 36.5 point season average. DeAndre Jordan could provide some resistance, but Gasol contributes enough across the board to still put up 30 fantasy points.

Risky Plays:

Brook Lopez, Nets ($6,600): It appears that Lopez has held off Thaddeus Young for now, but he won’t be racking up 35+ minutes anymore with Young backing him up at PF. He has had four fantasy games under 25 points in his last ten games, but has also had one game over 40 and one over 60. He is a risk, but there can be a huge reward in the right situation. Like tonight against Denver.

Joakim Noah, Bulls ($6,800): Noah is in the midst of his best stretch of games this season. He has scored over 30 fantasy points in three straight, and seven of his last ten. So what’s the problem? He has been under 20 in the other three. He still presents a fairly big risk, but the matchup with Milwaukee tonight looks tantalizing.

My Lineups:

A: Len ($4,500)

B: Whiteside ($7,800)

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