Fansided

Daily Fantasy Basketball: FanDuel Lineups For March 5

By Mike Marteny

facebooktwitterreddit

Mar 4, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after being fouled on a made basket against the Philadelphia 76ers during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

There are only two games in the NBA tonight, so you have to get creative to separate yourself from the crowd.

More from FanDuel

Here are my FanDuel Lineups For March 5:

Point Guards:

Bargain:

Aaron Brooks, Bulls ($4,800): When his shot is falling, he scores like someone twice his price in FanDuel. The only problem has been the shot falling part. He has the minutes for the taking, and is clearly to best option to run the team with Derrick Rose out, but he has trouble reaching just 4x value when he can’t put up points. That said, with Jimmy Butler out too, someone has to create from the outside. That means Brooks can shoot until it hurts and Joakim Noah’s rebounding totals will double.

Worth The Cost:

Russell Westbrook, Thunder ($12,000): I never thought that I would see the day when I could say someone priced at 1/5 of your daily salary was worth it. Westbrook is worth that and more right now. He became the first person since Michael Jordan in 1988-89 to record four consecutive triple doubles. If you are too young to remember, the Bulls didn’t have much of anything around Jordan then. He carried the team that season, in what many regard as his best individual season. How fitting would it be for Westbrook to get his fifth straight against the Bulls?

D.J. Augustin, Thunder ($6,800): Augustin filled in so well for Westbrook that the Thunder allowed him to garner several minutes on the court with Westbrook last night. He responded with 26.8 fantasy points. There is still some risk involved, but it he is going to log minutes with Westbrook, it might make him worth a shot.

Risky Plays:

Damian Lillard, Trailblazers ($8,700): Lillard was abysmal from the field last night, scoring only five points on 1-13 shots. He did grab a career high 18 rebounds to push his fantasy point total up near 30 anyway. The only reason he may not be worth it tonight is because of Rajon Rondo. He is not much of a factor on offense anymore, but he still plays tough defense. Lillard probably wont get much over 30 again tonight, if at all.

Rajon Rondo, Mavericks ($5,400): Rondo has back to back games of over 20 fantasy points, but his assist totals are still lacking. He has just eight in the two games. He likely won’t score like that (27 points in those two games) with enough frequency to make him worth the price, which still leaves him as an incredible risk.

My Lineups:

A and B: Westbrook and Brooks ($16,800)

Next: Who Is The Best Option With Butler Out?

March 4, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Wesley Matthews (2) shoots against the defense of Los Angeles Clippers guard J.J. Redick (4) during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Shooting Guards:

Bargains:

Tony Snell, Bulls ($3,800): Snell is getting the minutes, but has yet to match that with production. He is still scoring in double digits, but is not adding much to that. The good thing is that keeps his price low, but it also makes him much less of a bargain. That said, we all know that he has the potential to explode at any time.

Dion Waiters, Thunder ($4,400): Waiters put up a double-double off of the bench last night. Of course, his issue this year has been doing anything with consistency. He should have a shot at more minutes against the Bulls tonight, which makes him an interesting option. Snell is not nearly the force at the defensive end that Butler is.

Worth The Cost:

Monta Ellis, Mavericks ($6,700): There is no sure thing at SG tonight. Ellis is the closest one to it since he has scored 20 or more fantasy points in eight straight games. That said, he has only been at or over 30 three times. Still, he is the only one that is a sure 20 points at SG tonight.

Wesley Matthews, Trailblazers ($6,400): Matthews has not suffered with Arron Afflalo in town. He has bee over 20 fantasy points in every game since he arrived except for the Memphis one, and that can be excused. Matthews has been on fire of late, putting up a nice 32 fantasy points per game average over his last four games.

Risky Play:

Arron Afflalo, Trailblazers ($4,700): Afflalo is getting minutes, but he is clearly the fourth option at best on the offensive end. That makes whatever he can contribute sporadic at best. Afflalo has only been over 20 fantasy points once with his new team, and has been under 15 the rest of the time. He is too big of a risk to take, even on a night like this.

My Lineups:

A: Ellis and Snell ($10,500)

B: Waiters and Snell ($8,200)

Next: Who Should You Play With Durant Out?

March 4, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum (88) shoots against the Los Angeles Clippers during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Small Forwards:

Bargain:

Richard Jefferson, Mavericks ($3,600): Let’s be honest here. Anyone not named Nicolas Batum is a big risk. Guessing right at your second SF position could be the difference between making money and not tonight. Jefferson is still starting for Dallas, but has only been over 20 fantasy points twice. That said, he has not been under ten, which is more than I can say for anyone else

Worth The Cost:

Nicolas Batum, Trailblazers ($5,600): Batum went nuts on the Clippers last night for 45.4 fantasy points in a come from behind victory. Batum has been over 20 fantasy points in eight of his last ten games, and is by far the best SF option tonight. It’s not even close!

Risky Plays:

Mike Dunleavy, Bulls ($3,900): Dunleavy has been anywhere from 0.2 to 39.1 fantasy points in his last seven games. If that isn’t risky, I don’t know what is! He has played at least 20 minutes in all of those games, so it’s not like the 0.2 was because of playing time.

Al-Farouq Aminu, Mavericks ($4,600): His scoring is not very consistent, but he is still playing 25 minutes a game. He has been over 30 fantasy points twice, and over 20 two other times in his last ten. He has also been in single digits three times.

My Lineups:

A: Batum and Jefferson ($9,200)

B: Batum and Dunleavy ($9,500)

Next: Lots Of Good Options At PF

Mar 1, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) runs back on defense after scoring a basket against the Sacramento Kings during the fourth quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Sacramento Kings 110-99. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Power Forwards:

Bargains:

Nikola Mirotic, Bulls ($4,700): Taj Gibson is still out, which means Mirotic will likely start again. If not, he will see big minutes off of the bench. In the last two games with Gibson out, he has put up 72.4 fantasy points in just 63 minutes. He is the best bargain of the night!

Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks ($6,300): Dirk will no longer get you 40 fantasy points a game, but he is still occasionally in the low 30’s, and rarely is he below 20. If you can’t afford one of the pricy options, he is a suitable substitute.

Worth The Cost:

LaMarcus Aldridge, Trailblazers ($9,800): LMA has been over 40 fantasy points in three straight games. Tonight he gets the Mavericks, who don’t have anyone that can stop him. He should have no trouble getting 40 again, and is the most sure bet at PF if you can afford him.

Pau Gasol, Bulls ($9,400): Gasol’s numbers have taken a hit since Joakim Noah came to life, but he is still putting up 35 fantasy points per game in his last ten. That is only 4x value, but FanDuel won’t be like last night. We are not going to see anyone racking up 431 points like the winner did in the turbo last night. 4x value might be as good as you get.

Risky Play:

Serge Ibaka, Thunder ($8,200): Ibaka had his worst night of the season against Philadelphia last night with just 9.4 fantasy points in 31 minutes. He had as many blocks (4) as points and rebounds combined! I am quite sure that he can be nowhere near that bad again, but Pau could make him struggle again. He is a bit of a risk tonight, but one worth taking if you can’t afford the big two.

My Lineups:

A: Aldridge and Mirotic ($14,500)

B: Aldridge and Gasol ($19,200)

Next: Good Options At C As Well

Mar 4, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter (34) drives to the basket against Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlens Noel (4) and Philadelphia 76ers guard Jason Richardson (23) during the third quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Center:

Bargain:

Enes Kanter, Thunder ($6,000): Kanter has averaged 29 fantasy points per game for the Thunder, making him a solid 5x value. If you can’t afford Joakim Noah, Kanter is a suitable plan B against the Bulls. Just expect closer to 4x value than 5 against Noah.

Worth The Cost:

Joakim Noah, Bulls ($7,400): Noah has not been under 30 fantasy points since February 23rd, and has been over 30 in seven of his last eight games. He has turned it on when his team needs him, and is approaching 5x value every night now. He has a nice matchup against the Thunder tonight. He is far and away the best option at center, and one of the best in the entire game tonight.

Risky Plays:

Tyson Chandler, Mavericks ($6,100): I like Chandler’s matchup, but I don’t like his ailing hip. The chances of him getting to 30 fantasy points for 5x value are not very good. He hasn’t hit 30 since late January when he has played, and various ailments are starting to catch up to him. I would bet that the Mavs will limit his minutes now that they have a suitable backup in Amare Stoudemire. I would let Chandler be for now.

Robin Lopez, Trailblazers ($5,000): He takes up a lot of space in the middle, but doesn’t do much for stat sheets. Lopez has only been over 20 fantasy points half the time in his last ten games. If you are out of cash, he is not a horrible option, but I would try to find the thousand to get to Kanter.

My Lineups:

A: Noah ($7,400)

B: Kanter ($6,000)

Next: Is Faried Back On Track?

More from FanSided