FanDuel Economics: NBA Tuesday, March 29th

Welcome to Tuesday, March 29th’s edition of FanDuel Economics, a daily fantasy column focused on FanDuel player salaries and FanDuel points-per-game (PPG) trends. The purpose of this column is to evaluate player salary and PPG averages over a seven day period to provide daily fantasy sports players with a vital tool in their lineup tool belt. Finding the best value options often leads to a big pay day!

For a Tuesday, the NBA schedule is unusually hot again tonight. We have 6 matchups and several expensive, but valuable, players to consider putting into our lineups. However, keep your eye on lineup changes throughout the day & evening. As the season comes to a close, expect playoff teams to rest some of their best players. The SF position provides a few great but difficult decisions to make between players like Kevin Durant and Paul George. LeBron is resting tonight, which does make the SF position a little easier. We also have to consider Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry, and John Wall at the PG position. Wall and Curry are especially enticing tonight because every time they play each other they seem to go bonkers and rack up buckets of FanDuel points. So let’s take a look at some other value options allowing us to afford playing the ‘money’ players tonight:

Point Guard (PG)

Ishmael Smith, aka ‘Ish’ Smith, has been on an absolute tear lately for the floundering 76ers. Ish has averaged 35.3 PPG over the last seven days with a salary of only $6,800 tonight. That makes Smith the cheapest option of the top 10 PGs, over the last week. Chris Paul, for example, averaged 35.8 over the same period but you’re paying $9,600 for him tonight. So playing Smith could save you $2,800 on roughly 35 points. Smith dropped 42.6 points in his most recent game and plays the Hornets tonight at home. Seriously consider playing some Ish tonight!

Elfrid Payton has quietly averaged 32.4 PPG over the last week and his salary has only climbed $300, to $5,700, for tonight. He’s 11^th among PGs during that period of time and by far the cheapest. Payton has more points than Derrick Rose (28.3) and Kemba Walker (25.2) over the same period but you’re paying $6,800 for Rose and $7,800 for Walker. Elfrid will offer you great value against the Nets tonight.

Shooting Guard (SG)

Obviously Klay Thompson is good, so are the Warriors. We all know that. I realize this is new to no one! However, when plugging in your SG’s tonight, ponder the following. If you can’t afford Harden because you’re going big in another position, consider Klay Thompson over Jimmy Butler or Victor Oladipo. Klay has averaged 39.8 PPG over the last seven days and you’re paying $7,400 for him tonight, which is a decent bargain. Oladipo averaged 37.6 PPG and Butler 33.5 PPG over the same period, AND you’re paying $8,400 for Victor or $8,000 for Butler. So why not save $600-$1,000 with Thompson, at home against the Wizards, while still getting 40 points?

Jeremy Lin doesn’t exactly jump off the stat sheet or box score over the last week, especially with his 11 point stinker against Detroit. But, Lin does offer an appealing option if you’re trying to find a 20+ possibility at a cheap price to pair with Harden. Over the last week, Lin has averaged 26.4 PPG and his salary is only $4,200 tonight. Lin is 13^th PPG among all SG’s over the last seven days and he’s easily the cheapest option, the next cheapest in the top 15 being Monta Ellis at $6,800. He’s worth taking a risk if you need the money elsewhere.

Small Forward (SF)

I wrote about Robert Covington in my Easter Sunday edition and he didn’t disappoint. Covington has averaged 30.9 PPG and is again only $6,100 tonight which makes him easily the cheapest option among the top 10 SF’s. In fact, Nicolas Batum and Paul George are only averaging around 33 PPG and you’re paying $7,800 to $8,700 for each for 2 more PPG. Get Covington into your lineup tonight before his salary jumps!

If you’re using your FanDuel app to find this guy, you’re going to want to keep scrolling down. Sergey Karasev sounds like a left winger on the Detriot Red Wings (I also love hockey), not a SF for the Brooklyn Nets. But, he started last game and was impressive. It’s also likely Karasev is getting another start tonight and more minutes as the Nets season comes to a close. Karasev’s salary tonight is a very cheap $3,500. Sergey is only a solid 21.1 PPG over the last week, but he’s by far the cheapest top 25 SG, Hollis Thompson (who’s also a decent value option tonight) being your next cheapest at $4,500. Karasev is someone to consider if you’re really trying to go big points in your other lineup spots.

Power Forward (PF)

With LeBron James resting tonight, this one is sort of a no brainer. Kevin Love is averaging 39.8 PPG over the last week, and his salary is only $6,900. He’s 2^nd over the past week only to Draymond Green in PPG among all PF’s. Did I mention LeBron James is sitting tonight? With the Cavs’ already clinching the division, we may hear Love is sitting as well, so keep your eyes on the lineup updates. But if he plays, it’s hard to pass on Kevin Love tonight.

Check out some other great ‘No LeBron’ specials in my good friend 2Lock’s Picks and Pivots column: NBA Picks and Pivots – FanDuel Picks March 29

It’s been a while since I’ve looked at Serge Ibaka, but he’s made his case lately to play him. Ibaka is averaging 29.1 PPG over the last week and his salary is only $5,400 tonight. Serge is a better option than Myles Turner or Aaron Gordon, who are only averaging around 25 PPG and you’re paying $300 more ($5,700) for their spot in the lineup. Ibaka is a good value play to allow room for Draymond Green.

Center (C)

Fortunately for people who like playing Andre Drummond in FanDuel lineups, they don’t negate points for missed free throws (not a suggestion FanDuel…just a thank you). And as a fantasy league owner of Drummond, it pains me to promote him (because of FT%), but tonight’s value begs to differ! Over the last week, Andre is a top 5 Center averaging 42.4 PPG. Tonight his salary is $8,000, which may seem steep but compared to Gasol at $8,600, who’s averaging 29.8 PPG, Drummond is a bargain. You could pay $100 less for Brook Lopez ($8,100) but Lopez is averaging about a 1 PPG less, so it’s not much a savings. And you have a steep drop off in PPG to Howard or Gortat, so Drummond is a clear value option of the top 10 Center’s tonight.

Next: Cincinnati Reds 2016 Fantasy Outlook

I wish you all well tonight FanDuelers! Spend smartly and enjoy the return on your savings!