DraftKings Late NBA Picks for February 25
By Mike Marteny
DraftKings Late NBA Picks for February 25
There are seven games in the main DraftKings tournament for Saturday night. We have the two game early slate covered as well, so don’t worry about that!
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Last night, Victor Oladipo and Kyle Lowry were scratched shortly before game time, and in the case of Oladipo, he was scratched after the main tournament locked. Can we please inundate DraftKings with vicious emails to get them to stop this whole thing locking at the same time nonsense? I know many of you reader have been burned by this all season long. I have been a few times as well. Its enough to take some of the fun out of daily fantasy sports.
I can’t stress enough how important it is to watch our Twitter feed right up until lock time. We will try and relay the information out to you as soon as we can, along with any lineup changes. If you aren’t able to do that, my best advice is to lay off of anyone that may be injured.
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Point Guards
Best Bets:
Kyrie Irving ($8,400): His numbers usually go up with Kevin Love out, but they didn’t on Thursday. Why? Irving played only 30 minutes in the blowout win. The Bulls are essentially throwing darts and seeing what sticks right now. This game could stay close though, seeing how the Bulls scored 128 points last night. If the game stays close, Irving should have no issues with 5x value. He had 40.5 DraftKings points in the first game against Chicago.
Goran Dragic ($6,800): Dragic went over 5x value for the eighth time in 11 games last night. Considering how Jrue Holiday cooled off over the break and how Jeff Teague has struggled against Miami this year, I feel much more comfortable using his counterpart.
Honorable Mention:
Stephen Curry ($9,800): Yawn. Curry put up video game numbers again on Thursday. It is becoming commonplace for him to put up big stats, but I do have a little bit of a concern here. Sure, he picked up 38.5 DraftKings points against Brooklyn in the first meeting, but he only played 32 minutes. There is a strong chance of a blowout here, which significantly decreases his chance of hitting value.
Ricky Rubio ($6,600): Rubio struggled against Denver before the break, but he had been playing very well up until then after Zach LaVine went down. Rubio has 76.75 DraftKings points in two games against Houston so far this year. He is a solid bet again tonight, and he has topped 40 DraftKings points in five of the past seven games. It could be six of eight after tonight.
Dennis Schroder ($6,200): Schroder was suspended last night because he was late getting back from Germany after the All Star Break. All should be well for Schroder now, who has averaged 41.3 DraftKings points in three games against the Magic this season. Schroder had more than 30 DraftKings points in five of the last six games before the All Star Break. He may finally be finding some consistency!
Dark Horses:
Elfrid Payton ($5,500): Payton has put up some robust numbers for his price against the Hawks. Schroder is often a matador on defense. Payton has taken advantage with a 35.8 DraftKings points average in three games against Atlanta this year. Payton is a great place to save some money if you need to.
Tyler Johnson ($5,100): Johnson remains the favorite of bargain hunters everywhere. He is a DFS All Star, having topped 5x value in nine of the last 11 games, and going over 6x value in seven of those. He is a great place to save some cash and hit that elusive 6x value. Case in point: he picked up 34.25 DraftKings points in the first game with Indiana.
My picks: Payton(PG), Johnson(G); Rubio(PG)
Shooting Guards
Best Bets:
James Harden ($12,200): Harden has put up 128.25 DraftKings points in just two games against the Timberwolves. They had no answer for him with LaVine in the lineup. They really don’t now. His chances for a 60+ point game are high, and they need to be. 60 still wouldn’t put him at 5x value. There is the risk involved.
Jimmy Butler ($9,000): Butler has fared well against Cleveland this year. In two games, he has 97.5 DraftKings points. Butler gets a little bit of a boost if Dwyane Wade has to sit. We will have to see if the Bulls are comfortable playing him in back to back games. However, I would much rather have LeBron on Butler than Iman Shumpert. Shumpert will defend Wade if he is in there.
Honorable Mention:
Dion Waiters ($7,000): Waiters has now gone over 5x value in each of the last three games, and in eight of the last 11. He has turned into one of the go-to guys on this team and has proven to have a high floor. Waiters still hit well over 4x value in those three games that he missed 5x. Not many can say that.
Klay Thompson ($6,800): Thompson put up 41.75 DraftKings points in the first game against Brooklyn, and that was before his hot streak. Thompson has shot over 50% from the field in each of the last six games, and has hit multiple three pointers in 18 straight. His game against the Clippers on Thursday was the first time he has been below 30 DraftKings points in more than a month.
Dark Horses:
Seth Curry ($5,000): Shipping Deron Williams out will mean more minutes for Curry and Yogi Ferrell. Curry already has at least 5x value in ten of his last 12 games. He racked up 35.25 DraftKings points last night. He should do so again against a New Orleans backcourt that lost a lot of ammo in the Cousins deal.
Lou Williams ($4,900): Williams has 28.75 DraftKings points in just 18 minutes in his game against the Timberwolves while with the Lakers. His debut for Houston went very well with 35.5 DraftKings points in 25 minutes. The Rockets are going to play Williams enough to blow 5x value out of the water at this price.
Terrence Ross ($4,500): Ross also performed well in his new digs, racking up 27.25 DraftKings points in 33 minutes for the Magic. Atlanta has a lot of guards who play a little defense. Ross could have another big day for his price, even if he does spend much of his time at small forward.
My pick: Ross(SG); Waiters(SG), Curry(G)
Small Forwards
Best Bets:
Kevin Durant ($9,900): Durant blasted Brooklyn for 56.3 DraftKings points in only 33 minutes in the first meeting. The starters will likely play abbreviated minutes again with a blowout likely, but I still trust Durant more than LeBron James for $11,000. Chicago has held LeBron to 51 DraftKings points per game this year. His chances of hitting 5x value aren’t as good as the other high priced players.
Andrew Wiggins ($8,100): Wiggins has been over 5x value in every game since Zach LaVine went down. He has filled the bulk of the scoring void left by LaVine, and his price is finally starting to adjust. Wiggins picked up 73 DraftKings points in two games against Houston with LaVine in there. I like his chances to keep the streak going.
Honorable Mention:
Robert Covington ($6,400): Covington racked up 54.25 DraftKings points against the Wizards last night. The trades that the Sixers made may have helped Covington more than anyone else. Covington had been hot anyway, but that kind of huge performance will have him very highly owned against the Knicks expecting a repeat. Don’t be shocked if he gets it.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson ($5,000): His price is up to the point where he isn’t a lock for 5x value anymore, but he performed nicely last night playing both forward positions. His value took a nice jump when he moved to power forward, but he did play some small forward with Bojan Bogdanovic no longer in town. He scored 28 DraftKings points in the first game against Golden State. That leaves him well above 5x value.
Dark Horses:
Andre Iguodala ($3,900): Iguodala has no upside since he doesn’t start, but he is a lock for 5x value whether the game is a blowout or not. Iggy is on the floor a lot after the first quarter, and he has at least 5x value in seven of the last ten games. He picked up 23.5 DraftKings points in the first game against the Nets. Expect a similar performance here, which is very close to 6x value.
C.J. Miles ($3,600): Miles worked his way back to the starting lineup, and celebrated with 33.5 DraftKings points. The spark also worked as the Pacers beat a pretty good Grizzlies team by ten points. Expect to see Miles in the starting lineup until he cools off. Until then, he should be a great value.
My Pick: Covington(SF); Wiggins(SF), Covington(UTIL)
Power Forwards
Best Bets:
DeMarcus Cousins ($10,700): Cousins dominated the Rockets in his Pelicans debut, racking up 71.5 DraftKings points. Dallas gave up some of their strength up front with Andrew Bogut being sent out to get Noel. Noel isn’t as strong on defense, so Cousins could have another nice game. He picked up 102 DraftKings points in two games against Dallas as a member of the Kings. Will his production stay this high? How much of your salary are you willing to spend to find out?
Karl-Anthony Towns ($10,500): Towns is a man among boys. Especially against Houston. He has 129 DraftKings points in just two games against them. There is risk involved with Cousins, but you know how Towns and Dieng mesh together. Cousins has more upside, but Towns is a sure 5x value, which is still not a sure thing at this price.
Honorable Mention:
Dario Saric ($6,900): Saric has averaged 40.7 DraftKings points over the last five games. He is on an absolute tear right now, and with Joel Embiid still out, the Sixers are thin up front. Saric will get as many minutes as he can handle.
Channing Frye ($5,500): The Cavs did elect to bring Derrick Williams back after they didn’t make a move at the trade deadline, so Frye lost minutes to him again. That said, he has still played an average of 30 minutes per game this stretch with Kevin Love out, and figures to keep doing so. He had a great game against Minnesota, and two uninspiring performances against the Knicks and Pacers. What will he do tonight?
Dark Horses:
Trevor Booker ($4,600): Booker has gone over 5x value in nine of his last 11 games. He doesn’t have a ton of upside, but he is a solid foundation for a cash lineup. Booker has had a few games in the 40’s this year, but they have been few and far between. He is also unlikely to do that against Draymond Green.
Richaun Holmes ($4,400): Holmes picked up his first double-double of the season on Thursday with Ersan Ilyasova gone and Jahlil Okafor ineffective. There is a chance that Holmes could start taking a lot of minutes at center until Embiid returns. At any rate, Holmes figures to see at least 25 minutes a games and to destroy 5x value.
Kyle O’Quinn ($4,300): O’Quinn will get a lot of run with Kristaps Porzingis and Joakim Noah both out for the next few days. He put up 39.75 DraftKings points in only 24 minutes in his only other game against Philadelphia this year, and that was with the Sixers much stronger up front than they are now. O’Quinn could be a huge bargain tonight.
My pick: Towns(PF), Saric(F), Holmes(UTIL); Holmes(PF), O’Quinn(F)
Center
Best Bets:
Anthony Davis ($9,500): Davis was a slight disappointment, picking up “only” 48.25 DraftKings points after winning the MVP of the All Star Game. Cousins had a better game, but both he and Davis ate Houston alive on the interior. There may not be much more resistance from Dallas. Bogut is gone and Nerlens Noel will likely be brought along slowly. That leaves Dirk Nowitzki, Salah Mejri, and Dwight Powell to try and stop these two monsters. Good luck!
Hassan Whiteside ($8,000): Whiteside was a non-factor last night, which could keep his ownership low for tonight. Whiteside abused the Pacers in the first meeting, racking up 57.5 DraftKings points. The same caveats exist with Whiteside still. He is very inconsistent, so buyer beware.
Honorable Mention:
Dwight Howard ($6,800): Howard hasn’t always been worth using in his return home, but he has dominated Nikola Vucevic and the Magic. Not only is he holding the more expensive Vucevic to just 27.9 DraftKings points per game in the three meetings, Howard has average 37.3 against him. I doubt that trend changes here.
Guillermo Hernangomez ($6,500): Hernangomez picked up 34.5 DraftKings points against defensive stalwart Tristan Thompson while starting for Noah again. In his three starts, Hernangomez has averaged 32 DraftKings points. If he hits that average, he hits 5x value. he has a chance for much more against a thin Philadelphia frontcourt.
Myles Turner ($5,700): We all know that aside from blocking shots, Hassan Whiteside isn’t much of a defensive deterrent. Turner picked up 33.75 DraftKings points in his game against him, which would put Turner at 6x value. Of course, we all know that Turner has the potential for more, but much like Whiteside, he is not a consistent producer either.
Dark Horses:
Clint Capela ($5,300): Capela only picked up 14.5 DraftKings points in his only game against Minnesota, but he played just 15 minutes in that game. Capela is the unquestioned starter now, and if he sees his normal 30 minutes, he should have no issue getting 5x value. Despite having talent on the interior, the Timberwolves still allow a lot of fantasy points to opposing players.
Zaza Pachulia ($3,800): Pachulia picked up where he left off with 22 DraftKings points against the Clippers after missing nearly a month. Here’s the kicker: he played just 18 minutes! Pachulia has done a lot with a little as far as minutes go this year. He did play 26 minutes against Brooklyn earlier this year and put up an impressive 41.5 DraftKings points. His playing time will ultimately determine just how great of a value he is tonight.
My pick: Hernangomez(C);Whiteside(C)
Stay tuned for our FanDuel picks, and our picks for NHL and the PGA tour! We even have some EPL picks coming your way! Once again, make sure to follow our Twitter feed leading up to tipoff!