DraftKings Late NBA Picks for February 26
By Mike Marteny
DraftKings Late NBA Picks for February 26
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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More stars are on display tonight than last night. One of the matchups placed. The others hit over 290 DraftKings points, but just missed the cash. That’s right. We needed an average of 6x value per dollar to make the cash line last night. Let’s try to find the players most likely to get us above that line!
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Point Guards
Best Bets:
Russell Westbrook ($12,900): Westbrook’s salary keeps going up, and Westbrook still keeps dropping video game like numbers. He now has 28 triple-doubles in 59 games. In three games against the Pelicans, Westbrook has averaged 66.9 DraftKings points per game. The new beef in the middle wont affect Westbrook much. He is a top tier option once again.
Isaiah Thomas ($8,700): Thomas was a disappointment against Toronto in the first game after the break. However, in three games against Detroit this year, Thomas has 135 DraftKings points. That would put him over 5x value, which is what you want from someone this expensive. Detroit’s point guard situation is in flux right now, so there is no reason to expect Thomas to come up short this time around.
Honorable Mention:
Mike Conley ($7,900): Conley has a tasty matchup against Denver tonight, but Conley only scored 65.75 DraftKings points in two previous games against the Nuggets this year. The telling part about that is that Conley played just 56 combined minutes in those games. If this game stays close, Conley should go well above 5x value.
Jrue Holiday ($7,000): It seems as though Cousins and Davis are fluctuating as far as who will be worth those lofty price tags on a nightly basis. However, Holiday is still one of few perimeter threats they have. He had an excellent all around night last night. Holiday has also averaged 37.1 DraftKings points in three games against the Thunder this year. The middle tier is littered with bad matchups and struggling players. I feel much more comfortable with Holiday than Lillard against Joseph, who shut down Thomas on Friday.
Dark Horses:
Austin Rivers ($4,700): Rivers’ production didn’t suffer with the return of Chris Paul. In fact, he was right around the production that he kicked in when he was starting. The Hornets have struggled with perimeter defense this year, and if Rivers sees 27 minutes again, he will have no problems blowing 6x value out of the water.
Ish Smith ($4,500): Smith led the Pistons back from 18 down against the Hornets when he replaced a struggling Reggie Jackson. Smith has outplayed Jackson for most of the last month, and it finally came to a head on Friday. Don’t be surprised if Smith starts tonight. Even if he doesn’t expect Smith to see a healthy minutes load, especially if Jackson continues to struggle.
Cory Joseph ($4,500): Kyle Lowry is out indefinitely, and the Trailblazers are the worst team in the league defending fantasy point guards. After a slow start on Friday, Joseph had a strong second half and still finished with over 8x value. Joseph is a must play, even at this price.
My picks: Holiday(PG), Joseph(G); Westbrook(PG), Joseph(G), Rivers(UTIL)
Shooting Guards
Best Bets:
DeMar DeRozan ($8,800): DeRozan’s numbers with Lowry out are through the roof. True to form, he dropped 55.75 DraftKings points on the Celtics on Friday. McCollum is a good defender, but DeRozan torched him for 49 DraftKings points in their first meeting. I doubt DeRozan hits 6x value because his price went up a lot, but don’t be surprised if he does. The pieces are lining up for it to happen.
C.J. McCollum ($7,600): McCollum played well against Toronto in the first game as well, racking up 44.25 DraftKings points. That would leave McCollum at 6x value if he can do it again, but he lacks the significant upside of DeRozan. However, he should come with much lower ownership.
Honorable Mention:
Nicolas Batum ($6,900): Batum was the star of the early slate yesterday. Now he tangles with a Clippers team that Batum rocked for 47.5 DraftKings points in the first meeting. Batum is usually a consistent force for Charlotte with the occasional big game, just like he had two weeks ago against the Clips.
Gary Harris ($5,600): Despite the whole Denver team being healthy, Harris’s production has remained strong. He has 33.25, 33, and 33 DraftKings points respectively over the last three games. That is exactly 6x value, and exactly what we need to jump the cash line.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope ($5,600): KCP lit up the perimeter on Friday night, hitting seven three pointers en route to one of the bigger fantasy nights of his career. If he shot is falling, he is one of the more dangerous shooters around. He picked up 91.75 DraftKings points in three games against Boston this year. With Avery Bradley still out, he should see plenty of shots. He could be the best bargain of the night again if he hits his threes.
Dark Horses:
Marco Belinelli ($3,500): If you are tired of playing Russian Roulette with Jeremy Lamb, Belinelli is a safer option. He is a better defender, so he sees consistent minutes whereas Lamb does not. Belinelli isn’t the most reliable shooter around, but he has hit 7x value in three of the past five games. He can go a long ways to helping you cash.
Hollis Thompson ($3,000): I much prefer E’Twaun Moore, but considering he was away from the team for a personal issue last night, there is a good chance that he wont play tonight either. Thompson logged 25 minutes last night in his absence, but he failed to score a point. Chalk it up to rust. If Thompson starts again tonight, 6x value should be a cake walk.
My pick: Harris(SG); DeRozan(SG)
Small Forwards
Best Bets:
Gordon Hayward ($7,500): Hayward relies on shooting for a big part of his value, but he is one of the main scorers on this team, which makes him a relatively low risk option with good upside. Washington has not been great against small forwards, so Hayward should be a good option tonight.
Otto Porter ($5,800): Porter has really improved his offensive game this year, but his defense is still a work in progress. He was shut down by Robert Covington on Friday, but has a great chance to get back on track against Utah.
Honorable Mention:
Danilo Gallinari ($5,700): There is inherent risk in using anyone against Memphis, but Gallinari has scored 59 DraftKings points on them in two games this year. However, small forward is a pretty weak position tonight. You are going to have to take a chance somewhere.
Marcus Morris ($5,600): Tobias Harris has a lot more upside, but Morris is the consistent forward in Detroit’s rotation. He has only had two games under 5x value in February, so he makes a nice cash game anchor. Just don’t expect a huge game from him. He is usually between 5 and 6x value.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist ($5,200): MKG has put up 106.5 DraftKings points in the last three games. He doesn’t often score in double digits, but he is almost always in double digits in rebounds. He is one of the best rebounding players at the position, which always gives him solid ground to stand on. I’m seriously considering riding his hot streak again!
Dark Horses:
P.J. Tucker ($4,600): Tucker played 29 minutes in his Toronto debut and put up 29.5 DraftKings points against Boston on Friday. Tucker looks like a great fit for Toronto, and he put up 53 DraftKings points in two games against Portland while with the Suns. Tucker’s production will only increase as he gets more comfortable with his new teammates. I love his chances at 6x value or higher.
Andre Roberson ($4,200): Roberson has at least 6x value in six of the last seven games. The bad news? He had a big fat zero in the other game. However, New Orleans presents a very good matchup for Roberson. He has 75 DraftKings points on them in three games. Hello 6x value!
My Pick: Roberson(SF); Tucker(SF), Morris(F)
Power Forwards
Best Bets:
DeMarcus Cousins ($10,500): It was Davis who was more effective last night, but Cousins has abused the Thunder this year. Boogie has 119.75 DraftKings points in two games against the Thunder this season. Predicting which big man will have the best game will be very difficult, but in a game like this where the Thunder are fairly weak up front, both could.
Blake Griffin ($8,600): Griffin stuck Charlotte for 50 DraftKings points in the first meeting this season. He has also averaged 48.3 DraftKings points in February. Griffin is in peak form right now, and is a much lower risk option than Cousins. He also doesn’t have the upside of Cousins, so it depends on how you choose to build your lineup.
Honorable Mention:
Frank Kaminsky ($6,500): At this point, I don’t think it really matters if Cody Zeller plays or not. It will be Marvin Williams, not Kaminsky, that is affected. Tank put up 45 DraftKings points on the Clippers two weeks ago. He has been over 6x value in seven of the last 11 games. In three more of those, he has topped 7x value. Kaminsky could have another big game tonight.
Serge Ibaka ($6,000): Ibaka was solid in his Toronto debut, and he put up 31.5 DraftKings points against Portland earlier this year. Ibaka doesn’t have nearly the upside that he used to, but he is a solid contributor now. That probably leaves him better suited for cash games.
Dark Horses:
Derrick Favors ($5,100): Favors still has not played more than 26 minutes in a game this year, which does cap his upside. He has also been less than consistent so far in his return. Sometimes he just disappears on the offensive end. However, he has had at least 5x value in two of the last three games. He could be coming around.
Darrell Arthur ($3,300): Kenneth Faried left Friday’s game with a back injury, so he will likely miss tonight’s game. That leaves more minutes open up front for Arthur and Juancho Hernangomez. Arthur racked up 22.25 DraftKings points against Memphis is just 15 minutes earlier this year. He matches up well with the size of Memphis, so Arthur should see at least 20 minutes in this one, and could be a great value.
My pick: Griffin(PF), Kaminsky(UTIL); Arthur(PF)
Center
Best Bets:
Anthony Davis ($9,500): Davis has 147.5 DraftKings points in three games against the Thunder this year, which would put him at 5x value. He was relatively quiet in Cousins’ debut, but still picked up 48.25 DraftKings points. He is a much more reliable option than Cousins right now, and he still has a ton of upside as he showed last night with 63.5 DraftKings points on Dallas.
Andre Drummond ($7,800): If you don’t trust the New Orleans situation, check out Drummond. He has 162 DraftKings points in just three games against Boston this year. The Celtics can’t handle him up front, and didn’t acquire anyone that can either. Drummond should be in for another huge night!
Honorable Mention:
Rudy Gobert ($7,100): Gobert has at least 30 DraftKings points in every game since January 21st, so he has a nice, solid floor. That makes him enticing in cash games, but he also has enough upside that he is useful in GPP scenarios as well. If you want to go solid over highly owned players, Gobert is a solid bet.
Mason Plumlee ($5,600): Nikola Jokic struggled on Friday, and was promptly replaced by Plumlee. For this reason, it is difficult to rely on either one of them right now. Plumlee’s price is nearly $5,000 lower, so if you want to use a Denver big with Faried out, Plumlee is MUCH safer.
Jusuf Nurkic ($5,600): Nurkic has 75 DraftKings points in his two games with Portland. He has a great matchup with Toronto. You know Nurkic will be highly owned, but once again, I don’t think we can afford to fade him. There is too much value here.
Dark Horse:
Jonas Valanciunas ($4,900): Valanciunas picked up 35.25 DraftKings points in his first meeting with Portland. Of course, both teams look different than they did then. Patrick Patterson played well on Friday with Ibaka sliding to center for parts of the game. If that becomes a trend, Valanciunas could start losing a lot of minutes. There is risk involved.
My pick: Drummond(C), Nurkic(UTIL); Nurkic(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!