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FanDuel daily picks: Fantasy basketball lineup – April 14, 2018

By Jeremy Lambert

DALLAS, TX - DECEMBER 12: Head coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs talks with LaMarcus Aldridge
DALLAS, TX - DECEMBER 12: Head coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs talks with LaMarcus Aldridge /
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CLEVELAND, OH – APRIL 5: John Wall #2 of the Washington Wizards celebrates after scoring against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half at Quicken Loans Arena on April 5, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Wizards 119-115. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Wizards-Raptors (Game 1)

High Salary (Wizards)

John Wall ($9,400): Wall didn’t suit up for any regular season matchup with the Raptors. He ended the season strong and looks ready to go for the playoffs. The Wizards are a team who believe in their ability and know they can compete with the Raptors. Meanwhile, Toronto is a team with doubt given their Game 1 history. There are few doubts about Wall heading into this series. *****

Bradley Beal ($7,900): Beal averaged 43.2 fantasy points in four regular season games against Toronto. As mentioned, Wall didn’t play in those contests, so he was the top option. The Raptors are strong against both guard positions, but even the best teams have a tough time slowing down these two All-Stars. ****

High Salary (Raptors)

DeMar DeRozan ($7,000): Toronto limped across the finish line, but with the top seed all but wrapped up weeks ago, maybe things weren’t as bad as they looked. That said, they’ve never proven they can flip a switch and their Game 1 history speaks for itself. DeRozan averaged 44.9 fantasy points in four games against Washington in the regular season. There are question marks, but he’s a good bet at this salary. ****

Kyle Lowry ($6,800): Lowry was under 30 fantasy points in three of four games against Washington. He did had 52.5 fantasy points in the other contest. He hit value in just 53 percent of games during the regular season. The salary is low enough to tempt you and likely means he’ll hit value. But it’s tough to trust either Toronto All-Star. ***

High Value (Wizards)

Otto Porter Jr. ($5,900): Porter Jr. is currently listed as questionable, so check his status before making any decisions. He struggled with consistency with Wall back in the lineup to end the season, but remains a strong third option. The injury issues are a concern, but at this price, he should get you at least value. ***

Marcin Gortat ($4,700): Gortat is not only better with Wall in the lineup, but he played very well against Toronto in the regular season. In four games, he averaged 27.8 fantasy points. The Wizards are more well-rounded with Markieff Morris at center, but the chemistry between Gortat and Wall is real. ***

High Value (Raptors)

Serge Ibaka ($5,900): Ibaka saw his hot streak end in the last game of the season. That is concerning as he’s always been a streaky player. With a couple of days off, maybe he’ll be able to regroup and bounce back. Historically, Ibaka is a strong player in the playoffs. But he wasn’t good against Washington in the regular season. He’s a risk, but the reward is over 30 fantasy points. **

Fred VanVleet ($4,200): VanVleet is questionable, so check his status before making any decisions. If he plays, expect him to have success. There aren’t many guarantees with Toronto, but he should find success against a weak Washington bench. He played very well against Satoransky during the regular season and the Raptors bench is a big advantage in this series. ***

Role Players

Washington: Kelly Oubre Jr. struggled against the Raptors in the regular season, but will see solid minutes off the bench and can contribute with scoring and rebounding. Tomas Satoransky played well as a starter against Toronto, but if he’s not out there with Wall or Beal, don’t expect him to fare well against the Toronto bench. Markieff Morris is a decent bet at his salary.

Toronto: Jonas Valanciunas underperformed against Washington in the regular season. He can put up points and rebounds in limited minutes, but is a risk at his salary. Delon Wright’s value goes up if VanVleet can’t play. There’s a lot to like from the Toronto bench, but identifying which player will have success is tough. Players from other games provide more reliability.