Fantasy Basketball: NBA Draftkings Top plays 12/15 – The Salary Value Edition

Hey Guys! You are checking out the very first article of “Top Plays – Salary Value Edition” Edition! I usually stick to my lock plays article for the NBA but with the NBA DraftKings Slate, I want to be able to dig deeper and have more research done for you guys. Just covering one player from each position doesn’t do justice as some slates are larger than others. Lets get it rolling with the new article! Hope you guys enjoy! Good luck and cash out! 

NBA Draftkings – The Breakdown

So as usually, with any NBA Draftkings slate, we’re going to look at a players stats, usage rate, previous game stats, the opposing teams defensive stats versus the players position, and their salary. A big part of daily fantasy sports is a players salary. We build our lineups around key players and if they are players like Lebron James, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, or Giannis Antetokounmpo then they come along with a hefty price tag. We need a player to hit at least five times their value with their salary to make it “worth it” in a sense but what we really want and need is for it to be around six or possibly even seven times their value. For example, the other night  Russell Westbrook was priced at $10,900 versus the New Orleans Pelicans so we needed him to hit 54.50 fantasy points to return five times his value. Sadly, he did not. This is why we’re switching up the article format and trying to dig even deeper with our NBA Slates.

Now we might not always have multiple players (minimum two) discussed at every position on every article because the NBA has the weirdest schedule this season. Like @ThunderDanDFS stated to us today, the NBA schedule has been 8-4-12-2-10 games for the week. We’re going to be looking at a showdown slate for just two games due to the NBA not knowing what a proper, nice schedule looks like.

Lets not waste any more time and kick off the research for this 6 game NBA Draftkings Slate. As always though, I will be sticking with Draftkings as I rarely play on Fanduel anymore. Good luck and lets cash out! Also don’t forget to participate in the Free Roll on FantasyDraft which FantasyCPR host daily!

NBA Draftkings Top Tier

Russell Westbrook vs. Los Angeles Clippers

Salary: $11,200 – Needs to score 56 fantasy points or more to exceed value

Once again, I rarely target some one as highly priced as Russell Westbrook who is the highest priced point guard on a slate with James Harden who is coming off a huge game. Westbrook is average 55 fantasy points per game but hasn’t hit that mark since two games ago after hitting over 70 fantasy points back to back. With his high price, it’s hard to expect him to return value. But he does get to face the Los Angeles Clippers tonight. Westbrook is now averaging a triple double on the season! He is averaging 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assist per game while seeing the court for 33 minutes per game. Can we expect him to hit 56 fantasy points tonight? It is likely because of his usage rate and what he is doing once again this season. In his previous match-up against the Clippers, Westbrook recorded 32 points, 4 rebounds, and 8 assist so his value is there. The Los Angeles Clippers are allowing point guards to average 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assist per game. If you roster Westbrook, just be prepared for a roller-coaster of a ride on the night.

Mid Tier

Derrick Rose vs. Phoenix Suns

Salary: $6,000 – Needs to score 30 fantasy points or more to exceed value

The resurrection of Derrick Rose‘s career has been amazing since everyone basically wrote him off after all of his injuries. This has been a spectacular season for him and his fans. Derrick Rose has a usage rate of 25% while averaging 18 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assist, plus he averages around 29 minutes per game. He did have a small cold streak but has brought it back these past few games, scoring 42.25, 38.25, and 27.25 fantasy points. The Phoenix Suns are horrible and can’t even make a trade. Really, they got the wrong Brooks mixed up in a three team deal. But they allow point guards to average 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assist per game. Also in 11 games, Derrick Rose averages 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assist. Derrick Rose makes for a great play if you aren’t building a line up with Russell Westbrook or James Harden as he only has a price tag of $6,000 and can easily pay off his price.

Risk Play

Bryn Forbes vs. Chicago Bulls

Salary: $4,200 – Needs to score 21 fantasy points or more to exceed value

Coming in as a cheap play, Bryn Forbes and the San Antonio Spurs get to face the Chicago Bulls who are very similar to the Phoenix Suns, except Chicago only practices for a hour. Bryn Forbes is averaging 27 minutes per game while putting up 12 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assist per game. That stat line plus his salary price is why Forbes is the risk play for the Point Guards position. In his last game against the Chicago Bulls, Forbes was able to put up 13 points, 6 assist and 2 rebounds. It’s nothing to be excited about but it is the Chicago Bulls and while the Spurs are still trying to figure something out, Bryn Forbes can easily hit his 21 fantasy points or even more, especially if the Spurs can blow the Bulls out.

NBA Draftkings Top Tier

DeMar DeRozan vs. Chicago Bulls

Salary: $8,600 – Needs to score 43 fantasy points or more to exceed value

Lets target attacking the Chicago Bulls a little bit more with DeMar Derozan. He’s a huge drop off from James Harden who is priced at $11,100. DeRozan has a usage rate of 29% on the season while averaging 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assist, plus he is averaging 35 minutes per game. In his previous five games, he has scored 48.25, 63, 51.5, 20.5 and 30.5 fantasy points. Only missing his value in his past two games. The last match-up versus the Chicago Bulls, DeRozan put up 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assist. His shots were also dropping and played a total of 34 minutes in a very close match-up. The Chicago Bulls allow shooting guards to average 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assist which gives a good match-up for DeMar DeRozan. His salary isn’t too high-priced where he would hinder your ability to build a great line-up and he can easily reach his value tonight.

Mid Tier

Jaylen Brown vs. Detroit Pistons

Salary: $5,400 – Needs to score 27 fantasy points or more to exceed value

Jaylen Brown has been exceeding value easily in his new role with the Boston Celtics. He started the season off pretty shaky and frustrating for a lot of fantasy owners. Brown is averaging 27 minutes while putting up 12 points, 4 rebounds and just 1 assist per game. But in his previous five games, he put up 20, 25.25, 26.75, 38.75, and 34.75 fantasy points. His stock is rising and he’s at a price that makes a roster build-up to easily with value. In the first game against the Detroit Pistons this season, Brown put up 19 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and then in the second game, he put up 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. There is some “ownership” there when facing the Pistons. On the defensive side of things, the Pistons allow shooting guards to average 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assist. If the match-up is anything like the first two times, Jaylen Brown will easily hit value and give some salary relief on this NBA Draftkings slate.

Risk Play

Nicolas Batum vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Salary: $4,500 – Needs to score 22.50 fantasy points or more to exceed value

Now this is a true risk play as the Charlotte Hornets aren’t the greatest team and they are facing the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers do allow shooting guards to average 25 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assist per game but that is to the starting position. It may be high hoping but Batum could be in play tonight. He is currently averaging 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assist. But in his 28 games against the Lakers, Batum is averaging 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assist which would easily allow him to exceed his value for this match-up. He also is averaging 30 minutes per game so the chances and opportunity is there for Batum. Just be careful when it comes to this one, it is risky.

NBA Draftkings Top Tier

Lebron James vs. Charlotte Hornets

Salary: $10,700 – Needs to score 53.50 fantasy points or more to exceed value

Lebron James isn’t even the highest priced player on the slate and he has a great match-up versus the Charlotte Hornets. James has faced the Hornets 48 times and is averaging 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assist while averaging 37 minutes in all of those games. But in his previous five games, Lebron James has only hit value in three of those games where he scored 61.75, 68, and 61.75 fantasy points. The value is tough to hit when a player is priced high. The Charlotte Hornets are allowing small forwards to average 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assist per game which shows that they could be a tough match-up. While they may play a tough defense, Lebron James is Lebron James which means he can easily dominate in a match where he has complete ownership over them.

Mid Tier

Andrew Wiggins vs. Phoenix Suns

Salary: $6,400 – Needs to score 32 fantasy points or more to exceed value

I dislike this call but it’s hard to ignore. Andrew Wiggins is one of those players that make it difficult to roster him a second or third time throughout an entire season. But he gets to face the Phoenix Suns who, once again, are complete trash and shouldn’t even play in the G-League. They are allowing small forwards to average 24 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assist per game. A good match-up for Wiggins tonight. Andrew Wiggins is averaging 16 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assist per game while playing around 33 minutes per game. But when it comes to facing the Phoenix Suns, he is averaging 21 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assist. He can easily hit his value tonight or he could completely miss it due to the Timberwolves blowing the Suns out of the arena like every other team has been doing.

Risk Play

Mikal Bridges vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

Salary: $3,700 – Needs to score 18.5 fantasy points or more to exceed value

A Phoenix Suns player on the list? Well, it’s a risk play but Mikal Bridges could hit his value easily. With the amount of blowouts that the Suns face, Mikal Bridges could see more time. He is averaging 7 points, 2 rebounds and 1 assist per game while playing around 23 minutes per game. In his past five games, he has scored 14.75, 24.5, 28.75, 13.5, and 14.5 fantasy points. He’s a risk play due to the fact that he barely returns value but he can exceed it by six or seven times if given the opportunity, Minnesota does struggle against small forwards so who knows how this game could go, especially with the Phoenix Suns trying to ship out Trevor Ariza which could give Bridges more opportunities tonight.

NBA Draftkings Top Tier

Paul George vs. Los Angeles Clippers

Salary: $9,200 – Needs to score 46 fantasy points or more to exceed value

Paul George is on a hot streak lately and he probably won’t slow down any time soon even though he shares the floor with Russell Westbrook. In his past five games, he has scored 77.25, 43.25, 48.75, 53.25, and 43.25 fantasy points. With a usage rate of 28%, Westbrook holds a 31% usage rate, Paul George averages 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assist per game while playing 35 minutes per game. He gets to face the Los Angeles Clippers who allow power forwards to average 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 assist per game, a match-up that is hard to pass up on. In 15 games versus the Los Angeles Clippers, Paul George has averaged 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assist. For what Paul George has been doing and how consistent he has been playing, his price tag isn’t really that high. He is a top play with a good match-up and a good history versus the Clippers.

Mid Tier

Kyle Kuzma vs. Charlotte Hornets

Salary: $7,800 – Needs to score 39 fantasy points or more to exceed value

Kyle Kuzma is only $7,800 and that seems like disrespect! The last time that Kyle Kuzma hit below 40 fantasy points was on November 29th and that was a low score of 25.25. In his past five games, he scored 41.75, 44, 47.75, 43.25, and 40.75 fantasy points. Why disrespect the man any further? Kuzma has a usage rate of 22% while averaging 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assist per game, plus sees the floor 32 minutes on average. Charlotte is allowing power forwards to average 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assist per game. This is a match-up that we probably shouldn’t pass up and I may even roster Kuzma and Paul George together due to both having a great match-up.

Risk Play

Marvin Williams vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Salary: $5,100 – Needs to score 25.5 fantasy points or more to exceed value

We threw Marvin Williams as the risk play last night so why not continue that tonight? It probably isn’t considered a risk play then? Last night, Williams finished with 33.75 fantasy points, exceeding his value and he should be able to do that once again versus the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers are allowing power forwards to average 19 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assist per game to starting forwards but Williams should still see his opportunities. Williams is averaging 9 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 assist per game while being on the floor for 26 minutes. Williams should easily be able to hit value tonight, especially with the consistency that he has been playing at.

NBA Draftkings Top Tier

Karl Anthony-Towns vs. Phoenix Suns

Salary: $9,800 – Needs to score 49 fantasy points or more to exceed

It’s like I’m a broken record or something because the Phoenix Suns are just trash, really stinky trash. Karl Anthony-Towns gets to go against a Suns defense that allows centers to average 25 points, 17 rebounds and 3 assists per game. In his past five games, KAT has scored 50.75, 73, 40, 52.75, and 46.25 fantasy points. With a usage rate of 26%, KAT is averaging a double double with 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 assist per game. In 11 games versus the Suns, KAT is averaging 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 assist per game. Karl Anthony-Towns does have a heftier price tag in a match-up that he could and should dominate in, but if things go the way that we think it will, KAT will be a big part of it.

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Mid Tier

LaMarcus Aldridge vs. Chicago Bulls

Salary: $7,900 – Needs to score 39.5 fantasy points or more to exceed

Facing a struggling and practice-less Chicago Bulls, LaMarcus Aldridge is in store for a good match-up. Aldridge has had very up and down nights this where he hits value and then misses it completely. He is averaging 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 assists per game. He has a usage rate of 26% and it depends on the play of DeMar DeRozan also. If DeRozan is off then the Spurs will have to look elsewhere like LaMarcus Aldridge which would be a huge advantage for the big man. The Chicago Bulls are allowing centers to average 25 points, 17 rebounds, and 4 assist to the center position. In 24 games versus the Chicago Bulls, Aldridge is averaging 20 points and 8 rebounds. While he comes at a cheaper price then Karl Anthony-Towns, he also has the upside to return value or even exceed it.

Risk Play

Daniel Theis vs. Detroit Pistons

Salary: $4,300 – Needs to score 21.5 fantasy points or more to exceed

Daniel Theis once exceeded value by a sixteen last week which is truly insane but then again his price tag is extremely low. Theis does have to compete with Aron Baynes now since he has returned from injury. But there is a lot of upside when it comes to Theis because when he gets the minutes he can exceed his value very easily. But he can also return value when he gets around 20 minutes, it just depends on what direction the coaching staff is going in. Theis is averaging 7 points and 3 rebounds per game but averages 14 minutes per game also. The last time Theis did face Detroit Pistons, he played 19 minutes while scoring 17 points with 8 rebounds. This is why he’s a risk play due to hoping he can go off once again against the Detroit Pistons.

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