Fantasy Basketball: NBA Draftkings Top Salary Value Plays 1/7/19

Welcome back once again to the NBA Draftkings Top Salary Value Plays! Yesterday we had a rough two slate day for a Sunday with an early and main slate. Russell Westbrook returned to what seemed to be his normal, dominating self and Andrew Wiggins dominated the Los Angeles Lakers once again. Now we are in store to kick our Monday off with an 8 game slate. So lets cash out! Good luck!

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.

Lets not waste any more time and kick off the research for this 8 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!

NBA Draftkings – Top Tier

Damian Lillard vs. New York Knicks

Salary: $9,000 – Needs to score 45 fantasy points or more to exceed value

We’re kicking off the article with the Oakland boy, Damian Lillard. Lillard gets to face the New Orleans Pelicans that are allowing point guards to average 23 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assist and with the way that Lillard is playing, it’s a great match-up. On the season, he is averaging 26 points, 6 assist, and 5 rebounds in 35 minutes of floor time. He has also faced the New Orleans 21 times in his career, averaging 24 points, 6 assist and 4 rebounds. The two teams also faced off earlier this season where he recorded 26 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assist.

With the numbers being there against New Orleans, Damian Lillard has returned value in three of his last five games, scoring 53.5, 29.3, 41.5, 37.5, and 45.8 fantasy points. Lillard hasn’t had the most consistent play this year or in returning value but averaging 44.3 fantasy points per game, this match-up is one to lock in.

Other Valuable Option

Ricky Rubio vs. Milwaukee Bucks

Salary: $5,600 – Needs to score 28 points or more to exceed value

While we do have a very deep depth to choose from, Ricky Rubio has a pretty good match-up versus the Milwaukee Bucks tonight. He has faced this team 10 times in his career, averaging almost a double double with 10 points, 8 rebounds and with 3 steals on defense. The two teams have yet to meet this season though which might cause some concern due to the Bucks playing at a higher level right now.

Ricky Rubio though is playing at a nice level along side Donovan Mitchell this season, averaging 13 points, 6 assist, and 4 rebounds. Plus his ceiling to return value is easily there as he is averaging 30 minutes per game. But he has only returned value in two of his last five games, scoring 31.8, 16.8, 32, 28, and 27 fantasy points. Being on the cheaper side, Rubio is another salary value play.

NBA Draftkings – Top Tier

James Harden vs. Denver Nuggets

Salary: $12,000 – Needs to score 60 fantasy points or more to exceed value

I expected James Harden to finish under his value versus the Portland Trailblazers but I don’t expect that to happen again. Him and the Trailblazers have a bad relationship when it comes to Daily Fantasy Sports. But now he gets to face the Denver Nuggets once again but at a high cost. In 32 games against the Denver Nuggets, James Harden is averaging 22 points, 6 assist and 5 rebounds. But when the two met earlier this season and with a healthy lineup, Harden recorded a double double, scoring 22 points, 11 assist, and 5 rebounds. We should have nothing to worry about this time since it’s all on James Harden to carry the team.

Denver does have a pretty tough defense against shooting guards, only allowing them to average 20 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assist which would leave Harden coming in under value once again. I doubt it though. Besides his last match-up on Saturday versus the Portland Trailblazers, Harden exceeded value in 11 straight games. He’s just too hard to fade currently.

Other Valuable Option

Buddy Hield vs. Orlando Magic

Salary: $7,100 – Needs to score 35.5 fantasy points or more to exceed value

My man Buddy Hield is in play if you don’t want to play James Harden. But be warned, his price has increased by $400 for this match-up and for good reason. In their first match-up this versus the Orlando Magic, Buddy Hield recorded a double double with 25 points and 11 rebounds, alongside 3 assist. Hield has returned value in three straight games now, scoring 42.8, 38.5, and 48.3 fantasy points.

On the season, Buddy Hield is averaging 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assist in 31 minutes per game. With the Orlando Magic, they are allowing shooting guards to average 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assist per game, basically what Buddy Hield is averaging. If we get the same Buddy Hield from the first match-up, exceeding his 35.5 fantasy points will be no issue.

NBA Draftkings – Top Tier

Tim Hardaway Jr. vs. Portland Trailblazers

Salary: $6,500 – Needs to score 32.5 fantasy points or more to exceed value

We love throwing money away on a Monday. Tim Hardaway Jr. has a great match-up tonight versus the Portland Trailblazers who he put up some nice numbers against in their first meeting. In 9 games, Tim Hardaway Jr, is averaging 17 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assist against the Trailblazers. In their first match-up on November 20th, Hardaway Jr. recorded 32 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assist. We need that performance once again.

On the season, Tim Hardaway Jr. is averaging 20 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assist per game while being on the floor for 33 minutes. In his past five games, Hardaway Jr. has sadly only returned value in two of those games, scoring 28, 34, 21, 20.5, and 34 fantasy points. The final downside to playing Hardaway Jr. is that he shoots until the next day and is only averaging 40% shooting. But tonight, his shot should easily fall with a team he has already performed well against this season.

Other Valuable Option

Luka Doncic vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Salary: $7,700 – Needs to score 38.5 fantasy points or more to exceed value

The rookie is once again in play tonight versus a Los Angeles Lakers team that is struggling as a whole. The Lakers are currently allowing small forwards to average 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assist per game. Close to what Luka Doncic is averaging with 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assist. Doncic didn’t have the prettiest game the last time around versus the Los Angeles Lakers, only recording 6 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assist. But the first time around was much better where Doncic got near a double double with 14 points, 7 assist and 5 rebounds.

In his past five games, Doncic has returned value in 4 of those games, scoring 40.3, 30, 38.5, 36.8, and 34.5 fantasy points. He has the consistency of returning value but can easily exceed value when the Dallas Mavericks are on a roll. If the Lakers are once again without Kyle Kuzma and obviously Lebron James, Doncic should have more opportunities to exceed the value of 38.5 fantasy points.

NBA Draftkings – Top Tier

Anthony Davis vs. Memphis Grizzlies

Salary: $11,600 – Needs to score 58 fantasy points or more to exceed value

We have a pretty stacked power forward tonight but Anthony Davis is at the top of the list plus the salary too. Anthony Davis is having another solid season as he is averaging 28 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assist per game. He also has a nice history versus the Memphis Grizzlies who he is averaging 21 points and 11 rebounds against in 22 games. The two also faced off this season where Davis recorded 25 points and 11 rebounds, an easy double double in 36 minutes. The Memphis Grizzlies are allowing power forwards to average 17 points and 10 rebounds per game.

While the history is there and the Grizzlies do have a slightly better defense this season, Davis is in line for a good match up. He has returned value in three of his last five games, scoring 62.5, 84.3, 47.3, 82.5 and 50 fantasy points. We know exactly what Anthony Davis is capable of this season and you should throw him in play versus a Memphis team that he has a good history against.

Other Valuable Option

Nemanja Bjelica vs. Orlando Magic

Salary: $4,800 – Needs to score 24 fantasy points or more to exceed value

Another cheap but great salary relief play is Nemanja Bjelica versus the Orlando Magic. The Magic’s are currently allowing power forwards to average 21 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assist per game. Bjelica is in great play just off of that stat and this season, he is averaging 11 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assist per game. The sample size versus Orlando is nothing to be excited about but in their first match-up this season, Bjelica recorded 21 points and 8 rebounds, almost a double double in 30 minutes.

In his previous five games, Bjelica was able to return value in four of his games, scoring 31.5, 21.8, 38.8, 31.5, and 32.3 fantasy points. While we get a very high ceiling with Bjelica in a game where the Sacramento Kings play at one of the fastest plays in the NBA, giving him more opportunities to exceed his value.

NBA Draftkings – Top Tier

Nikola Jokic vs. Houston Rockets

Salary: $10,000 – Needs to score 50 fantasy points or more to exceed value

It’s the night of the Nikola’s apparently! Lets start off with the one who holds a better history versus the team that he is facing, Jokic. Nikola Jokic has faced the Houston Rockets 10 times in his career, averaging 13 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. In their first match-up in November, Jokic recorded a double double with 14 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assist, nearing that triple double mark. The Houston Rockets are allowing centers to average 22 points, 15 rebounds, and 3 assist per game. This is a perfect match-up for Nikola Jokic versus this Houston Rockets defense.

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Not only is this a good match-up for Jokic, he has also been on a hot streak, returning value in his past five games. Jokic rarely misses value but when he does, it is pretty bad but we shouldn’t even worry about him due to his consistency this season.

Other Valuable Option

Nikola Vucevic vs. Sacramento Kings

Salary: $9,500 – Needs to score 45.5 fantasy points or more to exceed value

On to the next Nikola, the one who gets to face the Sacramento Kings who struggle to defend centers in the paint. The Kings are currently allowing centers to average 23 points, 19 rebounds, and 3 assist. Vucevic has faced the Sacramento Kings 9 times in his career, averaging 9 points and 8 rebounds against them. The last time the two faced off in October, Vucevic recorded a double double with 15 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 assist. Which we could argue that he is the top play at the center position.

On the other end of that argument, Vucevic only has returned value in 3 of his last five games, scoring 72.8, 47.8, 27.8, 52.5, and 39.3 fantasy points. But like any center that faces this Sacramento Kings defense, does have to keep up with the pace but doesn’t have to worry about another big man defending him. He’ll easily be able to return and even exceeding value tonight versus the Kings.

Stay tuned to Fantasy CPR each and every day for the top NBA DFS picks and advice across DraftKings, FanDuel, FantasyDraft and Yahoo!