NBA Draftkings: Top Salary Value Plays: Another PG13 Night
By Shaun Evans
Welcome back ladies and gentlemen to another installment of NBA Draftkings: Top Salary Value Plays! We’re almost to the NBA All-Star Weekend so time to win those bucks before we get there! Tonight we have a nice 9 game slate and get James Harden, Russell Westbrook, and Paul George all on the same slate. Where do we spend the money to get the top of the line take-down? Well, lets dive in and find out who the top salary value plays are! 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 even Paul George, 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 Paul George was priced at $9,600 versus the New Orleans Pelicans so we needed him to hit 48 fantasy points to return five times his value. Sure enough, Paul George returned value and exceeded it by scoring 54.8. 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 9 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. Oklahoma City Thunder
Salary: $8,600 – Needs to score 43 fantasy points or more to exceed value
Anytime a top-tier point guard gets to face off with Russell Westbrook, we’re usually in for a good showing and tonight we get that once again with Damian Lillard facing off with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Now, Westbrook is another top-tier candidate but he does have a high ceiling to reach, especially with Paul George having an All-Star season. Now Lillard is averaging 26 points, 6 assist, and 4 rebounds with a usage rate of 30%. The two faced off just two weeks ago on Tuesday where Lillard recorded 34 points, 8 assist and 5 rebounds. That 43 fantasy point ceiling, easy to reach again tonight.
Damian Lillard is averaging 44.7 fantasy points per game and 1.27 fantasy points per minute. Lillard has returned value in three of his last five games, scoring 68, 49, and 45.8 fantasy points. The Thunder do only allow opposing point guards to average 19 points, 8 assist and 5 rebounds per game though. We should still see Lillard easily achieve value tonight and he has a nice salary tag under $9k.
Low Tier Option
Reggie Jackson vs. Washington Wizards
Salary: $5,600 – Needs to score 28 fantasy points or more to exceed value
Now this play may go two ways, Reggie Jackson easily hits his low ceiling of 28 fantasy points or Ish Smith takes back half of the minutes ago and stops Jackson from performing well versus this weak Washington Wizards team. The Wizards are allowing opposing point guards to average 23 points, 8 assist and 6 rebounds per game.
On the season, Reggie Jackson is averaging 14 points, 4 assist and 3 rebounds with a usage rate of 22%. He’s also averaging 26.7 fantasy points per game and .92 fantasy points per minute. Honestly, you can potentially play either Reggie Jackson or save $2,200 on salary with Ish Smith who has a ceiling of 17 fantasy points but either point guard should be good to achieve value easily.
NBA Draftkings – Top Tier
Bradley Beal vs. Detroit Pistons
Salary: $8,800 – Needs to score 44 fantasy points or more to exceed value
Bradley Beal is the man in Washington that is dominating like he has always owned it but now he really has too with John Wall out for another season. Beal has a usage rate of 28% while averaging 25 points, 5 assist and 5 rebounds per game. Almost the same as Steph Curry. He now gets to face the Detroit Pistons who are allowing opposing shooting guards to average 23 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assist per game. But in their previous meeting on January 21st, Beal only recorded 16 points, 4 assist with 3 blocks and 1 rebound. Not too impressive except lately, Beal has been on a different level.
He has exceeded value in his past three games, scoring 51, 55.5, and 47 fantasy points. He’s averaging 43.5 fantasy points per game and 1.17 fantasy points per minute. We should see a different Bradley Beal tonight then we saw two weeks ago when these teams previously met.
Low Tier Option
Jordan Clarkson vs. New York Knicks
Salary: $5,200 – Needs to score 26 fantasy points or more to exceed value
It’s very hard to write up a Cleveland Cavalier player on any slate even if they were the only team playing on that said slate. But tonight, Jordan Clarkson has found his way on to my article with his past two performances. He’s averaging 17 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assist per game this season. He has scored 38 and 31.5 fantasy points back to back versus the Washington Wizards and Indiana Pacers.
His salary hasn’t really moved either with it going from $5,200 to $5,300 and now back down to $5,200, a very low ceiling for someone who is heating up. Also the New York Knicks are terrible versus shooting guards, allowing them to average 24 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assist per game. Clarkson should easily be able to hit the 26 fantasy point mark tonight versus a struggling Knicks team and can save you a nice chunk of salary also.
NBA Draftkings – Top Tier
Paul George vs. Portland Trailblazers
Salary: $10.300 – Needs to score 51.5 fantasy points or more to exceed value (66.95 for 6.5x)
We’re at the point where we can officially fade Russell Westbrook for Paul George which is weird to say. PG13 is averaging 28 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assist this season while averaging around 36 minutes per game. Fantasy wise, he is averaging 50.9 fantasy points a game and 1.43 fantasy points per minute. Hard to fade, especially right now. George gets to face a Portland Trailblazers team that is allowing opposing small forwards to average 22 points, 7 assist and 5 rebounds per game.
Paul George has returned value in 12 of his last 13 games also! When it comes to the duo of Paul George and Russell Westbrook, PG13 is the one to go with currently unless you are building a line-up with both in it which can be done with the right value plays.
Low Tier Option
Jabari Parker vs. Detroit Pistons
Salary: $5,600 – Needs to score 28 fantasy points or more to exceed value
For some reason Fanduel and Draftkings aren’t raising a dominating Jabari Parker price tag and simply, I’m not here to complain. Parker, since joining the Washington Wizards, has dominated with back to back performances, scoring 42.8 and 39.3 fantasy points. Those two games did come against a struggling Cleveland Cavaliers team and Parker’s former team, the Chicago Bulls (revenge narrative rang true that night). Now Jabari Parker gets to face a Detroit Pistons team that is allowing opposing small forwards to average 17 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assist. On the season, Parker is averaging 14 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assist.
With the Washington Wizards, Parker is averaging 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assist in just two games. Plus with the Washington Wizards in a struggling, dark time, we should see Parker getting more burn and time to help this team see brighter days. Parker makes for a good salary relief option tonight when it comes to building a line with a top-tier superstar.
NBA Draftkings – Top Tier
Giannis Antetokounmpo vs. Chicago Bulls
Salary: $11,300 – Needs to score 56.5 fantasy points or more to exceed value (73.45 for 6.5x)
This man could truly be the MVP of the 2019 NBA Season, Paul George is a close second but had a late start on that campaign. The Greek Freak is averaging 27 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assist per game. He now gets to face the tanking Chicago Bulls who are allowing opposing power forwards to average 20 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assist per game. This should be a cakewalk for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Greek Freak to dominate tonight.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has returned value four times in his past five games, scoring 54, 67.8, 62, and 60.3 fantasy points. The one thing we should be careful about is resting, Giannis may get that tag tonight due to the All-Star Weekend coming up and the Bucks will easily cruise in taking the East with their dominance.
Low Tier Option
Mason Plumlee vs. Miami Heat
Salary: $5,800 – Needs to score 29 fantasy points or more to exceed value
The play of Mason Plumlee lays in the hands of Paul Milsap who has missed the previous three games and is still questionable for tonight’s match-up but if he does sit, give me all of the Plumlee! Plumlee is averaging 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assist on the season. He has scored 40.3, 37.5, and 30.5 fantasy points in his three previous games, making tonight’s ceiling an easy task to achieve if the cards are dealt right.
Plumlee gets to face a Miami Heat team that is allowing opposing power forwards to average 22 points, 11 rebounds and 3 assist per game. When these two teams met for the first time this season, Mason Plumlee only saw 10 minutes of court time, recording just 6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals. It should be a whole different outcome if Plumlee gets the start as he’ll see close to 30 minutes or even more.
NBA Draftkings – Top Tier
Karl Anthony-Towns vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Salary: $10,000 – Needs to score 50 fantasy points or more to exceed value (65 for 6.5x)
The Los Angeles Clippers are a team that has absolutely no one besides Lou Williams left which means Karl Anthony-Towns is in store for a great night! The Clippers are allowing opposing centers to average 25 points, 17 rebounds, and 4 assist per game so how can we fade this match-up? We can’t. KAT is currently averaging 23 points, 12 rebounds and 3 assist per game while averaging 33 minutes. He’s also averaging 1.43 fantasy points per minute and 49 fantasy points per game.
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Karl Anthony-Towns has returned value in four straight games also, scoring 63.5, 54.5, 49.3, and 52.5 fantasy points. In the previous match-up against the Clippers, KAT recorded a double double with 20 points and 12 rebounds, plus he snagged 3 steals alongside 4 blocks. If this match-up stays close with the Los Angeles Clippers, Karl Anthony-Towns should be able to achieve 5x value but possibly 6.5x value also.
Low Tier Option
Ivica Zubac vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Salary: $4,900 – Needs to score 24.5 fantasy points or more to exceed value
I know I said the Los Angeles Clippers have no one besides Lou Williams but Ivica Zubac is a great, cheap play tonight even against Karl Anthony-Towns. Zubac recorded 12 points and 9 rebounds in his first official start with the Clippers which he should see again tonight. On the season, Zubac is averaging 9 points and 5 rebounds which isn’t anything to be excited about but being the main center on the Clippers, he should be pushing closer to 30 minutes, improving his stats all around. He was also able to return value on Friday, scoring 28.3 fantasy points.
He also sees a good salary jump from $3,500 to $4,900 but it is warranted. If with that price tag, Zubac has a low ceiling of 24.5 fantasy points for 5x value but I see him going over that and pushing his value to 6.5x versus this TImberwolves team. The Wolves are allowing opposing centers to averaging 23 points, 15 rebounds and 3 assist per game. So when it comes to a value play, Ivica Zubac fits that roll very well tonight.
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