NBA Draftkings: The Top Salary Value Plays – Russy To PG13

NBA Draftkings Value Plays – 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 so we can find the top Draftkings NBA Value Plays!

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.

In addition to breaking down salary and a players value with their price tag, we are also going to add another section of pairing top-tier and low tier players together for your lineups. We can mix and match all we want with 150+ lineups (we don’t do that though) but in reality, there are usually two or three players we should throw in a lineup together.

Let’s not waste any more time and kick off the research for this 11 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 – The Top Tier Value Plays

Point Guard: Russell Westbrook vs. Sacramento Kings

Salary: $11,300 – Needs to score 56.5 fantasy points or more to exceed value (73.45 for 6.5x)

I feel like we really can’t fade Russell Westbrook even when I don’t mention him in an article like an idiot. Westbrook just dominated the New Orleans Pelicans for 88 fantasy points even with Paul George on the court. The Thunder are coming off of a back to back game but they do get to face the Sacramento Kings. The Kings are allowing opposing point guards to average 49.81 fantasy points per game and with the Kings fast paced play style, Westbrook should easily eat tonight. Westbrook has also returned at least 5x value in his past 10 games. His usage rate is still at 31% while averaging a solid triple double of 24 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assist.

Shooting Guard: Bradley Beal vs. Indiana Pacers

Salary: $9,300 – Needs to score 46.5 fantasy points or more to exceed value (60.45 for 6.5x)

He is the captain now! The “he” that I am referring to is Bradley Beal. The man just went for 67.5 fantasy points in 42 minutes, 1.6 fantasy points per minute. In his past seven games, he has only dropped below 30 real points, three times. Beal is making the most out this unfortunate even with John Wall‘s multiple injuries. He now gets to face a tough Indiana Pacers defense that is allowing opposing shooting guards to average 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assist per game, plus just 41.08 fantasy points per game. On January 30th, Beal did drop 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assist for 43.5 fantasy points. He’ll need a slight stat raise to return 5x value but with the roll he’s on, he should be able to.

Small Forward: LeBron James vs. New Orleans Pelicans

Salary: $10,800 – Needs to score 54 fantasy points or more to exceed value (70.2 for 6.5x)

We just witnessed Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder tear up the New Orleans Pelicans and now LeBron James gets the chance to do the same, especially since he said that he’s in playoff mode earlier then usual. LeBron is averaging 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assist with a usage rate of 30%. He’s averaging 53.5 fantasy points per game and 1.52 fantasy points per minute. The Pelicans are allowing small forwards to average 22 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assist, plus 42.99 fantasy points per game. Do I believe King James when he says that he’s in playoff mode earlier then usual? No, but he’s facing a horrible and dysfunctional New Orleans Pelicans team and should be able to hit his value once again.

Power Forward: Paul George vs. Sacramento Kings

Salary: $10,600 – Needs to score 53 fantasy points or more to exceed value (68.9 for 6.5x)

Is there a way to fit both Paul George and Russell Westbrook in to a lineup tonight? Possibly, if we get a good amount of value with scratches tonight but it’ll be a tough one to decide between the two All Star players. PG13 is having a career season averaging 29 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assist with a usage rate of 29%. This Sacramento Kings team is a young team but a good opponent for all teams as they are allowing opposing power forwards to average 49.6 fantasy points per game with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assist. George returned value 3 out of 5 times before the All Star break and then started out the second half of his season with a 71.25 fantasy points game versus the New Orleans Pelicans.

Center: Andre Drummond vs. Miami Heat

Salary: $8,700 – Needs to score 43.5 fantasy points or more to exceed value (56.55 for 6.5x)

Lets knock down the top priced centers real quick. Karl Anthony-Towns is in concussion protocol and may not be cleared to play tonight again after his car accident the other day. Anthony Davis is now restricted to 25 minutes for the rest of the season. Rudy Gobert is just a center I do not look forward to playing at any point. But Andre Drummond is up there but does have a tough match-up tonight versus the Miami Heat. Drummond returned to the second half of the season with 67.75 fantasy points while Blake Griffin was ejected. The Miami Heat don’t give up any crazy points to centers, just 50.47 fantasy points, but did allow Boban to heat up on them pretty quickly Thursday. As a top-tier candidate, Andre Drummond

NBA Draftkings – The Mid Tier Value Plays

Point Guard: Ricky Rubio vs. Dallas Mavericks

Salary: $6,100 – Needs to score 30.5 fantasy points or more to exceed value (39.65 for 6.5x)

For a guy who is averaging close to 30 minutes per game, Ricky Rubio is still fairly cheap at $6,100 and now he gets to face the Dallas Mavericks. Rubio has also hit for more than 30 fantasy points in four straight games, one being the first game back after the All Star break. This Dallas Mavericks team is allowing opposing point guards to average 22 points, 8 assist, and 6 rebounds, plus 48.07 fantasy points per game. Even for 6.5x value, Rubio should be able to reach his ceiling plus more tonight.

Shooting Guard: Buddy Hield vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

$6,500 – Needs to score 32.5 fantasy points or more to exceed value (42.25 for 6.5x)

This is a revenge narrative for Hield, but not versus his former team but versus his own coach for stopping the green light in a very close game versus the Golden State Warriors. Hield is a huge reason, besides Fox, on why this Sacramento Kings team is so close to an 8th seed. Hield is averaging 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assist with a 24% usage rate. He’s averaging 33 fantasy points per game and 1.06 fantasy points per minute. This Oklahoma City Thunder team is allowing opposing shooting guards to average 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assist per game, plus 43.50 fantasy points. Hield will most likely want to prove to his coach that he can shoot when he wants due to his confidence in himself to lead this team to the promise land.

Small Forward: Kelly Oubre Jr. vs. Atlanta Hawks

Salary: $6,000 – Needs to score 30 fantasy points or more to exceed value (39 for 6.5x)

Oubre Jr. came fresh into the second half of the season with a start for the Phoenix Suns and he scored 41 fantasy points off of 41 minutes, a fantasy point per minute. Oubre Jr. is averaging 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist per game so far this season with a usage rate of 22%. He’s averaging .94 fantasy points per minute and 25.6 fantasy points per game. He gets to face the fast paced Atlanta Hawks team that is allowing opposing small forwards to average 43.24 fantasy points per game. They are also allowing them to average 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assist per game. If Oubre Jr. gets the nod for the start once again, he’s a great play at $6,000 against the Hawks defense.

Power Forward: Marvin Bagley III vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

Salary: $6,100 – Needs to score 30.5 fantasy points or more to exceed value (39.65 for 6.5x)

With the addition of Harrison Barnes, Marvin Bagley III now has off and on nights. Bagley is back to that spot where we don’t know exactly what to expect. He’s averaging 13 points and 7 rebounds with a usage rate of 23%. Versus the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night, Bagley played 34 minutes and recorded 28 points with 14 rebounds, scoring 48.5 fantasy points. The Thunder do allow opposing power forwards to average 23 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assist, plus 49.11 fantasy points. If Bagley gets the same run time tonight, we should see him easily hit the ceiling of 30.5 fantasy points but if Harrison Barnes gets some extra time, then we’ll probably need to avoid MBIII.

Center: Al Horford vs. Chicago Bulls

Salary: $6,400 – Needs to score 32 fantasy points or more to exceed value (41.6 for 6.5x)

Al Horford is coming off of three huge games, one to kick off the second half of the season with 62.25 fantasy points. Now he gets to face the Chicago Bulls who are allowing opposing centers to average 23 points, 16 rebounds, and 3 assist with 58.25 fantasy points per game. Horford is averaging 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assist with a usage rate of 18%. He’s averaging 32.5 fantasy points per game and 1.16 fantasy points per minute. Even with a healthy Kyrie on the floor, Horford is still finding ways to dominate on the court. He has a ceiling of 32 fantasy points tonight which he should easily do with how every big man seems to dominate the Bulls.

NBA Draftkings – The Low Tier Value Plays

Point Guard: Avery Bradley vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

Salary: $3,900 – Needs to score 19.5 fantasy points or more to exceed value (25.35 for 6.5x)

Avery Bradley is really cheap and just needs 19.5 fantasy points to hit his 5x value and he has easily done that is his past 3 games. He has scored 52, 25.25, and 25.75 fantasy points. He gets to face the Cleveland Cavaliers who allow opposing point guards to average 24 points, 8 assist, and 6 rebounds, plus 50.55 fantasy points per game. This could be a value play that helps you throw Russell Westbrook and Paul George in the same lineup.

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Shooting Guard: Shabazz Napier vs. Charlotte Hornets

Salary: $3,900 – Needs to score 19.5 fantasy points or more to exceed value (25.35 for 6.5x)

Now Shabazz Napier has taken a major hit to his role with Caris Levert back and it makes it very easy to avoid playing him at all costs. He has scored 23.75, 28.75, and 22.75 fantasy points in his last three games though. The Hornets allow opposing shooting guards to average 44.11 fantasy points per game while averaging 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assist. Napier will be lucky to see more than 20 minutes though which is another reason to be cautious with this play. Also the Brooklyn Nets had a slow start against the Portland Trailblazers which we don’t need tonight and we shouldn’t with the two different types of teams.

Small Forward: Reggie Bullock vs. New Orleans Pelicans 

Salary: $4,200 – Needs to score 21 fantasy points or more to exceed value (27.3 for 6.5x)

Now Reggie Bullock hasn’t had the start that any player would like when traded to a new team. Since being with the Lakers, Bullock has only been pretty close to 30 fantasy points once but should be able to tonight versus the New Orleans Pelicans. With their two major stars on 25 minute restrictions for the rest of the season, Bullock should see more opportunities to hit 6.5x value tonight. We’ve already covered the defense of the New Orleans Pelicans allows to opposing small forwards with the Lebron James value play. If you’re looking for an alternative route at small forward, Bullock is the guy to go with tonight.

Power Forward: Taj Gibson vs. Milwaukee Bucks

Salary: $3,800 – Needs to score 19 fantasy points or more to exceed value (24.7 for 6.5x)

This play all depends on Karl Anthony-Towns and if he plays or not because if so, Gibson should slide back in to the starting lineup alongside of Dario Saric. Gibson is averaging 23 fantasy points per game and .92 fantasy points per minute. He’s averaging 10 points and 6 rebounds with a usage rate of 16%. He does face a pretty good Milwaukee Bucks defense that allows opposing power forwards to average 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assist with 47.33 fantasy points per game. Watch the injury news up until lock and if Gibson gets the nod in the starting lineup, he’s a steal.

Center: Dwight Powell vs. Utah Jazz

Salary: $4,000 – Needs to score 20 fantasy points or more to exceed value (26 for 6.5x)

Dwight Powell is a great play tonight versus a Utah Jazz defense that is allowing opposing centers to average 58.05 fantasy points per game. They also allow centers to average 23 points, 15 rebounds, and 3 assist per game. Powell is averaging 9 points and 4 rebounds with a usage rate of 18%. He’s averaging just 17.8 fantasy points per game but has already started off his second half of the season with a good start of 29 fantasy points. He didn’t have the best ending to the first half before the break but with this match-up, he should make it back to back games of exceeding value.

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