DFS NBA – The Top Salary Value Plays – It’s A Greek Party

DFS NBA – The Breakdown

So as usually, with any DFS NBA 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 Value Plays on both DraftKings and FanDuel!

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 this fantasy basketball 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 7 game Fantasy Basketball slate on DraftKings and FanDuel!

DFS NBA – Draftkings: The Top Tier Plays

Damian Lillard vs. Los Angeles Clippers

Salary: $9,200 – Needs to score 46 fantasy points or more to exceed value (59.8 for 6.5x)

Damian Lillard hasn’t had the best outings lately besides his 76 fantasy points versus the Oklahoma City Thunder. He has actually only passed the 40 fantasy point marks in only four of his last nine games since kicking the second half of the season off. But he has a pretty good match-up tonight versus the Los Angeles Clippers. He’s averaging 44.9 fantasy points per game and 1.28 fantasy points per minute with a usage rate of 29%.

The Los Angeles Clippers are currently giving up 48.16 fantasy points to opposing point guards. Lillard almost dropped 40 real points the last time he saw the Clippers also on December 17th, recording 39 points with 6 assist, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals. Lillard is actually the highest priced point guard tonight but well worth it.

Giannis Antetokounmpo vs. New Orleans Pelicans

Salary: $11,500 – Needs to score 57.5 fantasy points or more to exceed value (74.75 for 6.5x)

Now I love this match-up for the Greek Freak, Giannis Antetokounmpo, tonight as he gets to face a Pelicans team that will keep restricting Anthony Davis to a new team. The Bucks have been cautious with Giannis lately and if we here anything about a minute restriction, we may need to back off but as of no, I’m all in. He’s averaging 57.1 fantasy points per game with a usage rate of 31%. He has also scored 50+ fantasy points in his past five games.

The New Orleans Pelicans have turned in to a circus show this season and it shows everywhere. They are currently giving up the most fantasy points to the small forward position with 43.70 fantasy points per game. I would just suggest watching the news up until lock but I don’t think we’ll be getting news that we dislike for Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Joel Embiid vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

Salary: $10,200 – Needs to score 51 fantasy points or more to exceed value (66.3 for 6.5x)

Joel Embiid came back like he wasn’t even injured, scoring 52.5 fantasy points in 28 minutes versus the Indiana Pacers. With a match-up versus a depleted Cavaliers squad with Tristan Thompson out and Kevin Love out due to “rest” purposes but also Larry Nance Jr. will be a game time decision. Embiid is averaging 1.65 fantasy per minute with a usage rate of 33%. We also already know that Jimmy Butler is out so Embiid will have more usage coming his way.

The Cavaliers are a bad team and without any big men left, Embiid is sure to dominate.The one worry is that it could also lead to a major blowout. The Cavaliers are currently giving up 52.91 fantasy points to opposing centers. It’s hard to pass up for a “low” cost Joel Embiid.

DFS NBA – Draftkings: The Mid Tier Plays

Anthony Davis vs. Milwaukee Bucks

Salary: $6,800 – Needs to score 34 fantasy points or more to exceed value (44.2 for 6.5x)

This is a complete risk play but it just keeps getting harder to pass up on Anthony Davis but he was rested the last match from the Pelicans so he should be good to go for 20-25 minutes tonight. He’s only $6,800! He has passed up 40 or more fantasy points in three of his past five games. With the minute restriction on him, I’m usually scared to play him but tonight, it just seems so good.

The Milwaukee Bucks are currently giving up 48 fantasy points to opposing power fowards. Now I would even play Anthony Davis even more if the Bucks do sit Giannis Antetokounmpo (which is highly unlikely). Just keep the news stream up on Anthony Davis just in case there is a small sign that he will be rested again.

Derrick White vs. Dallas Mavericks

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

Derrick White is coming off of a bad game versus the Milwaukee Bucks, only scoring 15.75 fantasy points in 29 minutes. He usually averages 23.2 fantasy points per game and .92 fantasy points per minute with a usage rate of 17%. He has also returned value in the previous five games before the Bucks game so we can chalk it up as a bad one.

The Dallas Mavericks are currently in what seems to be a tank mode so this could benefit Derrick White even more. The Mavericks are currently allowing opposing shooting guards to average 42.53 fantasy points per game. White didn’t have the best outing in the last match versus the Mavericks, only recording 6 points, 3 assist, and 2 rebounds in 24 minutes. With him being used more and a focus point for the Spurs, White should record a better stat-line tonight.

Jusuf Nurkic vs. Los Angeles Clippers

Salary: $7,100 – Needs to score 35.5 fantasy points or more to exceed value (46.15 for 6.5x)

Jusuf Nurkic is up there with Damian Lillard on what the outcome could be for them which is a pretty good value night. Nurkic is currently averaging 37.5 fantasy points per game and 1.38 fantasy points per minute with a usage rate of 24%. He had a good opportunity versus the Phoenix Suns where he should have had a better outing but he only put up 27.75 fantasy points.

The Los Angeles Clippers give up a lot of points when it comes to DFS but they are playing at a higher level currently on defense. They give up the most fantasy points to centers, allowing opposing centers to average 62.33 fantasy points. As long as everything clicks right for this Portland team, Nurkic should be a great play.

DFS NBA – Draftkings: The Low Tier Plays

Jalen Brunson vs. San Antonio Spurs

Salary: $5,000 – Needs to score 25 fantasy points or more to exceed value (32.5 for 6.5x)

Now this on the higher end of the “low tier” scale with Jalen Brunson but he’s still pretty cheap as he continues to start for the Dallas Mavericks. He has scored 26.75, 33.5, and 30.75 fantasy points in his past three starts. He sees a good price increase of $900 but for good reasons. He has also put up 36, 30 and 34 minutes in those past three games.

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The San Antonio Spurs are giving up 47.68 fantasy points to opposing point guards currently. They are allowing opposing point guards to average 23 points, 8 assist, and 5 rebounds per game. Now Jalen Brunson does rank on the higher end but he should easily be able to pay off his value tonight as a starter.

Moe Harkless vs. Los Angeles Clippers

Salary: $4,500 – Needs to score 22.5 fantasy points or more to exceed value (29.25 for 6.5x)

Moe Harkless needs to stop being slept on as he is usually up for the challenge of returning and exceeding value. He has only had one poor performance in the past five games, scoring 9.25 versus Oklahoma City Thunder. His salary doesn’t change that often also. He’s averaging 23 minutes per game with a usage rate of 13%, while averaging 17.7 fantasy points per game.

We have already talked about how the Los Angeles Clippers give up a good amount of fantasy points to every position. Now Harkless has a pretty good opportunity as the Clippers give up 48.93 fantasy points to the power forward position. Harkless will most likely be low owned once again as people often tend to forget about him.

JaVale McGee vs. Chicago Bulls

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

The Los Angeles Lakers are slowly dying as the season comes to a close and with LeBron James now agreeing to be on a minute limit for the rest of the season, more usage will fall on the value guys. McGee hasn’t been anything near spectacular but he can get a job done, especially against a weak Chicago Bulls defense. He’s averaging 24.6 fantasy points per game and 1.23 fantasy points per minute with a usage rate of 20%.

The Chicago Bulls are currently giving up the fifth most fantasy points to centers, giving up 58.77 fantasy points. They are also allowing them to average 23 points, 16 rebounds, and 3 assist per game. McGee is a great value play tonight and could easily allow you to fit in more “top tier” guys in your line-up.

Stay tuned to Fantasy CPR for all of your DFS needs!