DFS NBA – The Top Salary Value Plays – Let The KAT Out!

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 6 game Fantasy Basketball slate on DraftKings.

DFS NBA – Draftkings: The Top Tier Plays

Karl Anthony-Towns vs. Golden State Warriors

Salary: $9,700 – Needs to score 48.5 fantasy points or more to exceed value (63.05 for 6.5x)

Karl Anthony-Towns gets a great match-up tonight as the Golden State Warriors will be without big man, DeMarcus Cousins, once again. That leaves KAT to face Andrew Bogut, who is coming off of his first game last night this season, and Kevin Looney. KAT is averaging 50.5 fantasy points per game and 1.53 fantasy points per minute with a usage rate of 28%. He has returned value in three of his last five games also.

The Golden State Warriors are fighting some late season injury bugs and tonight, they’ll be down again. They are giving up 55.80 fantasy points to opposing centers per game. With no true big man to stop KAT, he should pay off.

James Harden vs. Atlanta Hawks

Salary: $11,200 – Needs to score 56 fantasy points or more to exceed value (72.8 for 6.5x)

James Harden is currently battling a neck injury but he’s still out on the floor. Tonight, Harden gets to face the fast paced Atlanta Hawks which can greatly benefit his $11,200 salary price tag. He has been able to return value lately except for the one against Minnesota, where he only scored 41.5 fantasy points. He’s averaging 1.67 fantasy points per minute with a usage rate of 40%.

The Atlanta Hawks are a young, energized team and it shows as they play at the quickest pace in the NBA. But they are also giving up the most fantasy points to opposing point guards with 52.33 per game. Harden is on the pricier side and isn’t my first option but I will have him in a line-up at minimum.

Giannis Antetokounmpo vs. Los Angeles Lakers

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

Giannis Antetokounmpo is currently questionable for tonight’s match but if he does play, oh boy will he eat. The Greek Freak is coming off of two huge games with scores of 75.5 and 91 fantasy points, versus the Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers. He’s averaging 57.6 fantasy points per minute with a usage rate of 32%.

The Los Angeles Lakers are a bad team and we obviously state this every time they end up on a slate. They are giving up 42.16 fantasy points to opposing small forwards. In their last match-up, the Greek Freak recorded a double double with 16 points, 15 rebounds, and 6 assist. If he plays tonight, he’ll be in a debate in my mind with who I should play, between him and Karl Anthony-Towns.

DFS NBA – Draftkings: The Mid Tier Plays

D’Angelo Russell vs. Sacramento Kings

Salary: $7,400 – Needs to score 37 fantasy points or more to exceed value (48.1 for 6.5x)

D’Angelo Russell has kind of calmed down since the Nets became fully healthy and it’s not a bad thing for their team but it is for DFS purposes. Russell has been improving and getting back to form as he has scored 35, 34.8 and then 58.3 fantasy points in his past three games. He’s averaging 38.1 fantasy points per game and 1.27 fantasy points per minute with a usage rate of 31%.

The Sacramento Kings are another young and fast paced NBA team that is looking to keep their playoffs hopes alive tonight. Them being a fast paced team will benefit Russell tonight. They are also giving up the fourth most fantasy points with 50.07 fantasy points per game to opposing point guards.

Jimmy Butler vs. Charlotte Hornets

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

Now Jimmy Butler has been an after-thought since joining the Philadelphia 76ers but recently he has gotten the job done. He has scored 20+ real points in his past two games while scoring 44.5 and 45 fantasy points, versus the Sacramento Kings and Milwaukee Bucks. He is averaging 1.11 fantasy points per minute with a usage rate of 22%.

The Charlotte Hornets are trying to make the best of what they have since it may be close to the Kemba Walker departure. They are currently giving up 39.75 fantasy points to opposing small forwards per game. Butler is at a very reasonable price tonight plus Joel Embiid has already been ruled out, making it time for one of the other 76ers to step up and control the game tonight.

Myles Turner vs. Los Angeles Clippers

Salary: $6,200 – Needs to score 31 fantasy points or more to exceed value (40.3 for 6.5x)

Myles Turner comes at a very nice price tonight while facing a Los Angeles Clippers team that struggles to defend big men. Now Turner hasn’t had the best streak for the past five games as he has only exceeded his value once with 40.3 fantasy points versus the New York Knicks. He is averaging 31.6 fantasy points per game and 1.12 fantasy points per minute with a usage rate of 20%.

The Clippers are currently putting up big team efforts in every game they play in. They do give up the most fantasy points to opposing centers though with 62.14 fantasy points per game. In his previous match-up versus the Clippers, Turner recorded 17 points with 6 blocks and 4 steals. Now we may not get the same defensive effort but he should be able to play pretty well versus this Clippers team.

DFS NBA – Draftkings: The Low Tier Plays

Andrew Bogut vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

Salary: $3,000 – Needs to score 15 fantasy points or more to exceed value (19.5 for 6.5x)

Andrew Bogut got the green light to start last night versus the San Antonio Spurs and he played 19 minutes while recording 7 points, 7 rebounds and 1 assist. He’s at the minimum price once again tonight but with a slightly difficult match-up. Assuming he gets the green light once again tonight, we just may have to roll with the big man while he only needs 15 fantasy points to hit 5x value.

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Bogut doesn’t have the best sample size versus Karl Anthony-Towns but even if he hits his 3 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assist, we should be alright. On the defensive side of things, the Timberwolves do give up 53.81 fantasy points to opposing centers.

Marvin Bagley III vs. Brooklyn Nets

Salary: $5,400 – Needs to score 27 fantasy points or more to exceed value (35.1 for 6.5x)

Marvin Bagley III is finally back to playing his usual average minutes and is still putting up good performances. He just put up 36.8 fantasy points in 21 minutes versus the Chicago Bulls.

Now he gets to face another young team that is making waves, the Brooklyn Nets. Bagley is averaging 27.3 fantasy points per game and 1.13 fantasy points per minute with a usage rate of 23%.

In the last match-up versus the Brooklyn Nets, Bagley recorded 9 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 lonely assist in 10 minutes. The Nets are also currently giving up 48.91 fantasy points to opposing power forwards. At $5,400, Bagley III is still relatively cheap and could be in store for a great match versus the Brookyln Nets.

Danuel House Jr. vs. Atlanta Hawks

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

Danuel House Jr. may be the coaches favorite player off the bench as he has now played 30+ minutes in four of his last five games, easily returning value in all of them. He has had a resurgence to his career and it’s nice to see. His salary price is still cheap for a guy pushing 30 minutes. He’s averaging 17.9 fantasy points per game and .71 fantasy points per minute with a usage rate of 14%.

The Atlanta Hawks are a fast paced team and it could cause some of the big men to be rotated out a little bit more then most teams are used to. The Hawks are currently giving up the third most fantasy points to small forwards with 43.21 fantasy points per game. With Andrew Bogut and Danuel House Jr. thrown into a lineup together, it will save major salary for your build.

Stay tuned to Fantasy CPR for all of your DFS needs. We have the NBA, PGA tour, NHL, NASCAR, EPL, and even the EuroLeague covered!