DraftKings NBA Picks March 19: KAT of Nine Tails

WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 12: Elfrid Payton #2 of the Orlando Magic reacts after getting fouled in the first half against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on January 12, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

DraftKings NBA Picks March 19: KAT of Nine Tails

We have a nice six game slate on tap for our DraftKings NBA tournaments tonight, and there are more five figure guys than there were on yesterday’s nine game slate. This is the time of the year in the NBA when we really have to watch lineups before lock. There were tons of players ruled out last night. The savvy people that stayed on top of the news are the ones that came out ahead.

With the pricing the way it was last night, it’s no surprise that it took 306 DraftKings points to cash. I had Favors in half of my ten lineups, so all of those were out. Emmanuel Mudiay was a complete disaster as well. I only had two lineups that survived into the money.

hlywood33 hit everything to take this down with 408.25 DraftKings points, a full 15.75 ahead of second place! He build with Drummond, Dragic, Ayton, and got the triple doubles from Luka Doncic and Elfrid Payton. This went along with a massive night from Jerami Grant and good returns from Josh Jackson and Schroder.

By popular demand, I am switching back to the old format. As always, if you have suggestions to improve the article (besides making better picks), let me know!

If you would like to try DraftKings for the first time, use this link for the referral bonus! It is good for $10 in free DraftKings entry tickets with your first deposit of $5 or more.

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – FEBRUARY 25: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after a play against the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on February 25, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

DraftKings NBA Point Guards:

Best Bets:

Stephen Curry ($9,200): Watch for resting Warriors! The team is comfortably in the playoffs, and could take an opportunity to rest some players. Since Boogie is out anyway and KD just missed a few games, the guy likely to rest would be Curry. This would be unfortunate since Curry has destroyed the Timberwolves this year. Curry already has 118 DraftKings points in just two games against them. If Curry plays, play him!

Ben Simmons ($8,500): Simmons has racked up 151.5 DraftKings points in three games against the Hornets this year. The bad news is that Simmons has only topped 50 DraftKings points once in the last six games. This Philly team is so deep that he doesn’t have to do it all. All of their stars are a risk at this point. However, they are also priced well enough to make them tempting.

Kemba Walker ($8,100): Philadelphia has allowed the fewest fantasy points to point guards this season. Someone forgot to tell Kemba that. Walker has averaged an astounding 65.7 DraftKings points per game in three meeting against Philadelphia this year. At some point, this isn’t a fluke. We need to take notice. Kemba is an interesting play tonight because many will shy away from this.

Honorable Mention:

Trae Young ($7,200): Young put up 51.25 DraftKings points on the Rockets in the first meeting, but the rookie has been slowing down a bit. Mostly because the Hawks aren’t running him 40 minutes a game anymore. Young is still out there for the most important parts of the game, but the Hawks have no reason to run him ragged. He’s still putting up games in the 40’s, but Young’s days of assaulting 50 DraftKings points are likely over until October.

Chris Paul ($7,100): CP3 put up 42.5 DraftKings points against Young and the Hawks the first time around. Paul isn’t playing huge minutes either, but he just hammered Minnesota on Sunday, putting up 54.75 DraftKings points in only 29 minutes. He probably wont break 50 here, but I wouldn’t be shocked if CP3 wound up in the 40’s again.

De’Aaron Fox ($7,000): This is a solid matchup against the Nets, but this is also a place that Fox struggled earlier this year. You don’t really have to worry about that. Fox has been over 32 DraftKings points in 10 of the last 12 games. Even when he is off, Fox is still getting 5x value. There is good upside here since the Kings still have an outside shot at the playoffs.

Dark Horses:

Eric Bledsoe ($6,400): Many a point guard has torn up the Lakers this year. Bledsoe put up 52.25 DraftKIngs points on them the first time around. The issue here is that Bledsoe’s price has risen in anticipation that he would do more with Brogdon out. It hasn’t fallen to Bledsoe. This is a really good matchup, but Bledsoe has not gone over 33 DraftKings points since that first Lakers game on March 1st.

Tyus Jones ($5,200): Thankfully the Timberwolves are giving us a little more of a heads up here. Jeff Teague is already out, and Rose is listed as doubtful, so that means another start for Tyus Jones. He was a bust on Sunday, but Jones may be worth using against the Warriors. The fact that his price still went up makes he a little nervous. Jones needs over 30 DraftKings points now to hit 6x value. He is capable of that, but playing the Warriors is a little different. Jones is a little risky, even for a value play.

Alex Caruso ($3,600): Caruso has three straight games of 30 or more DraftKings points and his price is still this low. Why take the chance on Jones or even Bledsoe when you can get about the same output for much cheaper? Caruso should be in every lineup for a value play right now. This price is absurd.

My pick: Simmons(PG), Caruso(G); Walker(PG), Curry(UTIL), Caruso(G)

NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 21: D’Angelo Russell #1 of the Brooklyn Nets reacts in the first quarter against the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Barclays Center on March 21, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

DraftKings NBA Shooting Guards:

Best Bets:

James Harden ($11,200): I think I would lose all credibility if I didn’t at least mention Harden, but instead of telling you all of the reasons that he’s a great play, I’m going to give you the few reasons that he is not. Yes, I’m fully aware of how bad Atlanta’s defense is all over the court, but that’s part of the reason I don’t like Harden. This game has massive blowout potential. Harden only put up 39.25 DraftKings points in the first meeting. He still played 35 minutes! Chances are that Harden wont be that cold from the floor of have few peripheral numbers again, but I also don’t see Harden putting up around 60 DraftKings points either. I think we can do better.

D’Angelo Russell ($7,400): I cringe a little every time I use D-Russ, but it’s worth the cringe here. Russell racked up 55.5 DraftKings points on the Kings in the first meeting. Now, he probably wont go that high again. Russell’s numbers have come down a bit with the team fully healthy. That said, Russell only needs 44.4 DraftKings points for 6x value. He should hit that with the potential for more.

Honorable Mention:

Jimmy Butler ($7,100): With KD back, Klay was a dud last night. His days of huge games are over, so it’s time to pivot back to Jimmy. Butler himself is still a risk, but Charlotte is a weak defense just about everywhere. Butler put up a solid 31.25 DraftKings points in his only game against Charlotte this year. He’s going to need more than that, but I’m not sure he can get it. Kemba would have to play out of his mind for a fourth time to keep this close, and even then, it’s no guarantee that Butler is the man for Philly.

Eric Gordon ($5,500): The Rockets put Gordon in the starting lineup on Sunday, and he played his fewest minutes in well over a month. The fact that this game was pretty much in hand through the fourth quarter has something to do with it, but Gordon wasn’t a great play even when he was in there. The only saving grace here is that Gordon is still relatively cheap and has a great matchup with the Hawks. I actually think I like this better if Gordon comes off the bench, but he is likely worth a look either way.

Dark Horses:

J.J. Redick ($5,200): Redick is often the forgotten man in Philly for DFS purposes, but a spot up shooter is pretty much what you want against Charlotte. Redick consistently hits around 5.5x value. The issue is that if Redick goes cold from the field, you are getting practically nothing. However, this matchup is good enough and Redick has just enough upside at this price for him to sneak into lineups.

Bogdan Bogdanovic ($4,800): Both Bogdan and Hield have been relatively cold lately. When Hield cools off, that is usually the time that Bogdan takes off. The Nets defense is havoc on perimeter shooters, but Bogdan sniped them for 50.5 DraftKings points off the bench in the first meeting. I don’t think he goes that nuts, but if the Nets handle Hield again like they should, this is a great place for Bogdan at a very low price.

My pick: Russell(SG); Russell(SG)

OAKLAND, CA – DECEMBER 25: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers goes up to shoot and get fouled by Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors during the first half of their NBA Basketball game at ORACLE Arena on December 25, 2018 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

DraftKings NBA Small Forwards:

Best Bets:

LeBron James ($10,200): I find it hard to pay for LeBron. The Lakers have somewhat limited his minutes, but they have mostly gotten the King rest by sitting him entire games. If you look at the game log, LeBron has only been under 50 DraftKings points once since the All Star break, and that was in a blowout loss to the Raptors. It seems that if James is in the starting lineup, that he’s safe enough to use.

Kevin Durant ($8,900): Durant was somewhat quiet last night, but it was mostly the peripheral numbers. The scoring was there. KD put up 96.5 DraftKings points in the first two games against Minnesota. Most will attack this game with Curry against essentially the third string point guard, but there could be some value here with Durant as well.

Honorable Mention:

Danilo Gallinari ($6,900): Indiana’s defense is good all over the court. Earlier this year, it was Harris that put up the big numbers. Lou Williams, Beverley, and Gallinari were mostly afterthoughts. Lately though, Gallinari has been doing what we thought would happen when the team traded Harris: he is carrying the offense. Beverley has slowed down, so that leaves Gallinari to have a big game. Gallo has been above 5x value at this price in seven straight games. I would play him even in this tough matchup.

Bojan Bogdanovic ($5,900): It’s another great matchup for Bojan, but again, it doesn’t really matter. His price and his production has hardly changed since Oladipo went down. I would say that probably makes Bogdanovic better suited for cash games, but then you realize that his floor is right around 5.5x value and he often hits 6x. That’s what we are looking for in GPP formats as well.

Dark Horses:

Landry Shamet ($4,000): You would think since Lou Williams hasn’t fared well against the Pacers that using mini LouWill would be a bad idea. It could be. However, for us hunting value tonight, it’s a rough go. Shamet is constantly between 5 and 6x value, so I’m more apt to take a risk involving $4,000 than almost 7k.

Danuel House ($3,800): The moral of the story here is that you want whichever SF isn’t on the court with CP3 and Harden. When that was Eric Gordon, he put up some big numbers. Actually, Danuel House is performing well wherever he’s at on the court. House has 51 DraftKings points in his two games back from the G-League. I would take House over Gordon. Gordon has more upside, but House is a sure 7x value.

My pick: Bogdanovic(SF), House(F); Bogdanovic(SF)

DraftKings NBA /

DraftKings NBA Power Forwards:

Best Bets:

Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,300): Take a look at the last two games for Giannis: 166.5 DraftKings points in 71 minutes. That’s well over two fantasy points per minute! Unheard of! Giannis could obliterate the Lakers if they let him play. Honestly, considering the Knicks just beat the Lakers – with LeBron no less – the Bucks don’t need Giannis here. I expect him to be rested, but if Giannis plays without restriction, I wouldn’t be shocked to see him hit 70 again.

John Collins ($7,500): Collins put up 39.5 DraftKings points in the first meeting with Houston. The only question here is whether Atlanta can keep it close. If they do, Collins could hit that total again or more. If not, we have seen the floor for Collins. It’s really low. To me, Collins is too much of a risk to use here, but if you’re going purely on upside, Collins definitely has it.

Honorable Mention:

Tobias Harris ($7,200): Harris hasn’t always been a constant force while a member of the Sixers, but he put up some big numbers on the Hornets earlier this year. In those two games, Harris had 86.75 DraftKings points. There’s no question that Harris fits in well with this team, but his fantasy value has taken a huge hit. This could be one of those games where he shines though.

Draymond Green ($6,300): Green isn’t normally a guy I target in DFS, but I know a good matchup when I see one. Green has 74.5 DraftKings points in the two games against Minnesota this year. This is the time to watch for resting Warriors. That could give Green more offensive opportunities than normal.

Dark Horses:

Marvin Bagley ($5,400): The Kings aren’t going to push Bagley much, so there is a major cap on his upside. That makes it tough to use Bagley here, but he’s playing the Kings and will get a bulk of the time at power forward. Harry Giles is a nice salary saver too, but his limitations are the same as Bagley’s, and perhaps even magnified a little more.

DeMarre Carroll ($4,300): I really wish I could trust the Nets. Any of them besides Russell. Carroll put up some big numbers against the Clippers on Saturday, and the Kings are probably even weaker up front. If the Nets give Carroll run, he can provide huge return on the investment. I think I want to know he’s starting first though. Otherwise, there’s way too much risk here. Even more than the Kings’ front. We know Bagley and Giles are going to play about the same amount of minutes.

My pick: Bagley(PF), Green(PF), Bagley(F)

DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 13: Clint Capela #15 of the Houston Rockets plays the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center on November 13, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

DraftKings NBA Centers:

Best Bets:

Karl-Anthony Towns ($9,700): Towns has spent a lot of time in foul trouble over the last couple of games, which has limited his ceiling. However, he gets a Warriors team that is likely without Cousins tonight. There is big time upside here if Towns can stay on the court.