DFS NBA – The Top Salary Value Plays – The Greek Return

DFS NBA – The Breakdown

So as usual 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 9 game Fantasy Basketball slate on DraftKings and FanDuel!

DFS NBA – Draftkings: The Top Tier Plays

Giannis Antetokounmpo vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

Salary: $11,400 – Needs to score 57 fantasy points or more to exceed value (74.1 for 6.5x)

The Milwaukeee Bucks decided to sit Giannis Antetokounmpo last night versus the Los Angeles Lakers after Lebron James was ruled out also. But we should get him in tonight’s match-up versus the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Greek Freak had huge two games before sitting, scoring 75.5 and 91 fantasy points back to back. He’s averaging 1.74 fantasy points per minute with a usage rate of 31%.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have actually been putting up some tough defense lately but I don’t think they’ll be stopping the possible MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Cavaliers are giving 41.35 fantasy points to opposing small forwards this season.

Nikola Vucevic vs. New Orleans Pelicans

Salary: $9,500 – Needs to score 47.5 fantasy point or more to exceed value  (61.75 for 6.5x)

The big man, Vucevic, has a great match-up tonight versus the New Orleans Pelicans and he comes at a great price of just $9,500. In five straight games, Vucevic has scored 40+ fantasy points while dropping 63 fantasy points versus the Atlanta Hawks. Hee’s averaging 46.8 fantasy points per game and 1.50 fantasy points per minute with a usage rate of 28%.

The New Orleans Pelicans are still functioning pretty well without Jrue Holiday and with the minute restriction on Anthony Davis. But they are giving up 58.48 fantasy points to opposing centers. While the Orlando Magic have some bad games, they still focus on Vucevic as the main game plan.

Russell Westbrook vs. Toronto Raptors

Salary: $10,300 – Needs to score 51.5 fantasy points or more to exceed value (66.95 for 6.5x)

Westbrook is most likely coming back from his suspension with a vengeance but he gets a tough match-up versus the Toronto Raptors. Westbrook missed Monday’s game due to his 16th technical foul and will be very fresh for this match. He’s averaging 1.66 fantasy points per minute with a usage rating of 31%. The entire Oklahoma City team didn’t really show up for the match-up versus the Warriors as they got blown out, leaving Westbrook with 32.5 fantasy points in 32 minutes.

The Toronto Raptors should be good to go tonight with a full squad which could throw pressure on the Thunders. The Raptors are currently giving up 44.48 fantasy points only to opposing point guards.

DFS NBA – Draftkings: The Mid Tier Plays

Donovan Mitchell vs. New York Knicks

Salary: $7,800 – Needs to score 39 fantasy points or more to exceed value (50.7 for 6.5x)

Now Donovan Mitchell is coming off of a poor game versus a weak Washington Wizards team, scoring just 27.25 fantasy points in 32 minutes. But before that, he was on a nice consistent streak and should be looking to return to it tonight versus the New York Knicks. He is averaging 38.1 fantasy points per game and 1.15 fantasy points per minute with a usage rate of 31%.

Thee New York Knicks are a young, struggling team but just don’t tell Dolan that or you’ll bee banned for life. The Knicks are currently giving up thee fourth most fantasy points to guards with 43.58 fantasy points per game. This should be bounce back game for Mitchell tonight.

Lauri Markkanen vs. Washington Wizards

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

Markkanen might have found his shot once again as he just scored 34.75 fantasy points versus the Phoenix Suns. He now gets to face the Washington Wizards who should be a easy match-up for the Chicago Bulls. He is averaging 35.5 fantasy points per game and 1.10 fantasy points per minute with a usage rate of 24%.

The Washington Wizards are actually giving up thee most fantasy points to power forwards with 51.48 per game. They are also a team that can’t defend any position. While being priced at $7,100, Markkanen has a easy ceiling to reach for just 5x value and should be able to versus the Wizards.

Robin Lopez vs. Washington Wizards

Salary: $6,300 – Needs to score 31.5 fantasy points or more to exceed value (40.95 for 6.5x)

Joining Lauri Markkanen in a great spot, Robin Lopez is also in one versus the Washington Wizards. Lopez is coming off of a good game also versus the Phoenix Suns, scoring 36.75 fantasy points in just 26 minutes. Lopez has had a pretty good season so far and is at a pretty cheap price. In the past five games, Lopez has exceeded value in three of them. He’s averaging .88 fantasy points per minute with a usage rate of 18%.

The Wizards don’t have any true big men and it shows every game as Thomas Bryant isn’t consistent. They are giving up 58.29 fantasy points to opposing centers which screams a great spot for Robin Lopez tonight.

DFS NBA – Draftkings: The Low Tier Plays

Danny Green vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

Salary: $3,700 – Needs to score 18.5 fantasy points or more to exceed value (24.05 for 6.5x)

We know the Oklahoma City Thunder aren’t good at defending the shooting guard position which puts Danny Green in a pretty good spot and also at a great price. Green has hit above 20+ fantasy points in his past two games, scoring 23.25 and 21 fantasy points. He’s averaging .74 fantasy points per minute with a usage rate of 14%.

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While Green won’t be starting, he will be seeing this Thunder defense at some point, making him a great play. The Thunder are allowing opposing shooting guards to average 43.10 fantasy points per game. At $3,700, Green makes for a great salary relief and value return for tonight.

Dorian Finney-Smith vs. Portland Trailblazers

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

Dorian Finney-Smith may not be the most consistent or prettiest DFS play but tonight he has a good match-up. He scored 34 and 18.5 fantasy points in his past two games after scoring 6.25 fantasy points versus the Denver Nuggets. He’s averaging 18.2 fantasy points per game and .72 fantasy points per minute with a usage rate of 13%.

This Portland Trailblazers team has been somewhat quiet this year but it still makes for a good match-up. They are currently giving up 42.05 fantasy points to opposing small forwards. If DFM gets a good run tonight as he has had the past two games, he should be able to return the 5x value.

Thomas Bryant vs. Chicago Bulls

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

We mentioned Thomas Bryant earlier and how he isn’t the most consistent DFS but he’s relatively cheap tonight and has a good match-up versus the Chicago Bulls also. He’s coming off of a bad game versus the Utah Jazz, scoring just 10.75 fantasy points in 20 minutes. He’s averaging just 21.1 fantasy points per game and 1.10 fantasy points per minute with a usage rate of 17%.

Now the Chicago Bulls can’t stop big men either which gives Bryant the bump in value tonight. They are giving up 58.48 fantasy points to opposing centers which is a big number. As long as Bryant can get something rolling tonight, he should be able to hit value, at least 5x.

Stay tuned to Fantasy CPR for all of your DFS needs. We’ve got PGA picks this week. We have the NBA covered from all angles and formats. We’ll have NASCAR for the weekend. And of course, we have the round by round picks for the NCAA tournament!