DFS NBA – The Top Salary Value Plays – #TrustTheProcess

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 4 game Fantasy Basketball slate on DraftKings!

DFS NBA – Draftkings: The Top Tier Plays

Donovan Mitchell vs. Phoenix Suns

Salary: $8,200 – Needs to score 41 fantasy points or more to exceed value (53.3 for 6.5x)

Donovan Mitchell and the Utah Jazz get to face the Phoenix Suns which is a great match-up for Donovan Mitchell. He’s currently coming off of an underwhelming performance versus the Chicago Bulls, scoring just 31 fantasy points. He’s averaging 38.2 fantasy points per game and 1.15 fantasy points per minute with a usage rate of 32%.

The Phoenix Suns are down with a few injuries which doesn’t help out their already bad season. They are giving up 49.82 fantasy points to opposing point guards. Mitchell is averaging 23 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assist versus the Suns this season in 2 games.

Joel Embiid vs. Orlando Magic 

Salary: $10,400 – Needs to score 52 fantasy points or more to exceed value (67.6 for 6.5x)

Joel Embiid cooled down last game but was dominating before that with two huge performances of 78.8 and 75 fantasy points versus the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtic. He now gets to face the Orlando Magic, a team he has stacked against pretty well this season. He’s averaging 1.67 fantasy points per minute with a usage rate of 32%.

The Orlando Magic are currently giving up 52.95 fantasy points to opposing centers. In two games this season though, Embiid is averaging 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assist. Embiid is playing at a higher level as the playoffs are nearing.

Paul George vs. Memphis Grizzlies 

Salary: $9,600 – Needs to score 48 fantasy points or more to exceed value (62.4 for 6.5x)

Paul George has scored 50+ fantasy points in four of his last five games, with just one bad game versus the Toronto Raptors with 36.3 fantasy points. He’s averaging 51 fantasy points per game and 1.41 fantasy points per minute, with a usage rate of 29%. While it is a more difficult match-up for small forwards versus the Memphis Grizzlies, PG13 can still get it done.

The Memphis Grizzlies are a tough match-up for most small forwards this season but the Grizzlies are facing the injury bug in some games to close out the NBA season. They are currently giving up 39.43 fantasy points to opposing small forwards. Paul George recorded 27 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 assist in the first match-up versus the Grizzlies this season.

DFS NBA – Draftkings: The Mid Tier Plays

Jimmy Butler vs. Orlando Magic

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

Jimmy Butler is here and ready for the playoffs as he has been playing well above his value range lately. He has scored 40+ fantasy points in four of his last five matches, exceeding value in them except for the 31.5 fantasy points versus the Boston Celtics. He’s averaging 1.11 fantasy points per minute with a usage rate of 22%.

The Orlando Magic are giving up the fewest points to small forwards, which is shocking, with just 37.69 fantasy points. Now Butler didn’t have the best outings versus the Magic in the past two games versus them, averaging just 14 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assist. Butler’s price is pretty good, especially for what he has been doing.

Jusuf Nurkic vs. Brooklyn Nets

Salary: $6,900 – Needs to score 34.5 fantasy points or more to exceed value (44.85 for 6.5x)

We always run centers versus the Brooklyn Nets as the Nets just can’t find a way to stop them. Nurkic is priced pretty well for a good match-up. He’s averaging 37.5 fantasy points per game and 1.38 fantasy points per minute with a usage rate of 24%. He hasn’t been near value in the past three games but should be able to bounce back tonight.

The Brooklyn Nets have been giving up a lot of points to centers this season and it shows. They are giving up the most fantasy points to opposing centers also with 61.93 fantasy points. Nurkic being at $6,900 is too good to pass up.

Aaron Gordon vs. Philadelphia 76ers

Salary: $7,000 – Needs to score 35 fantasy points or more to exceed value ( 45.5 for 6.5x)

Aaron Gordon is coming off of a horrible outing versus the Memphis Grizzlies, scoring just 13.8 fantasy points in 39 minutes. Now he has a match-up versus a 76ers team that he has already seen three times this season, with some good numbers. He is averaging 33.5 fantasy points per game and 1.01 fantasy points per minute with a usage rate of 22%.

The Philadelphia 76ers are giving up very little points to small forwards with just 39.71 fantasy points per game. In three games this season versus the 76ers, Gordon is averaging 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assist. With that small sample size, he should be able to bounce back after his bad performance versus the Memphis Grizzlies.

DFS NBA – Draftkings: The Low Tier Plays

Ricky Rubio vs. Phoenix Suns

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

Just like Donovan Mitchell, Ricky Rubio gets to face the same Phoenix Suns and has a great match-up in front of him tonight. He’s averaging 28.9 fantasy points per game and 1.03 fantasy points per minute with a usage rate of 22%. He has exceeded value in four of his last five games also, but scored just 22.5 fantasy points versus the Chicago Bulls in 23 minutes in his last game.

We already know that the Phoenix Suns are giving up 49.82 fantasy points to opposing point guards. Facing the Suns twice already this season, Rubio is averaging just 9 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assist versus them.

Enes Kanter vs. Brooklyn Nets

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

I usually don’t target two centers off of the same team but with Enes Kanter also seeing the Brooklyn Nets and at $4,000, he’s too hard to pass up. Kanter is coming off of two games, scoring 32.5 and 20.8 fantasy points, can return value again tonight. He’s averaging 29.2 fantasy points per game and 1.26 fantasy points per minute, with a usage rate of 23%.

The Brooklyn Nets are giving up a huge 61.93 fantasy points to opposing centers which leads the NBA this season. Kanter has already seen this Brooklyn Nets team four times this season, averaging 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 assist versus them.

DeMarre Carroll vs. Portland Trailblazers

Salary: $4,400 – Needs to score 22 fantasy points or more to exceed value (28.6 for 6.5x)

DeMarre Carroll hasn’t been the most consistent this NBA season but has a decent match-up tonight to be a salary relief while returning value. He is coming off of good performance, scoring 23 fantasy points in 35 minutes versus the Los Angeles Lakers. He’s averaging 21.3 fantasy points per game and .85 fantasy points per minute with a usage rate of 18%.

Now the Portland Trailblazers are in fight mode while sticking in the playoffs run, so tonight will be tough for the Brooklyn Nets who have the same route. The Trailblazers are giving up 41.91 fantasy points to opposing small forwards. While I don’t fully trust DeMarre Carroll, I do believe he’ll be able to return, at minimum, 5x value tonight.

Stay tuned to Fantasy CPR for all of your DFS needs. We have the NBA, NHL, PGA, and NASCAR covered and plenty of MLB stuff coming your way!