We have a six-game slate in the NBA on Monday, so we don’t exactly have a bevy of options to choose from in DFS. A few teams will be playing the second leg of a back-to-back set, so we’ll have to monitor for possible rest days, as well.
Read MoreNBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 3/21/19
We have another busier than normal Thursday in the NBA with six games on the schedule tonight. There are plenty of bad teams in action and injuries continue to pile up across the league, which leaves plenty of viable cheaper options to choose from in DFS.
Read MoreNBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 3/19/19
Despite there only being six games in the NBA on Tuesday, there are still plenty of cheap options to consider in DFS. Seven of the top-10 teams in the league in pace of play will be in action, so there is the potential for several high-scoring contests.
Read MoreNBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 3/14/19
Thursday’s are usually tough to find cheaper value plays, but we have a busier than normal six-game slate tonight. There is a ton of top-tier talent on the board, so luckily there are still a couple of cheap options at each position to help balance out your budget.
Read MoreNBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 2/28/19
Thursday’s are usually pretty quiet in the NBA, but tonight brings some added action with six games on the schedule. Let’s highlight a couple of cheaper value play options at each position who could be in for a productive evening.
Read MoreNBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 2/27/19
Wednesday will be action-packed in the NBA with 11 games on the schedule. That leaves us with a ton of cheap value play options to wade through. Without further ado, here are a couple that stand out as great options at each position.
Read MoreNBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 12/31/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
Monday might not be the busiest day in the NBA with just seven games, but there are plenty of the top teams in action. It makes for some interesting choices in DFS, so let’s examine a couple of cheap players at each position who could provide value. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
POINT GUARDS
J.J. Barea, DAL at OKC
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $4,600
The Mavericks and Thunder just played each other Sunday, a contest in which Barea scored six points to go along with 10 assists and one steal across 21 minutes. Despite receiving limited playing time off of the bench this year, Barea has still been able to average 11.4 points and 5.7 assists per game, overall. His 27.8 percent usage rate has been one of the main reasons for his offensive success and makes him a viable target once again Monday.
Tyus Jones, MIN at NO
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $5,000
Jeff Teague (ankle) and Derrick Rose (ankle) were both unable to play Sunday against the Heat, which opened up a starting role for Jones. He provided excellent all-around production, scoring 12 points to go along with four rebounds, five assists, and five steals across 36 minutes. If Teague and Rose can’t play again Monday, Jones could in line for another great game against a Pelicans squad that plays at the fifth-fastest pace (103.5 possessions per game) in the league.
SHOOTING GUARDS
Dennis Schroder, OKC vs. DAL
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $5,400
The Thunder still don’t have a great bench, but the addition of Schroder has been a big reason why they are off to a 22-13 start. His numbers are down compared to last year when he was with the Hawks, but that was to be expected considering he’s now playing alongside Russell Westbrook and Paul George. However, he’s still averaging 16.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game, making him someone to consider at his reasonable price on both sites.
Austin Rivers, HOU vs. MEM
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,900
It’s will be slim pickings for the Rockets backcourt Monday with Chris Paul (hamstring) and Eric Gordon (knee) both sidelined. Rivers hasn’t been with the team long, but he’s expected to start in this contest. He’s averaged 10 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists across three games with the Rockets and could be an excellent value play in DFS, especially considering his price on FanDuel.
SMALL FORWARDS
Mikal Bridges, PHO vs. GS
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $4,200
The Suns initially brought Bridges off of the bench this year, but he’s started each of their last 20 games. The staring role has brought a significant increase in playing time for Bridges, who has averaged 33 minutes across his last 15 games. One of his key contributions has come on the defensive end with him averaging 1.6 steals across that 15-game stretch. Even though he’s not much of a scorer, his overall contributions still make him a viable option Monday against a Warriors team that plays at the 10th-fastest pace (101.7).
Kelly Oubre Jr., PHO vs. GS
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,300
Oubre has put up a couple of offensive clunkers, scoring a combined eight points in his last two games. The good news is that he continued to chip in defensive stats despite his scoring troubles, totaling two steals and three blocks in those contests. He has scored at least 13 points in three of six games since joining the Suns, so don’t read too much into his recent poor play. His price is low enough on both sites that it might be worth taking a chance on him having a bounce-back performance.
POWER FORWARDS
Marcus Morris, BOS at SA
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $5,800
The Celtics have significant depth, which has limited the fantasy value of some of their players. However, Morris hasn’t seen a decline in production with everyone finally healthy. In fact, he’s having one of the best seasons of his career, averaging 15.4 points and 6.2 rebounds a game. His 21.2 percent usage rate is actually fourth-highest on the team, which is encouraging for his value moving forward. The Spurs struggle to defend opposing power forwards, so don’t be surprised if Morris finishes with a juicy stat line Monday.
Jerami Grant, OKC vs. DAL
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $5,200
Grant is finally getting his chance to shine this season, averaging 31 minutes a game. He doesn’t get a ton of scoring opportunities, but he’s still averaging 12.3 points per game based on his increased playing time and 52.5 percent shooting from the field. The Thunder play at the fourth-fastest pace (103.5) in the league, which also helps with regards to Grant’s production. Morris has the higher upside of the two, but Grant is also worth considering if you want to use even less of your budget at power forward.
CENTERS
Steven Adams, OKC vs. DAL
FanDuel = $6,800
DraftKings = $7,000
Adams had a quiet outing against the Mavericks on Sunday, scoring eight points to go along with nine rebounds and two steals. He only attempted five shots, which tied for his fewest in a game this season. He has one of the highest minute’s floors of anyone at the center position, so don’t worry too much about one off night. In fact, the first time these two teams played each other this season, Adams thrived with 20 points and 13 rebounds.
Kevon Looney, GS at PHO
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $3,700
DeMarcus Cousins (Achilles) is inching his way towards a return, and when he does, Looney is likely to lose some playing time. Looney has actually done a nice job stepping into the starting lineup and has even averaged 9.2 points and 7.2 rebounds across his last five games. With all of the Suns’ defensive deficiencies, this could be a spot to deploy Looney if you want to go the extremely cheap route at center.
Author Bio:
Mike has been covering fantasy sports since 2007, joining Lineup Lab in 2017. An avid player of both season-long fantasy leagues and DFS, Mike’s work has appeared on numerous sites, including RotoWire, SportsLine and Sports Illustrated. He’s also been featured on ESPN Radio and DraftKings’ nightly show, The Sweat.
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 12/19/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
We’ve got a bevy of value play options to choose from Wednesday with 12 games on the schedule. Let’s dive right in and highlight a couple at each position that could hopefully help you win some cash. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
POINT GUARDS
Terry Rozier, BOS vs. PHO
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,300
Rozier shined filling in last season when the Celtics were dealing with several key injuries, but he’s been limited to just 23 minutes a game this year with Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward back in the fold. However, there are a couple of factors that could work in his favor Wednesday. First, Jaylen Brown (hand) is listed as questionable, so if he doesn’t take the floor, that could open up some added minutes for Rozier. Second, this game could get out of hand early with how poorly the Suns have played and this game being played in Boston. Rozier would also gain some added garbage time minutes in that scenario, so he might be worth the risk in tournament play.
Tyus Jones, MIN vs. DET
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $3,600
The Timberwolves will be without Jeff Teague (ankle), which will move Derrick Rose into the starting five. Rose is a great DFS option, as a result, but his price doesn’t exactly make him a cheap value play. Jones, on the other hand, isn’t too far off from the minimum price on both sites. He ended up playing 24 minutes in a blowout win over the Kings on Monday, scoring 10 points to go along with three rebounds, 10 assists, and two steals. This game figures to be closer, but that doesn’t mean Jones won’t play enough to be worth considering for your entry.
SHOOTING GUARDS
Marcus Smart, BOS vs. PHO
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $4,900
Like Rozier, Smart has seen a significant reduction in his playing time this season. However, if Brown doesn’t play, Smart will likely move into the starting five. Across nine previous starts, Smart has averaged 8.8 points. 3.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 2.8 steals. His scoring upside won’t be high whether he starts or comes off the bench, but his contributions in other areas would still make him a viable target with the added playing time.
Jamal Crawford, PHO at BOS
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $3,600
In a bit of an odd move, the Suns have waived Austin Rivers after acquiring him from the Wizards. They don’t have much depth at point guard, so Rivers could have been a valuable addition. Maybe they really like the production that they have received from Crawford, who is averaging nine points, 2.3 rebounds, and 8.7 assists across his last three games. Crawford will continue to be relied on to help play point guard Wednesday, so he could provide value despite this matchup against a tough Celtics defense.
SMALL FORWARDS
Nemanja Bjelica, SAC vs. OKC
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $4,800
Monday’s game was pretty much worst-case scenario for the starters on the Kings. They were pulled early after digging a deep deficit and never returned to the game. Bjelica only played five minutes, but don’t get scared away from him because of one oddball game. Marvin Bagley III (knee) will be out again Wednesday, setting Bjleica up for the opportunity for heavy playing time if the Kings can keep this game close.
E’Twaun Moore, NO at MIL
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,600
Speaking of teams dealing with injuries, things are looking ugly for the Pelicans for this game. Elfrid Payton (finger), Julius Randle (ankle) and Nikola Mirotic (ankle) will all be out, leaving a ton of available minutes. Randle and Mirotic are also two of their best offensive options, so expect Moore to be one of the players that they look to for adding offense. That could leave him as a great option in DFS since both the Pelicans and Bucks are in the top-five in the league in pace of play.
POWER FORWARDS
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, BKN at CHI
FanDuel = $5,600
DraftKings = $5,600
Hollis-Jefferson was sidelined with an injury to start the season and then he was stuck behind Jared Dudley when he was able to return. He’s finally reclaimed his starting spot, which is key because he’s averaged eight minutes more per game as a starter than when he comes off of the bench. The added playing time has helped him average 12.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.2 steals across his 13 starts and he’ll get a great opportunity to build on those numbers against the struggling Bulls.
Cheick Diallo, NO at MIL
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,500
With Randle and Mirotic out, Anthony Davis is going to have to carry even more of the load up front for the Pelicans. However, someone is going to have to help fill Randle’s and Mirotic’s minutes. Diallo is likely one of the prime candidates to spend more time on the floor. While opportunities have been few and far between for him this year, he had 10 points and 10 rebounds in the lone game in which he has logged at least 20 minutes. That’s obviously not a great sample size to be working with, but he might still be worth taking a chance on in tournament play.
CENTERS
Jarrett Allen, BKN at CHI
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $5,500
Allen is averaging seven more minutes a game this year compared to his rookie season with the Nets viewing him as a key part of their future. His production has increased along with his playing time, boosting him to averages of 11.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. The Bulls allow the second-most FanDuel and DraftKings points per game to opposing centers, leaving Allen with a prime opportunity to shine.
Cody Zeller, CHA vs. CLE
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $5,300
Zeller has battled injuries throughout his career, but he’s been able to play 28 games already this season. He’s not logging heavy minutes despite his starting role, but he’s still put up respectable numbers with 9.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, two assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.8 blocks per contest. The Cavaliers are thin at center with Kevin Love (toe) and Tristan Thompson (foot) out, so don’t sleep on Zeller.
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers Lineup Picks for 4/5/18
*Mike Barner*
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers Lineup Picks for 4/5/18
Thursday brings six games in the NBA that will be loaded with playoff implications. Not many of the tanking teams will be in action, which might leave fewer value plays than we are accustomed to of late. It’s key to find the right cheap daily fantasy basketball sleepers to hopefully help create a winning entry. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and find the value players that are low-owned on FanDuel and DraftKings like Shabazz Napier and John Henson.
Use Code “LAB60” at checkout for 60% off Seasonal Package<
POINT GUARDS
Tyus Jones, MIN at DEN
FanDuel = #3,800
DraftKings = $5,000
Jeff Teague (knee) is listed as questionable for Thursday after missing Sunday’s game against the Jazz. Jones started in his place and played well, scoring 15 points to go along with four assists, four steals, and two three-pointers. The Nuggets allow the fifth-most points per game on both FanDuel and DraftKings to opposing point guards, making Jones a viable option for your entry if Teague is ruled out again.
Shabazz Napier, POR at HOU
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $5,300
The Blazers look poised to be the third seed in the West, leaving them with little to play for at this point in the season. Damian Lillard (ankle) is not likely to play Thursday as a result, which should move Napier into the starting five. Napier has played well in nine starts this season, averaging 15.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.7 three-pointers per contest. His price is especially appealing on FanDuel, but he can provide value on both sites based on his likely expanded role.
SHOOTING GUARDS
Andrew Wiggins, MIN at DEN
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $6,700
The Timberwolves are clinging to one of the final playoff spots in the Western Conference and might be getting reinforcements soon with Jimmy Butler (knee) closing in on a return. He’s listed as doubtful for Thursday, so expect Wiggins to continue to have an expanded offensive role against the Nuggets. With Butler sidelined for the entire month of March, Wiggins averaged 18.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.5 three-pointers and 1.2 steals per contest.
Caris LeVert, BKN at MIL
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $5,500
The Nets don’t own their first-round pick in the 2018 draft, leaving them as one of the few bad teams in the league with no incentive to tank down the stretch. They have continued with their normal rotations as a result but will be without DeMarre Carroll (hip) on Thursday. Carroll is averaging 30 minutes per game this season, so that should open up added playing time a few Nets players, LeVert being one of them. In nine games that LeVert has played at least 30 minutes this season, he is averaging 15.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, six assists and 1.7 steals. Don’t be surprised if he at least approaches that minutes threshold Thursday.
SMALL FORWARDS
Bojan Bogdanovic, IND vs. GS
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = NA
Bogdanovic is a streaky shooter, but he has scored at least 15 points in five of his last six games. He attempted at least 11 shots in all six of those contests, so he will likely continue to have a significant role as the regular season comes to a close. The Warriors play at the fifth-fastest pace (101.9 possessions per game) in the league, which could leave Bogdanovic with a few extra shot attempts Thursday. Of note, this game is not included in the main or late slates on DraftKings, but Bogdanovic is still someone to target on FanDuel.
Joe Harris, BKN at MIL
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,400
Harris has provided an offensive spark for the Nets lately, scoring at least 13 points in five straight games. He played at least 27 minutes in four of those five contests and should be in line for added playing Thursday as well with Carroll sidelined. He doesn’t provide much in the way of rebounds or assists, but the potential for added shot attempts makes him someone to consider at this cheap price.
POWER FORWARDS
John Henson, MIL vs. BKN
FanDuel = $5,600
DraftKings = $5,000
Henson has provided solid value down the stretch, averaging 8.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, three assists and 1.9 blocks in his last seven games. The Bucks don’t have much depth up front, leaving Henson to play at least 27 minutes in five of those seven contests. He’s listed at power forwards on FanDuel, but he actually plays center, which is where he is listed on DraftKings. The Nets allow the most points per game on both FanDuel and DraftKings to opposing centers, making Henson a viable option for your entry.
Al-Farouq Aminu, POR at HOU
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $5,600
Lillard, C.J. McCollum, and Jusuf Nurkic might be the main scoring options for the Blazers, but Aminu is also a very important part of their team. He had one of his best months of the season in March, averaging 9.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.7 three-pointers per contest. He has three double-doubles in his last five games and could be in line for heavy playing time Thursday against a Rockets team that likes to use a lot of small lineups. His scoring upside isn’t that high, but he can provide enough production in several categories to still leave him with value.
CENTERS
Jarrett Allen, BKN at MIL
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $4,500
Allen is not a consistent option by any means, but that’s why he’s priced this low. Although he has scored at least 12 points in four of his last six games, he scored five points or fewer in both of the other two contests. He is a valuable source of defensive starts though, averaging 2.3 blocks over his last 10 games. The Bucks allow the third most points per game on both FanDuel and DraftKings to opposing centers, making Allen someone to at least consider Thursday.
Tyler Zeller, MIL vs. BKN
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $3,600
Cheap centers with upside are hard to come by Thursday, especially if you are playing on FanDuel. Zeller makes his way into tournament play consideration, as a result, averaging eight points, 6.2 rebounds and one steal in his last five games. With the Nets struggles to defend centers already detailed, Zeller does have some upside at near the minimum price on both sites.
NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 12
*Mike Barner*
RING in 2018 with code “NEWYEAR40” at checkout for 40% off Seasonal Package
NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 12
Let’s dive into Week 12 of the NBA to make sure you start off the New Year with a winning week for your season-long fantasy league. It’s important to know the intricacies of the schedule to gain an advantage over your opponent in a head-to-head league as starting your best players might not always give you the best chance to win. Here are the moves you want to consider for your team based on the week ahead.
Teams With The Most Games – 4 Games Each
Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs
There are only eight teams with four games each in Week 12, giving a big boost in value to players on those squads. Here are some players on those teams widely available in most leagues that could give you a winning edge.
Tyus Jones, Minnesota Timberwolves
Jones has stepped into a starting role for the Timberwolves with Jeff Teague (knee) injured. While the injury for Teague isn’t as bad as initially feared, he is expected to be out at least through Week 12. Jones has played well in five starts this season, averaging 9.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 3.8 steals and 1.0 three-pointer per game. His scoring is not great, but that amount of steals alone can help win you the category in your league. Three of his games in Week 12 come against the Lakers, Nets and Pelicans, all teams that are in the top-six in the league in terms of pace of play. Still available in 69% of Yahoo! leagues, go pick up Jones.
John Henson, Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks have three great players in Giannis Antetokounmpo, Eric Bledsoe and Khris Middleton, but are extremely thin at center. Henson is averaging 24 minutes per game as a result, the most he has since the 2013-14 season. His numbers don’t jump off the page, averaging just 8.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. However, when you add that to his 1.5 blocks per game average and 61.1% field goal percentage, you get a viable fantasy option when playing four games. He’ll play the Wizards, Pacers and the Raptors twice in Week 12, all teams with big centers. He’s available in 62% of Yahoo! leagues and is worth considering if you need help at center.
Frank Ntilikina, New York Knicks
The Knick’s rookie point guard is only averaging 21 minutes per game this season as the team has decided to use Jarrett Jack as their starter. However, Ntilikina has seen his playing time increase lately, logging at least 25 minutes in eight of his last 11 games. He took advantage of the added playing time, averaging 7.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.0 three-pointer in those eight contests. If you are in a deeper league and need assists and steals, Ntilikina is a viable option with four games who is still available in 87% of Yahoo! leagues.
Teams With The Fewest Games – 2 Games Each
Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, Philadelphia 76ers, Sacramento Kings
Victor Oladipo, Indiana Pacers
Oladipo is clearly an elite fantasy option as his 30.6% usage rate is the tenth-highest in the league. He’s averaging career-highs pretty much across the board, including a lofty 24.9 points and 2.7 three-pointers per game. The problem is that he has missed the last three games with a knee injury and his status for this week is uncertain. You’d still start him with only two games if he was healthy, but it might not be worth the risk this week. If he sits out even just one game, he could do significant damage to your squad.
Robert Covington, Philadelphia 76ers
Covington is a valuable all-around fantasy asset, averaging 14.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 2.9 three-pointers per game this season. Known for his poor shooting percentage, he has improved to 42.2% this season. However, he’s in an offensive slump right now, scoring 10 points or less in four of his last five games. He’ll have to face the Spurs and Pistons in Week 12, two of the top-five teams in terms of fewest points allowed per game in the league. This might be the week to keep him out of your starting lineup.
Nicolas Batum, Charlotte Hornets
Batum has battled an elbow injury this season, limiting him to 10.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game. Those are all the lowest averages of his three-year stint with the Hornets. He’s hurting owners in field goal percentage as well, shooting only 40.4% from the field. When healthy, his ability to contribute in multiple categories is extremely valuable. However, with his recent struggles and only two games on the schedule for Week 12, his upside is limited at best. Keep him anchored to your bench.