Tonight brings a 9 game slate and start time is 7pm ET.
The “Droppin Dimes,” article will go over my favorite plays for the slate. It will consist of five core plays (one player at each position) with a full write-up for the core along with a few additional plays and a few value plays. These are my favorite options. You won’t always see the highest-priced players or the most obvious plays. Players listed first at each position are my favorite and a good start to build a lineup around.
Keep an eye on the injury status of players as they can be ruled out right before lock.
Game/s to Target
Blazers @ Clippers – High total, fast paced game with a close spread. Also, these two teams have been poor defensively to start the year, Wizards@Nets
Dimes Play (GPP Play of the Night)
Anfernee Simons, Portland Traillazers
NOTES:
FPPM= Fantasy Points Per Minute, FPPG= Fantasy Points Per Game, PPG=Points per Game, Value=Projected points/salary(This will differ depending on the site).
Pricing (DK/FD)
IF…..THEN(Injuries)
- If Al Horford sits out then look at Grant Williams. Robert Williams becomes an excellent play
- If Jaylen Brown sits out then Jason Tatum and Dennis Schroeder get a bump
- If Nikola Vucevic sits out then Tony Bradley should see some additional minutes
- If Darius Garland sits out then Ricky Rubio is viable
- Jerami Grant sits out then Kelly Olynyk and Trey Lyles get a bump. Josh Jackson becomes a nice GPP Play.
Point Guards
Eric Bledsoe , LA Clippers ($6000/$5900)
A new team and a revived Eric Bledsoe! He now is playing more like he did a few years back. On the Clippers, he is averaging 31.5 minutes and 37.4 FPs while taking double digit shots. A defense presence over the first two games averaging 2.5 steals and 1.5 blocks. This is a pace up spot for the Clippers and a plus defensive matchup where Bledsoe can take advantage of this situation. He is listed as both PG and SG on both sites and is a bit underpriced for his production so far this year. I have him projected for 34.5 FPs, which is below his season average and above value, but I can see a 40 plus point FP game from him tonight in this matchup.
Also consider: Dame “$” Lillard- CJ McCollum has started the season on fire. Now it is Dame $ TIME!, Malcom Brogdon
Value: Anfernee Simons is averaging about 1 FPPM and could see some additional minutes with Powell out, Alex Caruso,
SHOOTING GUARDS
Tyler Herro, Miami Heat ($6400/$6200)
Herro has taken a big step forward to start the year. Coming off back-to-back 43 plus fantasy points games where he attempted 18 and 28 shots and scored 27 and 30 points respectively. A massive 35% usage in those two games. A small part of this was due to Kyle Lowry getting hurt in the first game. Lowry still played 24 minutes and Herro still went off. I do not see him getting much ownership tonight and he gets an elite matchup against the Magic coming off a game yesterday. The Magic gave allowed the 3rd most points to opposing teams this year. Not a big difference from last year.
Also consider: Paul George, CJ McCollum
Value: Cody Martin, Jeremy Lamb
SMALL FORWARDS
Nassit Little/Larry Nance, Portland TrailBlazers
The Blazers will be without Norman Powell tonight which opens up a starting spot and about 35 minutes. Little is the favorite for the starting spot and has seen 16(minutes restriction due to injury, but it looks like it is lifted) and 27 minutes off the bench in the first two games. He averages just shy of a FPPM and should see 25-30 minutes tonight and at only $3800 on DraftKings he is a solid value play with 6-8 times upside. Nance has shown upside in the past when he sees solid minutes, but has yet to put anything together on the Blazers. His price is down and he should have the lower ownership of the two.
Also consider: Michael Porter Jr,- love the upside tonight, Miles Bridges, Kevin Durant
Value: Franz Wagner, Grayson Allen/Pat Connaugton
POWER FORWARDS
Giannis Antetookounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks ($10,400/$11,200)
Giannis has been one of the best FPPM players over the past few years coming in around 1.7 per minute . He has only one game so far where he exceeded value, but I like the spot for him tonight in this pace up spot. Also, the Pacers are not the best defensively.
Also consider: Jason Tatum, John Collins
Value: Jordan Nwora- over 20 minutes and 20 FPs in the first three games. Double digit shot attempts and 20% usage so far, Bobby Portis if he plays.
CENTERS
Precious Achiuwa, Toronto Raptors ($4500/$4600)
Achiuwa has seen an increase in minutes in each of the three games this year (18,25,33). He is averaging a double/double, 1.2 FPPM and has shown 39 FP upside. The minutes increase has shown that Achiuwa is the favorite of the centers as we saw Khem Birch’s minutes reduce and Chris Boucher barely played last game. Take advantage of the reduced price as he will be a 6K player soon enough.
Also consider: Nikola Jokic- averaging an elite 1.76 FPPM and gets an elite matchup, Jonas Valanciunas, Robert Williams -if Horford sits out
Value: Paul Millsapwill see an uptick in minutes with Aldridge out, Grant Williams
CORE- Other options listed can be substituted for any of these core spots.
- Eric Bledsoe
- Tyler Herro,
- Nassir Little or Larry Nance
- Giannis
- Precuous Achiuwa
**Options to help build lineups- Take these core plays and enter into optimizer with your favorite setting(rating, FBrating, FBprojections, FunkProjections, ownership or ratings). OR use this article to help you build a lineup with some of your favorite plays. The Dashboard is also a great tool to help build lineups- It contains a good variety of stats and projections from multiple sources.
Good Luck!