Tonight brings a 10 game slate starting at 7p.m. ET.
The “Droppin Dimes,” article will go over my favorite plays for the slate. It will consist of three to five core plays along with a few additional plays and a few value plays. 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.
(Note: All pricing and fantasy points are based on DraftKings but can be used for all sites.)
Keep an eye on the injury status of players as they can be ruled out right before lock.
Game/s to Target:
Suns/Spurs
Grizzlies/Jazz
If/Then….(Injury scenarios)
IF Kevin Porter Jr. sits out then Jalen Green and Eric Gordon get a bump
IF Bogdan Bogdanovic sits out then Kevin Huerter becomes an even better play and Danilo Gallinari gets a bump
IF Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is out then Lou Dort gets a bump and Ty Jerome and Kenrich Williams would see an increase in minutes.
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).
**Late news Tobias Harris is unlikely to play- this opens up a lot more usage with Embiid already off the floor. Tyrese Maxey gets a big boost, Shake Milton, Georges Niang, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and Furkan Kormaz. All of these players are viable at their current prices. Pace up spot and good matchup for the Sixers. They are not listed in the main article due to the later news.
Jalen Suggs, Orlando Magic ($5000)
The Magic will be with out Cole Anthony and Gary Harris tonight. This opens the door for Suggs who has already been playing well as of late with 28 or more FPs in the last 3 games. Suggs had the highest usage behind Anthony at 26% and he gets a nice bump with Anthony now out. The ownership will be high again just like it was last game, but he is still under pried for his production and the matchup. If you want to get off the higher ownership of Suggs take a look at RJ Hampton who is averaging just around a FPPM and put up 42 FPS last game in this same matchup. The pivot off Suggs at $800 cheaper.
Also consider: Mike Conley- was my favorite option before Anthony was ruled- still in an excellent spot, Tyrese Maxey– playing a ton of minutes and dropping 20 real points a night while adding peripheral stats- he will come in under 5% and should return 6x plus, Dejounte Murray– (GPP play)- fast paced game and Murray has triple-double upside
Value: Tyus Jones-back-to-back 20 plus FP games at 3.4K and should see more run if Brooks is out, Patrick Beverly
Luguentz Dort, Oklahoma City Thunder ($5100)
Dort has taken a step forward on the offensive side this year. He is known for his elite defensive skills, but is starting to contribute on both ends of the floor. Taking double-digit shot attempts and in now games 20 plus, scoring double-digit FPs and adding in a few peripheral stats. 20 or more real points in 5 of the last 7 games and has shown upside in the faster paced games. The Thunder play the Hawks tonight who rank 28th in defensive efficiency. This game does have an 11.5 point spread, but the team is a bunch of scrappers who beat the Lakers twice and have come back most night after being down 15-10 points. A good spot for Dort tonight and even better spot if SGA is out as he will be the go to guy.
Also consider: Anthony Edwards, Bradley Beal-peripheral stats are up(7 or more assists in 7 of the last 8 games-love this matchup for him to hit a 50 burger).
Value: Devin Vassell, RJ Hampton, Mychal Mulder- 3.1K player that should see more minutes with two guards out on the Magic- GPP
Kevin Huerter, Atlanta Hawks ($4200)
Huerter has found himself back in the staring lineup with DeAndre Hunter out. He has played 30 or more minutes in 5 of the last games and put up 20 or more FPs in 4 0f those 6 games. Looks like he is finding his groove again with 27 or more FPs in the last two. A good spot for Huerter and the Hawks tonight against the Thunder as he is projected for 26 FPs tonight (6.2 times value) with a celing of 33.
Also consider: Brandon Ingram, Gordan Hayward
Value: Kelly Oubre Jr., Frank Wagner, Cam Reddish
Josh Hart, New Orleans Pelicans ($5500)
Hart is coming off a rough game barely exceeding 10 FPs, but prior to that game he put up 36.8 or more FPs in 3 straight. This is a bounce back game for Hart as the Pelicans face the faster pacers Timberwolves. Hart is a good rebounder with the ability to score and drop dimes. Double-digit rebounds in 2 of the last 4 games and 11 assist 5 games ago. Minutes have been high at 35 or more in 3 of the last 4 games with 2 of those at 38. He will be on the court most of the game in a close matchup and this game is projected to be close with 3.5 points spread.
Also consider: DeMar DeRozan, Domantas Sabonis, Giannis Antetokounmpo
Value: Lauri Markkanen- would be my favorite with no minutes restriction tonight, Royce O’Neale , Jarred Vanderbilt
Daniel Gafford, Washington Wizards ($4400)
I was on Gafforf the other night in this same matchup against the Hornets and he returned 8.7 times his value. Price is the same tonight and the only difference is this game is in Washington. The Hornets run fast and rank 24th in defensive efficiency and 27th against opposing centers. A fast paced game against a poor defense should result in another solid game. At his current price, Gafford only needs 22 FPs and he as done that in 4 of his last 6 games.
Also consider: Karl-Antony Towns, Jonas Valanciunas, Jarrett Allen-GPP
Value: Steven Adams, JaVale McGee
CORE PLAYS
Focus– Sixers 2-4 players in lineups (Best value plays along with Magic) Maxey is still viable at his price .
- Kevin Huerter
- Georges Niang
- Jalen Suggs
Dimes Play(GPP Play of the Night) Under 5k Player with low ownership and upside
Lonnie Walker- the Spurs will be without Dougie Buckets- AKA Doug McDermott. This should open up more playing time for Walker who takes a ton of shots(usually double-digits). This is a fast paced game and Walker should do well against the Suns second unit. Price is down under 4k which gives him the ability to hit 6.5-8 times value.
Other option DeAndre Bembry is dirt cheap amd could start tonight in an excellent matchup.
**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!