Happy New Year!
What better way to start the New Year than by playing some daily fantasy basketball? There are only five games on the slate, but there are some great matchups on the schedule. Here are my favorite FanDuel picks at each position.
Point Guard
John Wall vs. Orlando Magic
Salary $10,200
TO-Adjusted Usage -- Season: 24.3 | Last Five Games: 26.0
Min/Game -- Season: 35.5 | Last Five Games: 37.6
FP/Game -- Season: 40.9 | Last Five Games: 46.7
Wall’s price has risen to an absurd level, but given the lack of options at point guard, he is still very much in play tonight. He has been in great form recently, averaging 46.7 fantasy points in his last five games. He draws a decent matchup at home against the Magic in what is expected to be a close, high scoring game.
Ishmael Smith vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Salary $5,800
TO-Adjusted Usage -- Season: 19.9 | Last Five Games: 25.4
Min/Game -- Season: 23.8 | Last Five Games: 25.0
FP/Game -- Season: 23.6 | Last Five Games: 27.5
Smith is my favorite play at any position tonight. He has been terrific since joining the Sixers, scoring 25, 40, and 42 fantasy points in his first three starts. Tonight he draws the best matchup on the board, as the Lakers have allowed more fantasy points to point guards than any other team in the NBA. Smith should be a staple in your cash game lineup tonight.
Shooting Guard
DeMar DeRozan vs. Charlotte Hornets
Salary $8,400
TO-Adjusted Usage -- Season: 25.0 | Last Five Games: 27.6
Min/Game -- Season: 36.6 | Last Five Games: 36.3
FP/Game -- Season: 34.9 | Last Five Games: 40.5
DeRozan is another player that is a little overpriced. However, given the short slate, he is the premier play at shooting guard. He has been on fire over the last five games, averaging 40.5 fantasy points per contest. He draws a favorable matchup tonight at home against the Hornets.
Evan Fournier vs. Washington Wizards
Salary $5,600
TO-Adjusted Usage -- Season: 17.2 | Last Five Games: 16.8
Min/Game -- Season: 32.1 | Last Five Games: 35.3
FP/Game -- Season: 23.4 | Last Five Games: 29.2
Fournier is back to producing at a high level. Over his last five games, he has averaged 29.2 fantasy points in 35.3 minutes. His current salary doesn’t match his recent production; making him one of the best dollar for dollar plays on the board tonight. It also helps that the Wizards are ranked 27th against shooting guards.
Small Forward
Carmelo Anthony vs. Chicago Bulls
Salary $8,600
TO-Adjusted Usage -- Season: 26.1 | Last Five Games: 26.2
Min/Game -- Season: 34.2 | Last Five Games: 35.8
FP/Game -- Season: 36.4 | Last Five Games: 37.7
Anthony comes into tonight’s game in good form. He has averaged 37.7 fantasy points over the last five games and he draws a favorable matchup tonight against Nikola Mirotic. Even though Jimmy Butler will likely defend him down the stretch, Anthony should be able to take advantage of his matchup against Mirotic in the early part of the game.
Chandler Parsons vs. Miami Heat
Salary $5,200
TO-Adjusted Usage -- Season: 16.0 | Last Five Games: 14.0
Min/Game -- Season: 23.9 | Last Five Games: 32.6
FP/Game -- Season: 16.7 | Last Five Games: 24.9
Parsons has played well since being inserted back into the starting lineup. He doesn’t have the highest usage rate, but he can fill up the stat sheet and he should see minutes in the mid-30s tonight against the Heat. Miami is a solid team defensively, but they are ranked 20th against small forwards this season.
Power Forward
Nerlens Noel vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Salary $6,300
TO-Adjusted Usage -- Season: 14.5 | Last Five Games: 13.5
Min/Game -- Season: 29.5 | Last Five Games: 28.4
FP/Game -- Season: 24.8 | Last Five Games: 30.9
Noel will likely be one of the most popular plays on the board tonight. He is coming off of three straight games with at least 35 fantasy points. The addition of Ish Smith has really helped his play, as the two have shown great chemistry during that stretch. Noel has also benefited from starting at center, rather than at power forward.
Taj Gibson vs. New York Knicks
Salary $5,000
TO-Adjusted Usage -- Season: 12.0 | Last Five Games: 10.2
Min/Game -- Season: 24.2 | Last Five Games: 35.0
FP/Game -- Season: 19.5 | Last Five Games: 27.4
Gibson is seeing elite minutes with Joakim Noah out. Over his last five games, Gibson has averaged 35 minutes per contest. He should see minutes in the mid-30s again tonight against the Knicks, who don’t have the best defensive frontcourt. Gibson will start at power forward, but will likely spend some time at center as well.
Center
Nikola Vucevic vs. Washington Wizards
Salary $8,200
TO-Adjusted Usage -- Season: 21.9 | Last Five Games: 23.9
Min/Game -- Season: 31.0 | Last Five Games: 35.8
FP/Game -- Season: 33.8 | Last Five Games: 40.6
The two top targets at center are squaring off against one another tonight. Vucevic gets the edge over Marcin Gortat, because he has been in slightly better form. Over his last five games, Vucevic has averaged 40.6 fantasy points. He should be able to take advantage of a Wizards’ team that doesn’t defend the paint or rebound well.
Note: This is not meant to be a full lineup. The picks are my favorite targets at each position.