Trying to build a better lineup for Tuesday’s NBA daily fantasy contests on FanDuel? Here are some options I have picked out to consider for tonight’s slate.
Point Guard
Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers, $9,300
In his last ten games, Damien Lillard has averaged over 46 FanDuel points. In that span his lowest point total was 37.8. He has upside, but looking at those numbers he also has an incredibly high floor. Tonight he takes on the New York Knicks, who rank very low in most metrics as far as defending point guards. With Stephen Curry dealing with an ankle injury, I think the safest way to get a stud point guard on your roster is going to be Lillard.
Goran Dragic, Miami Heat, $6,300
Ever since Chris Bosh has been out due to injury, it has been the Dragon that has taken advantage of the situation by averaging over 34 FanDuel points per game in that span. The price tag still sits at an extremely valuable $6,300. Also, if Derrick Rose plays tonight for Chicago, Dragic gets a fantastic matchup against him, as he has shown a major deficiency on defense this year.
Others to Consider: Kemba Walker, D'Angelo Russell
Shooting Guard
Nicolas Batum, Charlotte Hornets, $6,200
Batum burnt fantasy owners last game by putting up a major 13 point dud. Hopefully recency bias will affect others’ views of him and they leave him off their rosters tonight. I would be more than willing to play a guy with his fantasy prowess against a weak Phoenix team at a $6,200 salary, every time out. Charlotte is not in tank mode and they are fully trying to win games right now, and that benefits heavy minutes for guys like Nicolas Batum.
Victor Oladipo, Orlando Magic, $7,000
As of writing this, I am not sure of the status of Evan Fournier. He missed the last game and is questionable tonight. His absence opens up even more minutes for Oladipo. He has averaged 36.6 FanDuel points per game in his last five games and this matchup tonight against Dallas should be a competitive contest all the way into the fourth quarter.
Others to Consider: Klay Thompson, Jordan Clarkson
Small Forward
Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks, $8,900
There is quite the conundrum at small forward tonight. You’ve got one stud player in Carmelo Anthony, and after that it’s a crapshoot. Carmelo has averaged 40.6 fantasy points per game over his last ten, which is slightly higher than his 37.6 season average. He’s at home tonight to take on Portland and they will need his offense if they hope to win this game, so I think we see major usage levels out of New York’s superstar tonight.
Luol Deng, Miami Heat, $6,000
After that one big stud at this position, I think you can take a few different guys and pull a name out of a hat to see who you want to roster as your second small forward. Chandler Parsons is a solid option in this category, but I am going to list Luol Deng. He’s been very good since Chris Bosh has been down with the injury and tonight takes on his former team, the Chicago Bulls. I’m always down for a good revenge game in the NBA.
Others to Consider: Chandler Parsons, P.J. Tucker
Power Forward
Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors, $8,400
Earlier I mentioned Steph Curry left his last game for a few minutes with a twisted ankle. Although he came back into the game and finished out strong, sometimes those ankles swell up and get worse the days after the game is over with. So, I think it would behoove DFS contestants to think about rostering guys like Klay Thompson and Draymond Green tonight, just in case Steph Curry is either a late scratch, leaves the game early or just decides to defer the offense to the other guys. In any of those instances, you hit the jackpot if you roster these other two studs.
Thaddeus Young, Brooklyn Nets, $7,000
Young has been stellar all year long. He’s picked up the pace even more, having averaged 34.2 FanDuel points per game over his last. He still sits at a very reasonable $7,000 price tag and the matchup against the Lakers tonight doesn’t get much better.
Others to Consider: Paul Millsap, Aaron Gordon
Center
Hassan Whiteside, Miami Heat, $8,400
Whiteside has been on a tear since he returned from his one-game suspension following the All-Star break. Over the course of the last five games he’s averaged nearly 47 FanDuel points per game. Tonight he takes on the Chicago Bulls, who have struggled to defend the center position recently, having given up FanDuel point totals like 31.8 to Mason Plumlee, 38 to Al Horford, 40.9 to Jonas Valanciunas and 38 to Tristan Thompson. Whiteside has an extremely defensive-based fantasy game, and that should play into his strengths while guarding a guy like Pau Gasol tonight.
Others to Consider: Brook Lopez, Alex Len