We’re welcoming you back from the All-Star break with a perfect six-game slate. With everyone coming out fresh, there are some blowout risks, including Houston over Golden State and Milwaukee over Detroit, but some expected close games as well. Miami, Detroit, Charlotte and Sacramento should get notable pace bumps tonight, while Miami, Chicago, Sacramento, Houston and Golden State all get great fantasy matchups. In this column, I generally set $6000 FD/$5000 DK as the bargain threshold, and I try to indicate when I think a position is particularly well-suited--or not--to using the cheap plays given the landscape of the particular slate. Tonight’s slate tips at 8:00 pm EST.
Point Guard
Jordan Poole, Golden State Warriors vs. Houston ($4400 FD, $4000 DK)
There are any number of star point guards on this slate, so I’m saving with someone like Poole as either a second PG or G only. In other words, he’s definitely not someone I’m building lineups around. That said, this is a game with one of the fastest paces and highest point totals. Houston has been a terrific fantasy matchup for opposing guards, and Poole came into the break averaging about 27 MPG and 27 fantasy points per game in the four games prior.
Kendrick Nunn, Miami Heat at Atlanta ($4200 FD, $4900 DK)
I’m relying a bit on past history here, as Nunn is averaging 37 fantasy points per game against Atlanta this season. He came into the break with a decent game that checked all the boxes, but still isn’t shooting efficiently. Maybe a week off did him some good. As noted above, it’s easy to pay up for PG tonight, so Nunn is nothing more than a tournament salary-saving flier.
Shooting Guard
Damion Lee, Golden State Warriors vs. Houston ($4900 FD, $5200 DK)
Another matchup- and history-motivated option, Lee is averaging 40 fantasy points per game in two meetings with the Rockets this season. He’s playing pretty consistent minutes and performing well in favorable matchups with his low games coming against solid defensive opponents. The Rockets should once again prove an easy way for Lee to reach value tonight.
Duncan Robinson, Miami Heat at Atlanta ($4200 FD, $4900 DK)
Robinson’s excellent three-point shooting got him on the National radar in the All-Star 3-point contest, and he has been particularly good in February, averaging almost five made threes per game. However, he does more than that most nights, notably averaging about four assists and three rebounds per game in the four games before the break. The Heat should be on your radar given that Atlanta is the overall best fantasy matchup on the slate and in the league (they rank fifth to shooting guards, too).
Also consider: Buddy Hield ($5700 FD) or Dillon Brooks ($4900 FD, $5000 DK)
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Small Forward
Josh Richardson, Philadelphia 76ers vs. Brooklyn ($5000 FD(SG), $4200 DK)
I keep coming back to Richardson on DraftKings given the severe underpricing there. He is playing 30 MPG again now, and although he isn’t the engine that drives this team, he makes a lot of contributions in multiple categories. Now healthy, he will be a staple value play with a nice floor while at this price. If Ben Simmons does miss the game tonight with a sore back, he’ll be much more popular.
Jae Crowder, Miami Heat at Atlanta ($4500 FD, $5000 DK)
Crowder has made an immediate impact in Miami. Though his gaudy numbers fell off a little bit right before the break vs. Utah, his upside is clear. Consider him another Heat option that won’t break the bank. Again, the Heat get a huge pace bump, favorable fantasy matchups, a high game total (230.5 points) and are decent-sized road favorites tonight.
Also consider: Kyle Anderson ($4500 FD, $4300 DK), Harrison Barnes ($4700 FD, $5000 DK), Danuel House ($4900 FD, $4600 DK)
Power Forward
Jabari Parker, Sacramento Kings vs. Memphis ($3500 FD, $3700 DK)
Parker is expected to debut with the Kings tonight after not playing since early January. He’s therefore a total wild card for DFS tonight. Certainly capable of 30-ish fantasy points in a favorable game environment tonight, that will depend on his role. The facts that Richaun Holmes, Alex Len and Marvin Bagley remain out and that the PF position has been a real need for the Kings bode well for Parker’s immediate impact.
Thaddeus Young, Chicago Bulls vs. Charlotte ($5700 FD, $5400 DK)
Young has emerged as an every-night safe cheap play at PF. When the game is against one of the league’s most-generous frontcourt matchups (sixth-most fantasy points allowed to PFs), he gets an extra nod. You have to go back to mid-January to find a game where he didn’t score double-digit points, and a modest double-double is very much in his range tonight.
Also consider: PJ Washington ($4700 FD, $4500 DK), Derrick Jones ($3600 FD, $4000 DK)
Center
Dewayne Dedmon, Atlanta Hawks vs. Miami ($4900 FD, $4800 DK)
Dedmon will continue to start at center for the Hawks, where he has been dominant in one main category: blocks. He has 18 in the last five games. He also has some double-digit scoring and rebound games in there. This is not a great matchup on paper, but for the price, Dedmon seems like one of the safer plays here.
Daniel Gafford, Chicago Bulls vs. Charlotte ($3700 FD, $3000 DK)
Gafford is going to get an opportunity tonight as a “full go” for the Bulls tonight. The Chicago frontcourt is still undermanned, so his return should be a welcome development. He gets the league’s best fantasy matchup for centers in Charlotte, and again, for the price, you’re taking very little risk for what could be a 7-8X or better return.
Also consider: Al Horford ($5300 FD, $5000 DK), Cody Zeller ($4800 FD, $4500 DK)
