Welcome to the NBA GPP Pivots article, where we’ll be looking to uncover some sneaky-good DFS plays away from the popular selections. These recommendations are usually risk/reward commodities meant to be used in large-field tournaments. Typically, blending these low-owned hidden gems with well-aligned staples contributes to a viable GPP strategy.
Keep in mind that the following player write-ups were constructed earlier in the day, and sometimes injury/rest situations can alter the fantasy landscape. Monitoring our NBA News & Headlines Feed throughout the day will keep you in the loop while giving you the subsequent DFS consequences of each information piece.
We will be looking at Friday’s seven-game main slate starting at 7:00 ET.
POINT GUARD
Coby White - Chicago (vs. Minnesota)
This is an injury-dependent play. We know Lonzo Ball will continue to miss time for Chicago, but Ayo Dosunmu is questionable on top of that. Dosunmu was playing heavy minutes for the Bulls, so his absence would leave quite the void for White to fill in. That was the case last game against the Hornets, and White came through with 26 fantasy points in 38 minutes. While that efficiency wasn’t great, White can make a lot happen if he gets that level of playing time once again.
SHOOTING GUARD
Hamidou Diallo - Detroit (vs. Charlotte)
This is another recommendation that depends on an injury. Pistons’ rookie PG Cade Cunningham has missed five straight games with a hip issue, and he’s questionable again tonight. If Cunningham is out, then Diallo has a chance to step up. He has produced 37+ fantasy points in two of his last four outings with Cunningham sidelined. This matchup is fantastic as well, given that Charlotte ranks second in pace and 19th in team defensive efficiency.
SMALL FORWARD
Devin Vassell - San Antonio (at Atlanta)
Derrick White has been traded away from San Antonio, and newcomer Goran Dragic will not play. That leaves more minutes in the rotation for a guy like Vassell, who has looked good with 32+ fantasy points in two of his last four. The matchup against Atlanta isn’t imposing either. Needless to say, Vassell is too cheap when considering this potentially expanded role.
POWER FORWARD
Jerami Grant - Detroit (vs. Charlotte)
Speaking of too cheap, go ahead and keep Grant on your radar. This guy was brilliant last season, as we saw his price routinely hover in the $7,000 to $8,000 area for DraftKings and FanDuel. Now he’s only $5,200 on FanDuel and $6,000 on DraftKings. He missed a lot of time earlier in the year, but it appears that Grant has ramped up close to a full workload. Hitting 37 fantasy points in 29 minutes last night is definitely a good sign. I believe in him outperforming the artificially low salary against Charlotte, who ranks 26th in defensive efficiency to power forwards and 29th in rebound rate.
CENTER
Nikola Vucevic - Chicago (vs. Minnesota)
Vucevic was listed in this spot on Wedensday, and he came through with 54 fantasy points against the Hornets. I believe he will be underrated again tonight despite a similarly appealing matchup. Most people will look towards Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, or a cheaper center. However, Vucevic finds himself in a beautiful draw against Minnesota, who ranks fourth in pace, 24th in defensive efficiency to centers, and 24th in rebound rate.
ALSO CONSIDER
Who really knows what the Thunder rotation will look like? Aleksej Pokusevski (PF - OKC) is a tournament prospect within that, hoping he sees another 30-minute workload. Pokusevski put up some dazzling stat-lines last season, so he can make things happen when the playing time coincides. He posted 41 fantasy points last game against the Raptors, so hopefully that earned him a longer leash.
Monte Morris is out for Denver, and it appears that Bones Hyland (PG - DEN) is a legitimate option to replace him. Hyland is fresh off a cool 33 FP showing in 25 minutes against the Knicks earlier this week. He has the ability to score, but his efficiency will be all over the map. The matchup against Boston is middling, but Hyland could see enough opportunities to come away with a solid performance.
