Welcome to the NBA GPP Pivots article, where we’ll be looking to uncover some sneaky-good DFS plays on FanDuel and DraftKings. 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 popular picks makes for 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.
With that, let’s dive into tonight’s seven-game slate!
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POINT GUARD
Ricky Rubio – Utah (vs Phoenix)
Rubio has been up-and-down all season, and most DFS enthusiasts will be discouraged by his 17 fantasy point performance vs Houston on Saturday. However, let’s not forget that Rubio posted 41+ FP in two of three previous games. Tonight’s draw against Phoenix has room for upside, as the Suns rank 24th in defensive efficiency to opposing point guards. Rubio has been a volatile DFS option, but he tends to cash in on favorable matchups. He’ll have an opportunity to do that tonight.
SHOOTING GUARD
Buddy Hield – Sacramento (vs Houston)
The shooting guard position is loaded tonight, as James Harden, Luka Doncic, Jrue Holiday, Donovan Mitchell, Khris Middleton, and (maybe) Zach LaVine are all in promising situations. However, don’t sleep on Buddy Hield, who could realistically reach for similar upside to most of those guys for a fraction of the cost. He’ll settle into a high-scoring matchup (234 over/under) against Houston, who ranks 23rd in defensive efficiency to shooting guards. Hield carries a solid 35 FPPG average over his past eight games while flexing upside of 47 and 52 FP in that span. We could see the best of him tonight.
SMALL FORWARD
Jae Crowder – Utah (vs Phoenix)
Crowder is a sneaky-good value option who has been playing better as of late with 25+ fantasy points in each of his past two games. I like the fact that he’s trending above the 30-minute mark, which could pay dividends in a great matchup against a Phoenix team that ranks 28th in overall team defensive efficiency. Crowder has the ability to rack up peripheral numbers through rebounds, steals, and assists – however, his upside is tied to knocking down three-pointers. The Suns rank 26th at defending the three-point line while allowing opponents to shoot at a 36.6% clip from distance. Therein lies a potential opening for Crowder’s DFS success.
POWER FORWARD
Marvin Williams – Charlotte (at Dallas)
Here we go again with good old Marvin. Williams was in the GPP Pivots column yesterday, paying off for 35 fantasy points in 34 minutes. He is seeing quality minutes to make some fantasy noise on a non-imposing salary. I believe that Williams can come through yet again while facing an evolving Dallas frontcourt that ranks dead last in rebound rate. He should see quality playing time in a competitive matchup, and Marvin is playing some confidence basketball with 30+ FP in two straight.
CENTER
Brook Lopez – Milwaukee (vs Washington)
Lopez is a volatile DFS asset due to a significant portion of his production coming from three-pointers. Having said that, the veteran is still seeing quality minutes for Milwaukee while averaging 30 FPPG over his past eight. The good news comes from a welcoming draw vs Washington, who ranks 28th in defensive efficiency to opposing centers and 29th in overall three-point percentage allowed (37.2%). Lopez could do some damage in this one, and I’m keeping him on my tournament radar for a non-imposing mid-range salary.
ALSO CONSIDER
Eric Bledsoe – PG – Milwaukee (vs Washington)
Bledsoe doesn’t always get the respect he deserves from the DFS crowd. He only plays around 30 minutes per game, and Milwaukee likes to spread the ball around while utilizing all of their weapons. Teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo usually steals the spotlight as well. Despite all of that, Bledsoe has notched 41+ fantasy points in three straight games. That’s an impressive feat when considering he’s averaging 29 minutes over that span. Bledsoe could post more efficient upside while facing a Washington team that ranks 26th in defensive efficiency to opposing point guards.
Iman Shumpert – SG – Sacramento (vs Houston)
Shumpert doesn’t have nearly the same upside as his aforementioned teammate, Buddy Hield, but his salary is over $2,000 cheaper. Shumpert is seeing quality minutes (around 30) while translating that to 31+ fantasy points in two of his past four. He’s capable of producing well-rounded stat-lines, and this is a high-scoring draw (234 over/under) against Houston.
Willie Cauley-Stein – C – Sacramento (vs Houston)
As you can see, I really believe the Kings have some tournament upside tonight. Cauley-Stein will likely get lost in the shuffle at a loaded center position on this slate. He has posted 38+ fantasy points in two of his last five, flexing capable 40-45+ FP upside repeatedly throughout the season. Houston ranks dead last in defensive efficiency to opposing centers over the past ten games, which happens to represent the amount of time they have been without Clint Capela. Cauley-Stein could take full advantage tonight.
