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Normally would complain that there are only four games on the slate, but that is more than usual for a Thursday night. That means that it is still a good night to play some daily fantasy hoops. LeBron James and DeMarcus Cousins are the top options tonight. My only concern with playing Boogie Cousins over LeBron is that there are plenty of quality centers besides Cousins, but the small forward position is weak that I'd rather pay up for LeBron based on position scarcity.
The point guard position is odd tonight because the position is lacking good mid-tier plays, so you're going to want to either spend on Chris Paul or punt the position by using Brian Roberts and/or J.J. Barea. The shooting guard position has a couple of great top-tier options in Eric Bledsoe and Monta Ellis. However, I also love Jamal Crawford as he's playing heavy minutes and is always capable of blowing up for a big game. The small forward position is led by LeBron James. Nicolas Batum is severely under priced on most sites as he'll play huge minutes and produce in all categories. The rest of the options at the position are nothing special.
Blake Griffin is the only power forward worth spending up for tonight. I have no problems with LaMarcus Aldridge, but Griffin is cheaper than Aldridge on most sites and he'll produce similar, if not better, numbers than Aldridge. Markieff Morris and Cody Zeller a decent mid-tier plays. The rest of the options at power forward are brutal and not worth the money. Tyson Chandler and DeAndre Jordan are great options at center and I have no problem saving money by using one of those guys instead of paying up for DeMarcus Cousins. Good luck tonight.
Here is the Daily Fantasy Basketball Playbook for February 5th:
Point Guards
| Player | Team | Fantasy Aces | Fanduel | DraftKings | Comments |
| Chris Paul | Clippers | 6,700 | 9,700 | 9,200 | Cheaper than he normally is & put up 15/8/14/3 steals in their previous matchup |
| J.J. Barea | Mavericks | 3,600 | 3,900 | 3,400 | Superb value option that is starting & playing almost 30 minutes a game |
| Brian Roberts | Hornets | 4,150 | 4,300 | 4,500 | Good for 25 FP |
| Goran Dragic | Suns | 4,800 | 6,300 | 6,100 | Like as a mid-tier GPP option |
Shooting Guards
| Player | Team | Fantasy Aces | Fanduel | DraftKings | Comments |
| Eric Bledsoe | Suns | 5,700 | 8,600 | 8,000 | Best option at SG. Produced 60 FP last time he played Portland |
| Jamal Crawford | Clippers | 4,400 | 5,200 | 5,000 | Price tag is incredibly low |
| Monta Ellis | Mavericks | 5,550 | 7,900 | 7,700 | Boom/bust play that is a great price on Aces |
| Gerald Henderson | Hornets | 4,250 | 5,000 | 4,000 | GPP only as he has a low floor/high ceiling |
Small Forwards
| Player | Team | Fantasy Aces | Fanduel | DraftKings | Comments |
| LeBron James | Cavaliers | 7,350 | 11,000 | 10,500 | 50 FP is basically a lock & could get 60-plus FP |
| Nicolas Batum | Blazers | 4,700 | 5,600 | 5,000 | Love his price tag across the board |
| Chandler Parsons | Mavericks | 4,800 | 6,100 | 5,700 | Safe mid-tier play that will produce around 30 FP |
| Al-Farouq Aminu | Mavericks | 3,800 | 4,300 | 4,000 | Has 25-plus FP in 4 out of the past 5 games. Like P.J. Tucker as GPP option as well |
Power Forwards
| Player | Team | Fantasy Aces | Fanduel | DraftKings | Comments |
| Blake Griffin | Clippers | 6,650 | 9,600 | 9,400 | Cheaper than LMA and he'll feast on the Cavaliers front court |
| Markieff Morris | Suns | 4,900 | 6,400 | 5,900 | Solid mid-tier play |
| Cody Zeller | Hornets | 4,550 | 5,500 | 5,300 | Like his value on Aces & Fanduel |
Centers
| Player | Team | Fantasy Aces | Fanduel | DraftKings | Comments |
| DeMarcus Cousins | Kings | 7,300 | 11,100 | 10,600 | Has 50-plus FP in 3 straight games |
| DeAndre Jordan | Clippers | 5,700 | 8,500 | 7,800 | High upside, but a bit pricey on FD |
| Tyson Chandler | Mavericks | 5,000 | 6,700 | 6,400 | Love as a mid-tier play that has a high floor |
Player News
Jimmy Butler (thigh) is not on the injury report ahead of Tuesday’s Play-In Tournament matchup with the Grizzlies.
Butler injured his thigh during Sunday’s overtime loss to the Clippers. He played through it and said after that he would play against Memphis, and the initial injury report lines up with his statement. Butler should see a heavy workload in a matchup to make the playoffs and take on the Rockets in the first round.
Trae Young (Achilles) is probable to play against the Magic in the Play-In Tournament on Tuesday.
Even in the postseason, Atlanta is still listing Young as probable ahead of every game. There isn’t a chance that he sits out, so expect him to occupy his typical spot in the starting unit in the 7/8 matchup, with a chance to play the Celtics in the first round on the line.
Jimmy Butler (thigh) logged 48 minutes in Sunday’s loss to the Clippers, tallying 30 points (12-of-20 FGs, 6-of-9 FTs), one rebound, nine assists, one steal and one blocked shot.
Butler’s final stat line on Sunday was outstanding but came with some pain. He took a Kawhi Leonard knee to the left thigh during overtime but stayed in the game. That injury, combined with Stephen Curry’s right thumb, is why the Warriors could have used the time off that would have come with a victory over the Clippers. Instead, Butler and the Warriors will host the Grizzlies on Tuesday. Following the game, Butler said he was fine and will be in the lineup, but don’t be surprised if Jimmy is on the initial injury report.
Brandin Podziemski accumulated 19 points (7-of-11 FGs, 3-of-5 FTs), seven rebounds, four assists, two steals, one block and two three-pointers in 43 minutes in Sunday’s loss to the Clippers.
Stephen Curry amassed 36 points (10-of-20 FGs, 9-of-9 FTs), three rebounds, six assists, two steals and seven three-pointers in 38 minutes in Sunday’s loss to the Clippers.
James Harden shot 13-of-23 from the field and 8-of-9 from the foul line in Sunday’s win over the Warriors, scoring 39 points with seven rebounds, 10 assists, two steals, two blocks and five three-pointers in 48 minutes.