Tonight's Strategy
With a newborn, sleepless nights can be a regular occurrence. My little Sammy, who I love more than life itself, is in the cuddle-bug phase. She wants either Jennifer, or myself to love on her. Or, she wakes up every 20 minutes or so. The funny thing is, this article is a project, one that will take a mere few hours. My daughter Samantha, she is my greatest creation, and the toughest challenge I have ever faced. From morning to night, I think about how I can make my little girl's life the greatest possible. After all, I am her dad. Forever. It is an endless project.
We have a nice six-game slate, which I love more than any for DFS purposes. We also do not have a lot of super salary players to choose from. I highly suspect the few we do have will be highly owned, even by me.
So, with a busy day with zero sleep ahead of me, and preparations for my MLB auction draft in New Jersey on Saturday drawing near (I am coming for you Brian Ambos), I bring you today’s Position Coach Article.
Point Guard
Well, even with Victor Olapido back, Russell Westbrook remains the only PG on the slate who could drop a 70-spot. I will have a ton of exposure to him tonight.
Chris Paul is facing a Nuggets team allowing the second most fantasy points per game to the PG position while averaging over 40 fantasy points per game prior to his last outing.
Do you know who allows the most fantasy points per game to the PG position? The Nets. With that being said, Derrick Rose for the price sure could have a great night.
On the other side, Jeremy Lin is starting to heat up, he has scored over 25 fantasy points per game in four straight including two 30-spots.
Jamal Murray, with Jameer Nelson slated to return or not, certainly provides some upside tonight on a slate where he should be very low owned.
| PG | Tm | H/A | Opp | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM/G | PTS/G | REB/G | AST/G | STL/G | BLK/G | TO/G | FG% | Usage | FDPts/G | DKPts/G | YPts/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| Russell Westbrook | OKC | A | TOR | 67 | 34.9 | 84% | 2.3 | 31.8 | 10.6 | 10.3 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 5.4 | 42% | 42.14% | 58.6 | 63 | 59.7 | $13500 | $13000 | $64 |
| Chris Paul | LAC | A | DEN | 47 | 31.4 | 87% | 2.1 | 17.7 | 5.1 | 9.2 | 2.1 | 0.1 | 2.5 | 47% | 24.23% | 39.6 | 42.1 | 40.6 | $9800 | $8800 | $44 |
| Derrick Rose | NYK | H | BKN | 59 | 32.5 | 86% | 0.2 | 17.7 | 3.9 | 4.4 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 2.4 | 47% | 25.58% | 28.7 | 30.1 | 28.8 | $6800 | $6700 | $26 |
| Jeremy Lin | BKN | A | NYK | 22 | 23.5 | 77% | 1.6 | 14.3 | 3 | 4.9 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 2.4 | 46% | 26.9% | 25.9 | 28 | 26.7 | $5900 | $6000 | $17 |
| Jamal Murray | DEN | H | LAC | 67 | 20.3 | 88% | 1.4 | 9.3 | 2.5 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 40% | 21.65% | 15.4 | 16.9 | 16.1 | $4000 | $4900 | $10 |
Shooting Guard
As I have stated many times, I will keep playing DeMar DeRozan as long as Kyle Lowry is out. He is certainly the safest bet on the board at the two, but you will pay.
Gary Harris is hotter than summer day in July, he has scored over 30 fantasy points per game in three out of his last four.
I am not hot on any Warriors right now, but for a late bullet, I am really digging me some Evan Fournier. He should see plenty of action tonight in this one opening the door for a monster game.
The Nets are allowing the second most fantasy points per game to the SG position inviting me to roster Courtney Lee tonight. And I did.
Bad match-up or not, in a GPP, Caris LeVert is seeing a decent uptick in fantasy production. He has scored over 25 fantasy points in two straight, nearly hitting the 30 mark.
| SG | Tm | H/A | Opp | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM/G | PTS/G | REB/G | AST/G | STL/G | BLK/G | TO/G | FG% | Usage | FDPts/G | DKPts/G | YPts/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| DeMar DeRozan | TOR | H | OKC | 60 | 35.4 | 85% | 0.4 | 27.2 | 5.4 | 3.7 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 2.4 | 46% | 34.19% | 39.4 | 41 | 39.6 | $9300 | $8300 | $44 |
| Gary Harris | DEN | H | LAC | 43 | 29.8 | 76% | 1.9 | 14.2 | 3 | 2.6 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 49% | 18.85% | 23.3 | 25 | 24.2 | $5900 | $5800 | $21 |
| Evan Fournier | ORL | A | GSW | 55 | 33.1 | 80% | 1.8 | 16.9 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 1 | 0.1 | 2.1 | 43% | 23.63% | 25.4 | 27.6 | 26.3 | $5500 | $5700 | $20 |
| Courtney Lee | NYK | H | BKN | 63 | 32 | 85% | 1.5 | 10.6 | 3.4 | 2.2 | 1 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 46% | 13.84% | 19.8 | 21.2 | 20.6 | $5000 | $5200 | $13 |
| Caris LeVert | BKN | A | NYK | 41 | 20.9 | 71% | 0.9 | 7.5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0.1 | 1 | 45% | 15.92% | 15.3 | 16.5 | 15.8 | $4400 | $4000 | $10 |
Small Forward
With the Nets being deplorable defensively, and allowing the fourth most fantasy points per game to the SF position, Carmelo Anthony will be finding his way into most of my line ups tonight. He has dropped two 40-spots in back-to-back games and should be easy enough to roster with Westbrook tonight with so many cheapies in good spots.
Gordon Hayward is playing some PF as of late. Although Utah is not the best for pace of game, someone still must score. Hayward should have his way tonight facing Richard Jefferson.
Atlanta continues to provide value at the three. Kent Bazemore starting in the two gets the best match-up versus a tough Memphis team, while Thabo Sefolosha is still near the minimum and can easily drop 25 fantasy points if he heats up.
Matt Barnes is looking mighty comfy in his role since Kevin Garnett got injured. At his current price point on FanDuel, I find it hard to resist. He has scored over 25 fantasy points per game in two straight and with the Warriors taking naps, it should happen again tonight. He is the player I paired with Anthony in my main FD lineup.
| SF | Tm | H/A | Opp | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM/G | PTS/G | REB/G | AST/G | STL/G | BLK/G | TO/G | FG% | Usage | FDPts/G | DKPts/G | YPts/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| Carmelo Anthony | NYK | H | BKN | 66 | 34.6 | 83% | 2.1 | 23 | 6 | 2.9 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 2.1 | 44% | 29.17% | 35.1 | 37.5 | 36.1 | $8400 | $8100 | $34 |
| Gordon Hayward | UTA | A | CLE | 61 | 34.5 | 86% | 2 | 22 | 5.5 | 3.5 | 1 | 0.3 | 1.9 | 47% | 27.58% | 34.5 | 36.7 | 35.5 | $7800 | $6900 | $35 |
| Kent Bazemore | ATL | H | MEM | 65 | 27.3 | 70% | 1.3 | 11 | 3.2 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 41% | 20.52% | 20.5 | 22.2 | 21.1 | $4300 | $4000 | $11 |
| Matt Barnes | GSW | H | ORL | 54 | 25.3 | 76% | 1.3 | 7.6 | 5.4 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 38% | 15.55% | 18.8 | 20.4 | 19.4 | $4300 | $3900 | $12 |
| Thabo Sefolosha | ATL | H | MEM | 55 | 26.1 | 75% | 0.7 | 7.5 | 4.3 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 45% | 13.54% | 18.7 | 19.7 | 19 | $3800 | $3800 | $10 |
Power Forward
I find the four rather ugly tonight. You either pay up for players who are way too risky for their price, or go value, value, value. If you can find some.
Nikola Jokic, who’s name I always must look at to spell, is still in the PF slot on FD even though he plays center. Lucky for us tonight, he has scored over 120 fantasy points combined in his last three.
Blake Griffin is facing the Nuggets, this game is also slated to be close with Denver being -1.5 favorites, you add in the 224.5 O/U, and Griffins upside, I see no way you do not play him. The man crush continues.
The other late bullet that intrigues me is Aaron Gordon, although he is highly inconsistent there is little in the way of great options at the four tonight. He also gets a decent match-up with the Warriors allowing the ninth most fantasy points per game to the four.
Enes Kanter has some nice upside on this slate, while safely scoring more than 25 fantasy points per game in five out of his last eight with three 30-spots.
Taj Gibson, GPP play for sure, but he has been playing well in a Thunder uniform. He is averaging over 20 fantasy points per game in last two and can put up a 30-spot if his shots are falling.
| PF | Tm | H/A | Opp | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM/G | PTS/G | REB/G | AST/G | STL/G | BLK/G | TO/G | FG% | Usage | FDPts/G | DKPts/G | YPts/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| Nikola Jokic | DEN | H | LAC | 58 | 27.1 | 81% | 0.6 | 16.1 | 9.4 | 4.6 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 2.2 | 59% | 23.03% | 35.2 | 37.1 | 35.5 | $10600 | $10600 | $50 |
| Blake Griffin | LAC | A | DEN | 48 | 34 | 76% | 0.4 | 21.3 | 8.5 | 5.1 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 2.4 | 48% | 28.36% | 39.5 | 41.3 | 39.7 | $9500 | $8200 | $43 |
| Aaron Gordon | ORL | A | GSW | 66 | 27.8 | 69% | 0.9 | 11.8 | 4.8 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 44% | 20.12% | 21.7 | 23 | 22.2 | $5600 | $5600 | $22 |
| Enes Kanter | OKC | A | TOR | 57 | 21.6 | 79% | 0.1 | 14.4 | 6.9 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 56% | 26.59% | 24.6 | 25.8 | 24.6 | $5600 | $5300 | $19 |
| Taj Gibson | OKC | A | TOR | 55 | 27.3 | 71% | 0.0 | 11.6 | 7 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 52% | 18.67% | 23 | 24.1 | 23 | $4200 | $4400 | $14 |
Center
I am not spending up at center tonight. I just do not see the need.
Willy Hernangomez is facing a Brooklyn team allowing the fifth most fantasy points per game to the center position while scoring over 40 fantasy points in his last game.
Jonas Valanciunas kind of fell of the map for a spell but is back at it. He has had two 30-spots and a 40-spot in his last three games. At his price, why not?
Mason Plumlee is always a great GPP play, he is playing some PF since his return dropping over 30 fantasy points in three of his last five with nothing under 20.
| C | Tm | H/A | Opp | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM/G | PTS/G | REB/G | AST/G | STL/G | BLK/G | TO/G | FG% | Usage | FDPts/G | DKPts/G | YPts/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| Willy Hernangomez | NYK | H | BKN | 58 | 17 | 70% | 0.1 | 7.2 | 6.5 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 55% | 19.4% | 17.6 | 18.7 | 17.6 | $6000 | $0 | $17 |
| Mason Plumlee | DEN | H | LAC | 54 | 28.1 | 57% | 0.0 | 11.1 | 8 | 4 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 53% | 17.61% | 29.2 | 30.4 | 29.2 | $5800 | $5500 | $17 |
| Jonas Valanciunas | TOR | H | OKC | 65 | 26.2 | 83% | 0.0 | 12.2 | 9.6 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 55% | 19.92% | 25.9 | 27.1 | 25.9 | $5600 | $5000 | $16 |
Good luck tonight. You can follow me on Twitter @RealJerryColvin or email me at therealjerrycolvin@yahoo.com. I am always happy to help, or answer any questions.