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More so than in other slates, there seem to be a lot of differences in prices between the various sites. As always, I try to highlight players who I like across the board, but it is important to note that someone like Taurean Prince may be a solid play on DraftKings but a great value on FanDuel.
As a corollary to the point on Taurean Prince, I found that while the positions in Tuesday’s slate are fairly even in terms of options at varying price points, the game matchups are not. Rather than trying to spend a certain amount of salary on a certain position, I believe it is more important to identify the matchups you like, plug in the players you want to use to exploit those matchups, and then fill the rest of your lineup around those players.
Point Guard
Kris Dunn has played at least 24 minutes in three consecutive games, averaging 11.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals over that span. Dunn’s price has gone up on FanDuel but he is cheap enough elsewhere to be a solid punt play in cash lineups.
Among the teams playing Tuesday, only the Nets have allowed more fantasy points to opposing point guards. Out of all the expensive options in the slate, Damian Lillard will be my most-played option.
Ish Smith had 15 points, six rebounds and five assists in 35 minutes Monday with Reggie Jackson out. That may represent Smith’s ceiling, but that is plenty of production for such a cheap player.
Dennis Schroder’s usage has been through the roof with Paul Millsap out, and I do not see any reason that would change. You want the guy who will have the ball in his hands against the terrible Phoenix defense, and you don’t even have to pay that much to get it.
Tyler Ulis has double-digit points and eight-or-more assists in five of his last seven games. Ulis is too inconsistent for cash lineups, but his upside and relatively cheap price make him a strong GPP consideration. Only two teams have allowed more assists than the Hawks since the All-Star break, which certainly helps.
| PLAYER | TM | H/A | OPP | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | USAGE | FDPTS/G | DKPTS/G | YPTS/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| Kris Dunn | MIN | A | IND | 68 | 16.9 | 60% | 0.3 | 3.9 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 39% | 14.60% | 11.5 | 12.3 | 11.6 | $4,300 | $3,300 | $10 |
| Ish Smith | DET | H | MIA | 73 | 23.4 | 68% | 0.3 | 8.5 | 2.8 | 5 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 43% | 19.70% | 20.5 | 21.5 | 20.6 | $4,500 | $5,000 | $13 |
| Dennis Schroder | ATL | H | PHX | 72 | 31.2 | 85% | 1.3 | 17.9 | 3 | 6.3 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 3.2 | 45% | 27.90% | 30 | 32.4 | 30.7 | $7,200 | $7,800 | $27 |
| Damian Lillard | POR | H | DEN | 68 | 35.8 | 90% | 2.8 | 26.8 | 4.9 | 5.8 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 2.7 | 45% | 31.40% | 40.9 | 43.9 | 42.3 | $9,400 | $10,300 | $46 |
| Tyler Ulis | PHX | A | ATL | 53 | 15.4 | 76% | 0.2 | 5.5 | 1.2 | 3.1 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 40% | 19.80% | 12.1 | 12.8 | 12.2 | $6,000 | $6,900 | $22 |
Shooting Guard
It is always a pleasant surprise to get to the end of a lineup and realize I can afford James Harden. Harden is averaging 23.0 points, 10.5 rebounds and 12.0 assists against the Warriors this season. None of the other usual suspects for triple-doubles play Tuesday, making Harden even more attractive.
Tim Hardaway Jr. has taken at least 16 shots and played at least 36 minutes in three consecutive games. That streak will almost certainly continue Tuesday with Kent Bazemore, Thabo Sefolosha and Pall Millsap all ruled out. Hardaway is averaging 35.8 fantasy points per game on DraftKings over his last three games and he remains reasonably cheap for that kind of production.
Eric Gordon is averaging 18.2 points per game when Ryan Anderson sits. Gordon is still cheaper than Lou Williams in some places and he shouldn’t be.
David Nwaba has played at least 26 minutes in two consecutive games, and while he only averaged 9.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in those games, that is enough to make him a worthy punt play. He is Kris Dunn, only cheaper and at a weaker position.
| PLAYER | TM | H/A | OPP | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | USAGE | FDPTS/G | DKPTS/G | YPTS/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| Tim Hardaway Jr. | ATL | H | PHX | 71 | 26.6 | 77% | 1.9 | 14.3 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 45% | 22.80% | 21.3 | 23 | 22.3 | $5,900 | $6,500 | $20 |
| Eric Gordon | HOU | H | GSW | 67 | 30.7 | 83% | 3.4 | 16.5 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 1.7 | 41% | 22.40% | 24.3 | 26.9 | 26 | $4,900 | $5,300 | $16 |
| David Nwaba | LAL | H | WAS | 13 | 16.4 | 63% | 0.1 | 4.4 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 56% | 9.90% | 9.3 | 9.5 | 9.3 | $3,600 | $3,000 | $10 |
| James Harden | HOU | H | GSW | 73 | 36.5 | 85% | 3.2 | 29.4 | 8 | 11.3 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 5.8 | 45% | 34.20% | 54.1 | 59 | 55.7 | $12,500 | $12,300 | $62 |
Small Forward
Taurean Prince had 17 points, six rebounds and three steals in 38 minutes Sunday. He should see similar minutes Tuesday and he could easily repeat that production against a weak Phoenix squad.
TJ Warren may be the only Phoenix player I trust for cash games, as he has had at least 10 points and five rebounds in 15 consecutive games. Warren’s ceiling is pretty high, too, as he had three double-doubles over that span. With all due respect to Tim Hardaway Jr. and Taurean Prince, all of Atlanta’s quality perimeter defenders are hurt right now, so Warren should be even safer than usual.
I am still a bit gun shy on Paul George because he can be so inconsistent, but Minnesota doesn’t have any wing defenders who can slow him down. George is averaging 26.3 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game in March, and I will happily take those numbers at the small forward position.
| PLAYER | TM | H/A | OPP | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | USAGE | FDPTS/G | DKPTS/G | YPTS/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| Taurean Prince | ATL | H | PHX | 50 | 14.2 | 84% | 0.5 | 4.8 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 39% | 16.90% | 10.2 | 11 | 10.5 | $3,800 | $4,800 | $12 |
| T.J. Warren | PHX | A | ATL | 60 | 30.1 | 78% | 0.4 | 13.7 | 4.7 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 49% | 19.10% | 23.7 | 24.5 | 23.9 | $6,400 | $7,200 | $27 |
| Paul George | IND | H | MIN | 66 | 35.4 | 91% | 2.4 | 22.6 | 6.4 | 3.3 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 3 | 45% | 28.70% | 35.8 | 38.9 | 37 | $8,600 | $8,400 | $42 |
Power Forward
Ersan Ilyasova grabbed 18 rebounds in 32 minutes Sunday, and I like his chances to grab double-digit rebounds Tuesday as only two teams have allowed more rebounds than the Suns since the All-Star break. Ilyasova has a good chance to top 30 minutes again with Thabo Sefolosha joining Kent Bazemore and Paul Millsap on the bench.
Like most of his teammates, Marquese Chriss is probably a better GPP than cash game option. That being said, Ersan Ilyasova is not anyone’s idea of a defensive stalwart and Chris has scored at least 13 points in six of his last seven games.
I wrote an entire paragraph about how much I like Draymond Green before I deleted it and decided I would rather play Dario Saric. The fact is I would probably prefer to save money at power forward rather than pay for any of the top guys, but I have little doubt this is a favorable matchup Saric can take advantage of. The Nets have allowed 110.3 points per game since the All-Star break, and I don’t think they have anyone on their roster who can match up with Saric defensively.
On the one hand, I would feel more confident in Shawn Long if he was playing more minutes. On the other hand, there is little doubt he has earned more playing time by averaging 15.3 points and 7.7 rebounds in 19.0 minutes per game over his last three games. I like Philadelphia’s entire frontcourt against Brooklyn, and Long is by far the cheapest of the group.
| PLAYER | TM | H/A | OPP | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | USAGE | FDPTS/G | DKPTS/G | YPTS/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| Ersan Ilyasova | ATL | H | PHX | 3 | 20.7 | 0% | 1 | 5 | 5.3 | 0.3 | 1 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 38% | 14.10% | 13.2 | 14.7 | 13.7 | $4,800 | $6,000 | $19 |
| Dario Saric | PHI | A | BKN | 73 | 26.2 | 79% | 1.3 | 12.8 | 6.4 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 2.2 | 41% | 24.30% | 23.6 | 25.7 | 24.3 | $7,300 | $7,700 | $36 |
| Marquese Chriss | PHX | A | ATL | 74 | 20.7 | 62% | 0.9 | 8.9 | 4 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 45% | 19.50% | 16.7 | 17.9 | 17.1 | $5,100 | $5,700 | $17 |
| Shawn Long | PHI | A | BKN | 10 | 11.5 | 55% | 0.1 | 7.9 | 4.5 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 63% | 25.50% | 16 | 16.5 | 16 | $4,500 | $4,200 | $10 |
Center
Richaun Holmes’s price has finally caught up to his production, but the matchup is so favorable, I’m willing to play him anyway. He is probably the safest of the Philadelphia big men.
Brook Lopez is the only Net I trust. I will likely build around him in at least one lineup because I want to take advantage of the matchup and Lopez is the best way to do it.
It would be foolish to argue Jusuf Nurkic will definitely play better Tuesday than he otherwise would because he is facing his former team for the first time, but there is a decent enough chance of that happening to make him worth playing. Nikola Jokic and Mason Plumlee aren’t exactly defensive maestros, and Nurkic has proven capable of putting up big numbers even if he fails to top 30 minutes.\
| PLAYER | TM | H/A | OPP | GP | MPG | FT% | 3PTM | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | USAGE | FDPTS/G | DKPTS/G | YPTS/G | $FD | $DK | $Y |
| Richaun Holmes | PHI | A | BKN | 48 | 19.1 | 66% | 0.4 | 8.8 | 5.1 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 1 | 0.8 | 56% | 18.30% | 18.8 | 19.6 | 19 | $5,700 | $6,300 | $18 |
| Jusuf Nurkic | POR | H | DEN | 45 | 17.9 | 50% | 0 | 8 | 5.8 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 51% | 23.40% | 17.7 | 18.9 | 17.7 | $6,700 | $7,400 | $30 |
| Brook Lopez | BKN | H | PHI | 67 | 29.6 | 81% | 1.8 | 20.6 | 5.3 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 1.6 | 2.5 | 47% | 29.40% | 32.2 | 34.6 | 33.1 | $6,700 | $6,900 | $27 |