NBA DFS Position Coach: February 26, 2016

Friday’s slate has some pretty big distinctions among positions. If you are looking to spend big, you almost have to do it at point guard, small forward or center. Saving money at shooting guard is virtually a must, while power forward has some intriguing mid-priced options. As is usually the case, there are interesting point guards at every price level, and while I would love to get an expensive one, I am fine if that doesn’t work out.

Point Guard

I will likely have a Chicago point guard in multiple lineups Friday, even if I don’t know at this time who that will be. Derrick Rose is averaging 21.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 6.0 assists with Jimmy Butler out, and Rose is a no-brainer if he plays. Aaron Brooks had 11 points in 20 minutes with Rose out Wednesday, and he is worth a shot if Rose sits again, especially in a GPP.

John Wall had a triple-double in his only game against Philadelphia this season. Washington should put up a ton of points against the struggling Sixers, but the only players you can really count on for fantasy are Wall and Marcin Gortat.

Chris Paul costs just $100 more than John Wall on FanDuel, and he is definitely worth it. Paul is averaging 22.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 9.2 assists per game in February, and the Kings are 29^th in the NBA in fantasy points allowed to point guards. Paul is worth considering on other sites as well, though his price is higher.

Mike Conley had 24 points, eight assists and six rebounds against the Lakers Wednesday, and I see no reason to believe the Lakers will have better success slowing him down when they run it back Friday. The Lakers are allowing 120.3 points per game in their last four games, and they have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to opposing point guards this season.

Ish Smith has been consistently inconsistent in February, scoring 22.25, 42.75, 38.25, 23.25, 32.75, 7.25, 30.75 and 21.0 fantasy points on DraftKings since the start of the month. It is hard to count on a bounce back game from Smith, but he is much cheaper than Rose and Conley and would be well worth the price if he can get to 15 points and five assists. It is worth noting the 42.75 points came against the Wizards.

Shooting Guard

I don’t think you can really spend up at shooting guard even if you want to. Jimmy Butler is out, Nicolas Batum and Bradley Beal are slumping and DeMar DeRozan and Victor Oladipo face tough matchups. When every option is risky, you may as well go each and limit the risk, especially with some worthwhile cheap options available Friday.

E’Twaun Moore started at point guard with Derrick Rose out Wednesday Both shooting guards are worth playing if Rose doesn’t play.

At a position where just about everyone is a risk, you may as well take a chance on Langston Galloway. Galloway had 17 points, six rebounds and four assists in 29 minutes Wednesday, and the Magic have allowed 113.5 points per game since the All-Star break.

I went with both J.J. Redick and Jamal Crawford in Monday’s Position Coach, with decidedly mixed results, but I am going back to the well Friday. No team has allowed more fantasy points to opposing shooting guards than the Kings, and I bet both Clippers shooting guards will flirt with 20-point games. Crawford is more expensive on FanDuel and DraftKings, which doesn’t make much sense to me, but he is a nice value on FantasyFeud.

I was really looking for somebody to pay up for at shooting guard, but the best I could do was Monta Ellis. He is averaging 15.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists over his last four games, and the Hornets are 26^th in fantasy points allowed to opposing shooting guards.

Small Forward

Small forward is nearly as ugly as shooting guard, but while I prefer to go cheap at shooting guard, I am OK spending extra money for a small forward. You have to get your points somewhere, and even if I Paul George provides great value, he is a good bet to score more than 40 fantasy points on DraftKings, and that production could be hard to come by. I certainly like those options better than the enigmatic Matt Barnes, no matter how nice his matchup looks.

Carmelo Anthony may be an even better option, as he is averaging 22.3 points, 10.0 rebounds and 4.9 assists in February. In two games against Orlando this season, Carmelo has averaged 25.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists.

If you have to go cheap, can I interest you in Mike Dunleavy? Dunleavy scored 14 points in a season-high 28 minutes with Derrick Rose out Wednesday, and Rose is a game-time decision Friday. Dunleavy might be worth playing even if Rose is active, but he could be a great play if Rose sits.

For a slightly safer, yet still cheap option, I like Robert Covington. Covington came back down to earth Wednesday against the Pistons, but he is still averaging 15.6 points on .471 shooting over his last five games. The Wizards are allowing the second-highest three-point percentage in the NBA this season, and Covington is averaging 6.4 three-point attempts per game.

Power Forward

Bobby Portis is averaging 11.0 points and 8.4 rebounds in 23.4 minutes over his last five games, and I suspect all those numbers would increase if Pau Gasol’s illness keeps him out. 

Much like the Wizards, the Grizzlies have a great matchup and a roster that is nearly impossible to trust. Zach Randolph would be great for DFS play if he rebounded more consistently, but that shouldn’t be much of a problem as only the Bulls have allowed more opponent’s rebounds than the Lakers this season.

Aaron Gordon has played exactly 30 minutes in three straight games, averaging 13.3 points, 10.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists. The Knicks are 20^th in fantasy points allowed to opposing power forwards this season.

Kenneth Faried had 10 points, five rebounds and two steals in just 14 minutes against the Mavericks back in November, and it is perfectly reasonable to think he could double those numbers Friday. The Mavs have allowed the fifth-most points to opposing power forwards this season, and they do not have anyone who can match up with Faried’s size and athleticism.

Center

For the last couple of months I have paid for more expensive centers pretty consistently, and that continues Friday. Al Horford is averaging 18.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.3 blocks over his last nine games. Horford is averaging 24.5 points in two games against the Bulls this season, and the Bulls are allowing the most fantasy points to opposing centers.

Pau Gasol was one assist away from a triple-double Wednesday despite dealing with an illness. While he is listed as questionable, I suspect he plays and has another strong game. The Hawks are 26^th in opponent’s points allowed to centers this season.

The 76ers are allowing an unreal 121.3 points per game since the All-Star break. Marcin Gortat has seven double-doubles in his last nine games, and he is a pretty safe bet to get another against the lowly 76ers.

I have gotten burned by Denver’s big men more than once this season, and it looks like it will happen at least one more time. Nikola Jokic has averaged 14.3 points, 12.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists over his last three games, and I like his chances to continue his hot streak as the Mavericks have allowed the third-most opponent’s rebounds this season.