NBA DFS Position Coach: April 8, 2016

Friday’s slate is the rare one where there are more quality cheap options than expensive ones. Saving money under the salary cap is easy, but finding ways to spend the savings can be a challenge. Your best bet may be to pick your studs first, then fill in with cheap options, which is the complete opposite of how I usually like to construct my lineups. One way to go could be to play the most expensive out of my recommendations at each position, then fill in the cheap guys from there. You may be surprised at how easily you can put a lineup together that way.

Point Guard

Ramon Sessions had 18 points and 13 assists with John Wall out Wednesday. Wall is questionable for Friday, and Sessions would be an excellent play if Wall cannot suit up.

The last time the Clippers rested their starters, Austin Rivers scored 32 points. Rivers is questionable after missing Wednesday’s game, but if he is in the lineup should probably be in your lineup. Pablo Prigioni will likely start at point guard, and he is worth playing if Rivers is ruled out.

There are a couple of interesting point guards at the top, but Kemba Walker has a better matchup than Isaiah Thomas or Kyle Lowry. The Nets are 19^th in fantasy points allowed to point guards, and Kemba has averaged 20.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists against them this season.

Kyle Lowry wasn’t going to make this list, but I just have to point out how underpriced he is on DraftKings. He costs the same as Kemba Walker on the other sites but is $900 cheaper on DraftKings, and I’m sure you can put that savings to good use.

Shooting Guard

DeMar DeRozan is averaging 24.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.3 steals against the Pacers this season. It is nice to be able to get the top shooting guard option without breaking the bank

Bradley Beal has at least 17 points in five of his last seven games, but he scored eight or fewer in the other two contests. He could have to carry the load again if John Wall is out, but his inconsistent shooting makes him more of a GPP play regardless of Wall’s status.

Like Austin Rivers, Jamal Crawford was awesome last week when the Clippers’ starters got the day off. Crawford costs more than Rivers, but he is healthy and far safer than Rivers or Pablo Prigioni.

Small Forward

There aren’t a lot of high-priced options in Friday’s slate, and given the quality cheap options created by injuries and rest, you almost have to pay up at small forward.

With Chris Paul out and John Wall questionable, Giannis Antetokounmpo is probably the best play of the day. He is averaging 24.7 points, 10.0 rebounds, 9.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks over his last three games, and the Celtics are 27^th in fantasy points allowed to small forwards this season.

Since returning from three games off, Kahwi Leonard is averaging 22.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.3 blocks and 2.0 steals in 33.8 minutes. The Nuggets are 25^th in fantasy points allowed to small forwards, and Leonard should be safe so long as he starts.

Paul George may not be quite as safe, but he is playing very well lately, and his ceiling is probably higher than Kawhi’s. George is averaging 23.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.4 steals over his last five games, and he played well against the Cavs Wednesday despite dealing with an ankle injury.

While one of my small forward spots is likely going to a stud, the other is probably going to Jeff Green. Green scored 19 points last week against the Thunder when the starters got the day off, and he would likely get even more shots if Austin Rivers is out. Green is dealing with a right knee bruise, so you should make sure he is actually starting, but he has a chance at a huge game.

Power Forward

It is really remarkable how terrible the power forward position has gotten. LaMarcus Aldridgewould clearly be the best option Friday, but he is a good candidate to rest after he dislocated his right pinkie finger Thursday.  That leaves Zach Randolph as the top option if you are looking to pay up. Randolph is averaging 20.3 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists over his last 10 games, and there is no reason to expect the Mavericks to slow him down.

Aaron Gordon will miss Friday’s game with a concussion, and it will be interesting to see who gets the start at power forward, especially with Nikola Vucevic re-entering the starting lineup at center. Andrew Nicholson and Jason Smith have both been productive in limited minutes, and while they both could be worth playing, I will lean towards whichever one gets the start. Ersan Ilyasova would be playable if he starts, though that seems unlikely considering he has been a DNP- Coach’s Decision for the last four games.

Julius Randle has double-digit rebounds in four consecutive games, and it is nice to see he has found a way to contribute consistently even when he isn’t scoring. Randle should have an advantage athletically over whoever New Orleans pegs to defend him, and Randle is in excellent GPP play.

Center

On sites that allow it, I am very likely to play more than one center Friday. While other positions may have more upside, depending on how some game-time decisions shake out, center is probably the safest position of the day. There are players I like at every price point, especially at the top tiers.

The Magic are 25^th in fantasy points allowed to centers this season, and Hassan Whiteside should have no problem taking advantage. Whiteside is averaging 17.8 points, 13.4 rebounds and 3.4 blocks since the All-Star break, and he may be the safest play of the entire slate.

Marcin Gortat is averaging 12.6 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks over his last five games. The Pistons are 26^th in fantasy points allowed to centers, and it doesn’t hurt Gortat has at least nine field goal attempts in four consecutive games. He will likely get more shots again Friday if John Wall cannot go.

Only the Hawks and 76ers have allowed more opponent’s rebounds since the All-Star break than the Clippers. There could be even more rebounds to go around with most of the Clippers’ rotation players sitting, and that could lead to a big game for Rudy Gobert. The Stifle Tower had 10 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks in his only game against the Clippers this season, and he could be even better this time around.

Nikola Vucevic is re-entering the starting lineup Friday, and he is averaging 5.5 more minutes as a starter this season. Vucevic is a fine alternative if you cannot afford Hassan Whiteside but want more upside than Rudy Gobert or Marcin Gortat.

The Denver frontcourt is notoriously inconsistent, but Joffrey Lauvergne has averaged 13.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists over the last two games with Darrell Arthur out. Lauvergne’s price is still low, and he should be relatively safe with Arthur Doubtful for Friday’s game.