NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Feb. 15
Ball has scored at least 41 DraftKings points in eight of his last nine games, scoring 52 or more in six of those.
This is the final big card until the All-Star break. We have 10 games making up this Wednesday slate, and there’s a ton to discuss. This is also one of those strange slates where players might get rested, which will throw a wrench into an already chaotic card. With that said, let’s start by looking at the schedule and odds!
Injury Report
- Lonzo Ball (knee) OUT
- Alex Caruso (foot) Questionable
- Myles Turner (back) Questionable
- Devin Vassell (knee) OUT
- Tre Jones (foot) Questionable
- Kelly Oubre (hand) OUT
- Mitchell Robinson (hand) OUT
- John Collins (hip) Questionable
- Bogdan Bogdanovic (hip) Questionable
- Cade Cunningham (shin) OUT
- Jayson Tatum (illness) Questionable
- Jaylen Brown (face) OUT
- Al Horford (B2B) Questionable
- Robert Williams (B2B) Questionable
- Marcus Smart (ankle) OUT
- Kyle Lowry (knee) OUT
- Tyler Herro (knee) Questionable
- Kevin Porter Jr.(foot) OUT
- Steven Adams (knee) OUT
- Jamal Murray (knee) OUT
- Tim Hardaway Jr.(hamstring) OUT
- Aaron Gordon (ribs) Questionable
- Zion Williamson (hamstring) OUT
- LeBron James (foot) OUT
- CJ McCollum (ankle) Questionable
- DeMar DeRozan (thigh) OUT
Core Plays
LaMelo Ball (PG – CHA): $10,400 DraftKings, $9,900 FanDuel
Ball has scored at least 41 DraftKings points in eight of his last nine games, scoring 52 or more in six of those. His stat-stuffing is the main reason for the surge, averaging 23.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 8.8 assists, and 2.1 steals per game in that span. Those totals should be easy to reach against San Antonio, sitting last in both points allowed and defensive efficiency.
Jalen Brunson (PG – NYK): $8,600 DraftKings, $8,400 FanDuel
Brunson has at least 37 DK points in 20 of his last 22 games, scoring 52 or more fantasy points in three straight outings. That’s the best stretch of this southpaw’s career, and we expect another amazing outing against Atlanta. The Hawks rank 21st in points allowed and 20th in defensive efficiency. In their most recent matchup, Brunson totaled 41 DK points against them.
Derrick White (PG/SG – BOS): $7,000 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel
We had White in here yesterday, and we’re going back to the well for all the same reasons. Boston could be without Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Robert Williams, and Marcus Smart in this game, leaving White to do everything. He’s already been crushing with those guys suiting up, averaging 40 fantasy points per game across his last 10 outings. If all of those guys are out, that could be White’s floor in this expanded role. Not to mention, Detroit ranks 29th in both points allowed and defensive efficiency.
Cash Game Considerations
Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $11,800 DraftKings, $12,000 FanDuel
Jokic is a lock for 50 fantasy points on every slate, scoring at least 52 DK points in all but two games over the last two months. He’s also got triple-double averages in that span, scoring over 60 DraftKings points per game. Dallas can be a daunting matchup for most, but Jokic is averaging 55 DK points per game against them in their last three meetings. We also expect their defense to fall off with the blockbuster Kyrie Irving trade.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG – OKC): $10,500 DraftKings, $10,500 FanDuel
Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging over 50 fantasy points per game and has scored at least 41 DK points in 26 of his last 28 games, generating a 54-point average in that span. Not to mention, SGA scored 66 fantasy points in his last matchup with Houston just 10 days ago.
Brandon Ingram (SG/SF – NOP): $8,200 DraftKings, $8,100 FanDuel
Ingram was out for nearly two months due to a toe issue, but he looks fully healthy right now. BI has scored at least 35 DK points in seven straight outings, amassing a 41-point average in that span. That makes the diminished price tag tough to understand, especially since BI is being asked to carry this offense without Zion Williamson. A revenge game against the Lakers is the best part of this, though, ranked third in pace and 27th in total defense. Ingram has at least 40 fantasy points in each of their last five matchups while averaging nearly 50 DK points per game.
GPP Targets
Gordon Hayward (SG/SF – CHA): $5,800 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel
Hayward has shown can perform at an $8K level on any given night and showed that in his most recent outing, dropping a season-high 50 DraftKings points on Monday. He also had 32 DK points in the game prior, and it’s clear he’s due for a price adjustment. San Antonio is the best matchup in DFS, too, surrendering the most fantasy points in the NBA.
Kelly Olynyk (PF/C – UTA): $5,100 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel
Olynyk has been incredible as Utah’s starting power forward, averaging 27 DK points per game since the opener. A midseason slump plummeted his price tag, but he’s got at least 39 DK points in two of his last three games. That’s absurd from a player in this price range, and he should have success against a Memphis frontcourt struggling without Steven Adams.
Al Horford (PF/C – BOS): $5,100 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel
We mistakenly had Big Al in yesterday’s article, but he was rested to be ready here. That’s huge since we expect Tatum, Brown, Smart, and Williams all to sit. That means Horford will be one of the focal points of this Celtics offense and could be in line for 30-35 minutes and 10-15 shots. We’ve seen this guy play at a $7K level in the past, and we expect that sort of production here.
Value Plays
Mark Williams (C – CHA): $5,300 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel
Let’s get a bunch of trade deadline winners in for our value plays! This is the best time to bank on some mispricing because these sites can’t bump these guys enough after seeing their roles skyrocket. That’s what we have with Williams, entering the starting lineup in the absence of Mason Plumlee. That’s huge since Williams is averaging 18 DK points per game across 15 minutes a night for the year. Both of those totals could double from here on out, and it’s scary to think what he could do against the worst defense in the NBA.
Zach Collins (PF/C – SAS): $5,100 DraftKings, $6,400 FanDuel
Collins might’ve seen the most significant bump at the deadline. This guy is starting at center with Jakob Poeltl being shipped to Toronto, averaging 36 DK points per game since capturing this job. That’s a ridiculous total from a player in this price range, but it’s no surprise since he’s averaging 23 DK points per game across 21 minutes a night for the year. Charlotte is a sensational matchup, too, ranked 28th in points allowed and 24th in defensive efficiency.
Collin Sexton (PG/SG – UTA): $5,600 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
Sexton was one of the major pieces of the Donovan Mitchell trade, and it looks like he’s their go-to starting point guard, with Mike Conley being shipped to Minnesota. That should guarantee Sexton 30 minutes and double-digit shots, which made him a $7K player in the past. He’s also averaging 35 DraftKings points per game since that trade and needs a $1,000 price bump.
Advantageous Pricing
- Zach Collins (PF/C – SAS): $5,100 DraftKings, $6,400 FanDuel
- Devonte Graham (PG/SG – SAS): $4,000 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel
- Clint Capela (C – ATL) $6,000 DraftKings, $7,200 FanDuel
- Immanuel Quickley (PG/SG – NYK): $4,900 DraftKings, $6,200 FanDuel
- Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG – ATL): $4,900 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
- Onyeka Okongwu (C – ATL): $4,300 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel
- Nic Claxton (C – BKN): $6,700 DraftKings, $8,000 FanDuel
- Mikal Bridges (SF – BKN): $6,200 DraftKings, $7,300 FanDuel
- Jarrett Allen (C – CLE): $6,900 DraftKings, $8,000 FanDuel
- Jalen McDaniels (SF – PHI): $3,300 DraftKings, $5,000 FanDuel
- Jaren Jackson Jr.(PF/C – MEM): $7,200 DraftKings, $8,300 FanDuel
- Desmond Bane (SG – MEM): $7,100 DraftKings, $8,200 FanDuel
- Walker Kessler (C – UTA): $5,900 DraftKings, $7,100 FanDuel
- Tyus Jones (PG – MEM): $3,600 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel
- Josh Richardson (SG/SF – NOP): $3,900 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
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Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.
