NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: May 8
Look for Stephen Curry during the Warriors’ Game 4 matchup against the Lakers on Monday.
The Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat enter their respective Game 4 matchups with a 2-1 advantage. It’s tough to guess how Monday’s slate will play out as both the Golden State Warriors and New York Knicks will look to even up their respective series. But after watching the Heat go on this postseason run, I am questioning everything I know about basketball because nobody could have foreseen this spurt just three weeks ago. That’s why we love the NBA Playoffs though, so let’s get into this card!
Core Plays
Anthony Davis (PF/C – LAL): $10,200 DraftKings, $11,700 FanDuel
Davis has been inconsistent but LA needs him to show up in this spot. Even with the ugly showings, Davis has scored at least 58 DraftKings points in six of his last 10 games. Many players can’t match that sort of ceiling, especially since Golden State has nobody to match up with Davis. That’s led to Davis scoring at least 60 DK points in three of their last four matchups.
Stephen Curry (PG/SG – GSW): $9,600 DraftKings, $9,800 FanDuel
It’s hard to believe that Chef Curry is below $10,000 on both sites in such a critical game. This guy averaged 50 DK points per game in the regular season and has an even higher average throughout his postseason career. That’s scary because his role could be monstrous in this must-win game, likely looking at 20-25 shots and 40 minutes of action. That’s huge since Los Angeles allows the second-most fantasy points to opposing point guards.
Cash Game Considerations
Jimmy Butler (SF/PF – MIA): $9,500 DraftKings, $10,100 FanDuel
Playoff Jimmy is on another planet right now. He’s not quite playing up to the level he was in the Milwaukee series, but he still has a 52-point average across his last 12 outings. The bump is no surprise when looking at the injury report because Butler is being asked to do more with Tyler Herro and Victor Oladipo both injured. He’s also excelled versus the Knicks all year, scoring at least 41 DK points in four of their last five meetings.
Josh Hart (SG/SF – NYK): $6,300 DraftKings, $6,300 FanDuel
It’s strange to see Hart in this section, but he’s tough to fade right now. How often do you see a $6K player playing 40-45 minutes a night? That’s what we have with Hart, averaging 33 DK points per game across 40 minutes a night over his last five fixtures. He’s also got 37 and 45 DraftKings points in his two most recent outings and needs to be above $7,000 on both sites.
GPP Targets
D’Angelo Russell (PG/SG – LAL): $6,400 DraftKings, $6,600 FanDuel
D-Lo was well on his way to a monster game in Game 3, but the blowout nature limited his production. In any case, Russell still had 34 DK points across 29 minutes. He’s now scored at least 34 fantasy points in five of his last seven outings. That’s all you can hope for from a $6K player, but he has the best matchup of anyone on this team. Golden State played at the fastest pace in the NBA while posting a 29th OPRK against opposing guards.
Gabe Vincent (PG – MIA): $5,200 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
With Herro and Oladipo both out, Miami needs Vincent to step up. That’s what this guard has been doing, scoring at least 33 DraftKings points in three of his last four games. That bump is no surprise when evaluating the role, with Vincent averaging 16 shots and 36 minutes a night in that span. That’s what you usually see from an $8K player, and we’ve seen Vincent score at least 33 fantasy points in three of his last four matchups with NY.
Value Plays
Draymond Green (PF/C – GSW): $6,000 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel
The Warriors need to win here, and Green is usually the catalyst in big games like this. The defensive stud has always been a better postseason performer throughout his career, averaging nearly 40 fantasy points per game. He’s also got an average above 32 DK points over the last month, posting a 35-point average in these playoffs. Facing this Lakers defense only adds to his value, with LA ranked 20th in total defense during the regular season.
Kevon Looney (C – GSW): $5,400 DraftKings, $6,900 FanDuel
Looney was moved to the bench two games ago because of an illness, and they kept him in the second unit in Game 3. They were blown out in that showing, though, and we have to assume he’ll resume his role as the starting center. In that position, Loon had at least 38 DraftKings points in five of his previous six games while scoring 43 or more fantasy points in four of those. That’s ridiculous from a $5,400 player, and Golden State needs him out there to guard Anthony Davis.
Advantageous Pricing
Anthony Davis (PF/C – LAL): $10,200 DraftKings, $11,700 FanDuel
Draymond Green (PF/C – GSW): $6,000 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel
Kevon Looney (C – GSW): $5,400 DraftKings, $6,900 FanDuel
Caleb Martin (SF – MIA): $4,500 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel
***
Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.
