Geoff Lambert discusses Friday night’s NBA lineup advice on FanDuel.
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Point Guard
Russell Westbrook (OKC) $12,800 @ MIN
Whenever Westbrook and James Harden are on the same slate, it is always tough to choose between playing one or the other or fading them both entirely. Tonight I think there is enough value on the slate to fit one of them in your lineup so I’m going with Westbrook in the better matchup over Harden. The Timberwolves defend the point guard position fairly well, but let’s face it, no one defends Westbrook well enough to limit his fantasy production. He is averaging over 60 FanDuel points over his last five games, and I see no reason he can’t hit that number again tonight.
George Hill (IND) $6,100 vs DET
When healthy, Hill has been one of the better DFS options this as year as a mid-tier point guard, but he has had trouble staying on the court. He is healthy now and has played at least 33 minutes in the three games since returning to the lineup. At $6,100 he needs 30 FanDuel points to reach his value, and in a plus matchup with Reggie Jackson, he should have no trouble getting there.
Shooting Guard
Dion Waiters (MIA) $4,900 @ MIL
Early in the season, Waiters was a fantasy darling. He was putting up big numbers with a high usage rate on a bad team that was always playing from behind. He was out of the lineup for six weeks, and since returning has been on a minutes restriction. That restriction has finally been lifted and he seems poised to become a high volume, high usage player for the Heat once again. He is listed on FanDuel as a shooting guard but he is actually starting at small forward, a position the Bucks struggle defend. In fact, only the Nets are worse than the Bucks in FanDuel points allowed to opposing small forwards on the year.
Allen Crabbe (POR) $4,300 vs ORL
Crabbe started the season averaging in the low to mid-20s in minutes played, but over his last 12 games has had less than 30 only twice. The extra court time he was given during Damian Lillard’s stint on the injured list has given Crabbe new life. He is averaging nearly 25 FanDuel points per game over his last five games and is taking three more shots per game over his season average. Now that Lillard is back in the lineup, Crabbe has seen a slight increase in usage when he is on the floor as part of the second unit.
Small Forward
Aaron Gordon (ORL) $4,300 @ POR
Not including his clunker in L.A. the other night, Gordon is averaging over 33 FanDuel points per game over his last four games. He is one of the more volatile DFS players with his floor being very low and his ceiling being relatively high, but in a great matchup against the fourth-worst team defending small forwards, Gordon should be able to continue his hot play.
DeMarre Carroll (TOR) $3,800 vs BKN
Carroll only needs 19 FanDuel points to return value at his current price of $3,800, something he has done in three of his last five games. The two games he missed that mark he still gave you 16.4 and 16.8, which isn’t terrible. Tonight he gets a matchup with the worst team in points allowed to small forwards. Carroll is my top value of the day and his price really opens up your roster.
Power Forward
Kevin Love (CLE) $7,700 @ SAC
The power forward position is a bit scarce on top-tier guys. Outside of Love, Paul Millsap and Jabari Parker, there isn’t much to feel confident about, so I’m going to take the top two guys at the position starting with Love. There was a bit of a scare in his last game after heading to the locker room to get his knee looked at, but he returned to the floor and was able to finish the game. Unless we hear otherwise, Love should be good to go tonight, and, there are only three teams worse than the Kings in defending the power forward position.
Paul Millsap (ATL) $8,100 vs BOS
Millsap has been a fairly consistent fantasy player in the New Year, but he hasn’t put up a “monster” game since New Year’s day. With the Celtics coming to town, a team that struggles mightily with big men, Millsap should have a field day. I’m looking for Millsap to put up a strong double-double tonight and spoil the return to Atlanta for the next guy in my lineup…
Center
Al Horford (BOS) $7,400 @ ATL
Making his first trip as a Celtic to Atlanta, a place he called home since 2007, Horford will have plenty of motivation to put up good numbers. The matchup with Dwight Howard and the Atlanta defense looks bad on paper, but Horford averaged 46 FanDuel points against Dwight Howard in two games last year when Howard was in Houston. Horford’s skill set, with his ability to play on the perimeter and knock down shots, is something that Howard struggles to defend. Look for the Celtics to use this to their advantage to not only get Horford open looks but to draw Howard, an excellent shot blocker, away from the basket to get other guys open lanes to drive the ball.