Tonight’s four-game slate may seem easy because there are only a few stars to choose from and we have enough injuries on the slate that there are excellent values to be found. Don’t be fooled, though, it is a tricky slate. Giannis Antetokounmpo will be a popular play for sure but I am fading him. He is dealing with a back injury, only played 27 minutes in Milwaukee’s previous game and finds his Bucks as 17-point home favorites tonight. If you want to spend $11,200 on that level of uncertainty then be my guest. Anthony Davis is still dealing with a shoulder injury while Lebron James has his groin bothering him, and again, the Lakers are heavy home favorites. None of these guys are absolute locks. Instead, let me tell you about four I’m definitely getting into my lineup tonight.
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Cornerstone Plays
Jarrett Culver (PG/SG – MIN): $4,800 @ MIL
Folks, this is the easiest play of the entire year so far. Granted, it’s only the first day, but Culver will likely be 90% owned in cash games. Don’t be left out in the cold. Minnesota will be missing plenty of usage again tonight and much of that should fall to their talented young rookie. We saw this play out Tuesday when Culver fell into 38 minutes and dropped 21 points on his way to a 10x performance. While that matchup versus Milwaukee clearly isn’t as useful, he is a guarantee at 5x and likely to push 7 or 8x value.
Tonight’s four-game slate may seem easy because there are only a few stars to choose from and we have enough injuries on the slate that there are excellent values to be found. Don’t be fooled, though, it is a tricky slate. Giannis Antetokounmpo will be a popular play for sure but I am fading him. He is dealing with a back injury, only played 27 minutes in Milwaukee’s previous game and finds his Bucks as 17-point home favorites tonight. If you want to spend $11,200 on that level of uncertainty then be my guest. Anthony Davis is still dealing with a shoulder injury while Lebron James has his groin bothering him, and again, the Lakers are heavy home favorites. None of these guys are absolute locks. Instead, let me tell you about four I’m definitely getting into my lineup tonight.
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Cornerstone Plays
Jarrett Culver (PG/SG – MIN): $4,800 @ MIL
Folks, this is the easiest play of the entire year so far. Granted, it’s only the first day, but Culver will likely be 90% owned in cash games. Don’t be left out in the cold. Minnesota will be missing plenty of usage again tonight and much of that should fall to their talented young rookie. We saw this play out Tuesday when Culver fell into 38 minutes and dropped 21 points on his way to a 10x performance. While that matchup versus Milwaukee clearly isn’t as useful, he is a guarantee at 5x and likely to push 7 or 8x value.
Robert Covington (SF/PF – MIN): $5,700 @ MIL
It feels weird to use multiple players against what may be the best team in the NBA, but even with the T-Wolves getting smoked, they are still implied for 103 points. Someone has to be scoring them and racking up fantasy numbers. We’ve got each of the top two expected usage guys at excellent prices so sign me up. Karl-Anthony Towns has now missed the last seven games and will be out tonight too. In that time, Covington has played well above his salary expectation. Even with a challenging matchup, he should have no trouble repeating his 35 fantasy points per contest over the last three.
Damian Lillard (PG – POR): $9,200 @ NYK
Here we go; a star! Let’s finally spend some money. Lillard has no injury designation unlike virtually every other stud on the slate. Not only that, but he has an absolute cake matchup against Elfrid Payton. I don’t do narratives in any other sport, but when a baller like Lillard plays on national television at Madison Square Garden, I feel pretty good about those plays. Add in the fact that he has 46+ fantasy points in six of his last seven games and you’ve got to love his chances at reaching 5x again tonight.
Devin Booker (PG/SG – PHO): $7,400
Is the great version of Booker finally back? It certainly seems so. In his last three games, he has registered 30+ in each and is averaging 48 fantasy points. Heck, he was on fire before his three-game absence too, dropping 49 fantasy points per contest in his final four. This is quite simply a case of a player still being priced far too low while he bounces back. You’d have to expect Avery Bradley will be following Booker all night but again, they’ll be playing on national television on a national holiday at the Staples Center against the best player and best team in the world. If Booker doesn’t jack up 20+ shots, I’ll eat my own socks.
The Rest of My Cash Player Pool
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