Nine games on the board for tonight with some big-time names with injuries or nights off for rest. Ownership should be pretty concentrated in some spots so we will have to really hit on our value plays. Here is the breakdown.
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Guards
James Harden (SG – HOU): $11,200 @ Hawks
The Beard is only the third most expensive player on the slate tonight, coming in just below Doncic and Antetokounmpo. The big news of the slate is that Russell Westbrook will be resting tonight, leaving Harden with just a ridiculous usage projection. In Harden’s 482 minutes on the floor without Westbrook, he has averaged 1.74 FanDuel points per minute, a 0.17 boost from his usual rate. Harden has played without Westbrook three times this year, taking 33, 41, and 28 shots in those games. All of this, and we have not even mentioned the matchup yet. The Hawks add 13 fantasy points per game to their opponent’s averages, and allow an average 5.7x salary return to guards this year. Harden should be in every lineup you make.
Trae Young (PG – ATL): $9,000 vs. Rockets
On the other side of the ball is Young, who should benefit from the game environment here. This game has a total of 237, the highest on the board by a good margin. Young has played 37+ minutes in three straight games and has dominated the ball for the Hawks this year, putting up a 34% usage rate. The Rockets allow a 5.84x average return to guards, so if this game does go for 230+ points, it will be pretty tough for Young not to really crush this price tag. Fitting Harden and Young leaves you strapped for spending cash, but it might be the optimal play tonight.
Kyle Lowry (PG – TOR): $8,200 @ Hornets
The Raptors are really banged up right now. They have been without Pascal Siakam for a few weeks already, and now they will be without Fred VanVleet for at least a few games. In last night’s game without those two in the lineup, Lowry took a season-high 23 field goal attempts, but made just seven of them to keep his price at a reasonable level. He also dished out 10 assists in that game. Lowry will be one of the highest usage players on the slate this evening, and the matchup is pretty enticing to boot. The Hornets have added eight fantasy points per game to opponent’s team averages. You can pencil in Lowry for 20+ shots and a good shot at double-digit assists, making him a really strong play at this price tag.
Tyler Herro (SG – MIA): $3,400 @ Pacers
This is just a price-driven play here, as it is tough to find a guy playing 25+ minutes and shooting the ball 10+ times for this cheap. Herro has not done much besides score this year, which gives him a really low ceiling if he does not shoot well, but with all of these expensive studs on the board, we need some salary relief. There is also an outside change that Jimmy Butler misses this game, which would make Herro a total lock here. Either way, he projects very well for this salary.
Forwards
John Collins (PF – ATL): $7,400 vs. Rockets
The second option in the Hawks offense is Collins, who has posted a 24% usage rating this year with a strong 1.27 fantasy points per minute rate. He is much cheaper on FanDuel compared to Draftkings, which is always interesting to see. The Rockets have been awful against big men, allowing an average salary return of 5.85x to big men. Once again, this game is by far the most fantasy friendly on the slate, so you want some exposure, and Collins gives you a way into it if you cannot afford Harden and Young.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (PF – TOR): $4,800 @ Hornets
RHJ took the second most shots for the Raptors last night, shooting 13 times but seeing just four of those attempts go in. He should benefit from all of these injuries, and at $4,800 he is one of the best value plays on the board. He has been a 1.01 fantasy point per minute contributor to this point, so he is an active player who brings a big ceiling to the table as well with rebound and block upside.
Danuel House Jr. (SF – HOU): $4,400 @ Hawks
House has not seen a significant boost with Westbrook off the floor, but he should still benefit from the game environment here, and he is very cheap on Fanduel. He will play 30+ minutes tonight barring fouls or injury, and while he is just a 0.6 Fanduel points per minute contributor, we have seen him post some big scores in high scoring games, so I think he is well worth a shot.
E’Twaun Moore (SF – NOP): $4,200 vs. Bulls
The Jrue Holiday injury pushed most of the shot attempts to Brandon Ingram on Monday, but Moore did see an uptick in minutes, playing 28 minutes. He took 14 shots in that game but also added seven rebounds. He is a very volatile player, so this is suited better for tournaments, but somebody has to shoot the ball on the Pelicans besides Ingram, and Moore is not afraid to launch it. If he can get hot from the field he could really crush this salary against an exploitable Bulls defense, who have allowed an average salary return of 5.7x against wing players this year.
Centers
Nikola Vucevic (C – ORL): $8,800 vs. Wizards
The Wizards matchup is no secret, as they have once again been one of the worst defenses in the league. They have added 14 fantasy points per game to opponent’s averages, and have allowed an average salary return of 5.84x to centers. Vucevic has not been his old self this season, but has looked more like recently, consistently shooting more than 15 times and seeing his three-point attempts on the upswing as well. There is a slight blowout risk with the Magic coming in at 10.5 point favorites, but I think Vucevic can pay off this price tag even in reduced minutes, the Wizards are just that bad.
Rudy Gobert (C – UTA): $7,900 vs. Knicks
Gobert has not been a huge ceiling player this year, but he is one of the more consistent contributors in fantasy if you are looking for a safe option at center. He has not played less than 34 minutes in a month, and has grabbed double-digit rebounds in every game but four this year. The Knicks are pretty bad against centers, allowing a 5.5x salary return to them this year, and the Jazz have a higher than average expected point total tonight at 115. Gobert makes a nice cash game center tonight.
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Jon Anderson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Jon, check out his archive and follow him@JonPgh.