Following a loaded Wednesday, we’ve got just five games on tap for tonight’s NBA slate. As always, we’ll name values, studs, and fades for the day’s DFS festivities. Let’s get right to it!
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Most Value Per Dollar
Below is a list of the top-10 players of the day expected to generate the most value relative to their salary.
For a full list of over/unders and point spreads, visit BettingPros.
Chris Boucher (PF – TOR): $6,400 at BOS
Was Friday’s 17/9 performance the start of consistent playing time for Boucher? Apparently so, as he’s averaged 28 minutes per contest over his last three while double-doubling in every outing. Nick Nurse has spurned hopeful fantasy managers repeatedly this season by limiting Boucher’s minutes without a moment’s notice. He’s a huge upside play in tournaments but one who comes with plenty of risk.
Josh Jackson (SG – DET): $5,500 vs. IND
Jackson has averaged just under 32 FD points across his last five games, taking on a prominent role in the Pistons’ offense. He’s not a sexy name, but he continues to put up quality numbers for a team in desperate need of playmakers. It’s hard not to gravitate to a guy with 40-point upside priced way down at $5.5K.
Terrence Ross (SG – ORL): $5,200 at GSW
Ross has tremendous scoring upside, but his floor is one of the lowest in the league. With Orlando missing Aaron Gordon and potentially Evan Fournier and Cole Anthony, Ross could help fill the scoring void in a solid spot against the Dubs.
Juan Toscano-Anderson (SF – GSW): $5,200 vs. ORL
JTA continues to play heavy minutes in Golden State’s rotation, and until his price goes up significantly, I’m going to keep rolling with him as a clear value. In four starts over the last week, he’s averaged 8.8 points, 9.3 boards, and 3.0 dimes.
Kelly Olynyk (C – MIA): $5,100 at HOU
Olynyk is a guy to look at in cash lineups, as his FD points have been in the mid-20’s in each of his last four games. The big man has seen some increased run for Miami, and the excellent matchup with Houston should only bolster his already-secure floor.
Kendrick Nunn (PG – MIA): $5,000 at HOU
With Goran Dragic out, Nunn should again be in the starting lineup. The matchup with Houston is favorable, and while Nunn can run hot-and-cold, he’s liable to go off for a huge performance on any given night.
Chuma Okeke (PF – ORL): $4,800 at GSW
Okeke has scored 46.4 FD points across 49 minutes across his last two games, and he’s done a bit of everything in the box score over that span. Tonight’s matchup with Golden State’s depleted frontcourt offers a great opportunity for the 2019 first-round pick.
Derrick Jones (SF – POR): $4,500 vs. PHI
Jones is back and shouldn’t have a minutes restriction tonight in a favorable matchup. In his last game out, he went 8/10 across 29 minutes. This is another guy I don’t want to roll out in cash lineups, but he’s certainly a guy to roster in some tournament lineups.
Frank Mason (PG – ORL): $4,200 at GSW
Cole Anthony is questionable tonight, and Mason is in line to start if the former is unable to go. Orlando is dealing with a plethora of injuries, and Mason is the next man up in the rotation. I’ll make sure to have some shares in tournament lineups tonight.
Eric Paschall (C – GSW): $4,200 vs. ORL
Paschall has seen limited run in his last two games back, but he posted 25.2 FD points across 15 minutes against the Spurs on Tuesday. He’s not a guy I’ll look to in cash games, but he deserves some consideration in tournaments given his per-minute upside.
Studs Worth Their Salary
- Joel Embiid (PHI) $10,800: Targeting centers facing an Enes Kanter-led Blazers frontcourt is a great idea. If you want to pay up for Embiid, it would be money well spent.
- Damian Lillard (POR) $10,000: The Blazers/Sixers game offers easily the highest over/under of the night, and Dame will be relied on to keep pace with Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, and Co.
- Nikola Vucevic (ORL) $9,800: Vuc is a stud already, but tonight, he’ll face a vastly-undersized Warriors frontcourt that will have its hands full containing the Magic’s All-Star center.
Notable Players to Fade
- Pascal Siakam (TOR) $9,600: Siakam has turned his play around as of late, but he still needs to hit at least 48 FD points just to get to 5x value. That’ll be a tough ask in a big pace-down spot against a solid Celtics defense.
- Domantas Sabonis (IND) $9,300: Following his dud against the Pels last week, Sabonis has averaged just under 41 FD points across his last two contests. Tonight’s matchup is against a Detroit defense allowing the 12th-fewest points to the PF position on the year.
- John Wall (HOU) $7,700: Wall’s recent stretch of games has been marked by modest output or absence, and at nearly $8K, I’d much rather spend my money elsewhere on such a small slate.
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Zachary Hanshew is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Zachary, check out his archive and follow him @zakthemonster.