We’re back for a big Tuesday slate, and 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
We have a loaded nine-game slate tonight filled with excellent matchups and some highly favorable game environments for DFS success. The best over/unders among them are Hawks/Cavs (228.5), Blazers/Nuggets (230.5), Wolves/Bucks (231.5), Wizards/Clippers (235), and Kings/Nets (242). Targeting players from those games can lead to high scores this evening, but the Kings/Nets game offers some of the best value plays while sporting the highest over/under. Because of this, half of my values listed below come from this game.
There are some interesting dart-throws this evening in the $3.8-$5K range, but I prefer to make my bones in $5K-$6.5K range while sprinkling in a stud or two to round out the lineup. There are no positions specifically weaker or stronger than others tonight, as each has its share of high-priced studs and great values.
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.
Richaun Holmes (C – SAC): $6,400 at BKN
Holmes returned from a three-game absence to post an 11/11 double-double in Sunday’s loss to Milwaukee, and he did so in just 21 minutes. His minutes should ramp up tonight, and Holmes is in an excellent spot against Brooklyn.
Tyrese Haliburton (SG – SAC): $6,300 at BKN
Haliburton erupted for a season-best 49 FD points Sunday against Milwaukee, going 23/8/5 with a pair of steals and a swat. He’ll look to keep that momentum going in a highly favorable matchup with Brooklyn’s suspect defense in a matchup boasting a robust 242 over/under.
Darius Garland (PG – CLE): $5,900 vs. ATL
Garland scored a season-best 43.6 FD points Sunday against the Thunder. and he’s logged at least 35 minutes in each of his last three games. The upside is huge for Garland, especially in a favorable matchup with Atlanta’s defense and a 228.5 over/under.
DeAndre Jordan (C – BKN): $5,500 vs. SAC
Jordan is coming off a monster 47.2 FD-point performance (his highest total of the season) Sunday, and he finds himself in an excellent spot against the Kings this evening. Jordan is not someone to play in cash lineups, but the upside is huge for tournaments. If Jeff Green (shoulder) is out tonight, Jordan becomes a near-lock, so check Green’s status closer to tip-off.
Joe Harris (SF – BKN): $5,300 vs. SAC
Harris hasn’t been lighting the world on fire as of late, but he’s remained a permanent fixture in Brooklyn’s starting lineup and played more than 30 minutes in each of his last three games. The sharpshooter is always worth a look in tournaments because of his big scoring upside. For just $5.3K, I love a guy who’s likely to play heavy minutes in a game with a 242 over/under.
Nerlens Noel (PF – NYK): $5,300 vs. GSW
This is a pace-up spot for Noel, who will face a generous Warriors frontcourt defense tonight. Despite a low 216 over/under, Noel is a great value here, as most of his value comes from rebounds and blocks rather than scoring. The lack of scoring caps his upside, but he’s got a solid floor and has seen his minutes rise to the high-20’s recently.
Saben Lee (PG – DET): $5,000 at ORL
Lee provided 32.3 FD points across 32 minutes off the bench Monday, so we’re going to look to him again tonight. Dennis Smith Jr. got the nod in the starting lineup with Delon Wright out, but it was Lee who shouldered the load at point guard, while DSJ saw just 15 minutes of action. There’s clear risk in this pick, but if the talented rookie can stick in the rotation, he should be a DFS value until Wright returns.
DaQuan Jeffries (SF – SAC): $4,700 at BKN
Jeffries went for 34.2 FD points across 39 minutes Sunday, making his first start with Harrison Barnes out of action. Barnes is still questionable tonight, and if he remains out, Jeffries is worth a dart throw in tournaments. Luke Walton‘s recent lineups have been head-scratching, so Jeffries could have his minutes slashed in the blink of an eye, but at just $4.7K in a fantastic matchup, he’s worth a look.
Jordan McLaughlin (PG – MIN): $4,300 at MIL
McLaughlin has seen his production and minutes tick up over the last two weeks, and with D’Angelo Russell out for the foreseeable future, McLaughlin should continue to play a key role in Minnesota’s rotation. He’s gone for at least 20 FD points in six straight, so the floor is relatively safe for him to hit 5x value on the slate. Despite logging fewer than 20 minutes in three of those six games, McLaughlin is efficient with assists and steals, providing a significant boost in value.
Zeke Nnaji (PF – DEN): $3,800 vs. POR
Nnaji started and logged 29 minutes Sunday against Atlanta, but his performance was underwhelming to say the least. Still, Portland is dead-last in PF defense this season, so you couldn’t ask for a better matchup. I’m certainly not looking for Nnaji in cash games, but I’ll take a few shots in tournament lineups due to his low cost, great matchup, and minutes.
Studs Worth Their Salary
- Nikola Jokic (DEN) $10,500: Targeting centers who face Enes Kanter in Portland’s frontcourt is never a bad idea, and Jokic is priced way down at just $10.5K. I’m rolling with him as a smash on tonight’s small slate.
- Paul George (LAC) $8,500: Just like Jokic, PG is in a smash spot against Washington’s bottom-barrel defense. He’s well worth his price tag, which is $1.3K cheaper than Kawhi Leonard‘s.
- Kyrie Irving (BKN) $8,800: Irving’s simply priced way too low on the slate given his upside and the fantastic matchup with Sacramento. I love him at this salary.
- De’Aaron Fox (SAC) $7,900: There are plenty of price discrepancies tonight, and none are more glaring than Fox’s $7.9K. He’s underperformed over the last week, but he’s still got 50-point upside, and what better matchup to bust out of his slump?
Notable Players to Fade
- Stephen Curry (GSW) $10,000: Curry is likely to return to the lineup following a one-game, illness-related absence, but he comes back to an unfriendly game environment against the slowest-paced team in the NBA. There are too many other quality options on the slate to justify paying up for Steph here.
- Kelly Oubre (GSW) $7,600: I’m fading another Warrior tonight, as Oubre’s price is a bit high with this limited player pool. He’s been hot, scoring at least 40 FD points in three straight, but the slow pace and low over/under tonight make him a fade.
- Luka Doncic (DAL) $11,200: There are too many excellent values tonight, and I don’t want to spend up for the most expensive player on the slate, when there are huge upside plays in the $8-$10K range.
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Zachary Hanshew is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Zachary, check out his archive and follow him @zakthemonster.