I thought I was a dead duck last night in cash with the Bogdan Bogdanovic fade, but 7% Jalen Brunson and 6% LeBron James proved to be more than enough to get past the cash line and win most head-to-heads. Today’s main slate features five games starting at 8 PM EST, so let’s get down to exploring the winning path!
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Top Play
Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) ($12,300 DK/$11,600)
Giannis will be tough to fit in on DK at his price tag, but on FD, he’s a virtual lock (and has SF eligibility as an added bonus). Utah has been getting decimated in the paint this season, and Khris Middleton has been ruled out (although Jrue Holiday looks set to return). With Middleton off the court, Giannis has a 39.3% usage rate since the beginning of the 2021 season, and Utah is all the way down to 22nd in overall defensive efficiency.
Cash Picks
Christian Wood (DAL) ($6300 DK/$6500 FD)
Christian Wood should be a staple of cash lineups this evening, and honestly, the per-dollar upside is hard to pass up in GPPs as well. With Maxi Kleber on the shelf, Wood has averaged 32.5 MPG over the past two games, putting up DK scores of 31.25 and 52.5 (last night). Now Dwight Powell is injured as well, so the way looks clear to another 35 minutes for Wood, and he’s simply too cheap for that. The matchup can’t get much worse (Cleveland is first in defensive efficiency and fourth in rebounding rate), but Wood is averaging 1.17 fantasy points per minute and looking at all the minutes he can handle.
Josh Giddey (OKC) ($6900 DK/$7400 FD)
Josh Giddey looks like a better value on DK than FD (especially with the double-double and triple-double bonuses on the former). Giddey has become more the #2 option on OKC than the “1A”, but he’s still having a more than a serviceable year for fantasy, averaging 14.7 PPG, 8.7 RPG, and 5.5 APG. Memphis has really tightened up the overall defense lately, but this is a pace game between these two teams (MEM third, OKC eighth). With Dillon Brooks more likely to shadow Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the individual matchup for Giddey improves. He’s a solid floor play from the mid-tier.
Value Picks
Jalen Williams (OKC) ($4600 DK/$5200 FD)
While Jalen Williams’ role is tough to pin down, his minutes have been consistent, posting 38, 31, and 33 over the past three games. He has scored in double digits in four straight and seven of his last eight and provides the necessary means to get up to one of the studs (Giannis?)
Pat Connaughton (MIL) ($3400 DK/$3900 FD)
With Khris Middleton out again, Pat Connaughton is a candidate to see extended minutes into the mid-20s (especially if he starts). Connaughton enjoys a slight usage boost sans Middleton (0.5%), but his rebounding rate jumps to 9.5%, which is a solid boost from the SF position. You’re not expecting a ceiling game here, but Utah is also fifth in pace, which should afford Milwaukee as a whole extra touches and opportunities.
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