Welcome to Sleeper Picks. Sleeper’s newest offering promised plenty of entertainment and action, and they delivered. We will break down our top three picks for tonight’s NBA action. Sleeper is quickly becoming one of the most popular season-long fantasy platforms, and they are expanding into other areas based on demand. Each week in this space, we’ll talk about some strategy for the new platform while providing our favorite NBA more/less picks.
NBA Sleeper Picks Player Predictions (3/18)
Lauri Markkanen (F – UTA): 1.5 steals + blocks
Markkanen is back in action for the Utah Jazz, which means our regular Less play on 1.5 StOcks is also. Lauri actually posted two three StOck nights in his last four before going down with the injury but has failed to hit two StOcks in 17 of his last 20 games overall. This won’t hit every night, but it is a play we have chased all season to great success, and there is no reason to stop now. If Markkanen continues to post three StOck nights we will reevaluate the 1.5 play, but for now, light up the Less on Lauri for Monday night.
Pick: Less
Tyrese Haliburton (G – IND): 18.5 points
It has been highly disturbing to watch a bright star like Haliburton fade for games at a time since the arrival of Pascal Siakam. Sure, he is dealing with injuries in a long and grueling NBA season, but he seems more than content to play second or even third fiddle to Siakam and to whoever else feels like jacking up 15+ shots that night. Haliburton was on his way to superstardom prior to the Pacers acquiring Siakam, posting averages of 23.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 12.5 assists, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting .497 from the field and .403 from deep. With Siakam, Haliburton averages 15.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 9.4 assists, and 1.0 steals on .444 shooting from the field and .293 from deep. I actually expect Haliburton to step up and score 20+ tonight, but these are probability plays informed by data and not feeling. Haliburton has scored fewer than 19 points in each of his last three games and in seven of his last nine full games. He has struggled with his shot lately and will continue to unless he becomes more aggressive. Tyrese scored 21 and 18 points in his two (pre-Siakam) games against Cleveland this season. Hit the Less on Haliburton for Monday night.
Pick: Less
Domantas Sabonis (C – SAC): 3.5 1st quarter rebounds
Sabonis has been starting hot on the glass lately, which should come as no surprise for a man who leads the NBA in rebounding. He has recorded four or more rebounds in four of his last five games and exploded for eight boards in the first stanza the last time he played the Memphis Grizzlies. Slap the More on Sabonis for Monday night.
Pick: More
Writers note: The lines are constantly changing on Sleeper (and sometimes expiring), so there is a high probability that one or all of the numbers may no longer be the same when you open your app. There are excellent values when they are first posted, with the only catch being that they are not all released at the same time. Vigilance could provide a solid return on investment this season, literally.
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Raju Byfield is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Raju, check out his profile and follow him @FantasyContext.