Welcome to our new DFS series where we will be focusing on some foundational plays that should help us get started with our NBA shell lineups.
As we barrel towards NCAA March Madness we can borrow a catchphrase popularized by Dick Vitale “He’s a PTPer Baby, a Prime Time Player!” as the NBA heads into the tumultuous final quarter of the season.
There is a wealth of information available on Awesemo.com and this series will highlight the many offerings that can help us stay ahead of The Masses!
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Prime Time Player
Nikola Jokic – DEN vs NOP – DK $10,200, FD $11,000, Yahoo $50 Popularity Rating (preliminary run): DK 31.0%, FD 23.0%
While we can easily make a case for LeBron James – LAL at PHX – DK $11,400, FD $12,300, Yahoo $54 on a back-to-back in a terrific matchup in a high total game or the amazing Russell Westbrook – OKC at SAS – KD $11,500, FD $11,700, Yahoo $55 who will once again be without Paul George, I prefer the discount presented by The Joker though we do need to remember we are using our center spot to roster him.
The Pelicans are on a back-to-back after winning in Phoenix last night, however, they will be without Anthony Davis who will be resting and they are hefty double digit underdogs in the Mile High City tonight. Of course, Jokic is the main force behind Denver’s offense, so he should be able to provide a nice stat line with a triple-double very much in play against New Orleans who is playing at the #4 pace over their last 15 games with the #17 defensive rating over the same period.
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Right around the All-Star Break the NBA rotations and player news begins to get more and more unpredictable with teams tanking, premiere players resting under the auspices of “load management” generally cause chaos as we approach tipoff with more and more news being released by teams.
Often times this will result in players that we were considering as core plays, losing their luster as the bright new options pop up closer to tipoff and as THE MASSES abandon a perfectly fine play being swayed by the fear of missing out.
Dennis Schroder – OKC at SAS – DK $5,000, FD $15,1001,600, Yahoo $18 Popularity Rating (preliminary run): DK 38.0%, FD 52.0%
Yes, he has been less than spectacular failing to top 30 fantasy points in his last seven games, but he has been below 24 only twice during that stretch and he has played 31+ minutes in five of those seven and he will be counted on with Paul George on the shelf tonight.
Julius Randle – NOP at DEN DK $8,000, FD $9,000, Yahoo $32 Popularity Rating (preliminary run): DK 12.0%, FD 6.0%
Yes, this game is a back-to-back and at altitude, but we already know that Anthony Davis will be out and in his last 9 back-to-back games this season, Randle is averaging 32 mpg, 24.0ppg, 8.1rpg, 3.6apg and 1.5 stocks with only the 8.1rpg being surpassed by his overall season average of 9.0rpg, the rest of his numbers have all been higher on back-to-backs. There is of course some risk that he sees just 28-30 minutes, however, keep in mind that since returning to the starting lineup he has played less than 34 minutes just twice in those six games. In the event you feel this is too risky, then it would make sense that minutes/production would trickle to Kenrich Williams – DK $4,600, FD $5,000, Yahoo $16 who has tallied at least 30 fantasy points in 5 of the 6 games that he has seen at least 10 field goal attempts.
Game to Target – Los Angeles Lakers at Phoenix Suns +7.0 / 234.5
This should be a fun game to target with two up-tempo squads with the #6 Lakers and the #10 Suns who play fast and without much thought to defense as they are ranked #26 and #30 (aka last) over the last 35 day period.
Rajon Rondo has moved into the starting lineup with Kyle Kuzma playing the nominal five and this should continue with Phoenix rolling with rookie Deandre Ayton. Over his last five games, Brandon Ingram is averaging 36.8mpg, 28.4ppg, 7.6rpg and 0.8 combined blocks/steals for a solid 42 fantasy points. With Rondo in the starting lineup there was some concern that Ingram would lose some of his facilitating duties, but Coach Luke Walton has staggered the duo nicely with at least one of them on the court at all times last night against Milwaukee and there were only four minutes without one of them on the court against the Pelicans on Wednesday when this change was first made. The first game they each had 4 minutes without the other and last night Ingram had 8 minutes without Rondo and conversely Rondo had 9 without Ingram.
All four Lakers in the preceding paragraph are in play for a game-stack and we can “run it back” with Devin Booker, Kelly Oubre Jr, Mikal Bridges and Deandre Ayton along with Troy Daniels if you think he continues his torrid three-point barrage. Just keep in mind that if we use LeBron it will hamper some of our salary cap flexibility to work in another four key options.
FantasyCruncher Tip of the Day
With the incredibly user friendly and flexible rules creation feature on FantasyCruncher, we can take our lineup construction to the next level.
Today’s highlighted feature is the ability to “limit” players with multi-position eligibility to just one position. This is accomplished by using the “drop-down” in the “Position” column that appears for any player that is eligible at more than one position.
As always, you can reach out to me in Awesemo.com Premium Slack or on Twitter @EMacDFS if you have any questions.
Good Luck Gamers! ~ EMac
