Fantasy Basketball Picks 12-16-14
These fantasy basketball picks are designed to help you cash in BIG!
Monday evening belonged to Kevin Love and LeBron James, as they both eclipsed 62 FP. Rajon Rondo was adequate, but a letdown once again in a great matchup. Brandon Knight was solid, and the value PG spot struggled, as both guys ended just below 20 FP. Kawhi Leonard did his job before exiting late with a thumb injury. Robert Covington got off to a blazing start before cooling off, and “The Alphabet” was a major disappointment. Remember, studs and duds are determined based off of return on salary, not total points.
Studs: LeBron James (62.50), Kawhi Leonard (35.25), Brandon Knight (30.50), Rovert Covington (28.25)
Duds: Jonas Valanciunas (16.50), Giannis Antetokuonmpo (13.50), CJ Watson (19.75)
Today’s Top Plays
Guard:
Russell Westbrook ($19,700) at Sacramento– I don’t think I need to tell you about how tremendous Westbrook has been since his return. Against the Suns, he posted an impressive 28/8/8 line….in 27 minutes. He is absolutely locked in, and it is hard to argue against him being the top fantasy option on any slate right now. Tonight, he is the no-brainer top play for me. His usage rate is an astronomical 38.5%, and he has at LEAST 21/7/5 in every game since his injury. It is almost scary to think about what he is capable of if the Kings keep this one close. By the way, this game has the highest total of the night at 206.
Tyreke Evans ($14,750) vs Utah– Speaking of guys who are locked in, Tyreke has been an unstoppable force over his last two games with 52.25 and 55.25 FP, respectively. The Jazz are an average defensive team, and despite the low total, I absolutely love Evans tonight. Even if Anthony Davis suits up (he is listed as “Questionable”), Tyreke’s 26% usage rate puts him squarely in position to contend for top scorer on the night. I’m starting most of my lineups off with Westbrook and Evans tonight.
Bradley Beal ($11,800) vs Minnesota – While paying up for John Wall may be a solid bet tonight, he comes at a steep price, and I’d rather invest in Westbrook. Enter Beal, who has finally broken out this season, to the tune of 51/10/8 over his last two games. Tonight he gets a Minnesota team that ranks 29th in the NBA at defending SG. Beal has 40+ FP upside, and a solid floor in this matchup. His price won’t remain this low for long if he keeps up his recent play.
Anthony Morrow ($7,950) at Sacramento- Morrow is nothing more than a bench player, but he is a tremendous 3-point shooter who is locked in. He has knocked down 7 triples in his last 3 games, and makes for an intriguing salary cap saver tonight if you’re looking for additional exposure to the game that Vegas has pegged as the highest scoring on the night. He won’t blow you away with 40+ FP, but he could certainly come close to 3X value in a fast-paced game.
Forward:
Gordon Hayward ($13,700) at New Orleans - Hayward is one of my favorite targets at the SF position any time he suits up. Tonight he has the privilege of facing a Pelicans team that ranks dead last in the NBA against opposing SF. Last time out against these Pelicans, he posted an impressive 31/8/3 line that was good for 49.50 FP. He is primed to explode at any time, and contributes in every category. Dollar for dollar, he makes for my favorite play this evening.
Courtney Lee ($8,750) vs Golden State - The great thing about multi-position eligibility is being able to roster players like Lee at SF. He comes in at a tremendous price, and draws a favorable matchup against a Warriors squad that is 23rd in the NBA against SG. Lee had a bounce-back game against Philadelphia with 35.25 FP, and should thrive in an up-tempo game. He makes good decisions and never takes bad shots, which is key on our efficiency site. He should be a safe bet for 2X salary, but could pay off even more if he gets hot.
Corey Brewer ($10,600) at Washington – When looking for players in the mid-range prices and lower, I look for players who get solid minutes. Brewer has played 38, 37, and 32 minutes in his last three games and eclipsed 30 FP in each one. He is a great value play that will help you fit some studs into your lineups.
Carmelo Anthony ($16,950) vs Dallas - Anthony has been impossible to predict recently. The Knicks had indicated that he would sit out against Toronto, then he played 44 minutes and bested 50 FP. A matchup with a Dallas team that could be missing Chandler Parsons this evening puts Anthony firmly onto my radar. He has elite upside at a discounted price and of course a high usage rate (28.7%). Fire him up as a viable alternative to Kevin Durant.
Center:
Mason Plumlee ($9,300) vs Miami- The Heat have struggled down low for a few years now, and Plumlee has been playing great basketball with back-to-back double-doubles. His price tag and lack of elite options down low make him my favorite play at the center position in a great matchup.
Great stuff as always buddy, miss watching the show with you and that white Zach Randolph, {Gabey}, anyways would you rather pair John Wall and Westbrook or Jrue with one of those guys?
Love the Zach Randolph comparison man. Sorry I didn’t get back to you on this one. Have a sick boy at home. If you ever have questions that I don’t get to right away on here, hit me up on Twitter or Facebook! Always have my phone on me with those notifications! Hope you went Wall/Westbrook