Fantasy Basketball Picks 2-11-15
These fantasy basketball picks will lead your lineups to the promised land tonight!
These plays are intended to help you gain a solid return on salary (at least 2.5X, with the ideal level being 3x or higher) with each player you roster. Sometimes I will highlight a minimum salary player, and the intent is to maximize the number of roster spots where you have potential to hit 3X salary. Keep in mind that a minimum-priced player on DraftDay is even more valuable than a minimum-salary player elsewhere, due to the large gap in pricing with a $100,000 cap. Another key to remember is that in DFS, late injury news can be HUGE when deciding your final rosters. Just because someone was a great play in the morning doesn’t necessarily mean that better options won’t arise throughout the day. Monitor Twitter closely before locking in your lineups.
Today’s Top Plays
Guard:
Chris Paul ($18,750) vs Houston – No part of me is concerned about the matchup with Patrick Beverley. Paul is an elite option tonight, and comes in at a discount of nearly $4,000 from Russell Westbrook. He has 43 points, 12 rebounds and 26 assists in two games without Blake Griffin, and he should continue his torrid pace tonight in a game with a 213.5 point total.
Elfrid Payton ($9,750) vs New York – Payton has never been known for his scoring, but that’s another reason why he is so intriguing tonight. He can contribute in a big way across the board, as evidenced by his 10 steals, 14 assists and 16 rebounds over his last 3 games. If his shot falls, he could crush value against Langston Galloway and the Knicks tonight. He should also see an uptick in offense with Tobias Harris out once again.
James Harden ($20,400) at Los Angeles Clippers – The best beard on the planet is playing like the best player on the planet. He is averaging an insane 42.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 8.5 assists over his last two games, and now draws the biggest weakness of the Clippers, which is defending the wing. Neither Jamal Crawford, JJ Redick, or Matt Barnes stands a chance in this matchup. I expect Harden to have another monster day as he looks to solidify his MVP chances.
Evan Fournier ($8,050) vs New York - Another player who looks to benefit from Tobias Harris’ absence tonight is Fournier. He played 33 minutes in the last game, totaling 23.75 FP. His price isn’t great, but he should be locked in to 25+ minutes tonight and have a chance to hit value.
Forward:
Elijah Millsap ($5,000) at Dallas - If you told me I’d be recommending a Millsap not named “Paul” this season, I’d have said you were insane. But here we are, and with Joe Ingles likely to miss tonight’s game, Millsap will get another boost. He has 55 total FP over his last two games, and has played 36.5 minutes per contest. He is my favorite value play once again.
Kevin Durant ($18,800) vs Memphis - The reigning MVP is coming off of one of his best games of the season, where he scored 40 real points on just 19 shot attempts. Tonight’s matchup against Jeff Green and Tony Allen doesn’t concern me in the slightest. Durant is an elite option, despite the matchup.
Mitch McGary ($6,200) vs Memphis - McGary has burst onto the scene with 65.75 FP in 48 minutes against the Clippers and Nuggets. Tonight’s matchup is tougher, but at this price, you can still expect him to have a fair shot at hitting value. I’m looking to roster Paul and Harden as much as possible tonight, and players like McGary can make that happen comfortably.
Josh Smith ($12,950) at Los Angeles Clippers - “Smoove” has worked his way into solid minutes, and he has been productive. Over his last 7 games, he has at least 23 FP in each contest, as well as 35+ in 5 of those 7. A depleted Clippers frontcourt is no daunting task. I like Smith to have a big game tonight.
Center:
DeAndre Jordan ($14,900) vs Houston - If you rostered Jordan last game, you likely had yourself a huge night. While 22/27 may be unattainable again, a matchup with an undersized Houston frontcourt leads me to believe he will have another huge game. He is my favorite option at C tonight, and it isn’t particularly close when you factor in price.
You can find me on Twitter @BigItaly42 and I’d love to help you out with any questions you have about determining salary, finding value, or any lineup construction tips!