FanDuel and Factoids

With today’s slate being so small I didn’t want to have redundant analysis over every player. To solve this problem, I’m going to break down the positions, pricing and matchups then show you today’s free lineups.

Position Rankings:

• PG: A

  • The point guard position has the largest amount of depth on most nights, so, unsurprisingly, it continues to be a stacked positional group even in a two-game slate.

  • The hard decision point in deep positional groups is whether it’s best to pay up or spend down. Lower-priced options can outproduce their price point easier but are typically more volatile. Whereas higher-priced point players need to play better to make sense on your roster, they can also be the highest scoring player on the slate.

    • Notable Options: Russell Westbrook ($9,800) Ja Morant ($8,000), Dejounte Murray ($8,500), Derrick White ($5,600)

• SG: B

  • There are valid choices at a variation of prices, but none of them feel like a home run. We are trying to maximize each positional group, so I think it’s best to default to the most expensive options.

    • Notable Options: Bradley Beal ($10,500), DeMar Derozan ($8,600) De’Anthony Melton ($6,00) Dillon Brooks ($5,600)

• SF C+

  • Small forward is the hardest position to fill, regardless if you’re playing fantasy basketball or daily fantasy. This positional group has the second-highest depth for the cheaper options today. I would recommend starting with Luka and grabbing your second sf/pg as your last pick for your lineup

    • Notable Option. Luka Doncic ($11,000), Kyle Anderson ($6,500) Keldon Johnson ($5,800) Josh Richardson ($5,400).

• PF: C+

  • The Power forward position looked a lot better when Aldridge was expected to play, now it kind of looks like a wasteland, headlined by Kristaps Porzingis. With Aldridge out, Trey Lyles should have another night to try to break his way into the rotation permanently.

    • Notable Options: Kristaps Porzingis ($8,300), Trey Lyles ($4,700), Davis Bertans ($5,200), Luka Samanic ($3,500)

• C: D

  • There are only two valuable centers today. Valanciunas ($7,000), and Lopez ($4,200). Lopez seems like the best choice for me personally. I think he allows you to increase the ceiling of the rest of the roster.

Today’s Games

Wizards: The Wizards still have the second-worst defense in the NBA according to lineups.com, and while the Grizzlies aren’t an offensive powerhouse, they can still punish Washington around the perimeter. The Wizards have my favorite options for tonight’s games. I predict that Westbrook, Beal, and Lopez will all end up in the optimal lineup.

Grizzlies: Morant’s price on FanDuel hasn’t risen as I believe it should against Washington’s porous coverage, Valanciunas is the #1 Center on the slate. However, I believe it will end up being a roleplayer from Memphis that ends up having the most value. Whether that be Desmond Bane, Dillon Brooks or Kyle Anderson.

Mavericks: I think Porzingis is overpriced so Luka seems like the most appealing option today. The team is steadily improving as a whole.

Spurs: With Aldrige out, you need to find the player that best takes his place. I believe Lyles to be that player.

Lineup 1:

Lineup 2: