PG Goran Dragic – 6,800 FD & 6,800 DK
The Washington Wizards have the personnel to conceivably shut down Hassan Whiteside. The Washington Wizards are 4th best in the league against opposing centers allowing 32.7 points to opposing center’s over the course of the season. With Hassan Whiteside dealing with a difficult matchup, I’m expecting the Heat to lean on Goran Dragic. Dragic finds himself in a more favorable matchup against John Wall. The Washington Wizards have allowed 50.1 points to opposing point guards over their last 5 games. This play is logical, Goran Dragic should hit value at a $6,800 salary.
Other Cash PG Option(s): Ricky Rubio & Sac PG’s Fox/Hill (GPP)
SG Nicholas Batum – 5,400 FD & 4,600 DK
**Contingent on no minute’s restrictions, monitor news**
Nicholas Batum is in the perfect matchup against a Cleveland Cavaliers team that has been struggling against the shooting guard position. Over the last five games the Cavs’ have allowed 80.3 points to opposing shooting guards! This high of a DVP number is off the charts, even in a small five game sample size. The reason for this ridiculously high DVP number is the addition of J.R Smith to the lineup. J.R Smith is projected to guard Nicholas Batum tonight. My only problem with this play is that this is literally his first game of the season. This same worry could be a factor in his ownership, but the fact is if this exact matchup was on any other night, in terms of it not being his first game of the season, Batum would be a lock. Tonight, I roster him with slight skepticism (due to it being his first game) but I must trust in the process and a favorable matchup is a favorable matchup. The Charlotte Hornets are underdogs at +1.5 with a 218 over-under.
Other Cash SG Option(s): Kentavious Caldwell Pope & Kris Dunn (GPP)
SF Robert Covington – 6,800 FD & 6,300 DK
At a weak position, Robert Covington is simply a safer play at reasonable pricing. There are many ways to go tonight, at some point you’re going to need to save salary somewhere. Robert Covington is in a nice matchup against Brandon Ingram in the late night west coast game. He might not have a massive ceiling but he’s going to be on the floor for 30+ minutes in one of the highest over-under lines of the night at 219.5.
Other Cash SF Option(s): Lebron/Giannis & Paul George **If Carmelo Anthony is out**
PF Kristaps Porzingis – 9,300 FD & 8,900 DK
With the Utah Jazz trying to function without Rudy Gobert things have not looked pretty. Look for Kristaps Porzingis to use his length and shoot over whoever is guarding him, whether it’s Derrick Favors or Thabo Sefolosha. Projections currently show Sefolosha guarding Porzingis which would have Kristaps at a massive height advantage. Porzingis exhibits a high floor and carries a 60+ point ceiling at reasonable industry salaries, can’t ask for much more than that.
Other Cash PF Option(s): Anthony Davis & LaMarcus Aldridge
C Marc Gasol – 7,500 FD & 7,500 DK
He’s just too cheap. It’s that simple. He’s healthy, getting the minute’s and back to his normal role. Yes, his last chunk of game logs are ugly but if you look back to mid-October, Gasol was performing great. It takes more than 5 bad games to get me not to roster Marc Gasol at a salary of $7,500 on either major site. Paying up for Joel Embid carries a higher upside but is risky due to his minutes restrictions and is 2,200 Fan Duel salary more. The Memphis Grizzlies are favored by 4.5 points in a 209 over-under.
Other Cash Center Option(s): Joel Embid & Dewayne Dedmon (GPP)
