Welcome back to another edition of FanDuel value plays. The holiday season is over, so it’s time to get back to the Monday grind. We get back to it with a nice eight-game slate tonight offering up some good value options, especially at the guard position. Keep an eye out as the day progresses as a number of players listed as game-time decisions could impact these plays. Players in this article will be ones less than $5,500 and offer a good chance of hitting at least 5X value, which will provide a good opportunity to land in the green. As always, I wish you the best of luck!
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Point Guard
Jawun Evans (LAC): $5,100 vs. ATL
Evans is a player that could greatly benefit if Milos Teodosic doesn’t play. Going against an Atlanta team that ranks 25th against the point guard position offers a nice opportunity for Evans to hit the 25 FD points he’ll need for value. Teodosic sat out Saturday’s game against the Warriors, and Evans took advantage scoring 12 points and adding four rebounds and seven assists in 27 minutes of action. Evans doesn’t have a high usage rate, so it’ll be necessary for him to see the court for at least 25 minutes to get the kind of value needed, but if Teodosic is indeed out for tonight it provides Evans a good opportunity to do so against a bad defense.
Delon Wright (TOR): $4,800 at BKN
Wright has been playing very well as of late and gets a great chance against a bad defensive team that plays at a fast pace to hit the 24 FD points needed to get value. Wright has hit at least 24 FD points in three of the past four games, including a 61-point explosion against the Bulls last Wednesday. Over his past four games, Wright has averaged 24 minutes, 14.5 points, five rebounds, and four assists resulting in an average of 35 FD points per game. Now, this number may be inflated by his outburst, but he’s been consistent as of late and provides a high floor given the matchup. It would make sense to ride the combination of a hot streak plus a good matchup for Wright and provide salary relief for other positions.
Shooting Guard
JR Smith (CLE): $3,900 at MIN
Smith has been hobbled by a knee issue but should be good to go tonight. Be sure to keep an eye on his status as game time approaches if you go with him tonight. He’s a bit of a wild card with his scoring, but here is what we do know. He’s averaged 25 minutes per game over the past four games and is projected to start tonight so he will be getting ample opportunity on the floor. We also know this matchup ranks as one of the highest projected scoring matchups of the slate, and Minnesota ranks 17th against shooting guards. He’s finished in double-digit scoring in three of the past five and it’s possible he sees a little more run tonight as coach Tyronn Lue voiced concern over Dwayne Wade’s minutes and this game is the second leg of a back-to-back for the Cavs. If Derrick Rose is held out again tonight that would allow Smith that much more opportunity, although his low floor does provide a bit of risk.
Tyrone Wallace (LAC): $3,500 vs ATL
With Austin Rivers listed out and Milos Teodosic questionable with plantar fasciitis, the Clippers are in dire need at the guard position. Enter Tyrone Wallace, a G-league call-up who just signed a two-day contract on Friday and immediately made an impact finishing with 13 points, three rebounds, two assists, and three steals against the Warriors on Saturday. Wallace is a bit of an unknown, but in a game against a bad defense ranking 25th against shooting guards look for him to exceed the 17 points needed for value. He’s a bit of a gamble, but a very low-cost option with high upside that can provide salary relief.
Malcolm Brogdon (MIL): $5,200 at IND
Brogdon continues to be a good value play and has been very consistent recently. He draws a bit of a tougher matchup tonight against a Pacers team that ranks 10th against shooting guards. It is just tough to ignore his averages over the past four games (32 minutes, 15 points, four rebounds, two assists). He’ll need 26 FD points for value tonight, and he’s been right up against that averaging 24.9 FD points in the past four hitting at least 24 points in each. He’s hit at least 20 FD points in seven straight games, so if nothing else he is providing a high floor for a value play. With this mix of opportunity on the court and consistency, Brogdon provides a nice option for value.
Small Forward
Trevor Ariza (HOU): $5,200 at CHI
With the Rockets missing their lead player James Harden it opens up chances for other guys to boost their stat lines. Ariza is one of those players. He’s only finished in single-digit scoring twice in the past 10 games, has grabbed at least three rebounds in 13 straight games, and has averaged 24 FD points over the past four games. While the Bulls do rank 10th against small forwards, we are looking at two teams that play at a fast pace and offer a juicy over/under of 221.5 according to Westgate sports book. Choosing Ariza would be playing to the fact that Harden being out offers up shots to other players, as well as this particular game being played at a faster pace offering more possessions for the Rockets overall.
Allen Crabbe (BKN): $4,800 vs TOR
Crabbe draws a good matchup tonight against a Toronto team that ranks 16th against small forwards. DeMarre Carroll has also been ruled out for tonight opening up more opportunity for Crabbe to continue his streak of four straight games with at least 29 minutes of action. He’ll need 24 FD points for value, and he’s reached that in three of the past four games. He’s the type of player that can score and is a solid rebounder so his ceiling is a bit higher for a value play. He’s scored at least nine points in four straight and has grabbed at least five rebounds in three straight. This game offers a nice over/under of 218.5 according to Westgate so points should be easy to come by, which could provide Crabbe just enough to reach double-figures in scoring and build on his streak in rebounding.
Power Forward
Davis Bertans (SAS): $3,500 at SAC
Tonight is the second leg of a back-to-back for the Spurs. Given coach Popovich’s knack for being conservative with his starter’s minutes, look for Bertans to continue to get opportunity on the court. Bertans has logged at least 25 minutes of playing time in each of the past three games, and that streak will look to continue tonight as the Spurs continue to deal with injury issues. It’s a good matchup tonight against a bad defense that ranks 27th against power forwards and the blowout potential of this game could mean more minutes for him off the bench. In the past three games where he’s seen over 25 minutes he’s finished in double-digits in two out of the three games and has grabbed at least four rebounds in four straight games. He’ll only need 17 points to get value, and he’s done that in each of the past three games.
Bobby Portis (CHI): $4,500 vs HOU
The Bulls seem to like to shuffle their power forwards around in their rotations, but one thing remains constant, Portis can produce with limited minutes. He’ll need 22 FD points for value tonight, which he’s hit in three of the past four games. Tonight he gets a Houston defense that ranks 25th against power forwards and an over/under of 221.5 according to Westgate meaning points will be available. Portis has finished in double-digit scoring in four of the past six games and has grabbed at least four rebounds in nine straight games. A player that can score and rebound at a good clip should succeed against a bad Houston defense in a fast-paced game.
Center
Jonas Valanciunas (TOR): $5,200 at BKN
Valanciunas is a bit of a gamble tonight as he hasn’t seen more than 20 minutes of playing time in any of the past three games. This hasn’t stopped him from posting double-doubles, however, as he’s done that twice in the past four. He’ll need 26 FD points for value tonight, which he’s done only twice in the past four games, so you’d basically be playing the matchup tonight against a Brooklyn team that ranks 27th against centers. He shouldn’t have much resistance for rebounds or points tonight, but just know there’s inherent risk with a player that offers such a low floor. Feel confident tonight’s game will offer Valanciunas a chance to grab a second consecutive double-double.
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Chris Berg is a correspondent at FantasyPros. You can follow him on Twitter @bergey13.
