Sadly, the NBA regular season is coming to a screeching halt. Which means there’s all the more reason to load up on lineups while you still can. Tonight’s nine-game mega slate features games with playoff seeding implications, an epic tank battle and almost everything in between. With so many teams playing, there should be plenty of value to mine for your rosters. Of course, every recommendation below is based on currently available information. As always, make sure to check injury reports before lineups lock so you’re using the most accurate information and avoiding a big fat zero in your lineup.
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Point Guard
Ricky Rubio (UTA): $7,400 vs PHO
I’m high on Rubio tonight, betting that his ownership will be depressed as everyone clamors to fit the white-hot Damian Lillard in their lineups (a fine play). Utah is an ideal team to target, as they get to beatdown on a Suns team that runs the league’s second-fastest pace and also sports the worst Defensive Rating in the NBA. That, my friends, is a recipe for fantasy success. The Suns have been particularly forgiving to point guards both throughout the season and over the last ten games, while Rubio continues to play the best basketball of his career.
Sadly, the NBA regular season is coming to a screeching halt. Which means there’s all the more reason to load up on lineups while you still can. Tonight’s nine-game mega slate features games with playoff seeding implications, an epic tank battle and almost everything in between. With so many teams playing, there should be plenty of value to mine for your rosters. Of course, every recommendation below is based on currently available information. As always, make sure to check injury reports before lineups lock so you’re using the most accurate information and avoiding a big fat zero in your lineup.
Create FanDuel lineups using our DFS Lineup Optimizer tool
Point Guard
Ricky Rubio (UTA): $7,400 vs PHO
I’m high on Rubio tonight, betting that his ownership will be depressed as everyone clamors to fit the white-hot Damian Lillard in their lineups (a fine play). Utah is an ideal team to target, as they get to beatdown on a Suns team that runs the league’s second-fastest pace and also sports the worst Defensive Rating in the NBA. That, my friends, is a recipe for fantasy success. The Suns have been particularly forgiving to point guards both throughout the season and over the last ten games, while Rubio continues to play the best basketball of his career.
Emmanuel Mudiay (NYK): $4,600 vs PHI
Mudiay’s a great money-saving option at the point guard position, having played at least 25 minutes in seven of his previous eight games. At this price, he only needs a measly 23 points to hit value, something he’s done five times over that same span. And the matchup is good! Philly has allowed the fifth-most FD points to point guards this season and it plays at the league’s fifth-fastest pace. All of Mudiay’s counting stats are up across the board since being traded to New York.
Shooting Guard
James Harden (HOU): $11,300 vs LAC
Ok, you probably didn’t need me to tell you to put James Freaking Harden in your lineup tonight. But what you probably didn’t know is that the Clippers have been far and away the best matchup for shooting guards recently. With the Clippers ranking as high as sixth in pace (the Rockets are 14th), this is the best game to target tonight. Vegas seems to agree given the slate-high 224.5 implied point total. Load up on Clippers and Rockets where you can.
CJ McCollum (POR): $7,300 vs CLE
Everyone’s talking about Dame Time, and rightfully so, but CJ has also been playing great basketball during the Blazers’ winning streak. He’s hit at least 5x value in three of his last five games, only narrowly missing it in the other two. Cleveland still ranks third-last in the league in Defensive Rating, which is partially why this game has the second-highest implied point total on the slate. If Rodney Hood (back) misses another game like he did Tuesday, then it’s possible McCollum will be matched up with the likes of Kyle Korver and JR Smith. It’s because of options like those two that the Cavs have been so forgiving to shooting guards recently.
Small Forward
Dillon Brooks (MEM): $5,000 vs CHI
This is more about opportunity than anything, as Brooks continues to be a sure bet for at least 29 minutes every night. Chicago ranks 13th in pace, a refreshing departure from Memphis’ molasses-like tempo. That should mean more scoring opportunities for Brooks, who’s hit 5x value in two of his last four. The Bulls have been an attackable matchup for small forwards this season.
Trevor Ariza (HOU): $5,200 vs LAC
Ariza makes for a nice stack with Harden and helps you save money along the way. The Clips have been torched by the small forward position all season, but especially so over the team’s last ten games. As mentioned above, both teams are in the top half of the league in pace and this game has the highest implied point total on the night. Ariza provides a cheap way to get in on the action.
Power Forward
John Collins (ATL): $5,900 vs CHA
This game has potential to be a sneaky source of fantasy points given that both teams rank in the top ten in pace, the only such game on the slate. Collins has finally started to see his playing time level out, averaging 27 minutes per game over his last 11 and playing at least 30 minutes in four of those games. Charlotte has been a sieve to power forwards recently, so this is a great matchup to exploit.
Thaddeus Young (IND): $5,400 vs TOR
This is more about opportunity than matchup, although the Raptors do rank 11th in pace which should provide a slight bump. Domantis Sabonis (ankle) has already been ruled out, and his likely replacement Trevor Booker is questionable with an ankle injury. That should yield some extra opportunity and minutes for Young, who’s been an absolute beast when he plays at least 30 minutes this season.
Center
Marc Gasol (MEM): $7,800 vs CHI
Tankathon 2018 features the Grizzlies and Bulls tonight, presenting a dream matchup for Gasol. Despite Memphis’ league-worst struggles, Gasol has continued to play well, posting at least 32 FanDuel points in seven straight games. That gives you an idea of his safe floor, while the 51.6 FD points he dropped against Phoenix in that span hints at his ceiling in good matchups. The Bulls more than qualify, having given up the second-most FD points to centers this season and the most points over its last ten. Gasol is significantly cheaper than the six-star centers above him but is starting at the best matchup, especially when you consider Chicago is 13th in pace.
Eli Weiner is a FantasyPros Correspondent. You can follow him on Twitter @eweiner_bball.