Geoff Lambert breaks down value plays for Friday’s slate of FanDuel NBA contests.
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Welcome to a special edition of my Friday night values on Thursday night. Going forward I will be doing both Thursday and Friday night values. Today we have an unusually large Thursday night slate with nine games on the docket, so there should be plenty of value to look at. As always, all my values will be $5,500 and under. Let’s get started…
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Point Guard
Fred VanVleet (TOR) $4,600 @ IND
VanVleet is the Raptors sixth man and has been very productive in that role this season. He averaged nearly 25 minutes per game over his last eight games and has three straight games with double-digital NBA points. The Pacers give up 46.59 FanDuel points per game to the position over the last four weeks — good for bottom 10 in the league.
Others to consider: Cameron Payne (CHI) $3,900, George Hill (CLE) $4,500
Shooting Guard
Ben McLemore (MEM) $4,900 vs CHI
There is a ton of value on the Memphis Grizzlies tonight, and McLemore at $4,900 is at the top of the list. Over his last six games, he is averaging a shade under 30 FanDuel points. In fact, these last six games may be the best six games McLemore has ever played in any other six-game span over his entire career. The Bulls aren’t the best matchup for him, but it’s far from the worst, as they have given up 38.35 FanDuel points to shooting guards over the last four weeks.
Luke Kennard (DET) $3,800 @ DEN
Kennard has received 30-plus minutes in his last three games, more than the sum of his last four games — combined! At $3,800, he may get overlooked, and against a decently fast-paced team in the Denver Nuggets, he should easily return value for you tonight. He doesn’t have the upside you look for in tournaments, but for cash games, he is your path to rostering the big boys.
Others to consider: Eric Gordon (HOU) vs LAC
Small Forward
Dillon Brooks (MEM) $5,000 vs CHI
Here is another Memphis player. He gets a great matchup with the Bulls, who have given up nearly 45 FanDuel points to opposing small forwards over the last four weeks. He also hasn’t logged fewer than 25 minutes dating back to February 11, and his usage rate has seen a slight increase over the last week or so.
Others to consider: Rudy Gay (SAS) $4,200
Power Forward
Jarell Martin (MEM) $4,600 vs CHI
Once again we go to Memphis for our value at Power Forward. I don’t recommend you playing more than one of these Memphis players, however, picking one of them will really open up your roster. The Bulls are middle of the pack in defending the power forward position, but Martin should still be able to hit value at his $4,600 price tag.
Others to consider: Nikola Mirotic (NOP) $5,300, Thad Young (IND) $5,400
Center
Emeka Okafor (NOP) $4,400 @ SAS
Center tonight is probably a position you pay up for. There isn’t a ton of value tonight unless we get news of players resting, but if I’m forced to choose, I’ll take Okafor. He hasn’t been great in his comeback tour, but he hasn’t been terrible either. He is getting a shade over 20 minutes per game and his rebounding and blocked shots give him a pretty decent floor.
