Geoff Lambert breaks down value plays for Thursday’s slate of FanDuel NBA contests.
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Point Guard
Reggie Jackson (DET) $3,500 @ HOU
Yes, this is a tough matchup for Jackson matching up against one of the best on-ball defenders in the league, Chris Paul. And yes, he only played 15 minutes last game after missing a good chunk of the season. In fact, his last game played was the day after Christmas. So why am I suggesting you play him? Hear me out. First, he is $3,500. Second, before going down with an injury he was averaging 25-plus FanDuel points, and finally, while he may have only played 15 minutes last game he did get the start. It is a risky pick, but he could log 20-to-25 minutes and get you 20-to-25 FanDuel points, with what I assume will be low ownership, so I’ll take that risk.
Shelvin Mack (ORL) $3,900 vs PHI
If you prefer to go the “safe” route for value at the point guard spot, Mack is a more traditional value play. He is averaging 25 minutes and 25 FanDuel points over his last three games and I don’t see that trend ending tonight. The Sixers are middle of the pack when it comes to points allowed to point guards over the last four weeks, as they give up a little over 45 FanDuel points per game. His price at $3,900 still makes him a safer bet than Jackson, but Mack doesn’t have the same upside.
Shooting Guard
J.J. Reddick (PHI) $4,700 @ORL
The shooting guard position is devoid of value, but Redick makes for an interesting play at $4,700. He now has 12 straight games with double-digit NBA points and while his peripherals leave a lot to be desired, he does grab an occasional rebound or three and can dish out a few assists. I don’t “love” this play, but forced to choose, Redick would be my pick.
Small Forward
Stanley Johnson (DET) $4,500 @ HOU
Johnson has drawn two straight starts and has delivered a good stat line in each, putting up 26.3 and 30.2 FanDuel in those two games. Houston is one of the fastest paced teams in the league, so this will be a pace up game for Johnson. With the number of shots the Rockets take, there will be ample opportunity for rebounds.
Power Forward
Nikola Mirotic (NOP) $5,500 vs LAL
The values tonight are very slim pickings, but of all the guys I’ve mentioned, Mirotic is my favorite. He gets the most minutes and has the highest upside of all the value guys I’ve featured tonight, as evidenced by his recent 44.5 point game against Boston a few nights ago. The Lakers have given up 49.46 FanDuel points to power forwards over the last four weeks — good for bottom eight in the league. Due to the “makeup” game last night with the Pacers from the infamous leaky roof incident, the Pels are playing their third straight game, so fatigue could be an issue, but I still like Mirotic’s upside for tournaments.
Center
Willy Hernangomez (CHA) $4,000
The center position, in terms of value, is ugly. Everyone under $5,500 are dependant on a starter being out for them to have any fantasy relevance, and as of 10:45 pm EST on Wednesday night, none of the centers have been ruled out. That leaves Hernangomez, who has logged a few more minutes over his last three games, as my default option. I don’t know of too many situations in which I would feel comfortable rostering him, but if you are playing a large multi-entry tournament and doing multiple lineups, I could see him sneaking into a lineup or two.
