We’ve got a five-game slate Thursday night, starting with the Jazz/Hawks and Warriors/Mavericks at 7:30 PM and ending with the Nuggets/Lakers at 10:00 PM. As always, make sure to maximize roster flexibility by using those G, F, and UTIL spots for guys playing in the later games. Below you’ll find my favorite value plays, studs worth their salary, and notable players to fade. Let’s roll!

Check out today’s NBA Tip-Off from DraftKings

Most Value Per Dollar

Lots of star power on the slate tonight with eight guys priced over $9,000. It becomes as important as ever to find value plays to complement your studs with so many top-tier options. 

The Hawks, Mavericks, Rockets, and Sixers are all on the second night of a back-to-back, meaning there could be some value that opens up if coaches opt to rest players on those teams. Rockets coach Stephen Silas has already said Victor Oladipo is likely to sit. Joel Embiid could also be a candidate to rest with the Sixers playing three games in four nights. 

For DFS purposes, I like targeting close games with high projected point totals. The Sixers/Trail Blazers and Rockets/Grizzlies both project as fast-paced games with high point totals, so I’ll be looking to roster a few guys from those games. I also look to roster guys that play for normally slower-paced teams like the Jazz when they play a faster-paced team like the Hawks. We call that a “pace-up” game for Utah, which could lead to more possessions and subsequently more fantasy production. For a full list of odds and spreads, make sure to check out BettingPros.

Below is a list of the top-10 players of the day expected to generate the most value relative to their salary.

Ben Simmons (PG/SF – PHI): $8,300 vs. POR
The Trail Blazers are allowing the 5th-most points in the NBA, and the 4th-most DK points to the point guard position, which bodes extremely well for Simmons. He’s put up 48+ DK points in three of his last six games but comes with some risk if this game turns into a blowout (PHI -9.5), thus limiting his minutes and overall output. 

Rudy Gobert (C – UTA): $7,500 at ATL
Gobert had his way with Clint Capela in the teams’ last matchup, putting up 41.8 DK points in just 28 minutes (1.49 points per minute). If this game stays close (Utah currently 7.5-point favorites), Gobert could see minutes in the low 30s, making him one of the best values of the slate, even at $7,500. 

John Wall (PG – HOU): $6,900 at MEM
Wall rested Wednesday night against the Thunder, so he should be good to go Thursday night against the Grizzlies, with Victor Oladipo likely taking the night off. Wall has averaged 37.1 DK points in his last four games and is a good bet to exceed that number coming off two full days rest with Oladipo sitting this one out. 

Eric Gordon (PG/SG – HOU): $5,800 at MEM
Gordon has eclipsed 30 DK points in his last two games, and he’s done so, averaging just 25 minutes per game in what were two lopsided affairs. With Victor Oladipo expected to sit this one out, Gordon should remain in the starting lineup and could see upwards of 30 minutes in what is projected to be a close game against the Grizzlies. 

Bojan Bogdanovic (SF/PF – UTA): $5,700 at ATL
After a slow start to the season, Bogdanovic has caught fire in his last three games, shooting 16-of-29 from deep. He’s averaging 35.6 DK points in those games, and Vegas is projecting the Jazz to score 116 points against the Hawks, more than their season average of 113.8 points per game. I’m willing to ride Bogdanovic’s hot-hand in what should be a “pace-up” game for Utah.

Jordan Clarkson (PG/SG – UTA): $5,600 at ATL
After a string of a few down games, Clarkson’s salary has dropped from $6,400 to $5,600. Now he’ll face off against a Hawks squad allowing the 2nd-most DK points to the point guard position. This seems like a good bounce-back game for Clarkson, who dropped 31.8 DK points against Atlanta in the teams’ first meeting back in mid-January. 

Robert Covington (PF – POR): $5,200 at PHI
Covington has certainly been a frustrating fantasy asset in his first season in Portland, but the lack of fantasy production isn’t a result of a lack of minutes, as RoCo is still playing close to 31 minutes per game. He gets a revenge game against his former team, coming off a hot shooting performance against the Wizards in which he went 5-of-8 from beyond the arc. If he stays hot from long distance, a 30+ DK-point performance isn’t out of the realm of possibility for Covington. 

Desmond Bane (SG/SF – MEM): $3,700 vs. HOU
Bane has quietly been a nice rotational piece for the Grizzlies over his last three games, averaging almost 14 points on 10 shots per game. He’s averaging 23.4 DK points in 24 minutes per game in those three games. He’s worth a look in what projects to be an uptempo game with lots of scoring opportunities. 

Rodney Hood (SG/SF – POR): $3,700 at PHI
Hood started the Trail Blazers’ last game in place of Nasir Little and put up 22 DK points in 35 minutes of action. He took 12 shots, six of which were from long distance. He’s been in and out of the rotation lately, but if he sticks as a starter against the Sixers, $3,700 becomes a bargain for Hood. 

Juan Toscano-Anderson (PF – GS): $3,500 at DAL
Kevon Looney suffered a sprained ankle during Tuesday’s game vs. the Celtics, and it was Toscano-Anderson who was the primary beneficiary as a result, scoring 16 points in 27 minutes of action. With Looney and James Wiseman both now sidelined, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Juan T. see upwards of 25 minutes per game on a nightly basis. 

Check out our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet for the top bets of the day

Studs Worth Their Salary

• Nikola Jokic (DEN) $11,000: The Joker is always worth his salary. It’s just a matter of whether or not you can find enough value to fit him into your lineup. The matchup vs. the Lakers isn’t the best on paper, but this Nuggets offense runs through Jokic. He’ll get an opportunity to show the world what he can do in a nationally-televised primetime matchup at the Staples Center. Expect another gaudy performance from Jokic. 
• Luka Doncic (PG – DAL) $10,900: Much like Jokic, Luka is always in play for DFS. On Thursday night, he’ll play in a “pace-up” game against Stephen Curry and the Warriors. It’s the second night of a back-to-back for the Mavericks, but with the game expected to be close (DAL -3.5), there’s not as much risk for Doncic’s minutes to be limited. 
• LeBron James (PG/SF – LAL) $10,000: The last time LeBron played in a primetime game coming off two full days rest, he put up 59 DK points against the Bucks. With Denver presenting a tougher matchup for Anthony Davis, expect James to have one of his signature performances Thursday night in LA. 
• Christian Wood (C – HOU) $8,800: Before last night’s game against the Thunder, Wood was averaging 47.2 DK points in his previous seven games. He produced just 25.5 DK points in 22 minutes Wednesday night. The last time he failed to eclipse 30 DK points, he went for 54.8 the very next game. With Victor Oladipo likely to miss this game, Wood becomes more of a focal point on offense and should bounce-back against a Grizzlies team that will be without Jonas Valanciunas once again.  

Notable Players to Fade

• Damian Lillard (PG – POR) $10,400: Lillard is coming off a 32-point performance in a win over the Wizards on Tuesday but suffered an abdominal injury in the process and is officially listed as questionable against the Sixers. Even if he plays, it’s a tough matchup for Dame as the Sixers allow just the 22nd-most DK points to point guards this season.  
• Joel Embiid (C – PHI) $10,200: Embiid has been dominant in his last eight games, producing 57+ DK points in six of those games. But this game against Portland is on the second night of a back-to-back and comes before a huge matchup between the Sixers and Nets on Saturday night. If Lillard (questionable – abdominal) sits this one out, the Sixers won’t need to rely on Embiid to coast past the Trail Blazers Thursday night. 
• Trae Young (PG – ATL) $9,300: The Jazz are ranked 1st in DK points allowed to the point guard position, which is bad news for Young. In the teams’ first matchup back in mid-January, Young shot just 1-of-11 and finished the game with just four points and seven assists. I’d much rather pay up for LeBron than pray for a good game from Trae against a great defensive backcourt in Utah. 
• Clint Capela (C – ATL) $8,700: Speaking of bad matchups, Capela has just that against Rudy Gobert. He posted just 31.3 DK points in the teams’ first matchup. I’d much rather roll with Christian Wood against the Grizzlies for just $100 more.

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Adam Koffler is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Adam, check out his archive and follow him @AdamKoffler.