Cash Plays

Russell Westbrook ($13,500) – It almost doesn’t even need to be said, but Westbrook is a clear cut cash game play for tonight’s game against the Phoenix Suns. He only needs 1 more triple-double to break Oscar Robertson’s all-time record for a season, so you can bet Westbrook and the rest of his teammates will be aiming for this accomplishment at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns have also given up the 2^nd most fantasy points to point guards over their last 5 games (62.2). If other point guards can do this against Phoneix’s weak backcourt it’s hard to imagine the kind of damage Russ should be able to do. Regardless, he’s the star you’re going to want to reach up for as he chases history and the 2017 MVP award.

Devin Booker ($8,100) – Booker didn’t shoot well from the field on Wednesday (7-24), but he was still able to put up 36.1 fantasy points against the Warriors. It was definitely an outlier kind of game considering Booker definitely shoots better than his performance, but he still threw up the 20+ shots I thought he would. As the season winds down it sees obvious Earl Watson has given Booker the go-ahead to take as many quality shots as he can get, and that will continue to be the trend tonight as the Suns face the Thunder.

Kyle Anderson ($3,600) – With the Spurs resting their main guys tonight there is a whole lot of value from a variety of San Antonio’s bench. However, my favorite play is small forward Kyle Anderson. The last time Kawhi Leonard was out and Anderson got the spot start he put up 33.6 fantasy points in 32 minutes of action. He is likely to see that kind of court time again tonight, so he has the potential for the same kind of production tonight against a tanking Mavericks team at American Airlines Center.

Larry Nance Jr. ($4,300) – Larry Nance Jr. was potentially the start of the night for us on Wednesday when he put up 31.8 fantasy points in 21 minutes of action. He didn’t see the kind of court time we hoped for, but his solid production in the 1^st half was enough for him to easily exceed value. That great game came against a great Spurs defense also, which will not be an issue tonight as he faces the worst defense against power forwards in the Kings. Sacramento is giving up 49.9 FP to power forwards in their last 10 games, which is the most in the league during that stretch. Nance should see a little extra court time tonight and have even more production than he had on Wednesday.

Dwight Howard ($7,500) – There are a few options you can go with at center tonight, but with Paul Millsap out I’m likely to throw Dwight Howard into my cash game lineup. With Millsap out in March Howard really shouldered a lot of responsibility on both ends of the court. With a high intensity game against the Cleveland Cavaliers that is likely to continue tonight. He should easily reach a double-double , and with Tristan Thompson out he should gobble up a plethora of rebounds. Make sure to at least consider him when you’re making your cash game lineup.

GPP Plays

Kyrie Irving ($8,500) – Everyone and their mother will be reaching up for Russell Westbrook tonight, so the next highest priced guy, Kyrie Irving, is unlikely to get any love. Kyrie hasn’t technically reached value since March 19^th against the Lakers, but his price tonight is manageable because of it. A matchup tonight against a fellow Eastern Conference playoff team in the Hawks is also likely to be motivation for the Cavs guys to play well, so I think Kyrie is a great call in GPP play tonight.

David Nwaba ($3,900) – I may be a bit biased to this kid considering he is a fellow Cal Poly kid, but he is really have success for the Lakers as the season winds down. He’s seeing 25-30 minutes a night for Los Angele’s second unit, and he’s making the most out of it. In his last 3 games he’s averaging 10.7 points and 4 rebounds game, which are solid numbers for a guy priced at $3,900. Last Saturday he also showcased his upside, posting 19 points and 6 rebounds in 35 minutes of action. For a guy primarily known for his defense those are some great offensive numbers. A matchup with the Sacramento Kings tonight should definitely be of benefit to him, as they’ve given up the 2^nd most fantasy points to shooting guards on the year (44.2).

Gordon Hayward ($7,800) – I’m generally a no-go on Hayward, but a home matchup tonight against the Minnesota Timberwolves in a game they need to win seems like a great time to roll the dice on him. The Jazz are currently a half game up on the Clippers for the 4^th seed and home court advantage in the playoffs, so Hayward and the rest of the Utah Jazz should come out highly motivated to win against a fellow Western Conference team. At $7,800 he needs 39 to reach value, which he most definitely can do against a team that is giving up the 8^th most fantasy points to small forwards in their last 10 games (44.3).

Willie Cauley-Stein ($6,300) – Cauley-Stein has my favorite matchup of the night as he goes up against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center. The Lakers are giving up by far the most fantasy points a game to power forwards (48.9). In his last games against the Lakers he was able to put up 20ish fantasy points, but DeMarcus Cousins was also still in Sacramento. With Cousins now gone, Cauley-Stein is the main guy in the Kings frontcourt, and is likely to have a great game tonight against a weak Laker’s defense.

Hassan Whiteside ($8,500) – Hassan Whiteside has now posted 30+ fantasy points in 20 straight games, a remarkable feat for a guy that only needs 42 to reach value from night to night. In 8 of those games he’s put up 40+ FP as well, so he basically reaches value more times than not. He’s fresh off a 13 point/20 rebound effort against the Charlotte Hornets, and has a decent matchup tonight against Jonas Valanciunas and the Toronto Raptors. I see him easily reaching value tonight and obviously has the upside for much more.

Throw this into Double Ups and 50:50’s. Do a tournament or two in case it scores really high.

Cash Plays

T.J. McConnell ($5,600) – With Sergio Rodriguez still out tonight for the 76ers I love T.J. McConnell with the amount of court time he gets. In his last 7 games he’s posted a minimum of 23.1 and a maximum of 31 fantasy points (with an average of 27.4 during that stretch). At $5.6k Fanduel has done little to match his price to his productivity, so it’s still a great time to invest in McConnell as he goes up against a Bulls defense that has given up the 9^th most fantasy points in the league to opposing points guards (48.6 a game).

Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot ($4,800) – Even with his price increase it’s kind of hard to fade TLC tonight. Of all the Sixers players he’s been seeing the most court time lately, and that should continue to be the trend tonight as he faces the Bulls at the Wells Fargo Center. In his last 5 games he’s put up a minimum of 23.8 and a maximum of 33.3 fantasy points, all while seeing no less than 32 minutes of action. He’s actually a fairly safe play even at $4,800 and should continue to get a lot of usage for Philadelphia’s backcourt.

Jimmy Butler ($9,900) – Jimmy’s price actually came down after a “bad “ game against the New York Knicks on Friday in which he put up 38.6 fantasy points in 40 minutes of action. However, prior to this outing he had posted 42+ fantasy points in 9 straight contests, with 2 of those games being 60+. One of those 60 fantasy point games (66.9 to be exact) came against the same 76ers team he faces tonight, so he’s in a great position to reach value. Philadelphia has also given up the 2^nd most fantasy points to small forwards in their last 5 games (52.1), so there’s a little added incentive to start Butler if you were having doubts.

Aaron Gordon ($5,700) – Aaron Gordon let a lot of the fantasy world down on Tuesday when he posted only 14 fantasy points in 32 minutes of action. However, I think many will be willing to give him a second chance as he goes up against the same Nets team he burned for 50.5 fantasy points just last week. Brooklyn is giving up 47.6 fantasy points a game to power forwards, which is the 2^nd most in the league this season. At $5,700 he doesn’t even need 30 to reach value, though he should be able to post 30+ against Brooklyn’s weak frontcourt.

Karl-Anthony Towns ($10,200) – KAT’s price has come back down closer to $10k after 4 straight games of not reaching value. He did, however, post 47+ in 2 of those games, which is kind of hard to get mad at. Also, one of those 47+ point games did come against the same Trail Blazers team he faces tonight, so he is in great shape to reach value for your lineup. The Timberwolves no longer have anything to play for, but Thibodeau is still giving his young bucks plenty of court time, whether they’re in the game or not. This essentially means Towns is a lock for 32+ minutes, though he’s seen 40+ in 3 of his last 5. He’s definitely a star I’m looking to reach up for tonight so long as I have the cash.

GPP Plays

John Wall ($10,500) – Coming off a solid 51.9 fantasy point night on Tuesday, Wall’s price is a hefty $10.5k. This will more than likely be enough for people to fade him as he goes up against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. However, he’s burned the Knicks this year, posting 22.3 ppg, 12.3 apg, and 3.7 rpg in their 3 meetings this season. His success should continue as the Wizards look to improve their seeding in the Eastern Conference, so I expect him to get 45+ tonight on his way to what could be a great fantasy night.

Monta Ellis ($4,500) – Monta has killed me when I’ve started him this year, but he’s still starting for the Pacers as they make a playoff push and seeing 30+ minutes of court time most nights. At $4,500 he’s a great bargain player that should be able to reach value against a middle-of-the-road Bucks defense. They’re giving up 43.1 fantasy points a game to shooting guards in their last 5 contests, so Ellis is well equipped to do well against them at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Khris Middleton ($6,000) – Middleton’s price went up well into the 6k range and I think a lot of fantasy players decided to pass on him for the past couple weeks. However, a few disappointing games has brought his price back down to exactly $6,000 and he seems much more affordable as he goes up against a Pacers team that has given up the 2^nd most fantasy points to small forwards in their last 10 games (46.7). Middleton should be able to return to his consistent ways and put up 30+ for your lineup, while also bringing serious upside given the way he can score the ball.

Al-Farouq Aminu ($4,800) – Aminu has scored 20+ fantasy points in each of his last 6 games, with one of those games being 41.9 against the same Timberwolves team he faces tonight. He was on the road for that game against Minnesota last week, but will welcome the Wolves into the Moda Center tonight for a home game that has serious playoff implications for Portland. The Trail Blazers are currently holding onto the 8^th seed by one game, and every game from here on out is a must win for them. All of their guys should be highly motivated to get a win, including their starting power forward Aminu. He should reach value with ease tonight and has the potential to fly under the radar and have a low own %.

Brook Lopez ($7,100) – With so much attention on other centers tonight it seems probable that Brook Lopez flies under the radar for his matchup with the Orlando Magic. I have a lot of respect for Vucevic, but the Magic as a whole give up way to many fantasy points to opposing centers (56 FP a game over their last 10). Lopez only needs 35 to reach value tonight, which seems a bit low for a guy averaging 20+ points a game. I think he has a great shot at a good fantasy night and should be low owned for your GPP lineup.

Cash Plays

Isaiah Thomas ($8,500) – IT4 and the Celtics will be welcoming the Cavaliers to TD garden tonight for matchup between the 1^st and 2^nd seeds in the Eastern Conference. At this point in the season, there are a lot of teams that don’t have anything to play for. This, however, is not the case for these powerhouse eastern conference teams as they battle for playoff positioning. You know Thomas will score for you, so it’s just about whether he can fill the stat sheet in some of the other areas to reach value. He’s still underpriced (in my opinion) at $8,500, and a matchup with the Cavs should give him some extra motivation at home tonight. Cleveland gives up the 7^th most fantasy points a game to point guards (50.3), so there should be plenty of opportunities for IT to find success against them tonight.

Devin Booker ($8,100) – Devin Booker’s price has not changed and he keeps putting up 20+ shots a game as the season winds down, so as long as those two things stay constant he’s going to keep finding himself into my cash game picks. He has a good matchup tonight against the Golden State Warriors in what should be a high scoring game. Golden State does have a great individual shooting guard defender in Klay Thompson, but as a team they still give up 40 fantasy points a game to the position. I’m not worried about Booker reaching value with the kind of usage he’s been seeing, so he should find his way into my lineup yet again tonight.

LeBron James ($10,700) – James has scored 47+ fantasy points in each of his last 4 games and will be looking to continue his hot streak tonight as he faces the Boston Celtics. This game has serious playoff implications and James should run the show in what should be a close game down the stretch. He’s almost averaging a triple double in 3 games against the Celtics this year (27 points, 11 assists, 9.3 rebounds) and will be looking to burn them again tonight on his way to reaching value.

Marquese Chriss ($5,300) – Chriss has been seeing some huge minutes over the last month and that trend should continue tonight against the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors have a solid defense, but have actually given up the 9^th most fantasy points to power forwards this year. An added bonus is that the Warriors defensive stopped Draymond Green is out tonight for rest purposes, so Chriss should have an easier time reaching value. He’ll need 26 fantasy points to be worth the investment and I think he should easily be able to do this in a high scoring affair.

Clint Capela ($5,500) – Capela has arguably been the most consistent center on Fanduel over the last 2 weeks. He’s posted 22+ fantasy points in each of his last 8 games, and scored 29.6 and 32.8 fantasy points against Denver in the two contests against them in late March. For a guy priced at $5,500 this is amazing consistency/production, and is exactly what you want out of a player in cash games. Denver is a very fast paced team so there will most definitely be opportunities for Capela to get fantasy points tonight at the Toyota Center.

GPP Plays

Chris Paul ($9,500) – Chris Paul has been playing great basketball over his last 3 games, posting an average of 28.3 points and 11.6 assists per game during those contests. He’s also been between 47.8 and 51.1 fantasy points during that stretch, so he’s shown a nice flash of consistency. This consistency, however, is still not enough for me to consider him as a viable cash game pick. He does possess serious GPP upside, though, against an under-staffed Mavericks team. Dallas once again has more players as game-time decisions than it seems like they’ll have dress out, but that is great news for the Clippers who are still chasing the 4^th seed Jazz for home-court advantage in the playoffs. This should be enough for Doc Rivers to leave his starters on the floor for an extended period of time and allow CP3 to reach value for your tournament lineup.

Nicolas Batum ($6,300) – Batum is so underpriced tonight at $6,300 I wouldn’t be surprised if he is a somewhat popular cash game play. He doesn’t seem to find success against good matchups or when he’s on a hot streak, so it’s really hit or miss with him on a nightly basis. But at $6,300 Fanduel is literally saying he only needs his average to reach value for you tonight, which I never see happen for a middle/higher-priced guy like Batum is. On the season he’s averaging 31.92 fantasy points a game, and he only needs 31 to be worth the investment. It’s a possibility he may go overlooked, but Batum is really a great play tonight against the Miami Heat at the Spectrum Center.

Marcus Morris ($5,300) – Another guy I really like in tournaments tonight is Marcus Morris of the Detorit Pistons. He’s another player that seems like he has great games when you least expect it, and a matchup with a good defensive team like the Toronto Raptors seems like a good time to roll with him given this philosophy. At $5,300 he needs 25-30 to reach value, but we’ve seen him hit 40-50 multiple times this year, so he obviousy has serious upside considering his price.

LaMarcus Aldridge ($7,000) – I haven’t seen too much of LaMarcus Aldridge’s name while researching for this slate, so I think he’ll fall more as a GPP play tonight against the Lakers. If this is the case, Aldridge will have an elite matchup with a low-ownership as he gets to take on a Los Angeles defense that has given up the most fantasy points in the league to opposing power forwards all season. He is another guy that seems a bit under-priced at $7k, but that’s just another factor that makes him a great play tonight. Make sure Popovich is playing him before you lock him in, though, because a home game against the Lakers seems like a perfect opportunity to rest a guy like Aldridge heading into playoffs.

Hassan Whiteside ($8.400) – Whiteside has been playing fairly well last week, but did not reach his $8,400 price tag once. This leads me to believe that most will not be overly excited to get him into their lineups and should leave him with a low ownership for this slate. He’ll need 42 to reach value, which he’s only done once in his last 6 contests. However, a matchup with the Charlotte Hornets may be just what he needs, as they’ve given up the 10^th most fantasy points to opposing centers this season (48.4 a game).

Cash Plays

 Emmanuel Mudiay ($3,700) – It’s kind of a toss up for minutes tonight in Nuggets backcourt. I think it’s more likely, though, that they roll with 2^nd year Mudiay than the rookie Jamal Murray while they’re still in the middle of a chase for the 8^th seed in the west. Mudiay also outplayed Murray on Sunday, posting 35.3 fantasy points in 32 minutes of action. The Nuggets were clearly not afraid to turn to him in that game and I think the same is likely to happen tonight when they face off with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Giannis Antetokounmp ($3,700) – Giannis is fresh off two 60+ point fantasy nights and is looking to continue his hot streak tonight against the Oklahoma City Thunder. With Malcolm Brogdon out Antetokounmpo has been running the point even more for the Bucks, and it has paid off for fantasy owners over the last week. Milwaukee has catapulted themselves straight into the 5^th seed in the East, and Jason Kidd has given Giannis 40+ minutes each of the last 2 nights to ensure they hold onto their spot in the standings. They had an off-day yesterday, so the Greek Freak is ready to resume is winning ways in OKC tonight.

Jimmy Butler ($10,000) – Butler’s price has finally caught up to him, as he’s priced at $10k on Fanduel. He has posted 42+ fantasy points in each of his last 9 games, though, so his price can definitely be backed up by his recent performance. Everyone will be on him tonight as he matches up with the New York Knicks, a team that has given up the 11^th most fantasy points to small forwards this year. Butler should be able to feast on them tonight at Madison Square Garden.

Richaun Holmes ($6,000) – Dario Saric is dealing with left heel soreness and has been put on a 24-minute restriction for the remainder of the season. This is bad news for Saric, but great news for Richaun Holmes, who is already starting at center for the 76ers. Holmes should be an easy lock for 30+ minutes a night, and at $6k I’m definitely going to want to have a lot of exposure to him tonight as he goes up against the Nets at home. Brooklyn has given up the 2^nd most fantasy points to opposing power forwards, so Holmes is in a great spot to produce against them tonight at the Wells Fargo Center.

DeMarcus Cousins ($9,600) – Cousins and the Pelicans get a favorable matchup tonight against the Denver Nuggets, a team that has given up the 2^nd most fantasy points to opposing centers in their last 5 games (57.5). Cousins should be a popular pick considering he’s a $10k+ kind of guy that’s still underpriced at $9,600. He’s got serious upside and is definitely a guy you’re going to want in cash games tonight.

GPP Plays

Ty Lawson ($5,300) – Lawson is coming off potentially his best game of the year, a 40.9 fantasy point outing against the Timberwolves. Although he still fights Darren Collison for minutes on a nightly basis he is still a solid play at $5,300. Coming off a nice 21 point/11 assist double-double I don’t think the Kings will hesitate to give him more minutes either. He shouldn’t be on anyone’s radar and should make for a great tournament play tonight.

Garrett Temple ($4,000) – Temple missed a good portion of this year with an injury, but has slowly worked his back into the rotation this past month. He’s a scrappy player that gets you fantasy points throughout the stat sheet, making him one of my favorite plays when I do decide to roll with him. The Kings will be taking on a Mavericks team that is very short on players, as they are now fully out of playoff contention and will be resting a lot of their regulars, which is starting tonight. At $4,000 he needs 20 fantasy points to reach value which I think the can easily do at home.

Kawhi Leonard ($9,200) – I haven’t seen too much of Leonard’s name tonight, which leads me to believe he will more than likely fall as more than a GPP pick than a cash game play. He obviously always carries significant upside, but a matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies defense is not necessarily ideal for a fantasy player. However, he still has 60+ point fantasy upside and could easily be the reason why your lineup reaches the top of a tournament.

Willie Cauley-Stein ($6,100) – Cauley-Stein is a little overpriced for cash games, but at right around $6k I don’t mind playing him in tournaments since Sacramento is looking to get him 30+ minutes a night as the regular season wraps up. He consistently hovers around 25 fantasy points every night, but we’ve seen him have upside even towards 50 when he’s taking a lot of shot. As previously mentioned, the Mavericks are very depleted tonight, so he should be able to run all over them at the Golden One Center.

Willie Hernangomez ($5,500) – It’s such a roll of the dice with Willie Hernangomez every night that I usually just pass on him all together. However, he doesn’t have an awful matchup tonight against the Chicago Bulls and he’s due for one of those games where he gets you 40+ fantasy points out of nowhere. He also hovers around 25 frequently though, so even if he doesn’t have a huge game he does offer a nice safety net for a middle-priced center. Because of this, I highly recommend him as a low- owned tournament play tonight.

Cash Plays

Jamal Murray ($3,700) – Jameer Nelson has already been ruled out for the Nuggets tonight as they face off with the Miami Heat. At almost a minimum price Murray will be a popular DFS pick as he draws the start and logs heavy minutes for the Nuggets backcourt. He should be able to reach value with ease and offer a nice safety net for your lineup.

Devin Booker ($8,000) – His price is getting up there, but I don’t really think I’ll be able to pass on Booker over these next few weeks given the kind of usage he gets for the Suns. As I mentioned yesterday, he’s throwing up 20+ shots on game lately. I am more than willing to pay up at shooting guard for a guy getting that many shots up with his kind of shooting ability. I think many are likely to feel the same again tonight as he faces the Rockets, making him a nice call in cash games.

Sam Dekker ($3,500) – With both Trevor Ariza and Ryan Anderson out tonight for the Rockets Sam Dekker is expected to get a spot start at small forward. Dekker is a minimum priced guy most people will probably plug into their lineups for cash games, so he’s definitely a good call as he’ll definitely have a decent ownership. He’ll be facing a Suns team that are sending out an inexperienced starting lineup of young kids every night, so he should have plenty of opportunities to get fantasy points tonight against them.

Richaun Holmes ($5,800) – Holmes has been a little up and down as he’s seen some increased run with Okafor out. He’s currently in the middle of one of his better stretches, though, posting 30+ fantasy points in 3 of his last 4 games. He’ll be a popular play tonight with Okafor still out so make sure to consider him at $5,800.

Dwight Howard ($7,600) – Howard’s role as a cash game pick currently depends on whether or not Paul Millsap plays tonight. Millsap is currently a game time decision, though a game against the Nets isn’t necessarily something I would rush him onto the floor for, especially coming off of an injury. Therefore, I think Howard will end up logging another 35+ minutes against one of the worst defenses in the entire league. Make sure Millsap is out before you plug him in, but if he is don’t let Dwight’s price scare you away from what should be a great fantasy performance.

GPP Plays

Emmanuel Mudiay ($3,700) – All of the attention on the Nugget’s backcourt should be on Jamal Murray tonight, but Mudiay is another guy that is expected to see extended minutes when they face the Heat. Mudiay has seen hardly any minutes over the last 2 months, but an injury to Jameer Nelson is going to force him into the rotation tonight. He should be able to reach value if he’s given 20+ minutes, which I think he will, so he should be a great GPP punt play.

Tim Hardaway Jr. ($5,500) – In Hardaway’s last 3 games he’s got a low of 9.1 and a high of 31.5 fantasy points, proving he’s more of a tournament play from night-to-night. Tonight he’ll be going up against the Brooklyn Nets, who have given up the 5th most fantasy points to shooting guards this season. This is a matchup in which I’m definitely going to want to consider Hardaway Jr. as he should easily be able to reach value against them.

Otto Porter ($5,300) – Porter hasn’t done well in his last 2 games, posting 11.4 and 13.8 fantasy points. This should be enough to draw DFS players off of him tonight as he goes up against the Golden State Warriors on the road. With a decrease in price to around $5k and some really good upside he is an elite GPP play that should have a low ownership. The Wizards may have to throw up some extra 3’s in order to stay in the game, and it only seems logical they would give the ball to their best 3 point shooter if that is the case, which just so happens to be the sharp-shooting Porter.

Kennethh Faried ($5,100) – Faried appears to have returned to his “Manimal” type tendencies with a 38.6 fantasy point outing against the Charlotte Bobcats on Friday. He saw 30+ minutes in that game for the first time since January, and his production from Friday is likely going to get him some more court time tonight. He’s super physical and can dominant really any team, so I’m not worried about how good of a matchup he has. For reference, though, he’ll be going up against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena.

Tristan Thompson ($5,000) – I like Tristan Thompson because of his matchup tonight, which is against Myles Turner and the Indiana Pacers at home. The Pacers have been giving up 58.9 fantasy points a game to centers over their last 5 contests, so Thompson is in a great position to hit 25 fantasy points tonight and reach value. He has hit 20+ fantasy points in his last 4 games as well, so he brings some nice fantasy consistency that you always want to see in players. Consider Thompson tonight as a cheaper tournament option at the center position.

Cash Plays

Elfrid Payton ($7,300) – Elfrid Payton and the Magic are the lucky beneficiaries of a matchup with the Brooklyn Nets on tonight’s small 3 game slate. For most of the year, I think it’s safe to say Payton was a boom/bust play on any given night. Lately, however, he’s provided remarkable consistency (24.6 is his lowest fantasy point total in his last 15 games). There is really no reason not to plug Elfrid into your lineups tonight as he goes up against potentially the worst defense in the entire league. The Nets have given up 47.7 fantasy points a game to point guards this season, so Payton will have ample opportunities to produce tonight at Barclays Center.

Devin Booker ($8,000) – Devin Booker’s price has sky-rocketed over the last week with his insane 91.6 fantasy points outing against the Celtics. However, he’s also posted 33+ fantasy points in the 3 games surrounding this contest, so he is providing a bit more consistentcy. With Eric Bledsoe shut down for the season, Booker has seen a crazy amount of usage, and that trend will continue tonight as he faces off with the Trail Blazers. You can basically count on him to throw up 20+ shots, and for a kid shooting 42.3% from the field this year that’s not bad odds. There isn’t a whole lot of options anywhere on this slate, but especially as shooting guard, so I think Booker will be a very popular play tonight when he takes the floor at the Moda Center.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (5,000) – Hollis-Jefferson has been incredibily consistent as of late, posting a low of 27.3 and a high of 32.4 fantasy points over his last 5 games. Priced at only $5k, he doesn’t even need to hit the low end of that in order to reach value, and he’ll be a popular pick in cash games tonight because of it. He’ll be going up against the Magic, a team that has given up the 8^th most fantasy points to small forwards all season. His success should continue at home tonight against them.

Aaron Gordon ($5,400) –A guy that I think will have a crazy high ownership tonight is Aaron Gordon of the Orlando Magic. He’s coming into tonight’s contest fresh of a 58.7 fantasy point outing against a good Boston Celtics team. It will be the second night of a back-to-back, though that shouldn’t scare you away from Gordon with no price increase and an even better matchup against an awful Nets team. Much like the point guard position, Brooklyn has given up the 2^nd most fantasy points to power forwards all season. Gordon should come out highly motivated after his game last night and be able to dominate their weak frontcourt en route to another great fantasy outing.

Nikola Vucevic ($8,300) – People should have plenty of salary leftover to pay up for Karl-Anthony Towns for today’s slate, but I still like Nikola Vucevic for cash games (I know, I know… another Magic player). Prior to Vucevic’s “bad” game last night (21.4 fantasy points), he had posted 35+ FP in 8 of his last 9. Because of this consistency, he’s the center I think I’m going to want in cash games tonight as he also gets a matchup with that weak Nets defense. Brooklyn is a bit better against centers, only giving up the 5^th most fantasy points in the league to that position. In his one game against them this year, Vucevic was able to put up 48 fantasy points in 31 minutes of action. He has another chance at this kind of success tonight and should easily reach value.

GPP Plays

Kris Dunn ($4,300) – Dunn has been a very intriguing player recently, seeing 30+ minutes in 2 games last week as he’s played alongside Rubio at the shooting guard position. In his last 4 games he has a low of 21.7 and a high of 32.4 fantasy points, which is fantastic production out of a guy priced at only $4,300. His matchup with the Kings is also ideal, as they’ve given up 50+ fantasy points a game to the point guard position over their last 10 contests. His court time seems pretty secure, and if this game turns into a blowout, don’t be surprised if the T-Wolves sit Rubio in the 4^th quarter and give Dunn some extra garbage time minutes.

Ben McLemore ($3,700) – Surprisingly, Ben McLemore has been the primary source of the Kings offense over the past 2 games. He’s put up back-to-back fantasy performances of 26+ and gets a matchup tonight against a Minnesota Timberwolves team that is giving up by far the most fantasy points to the shooting guard position in their last 5 games (52.3). Both Tyreke Evans and Garrett Temple will be sitting for the Kings tonight as well, so it looks like McLemore will have even more opportunities to continue his hot streak at what’s almost a minimum price tag.

Maurice Harkless ($4,000) – Evan Turner returned to the rotation 2 weeks ago, and Harkless has seen a decrease in both minutes and usage ever since. No one really thought twice about it in the DFS community, though, because Harkless had already had a few disappointing performances right before Turner had come back. We hadn’t really seen a glimmer of hope for Moe in weeks until Thursday night against the Rockets. In that game he exploded for 34.2 fantasy points in 32 minutes of court time, both numbers that likely indicate he’s in store for some increased run tonight. He’ll be facing the Suns, a team that has given up the 4^th most fantasy points to the small forward position in their last 5 games (44.9).

Al-Farouq Aminu ($4,800) – For starters, Aminu has been playing well over the last week, which has me debating whether or not that is enough for people to show interest in him. What I do know, however, it that there are a few more appealing options at power forward tonight, which I think others are likely to believe as well. The reason why I like Aminu tonight, though, isn’t because of his recent production, although that does play a minor roll. Phoenix is all in on their youth movement, and they’re giving guys like Marquese Chriss 30+ minutes of court time a night (if he can stay out of foul trouble). This leads me to believe the Suns will likely go small as they attempt to get their young bucks some extra time, which should have Chriss running the stretch center at certain points in the game. This is a perfect opportunity for Portland to match the size at the position by throwing Aminu on the floor, which I think they are likely to do with Nurkic out. The Suns have also given up 56.5 fantasy points a game to opposing power forwards over their last 5 contests, so Aminu is in a great position either way.

Bismack Biyombo ($4,300) – I obviously like Biyombo for the same reasons I like Vucevic tonight, Biyombo is just not a safe cash game play. He has the same matchup with the Nets that I find so appealing for all of the Magic players, but he doesn’t have the guaranteed court time the other guys do. At times, he can exceed 20 minutes of court time, which he’s done in each of his last 2 games. In those contests he’s averaging 26.4 fantasy points, which is well over value considering his price point of $4,300. If he were to have that kind of production again I would say it would be against the Brooklyn Nets, though he’s still a risky tournament play regardless, so use him at your own risk.

Cash Plays

Ish Smith ($5,300) – Smith once again gets the nod as our cash game point guard tonight as the Pistons face off with the Bucks in Milwaukee. Ish was a very popular pick last night at over 80% owned. He didn’t disappoint, either, as he put up 37.7 fantasy points in 32 minutes of action. With no increase in his price he will definitely be a popular pick again tonight if Reggie Jackson ends up sitting. Jackson is currently listed as a game time decision, but the Pistons really have no reason to push his knee injury. Keep and eye on the injury report, but if Jackson is indeed out don’t hesitate to lock Smith into your cash game lineups again.

Josh Richardson ($4,700) – Richardson has found his way into my cash game picks regularly over the past few weeks, and he’s been producing during that stretch. He’s posted 5 straight games of at least 20 fantasy points and is coming off a 28.7 fantasy point effort against the same Knicks team he faces tonight. The game on Wednesday was in New York, but the Heat will have home court advantage tonight as they welcome the Knicks to American Airlines Arena. The Knicks have given up the 9^th most fantasy points to shooting guards this season, so Richardson is in a great spot to produce tonight as he continues to fill in for the injured Dion Waiters.

Kawhi Leonard ($9,400) – Leonard had a less than spectacular effort on Wednesday against the Warriors, posting 31.9 fantasy points in his 36 minutes of court time. However, Golden State is a great defensive team, especially when it comes to containing small forwards this season. The Thunder, however, are middle-of-the-road at defending small forwards, and that is the exact matchup Kawhi will have tonight at Chesapeake Energy Arena. His price dropped back down closer to $9k, and he should be a popular pick tonight as the Spurs go up against a potential playoff opponent. At $9,400 he needs 47 fantasy points to reach value, and I think he has a great shot at doing that tonight in what should be a fast-paced game.

Zach Randolph ($5,600) – Z-Bo has filled in nicely with Mark Gasol out, and he will have a another chance tonight as he should log another 30+ minutes with both Gasol and JaMychal Green sidelined. He’s posted 3 straight games of 28 fantasy points, and that’s exactly what we need from him tonight in order for him to reach value. A matchup with Dallas would generally be less than ideal for a power forward. However, Dallas is in the middle of their worst stretches against big men on the season, giving up 50.6 points a game to the power forward position over their last 5 games. Based off this, there’s no reason Randolph shouldn’t at least reach value against them. He will have another high own %, so he’s definitely a guy to consider tonight in cash games.

DeMarcus Cousins ($9,600) – This could potentially be the most looked forward to revenge game of the year. DeMarcus Cousins and the Pelicans will be welcoming the Sacramento Kings to New Orleans tonight in what should be an interesting matchup. The Pelicans should feed Boogie the ball frequently tonight as he goes up against his old team, and at under $10k this makes him very appealing. Since he left, the Kings have been struggling to contain centers, but have been ridiculously bad over their last 10 games. During that stretch they are giving up 59.1 fantasy points a game to the center position, and Boogie only need 48 to reach value. He should have no problem doing this tonight against a lackluster Kings defense and will be a very popular pick as he will be right in the middle of a highly anticipated revenge game.

GPP Plays

Isaiah Thomas ($8,500) – There’s too much value at the point guard position tonight to reach up for a star player to compliment Westbrook/Harden (whom I think most will reach up for). Because of this, higher-priced point guards like Isaiah Thomas are likely to get overlooked. The Celtics have a fantastic matchup tonight against the Orlando Magic, a team that has given up the 7^th most fantasy points to point guards on the season. Thomas and Boston are looking to hold on to the #1 seed, so they still have plenty to play for. Thomas should easily hit 40+ tonight and be a great tournament play as the Celtics roll past the Magic

Buddy Hield ($5,100) – I think so much of the attention for this game will be on DeMarcus Cousins that most will forget Buddy Hield will also be going against his old team. The Pelicans aren’t great at defending shooting guards either, as they’ve given up the 8^th most fantasy points to the position this year. Hield needs to score in the mid-20’s to reach value, but he has the potential for so much more. If he has his shot going he’ll definitely carry that 40+ fantasy point upside he showed us just last Friday, and I think he is a great GPP play because of it.

Michael Beasley ($5,200) – Beasley went down with what looked like a gruesome knee injury in late February. It seemed it would be season ending, but he only needed 17 games to recover. Normally, I would not target a guy in his first game coming off an injury. However, Malcolm Brogdon has already been ruled out for tonight, and it seems logical Beasley would crack the starting lineup as Antetokounmpo shifts over to the starting point guard position. His price is basically what it was before his injury, so there’s a bit of risk with him tonight due to the fact we don’t know what kind of production he will have against Detroit. However, it does help that the Pistons have given up the most fantasy points in the league to small forwards over their last 10 games (49.4).

Skal Labissiere ($4,300) – Labissiere did not have a good outing the last time he was in our GPP plays, but he’s essentially been the center of the King’s youth movement and is only $4,300, so I love him in tournaments. He’s coming off a game against Utah where he was actually able to put up 24.4 fantasy points. He reached value in that tough game, and will another tough matchup again tonight as he goes up against Anthony Davis and the Pelicans. New Orleans is actually in the bottom half of the league at stopping opposing power forwards, though, so don’t be afraid to roll with Skal tonight. Also, as I previously mentioned, people will probably have their attention on Bookie in this game, so I think there’s a chance some good plays go unnoticed. Skal is definitely one of those plays and should have a low ownership in tournaments.

Myles Turner ($6,500) – I really like watching this kid play, although he is a little inconsistent. He also draws a matchup against a tough Raptors squad tonight, so I don’t necessarily think anyone is going to be jumping at the thought of having him in their lineups. However, I think he can easily overpower Jonas Valanciunas and the Raptors. His minutes are definitely there at 30+, so it’s just about him staying out of foul trouble. Also, he should continue to see a slight increase in court time as well with Al Jefferson out. He’ll need 30-35 to reach value, which I think he has a really good chance of doing tonight against the Raptors.

Cash Plays

Ish Smith ($5,300) – Smith has seen 30+ minutes in each of his 2 games as he’s filled in for the injured Reggie Jackson. Jackson will be inactive again on Thursday with a knee injury, which once again opens the door for Smith to get some increased run. In his last 2 games he’s put up 30.7 and 29.6 fantasy points, respectively. Brooklyn has given up the 2^nd most fantasy points to point guards this season (52.3 a game), so Smith is in a great position to reach value again tonight.

James Harden ($12,400) – Houston is essentially locked in at the 3^rd seed with the teams on either side of them 6 games away in the standings. This means the Rockets technically don’t have anything to play for, but James Harden does. The fantasy star is right in the middle of one of the most talked about MVP races in a while. With the Rockets having no incentive to win, Harden is free to let the MVP talk take the forefront of his mind. I think that is what will happen tonight as he faces off with the Trail Blazers in a fantastic matchup. Not only does this game have the highest team total of the night (230), but Portland also doesn’t have a defender that can really compete with Harden, which is evident in the fact that they’ve given up 47.7 fantasy points a game to the point guard position all season. Harden will easily exceed that number en route to what I believe will easily be a 60+ fantasy point effort.

Andrew Wiggins ($7,000) – This may be a surprising cash game pick to some, but Wiggins has absolutely lit the Lakers up this year. In the 2 games against them he’s averaging 41.5 points to go along with 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists. Wiggins entire fantasy game revolves around scoring, not necessarily the other stat-stuffing numbers that sometimes play a roll in DFS. But he’s proven he can score on the Lakers, so he’s really a great play tonight in all formats. Also, Los Angeles has given up the 2^nd most fantasy points to small forwards in their last 10 games (46.9), and a meeting with Wiggin’s is more than likely not the solution to their problem.

Grogui Dieng ($5,200) – Not only does Dieng have a great matchup against the Lakers tonight, but he’s also been playing well as of late, making him a great cash game play for Thursday’s slate. He’s put up 30+ fantasy points in each of his last 3 games and will be facing a Lakers defense that gives up 48.8 fantasy points to the power forward position per game, which is the most in the NBA. At only $5,200 he only needs 26 fantasy points to reach value, which he should easily be able to do at the Target Center.

Karl-Anthony Towns ($10,600) – I’m going to finish my Timberwolves stack with Karl-Anthony Towns. I think him and Dieng make for a great pairing tonight against that weak Lakers front court, who have given up a lot of fantasy points to the center position (52.2 a game). Towns would need at least 50 to reach value tonight, a number he’s hit twice in his last 3 games. As scary as his price may be, his matchup is just really too good to pass up. He’ll be one of the higher owned stars on the slate and is definitely worth reaching up for at the center position.

GPP Plays

Jeremy Lin ($5,900) – Jeremy Lin is flying under the radar tonight despite a great matchup with the Pistons, a team has given up the 10^th most fantasy points to points guards this season. He has also been playing well recently, posting 30+ fantasy points in 4 of his last 7 full games. He’s an under $6k point guard to consider tonight as he heads to The Palace and is a sneaky play as he’ll fall in popularity behind guys like Ricky Rubio and Ish Smith.

Lou Williams ($4,600) – James Harden has come out and said his wrist injury is actually limiting what he can do on the court. Because of this, plugging Lou Williams into your GPP lineup at only $4,600 could be very beneficial. The veteran is a very inconsistent fantasy player, posting a low of 9.4 and a high of 39.6 in his last 3 games. However, there’s reason to believe that Harden’s injury and the Rocket’s lock in the 3^rd seed could give William’s some more minutes tonight against the Trail Blazers, who will be coming out highly motivated and looking to hold onto their 8^th seed spot in the West.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson ($4,900) – Another Nets player that should get overlooked tonight is Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. The small forward has been as consistent as you can get, posting 4 straight games of 30+ fantasy points (31.2, 32.4, 32.1, 31.4). There’s no reason to think his hot streak will end tonight, especially when you consider the fact that he’ll be facing a Pistons team that has given up the most fantasy points in the league to the small forward position over their last 5 games (50 FP). If he can manage to hit 30+ again he’ll hit 6x value for the 5^th straight game.

Kevin Love ($7,400) – I haven’t heard a lot of news on Kevin Love for tonight’s game against the Bulls, which leads me to believe he’s going to be a solid tournament play with low ownership. Chicago has been terrible containing power forwards over their last 5 games, giving up an average of 49.5 fantasy points to the position during that stretch. There’s really no reason Love shouldn’t reach value tonight against them and is a great play at $7.4k.

Tristan Thompson ($4,900) – I’m going to stay in Cleveland for my GPP center pick and go with Tristan Thompson of the Cavaliers. Though he’s had a rough couple weeks fantasy wise, I love him tonight as he goes up against Robin Lopez and the Chicago Bulls. Chicago is generally good at defending centers, but nobody picks Thompson for his offensive production. They do, however, play him for his rebounding ability, and lucky for us, Chicago has been having a difficult time grabbing boards over their last few games. They’ve been allowing 12 offensive rebounds a game, which is far more than their season average. In my opinion, the best part of Thompson’s game is that he can crash the offensive glass. He should be able to do this tonight when the Cavs take on the Bulls at the United Center.

Cash Plays

T.J. McConnell ($5,500) – Sergio Rodriguez will sit out again tonight as the 76ers take on Atlanta at home, a matchup that is expected to be one of the higher-paced games of the night. With Rodriguez out last night, McConnell was able to log 35 minutes of court time and put up 30.4 fantasy points. Any night he’s a sure lock for 30+ minutes I like rolling with McConnell because of his ability to stuff the stat sheet. It also doesn’t hurt that he’ll be going up against one of the worst, if not the worst, defensive starting point guards in the entire league, Dennis Schroder. His awful defensive play shows in the number of fantasy points the Hawks have given up to opposing point guards over their last 10 games (52.6 which is good for 4^th worst in the league during that stretch).

Josh Richardson ($4,600) – Josh Richardson has been a cash game pick of mine frequently over the couple week as Dion Waiters has sat out with a sprained left ankle. Waiters is out again tonight, meaning Richardson will see another 30+ minutes as he eats up a majority of the Heat’s shooting guard minutes. He hasn’t done anything too spectacular over the last few games, but he also hasn’t been bad. He’s put up 20+ fantasy points in each of his last 4 games and draws a good matchup against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. New York has given up the 11^th most fantasy points to shooting guards this year (41.8), so Richardson is in a great position to at least reach value tonight against them.

Kawhi Leonard ($9,800) – Kawhi’s price went up a bit after his last game, but honestly I couldn’t care less. The Spurs are in the middle of chasing the still Durant-less Warriors for the #1 seed in the Western Conference, and they get a matchup against them tonight at the AT&T Center. The Warriors have scored the most points in the league this year, so it’s reasonable to assume the Spurs will be playing at an increased pace and will have a few extra possessions tonight in order to stay with them. Kawhi is still priced below $10k as well, so he doesn’t even need 50 tonight to reach value. Although, I think he should get at least that much as San Antonio comes out highly motivated in a game that has big playoff implications.

Ersan Ilyasova ($4,800) – Ilyasova had another great game last night filling in for the injured Paul Millsap, putting up 33.9 fantasy points in 33 minutes of action. The Hawks have another great matchup tonight against the Philadelphia 76ers, a team that traded Ilyasova away in mid-February, so we could be in store for a good revenge game. The minutes will definitely be there for him, and he only needs 24 fantasy points to reach value. He should definitely be able to do this against a 76ers team that is giving up 48.5 fantasy points to opposing power forwards in their last 10 games.

Dwight Howard ($7,200) – As bad as the Sixers are against power forwards, they’re even worse against centers. Not only are they last in the league in total fantasy points given up to the position, but over their last 10 games they are giving up a ridiculous amount (60.9) to the position. With Millsap out, Howard has stepped up for Atlanta on both ends of the court. The offense has actually been running through him at times, and it shows in his fantasy production. He’s posted at least 31 fantasy points in each game without Millsap this month, and that streak should continue tonight with his fantastic matchup against an awful 76ers defense.

GPP Plays 

Kemba Walker ($7,800) – There’s a lot of depth at the point guard position tonight, which leads me to believe middle-priced guys like Kemba Walker are likely to get overlooked by many DFS players. Kemba has been playing very well recently, posting 5 straight games of 35+ fantasy points, with one of those performances being 50.3. Kemba has proven he has elite upside considering his price point, and he will be bringing that same upside into a matchup with the Toronto Raptors tonight at the Air Canada Centre.

Rodney Hood ($3,900) – I like Hood for a couple reasons tonight. For one thing, Gordon Hayward is a game time decision. If he in unable to go, Hood will be free to take a few extra shots again tonight. He was able to put up 30.7 fantasy points in 30 minutes of action last game with Hayward out, and I believe he has a good chance to have that same kind of production tonight at just a $3,900 price tag. Luckily, the Jazz have one of the late games, so news on Hayward probably won’t be out before lock time. Either way, don’t be afraid to plug Hood in, as he draws a matchup with a tanking Sacramento team. The Kings have given up the 2^nd most fantasy points to shooting guards on the season (43.9 a game), so Hood is in a great position to do well tonight regardless if Hayward plays or not.

Jae Crowder ($6,100) – A guy that should fly under the radar tonight is Jae Crowder of the Boston Celtics. He’s been playing very well recently, posting 21+ fantasy points in 13 of his last 14 games. He offers a nice safety net for your GPP lineup, while also bringing nice upside on a nightly basis. He gets a good matchup tonight against the Milwaukee Bucks, who have given up the 6^th most fantasy points to small forwards (42.9) all season. He was able to put up 35.2 fantasy points when the 2 teams faced each other earlier in the season, and I think he should be able to hit that same number tonight at TD Garden.

Blake Griffin ($8,600) – Blake Griffin has been really awful lately, posting less than 30 fantasy points in each of his last 4 games. Because of this, he shouldn’t be on anyone’s radar tonight as the Clippers take on the Wizards at the Staples Center. However, Washington is one of the worst teams in the league when it comes to containing opposing power forwards. They allow 46.1 FP a game (on average), which means Griffin is in a great position to put his bad fantasy week behind him. At $8.6k he only needs 43 fantasy points to reach value, but obviously has upside for much more than that.

Nikola Vucevic ($8,100) – Vucevic has been playing very well lately. Luckily, he’s been playing so well that I think his price is a little higher than anyone wants to buy up for. At over $8k he does need 40+ to reach value, which seems a bit intimidating for a guy only averaging 33.64 fantasy points on the season. However, he’s averaging 42.6 over his last 5 games, and he draws a good matchup tonight against the Thunder. Oklahoma City has been giving up 49.6 fantasy points to opposing centers over their last 5 games, which is well above their season average. Vucevic should be able to keep his hot streak going when he faces off with them tonight.