Cash Plays
Ricky Rubio ($7,500) – Ricky Rubio has been absolutely tearing the league up, posting over 30 fantasy points in 14 of his last 15 games. Considering most player’s prices are ridiculously high tonight because of the small slate, I think most will jump all over Rubio’s small price tag. He only needs a little over 35 to reach value and will be facing a Pelicans team that have given up the 3rd most fantasy points to point guards this season (51.6).
Josh Richardson ($4,100) – With Dion Waiters sidelined tonight I’m going to be looking to target Josh Richardson in cash games. He’s only priced at $4,100 and has proved to us earlier in the year that when given court time he can really produce. I’m probably going to get him in my lineup tonight only because he’s a lock for another 30 minutes, which he should easily be able to score 20 fantasy points in.
Paul George ($8,400) – I like Paul George tonight because he’s seems reasonably priced over the other small forward options above him. He doesn’t have the greatest matchup as he goes up against a tough Raptors squad, but he has been tearing it up lately, posting 40+ fantasy points in 3 of his last 4 games. I think his recent production is enough for people to plug him in tonight and, therefore, he is a viable cash game option.
Anthony Davis ($11,400) – I don’t really love the options at power forward so it may be a spot where I look to reach up tonight, and Anthony Davis has a decent matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Davis hasn’t really reached value over his last few games, though he has scored 48 in his last 2, and I’m not going to get mad at a star play for only getting me 45-50 fantasy points. His minutes will be there and I think he’ll be eager to go up against fellow Kentucky Wildcat Karl-Anthony Towns.
Jusuf Nurkic ($6,300) – Nurkic had one bad game in between his long stretch of consistent fantasy performances. For me, that one bad game doesn’t draw me away from him considering he did have a tough matchup against both DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis. Tonight, though, he gets a much better matchup against the Miami Heat. Though Hassan Whiteside is a big body inside, the Heat actually give up about 48 fantasy points to opposing centers per game, which is in the bottom half of the league. The Blazers are going to need his physicality inside against Whiteside and I think Nurkic should easily be able to score, rebound, and reach value tonight.
GPP Plays
Darren Collison ($5,700) – I like both of the Kings point guards tonight against a Spurs team that has actually been giving up a ton of fantasy points to point guards in their last 5 games (52.7). Between the two, however, I’m going to have to go with Collison because he has shown he has 40+ point fantasy upside on more occasions. The matchup with San Antonio should be enough to draw enough people away from him, making him a great tournament choice tonight.
Buddy Hield ($4,400) – I’m going to keep my GPP picks going with another Kings player in Buddy Hield. Hield has worked himself into Sacramento’s starting lineup and has had some great performances, though he’s also disappointed a few times. Tonight, however, Tyreke Evans is listed as questionable and may not be able to go again, opening the door for Hield to see another 30 minute game. He didn’t do much with it last night against OKC, but I think the story will be different tonight against a Spurs team that gives up 45+ fantasy points to shooting guards a game.
Solomon Hill ($4,100) – Hill went off on Friday for an insane 49.7 fantasy points in 38 minutes of action. This is obviously an outlier from his other performances, but he actually does see that many minutes frequently. I think the same is true for tonight’s matchup with the Timberwolves, and I also think he’ll be eager to prove the game wasn’t a fluke. He won’t reach those same totals tonight, but he should have the confidence to throw up some extra shots. At only $4,100 he’s not that risky of a play, but he brings some serious upside.
Skal Labissiere ($4,200) – Labissiere is another guy priced down around 4k that I’m choosing because of one big game he had last week, a 46.2 fantasy point outing against the Phoenix Suns. The matchup us much tougher tonight against the Spurs, but he is seeing some extra court time and doing a lot with it. Since he provided that huge upside in the game last Tuesday I’m going to give him the nod as my GPP power forward tonight.
Jonas Valanciunas ($5,400) – Valanciunas generally only sees 25 minutes a game, if that. This makes him a slightly risky play in cash games even though you know he can score and rebound. In tournaments, however, he is generally a great play for the same reasons, along with the fact that he’s shown he has 40+ point fantasy upside. He’ll be facing the Pacers tonight, a team that has been giving up an average of 57.7 fantasy points a game to centers over their last 5. Valanciunas should be able to feast.