DFS NBA FanDuel Lineup Advice 3/22/19

DFS NBA Fanduel Lineup Advice 3/22/19

We’ve finally reached the end of the week but the Madness has just begun! Hopefully your team wasn’t knocked out in the first round or your bracket didn’t completely bust (damn you New Mexico)….but back to the NBA world. Yesterday was a peculiar slate in that no one exploded and yet very limited value came to fruition. It featured balanced scoring from all starters from essentially all teams. But as is always the case in DFS, we gotta have short-term memory and look at everything with a fresh set of eyes. Today’s main slate features 7 games and a fair share of mid-tiered studs in some great spots. This could very well be a very high scoring night so without further ado, let’s jump right in.

Point Guard

 

Rajon Rondo – $6,600 vs BKN

This is going to be the game of the night that you’re going to want a piece of. Not only do we have two teams that are top 10 in pace, but we have the narrative of Russell making his anticipated return to Staples Center against the Lakers. Even with LeBron likely rejoining the picture, Rondo is still slated to play around 30 minutes and have a significant role in the offense. If he continues to provide his typical all-around production, he should have little trouble in hitting value tonight. He’s a strong cash game option and a viable GPP option.

Fred VanVleet – $5,300 vs OKC

He’s been instant offense this season with Lowry out of the picture and he proved it once again two nights ago against OKC, dropping 23 points along with 6 dimes. Green has also been gradually fading in the system, allowing VanVleet to assert himself on offense. I don’t see why he can’t replicate his performance tonight at home. The current spread of this game is at 2 so you can expect him to get his fair share of the production. He’s more of a cash game option but worth a GPP dart.

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Other options: Jamal Murray, Patrick Beverley, DJ Augustin, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Brandon Knight

Shooting Guards

 

Lou Williams – $7,400 @ CLE

The mid-tier options at this position are absolutely brutal as many feature terrible matchups with elevated price points. Williams is one of the few that stand out in the mud. Cleveland is dead last in defensive efficiency and has especially struggled with defending the perimeter recently, allowing 47 treys over the last three games. The price is ever-so-slightly above what I’d prefer but it’s still rather reasonable and Lou can most definitely reach value tonight. The knock on this play though is that while Cleveland is definitely a great team to target, they are also dead last in pace, limiting the overall upside and ceiling of opposing players. Regardless, Williams is one of the safest options at a position with little safety.

Jordan Clarkson – $5,200 vs LAC

Clarkson is the other safe option that you can add to your player pool. While he is largely scoring dependent, he has been a relatively decent option for fantasy owners this season with his occasional blow up games. Clippers have been very friendly to opposing backcourts this season, especially at the 2 spot, and provide a nice pace up for Cavs players. He’s never exactly been a terrific option but he’s always a guy you count on for around 25. He’s strictly a cash game play.

Other options: Terrence Ross, Eric Gordon, Delon Wright, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Torrey Craig

Small Forwards

 

Danilo Gallinari – $7,600 @ CLE

Not too long ago, I decided to neglect Gallo and write in Porter as my “safe” SF play and I paid dearly for it. I won’t make that same mistake again. Gallinari has been playing exceptional basketball this month, regularly producing 30+ nights, and gets another soft matchup tonight against a lottery team. What’s even more surprising is that he’s been scoring at least 19 real points in every single game this month. That kind of consistency is remarkable and rather hard to find. I am definitely willing to pay that price if I know I’m going to get guaranteed production. That said, he typically hovers around the same range of results so he classifies more as a cash game play but he could definitely work in tournaments.

Rudy Gay – $6,000 @ HOU

If the season were to end today, this would be the current matchup: Harden’s Rockets against Pop’s Spurs. Both Texas teams are coming into this game with the best record over their last 10 games and jostling over playoff seeding so expect there to be a playoff atmosphere. In their previous matchup this year, Gay went for 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists in 34 minutes of play, almost exactly what he needs tonight for value. As Houston likes to play quite a bit of small ball, expect Gay to be on the floor more times than not to match the versatility. Gay is also coming off a near triple double performance against Miami so he is definitely in good form. He profiles as more of cash game play but is worth a shot in GPPs if you think this game becomes ultra competitive.

Other options: Josh Richardson, Cedi Osman, Will Barton, Gary Harris, Chandler Parsons

Power Forwards

 

Kyle Kuzma – $6,700 vs BKN

As I mentioned before, this is going to be a game you going to want exposure to. With Lonzo and Ingram out of the picture and Hart questionable, it’s essentially the lottery pick the Lakers traded away against the draft pick he was traded for. I would imagine either player will be trying the hardest to outperform the other and this is as a good time as any for Kuzma to finally have a ceiling game. It also doesn’t hurt that the Nets have allowed 59 fantasy points to opposing PFs over the last 7 games, good for the top target for fantasy production. The price is fair as is the matchup and narrative. Fire him up in all formats.

Larry Nance – $5,800 vs LAC

You could likely make a line tonight consisting of both current and former Lakers and it wouldn’t be half bad. The Clippers are a bottom 10 team in total rebounds allowed, bottom 5 in offensive rebounds allowed, and bottom 10 in points allowed in the paint. While Nance rarely gets more than 30 minutes a game, he’s typically been a fairly productive per minute producer and should he get his usual run of 25 minutes tonight, I see no reason why he can’t have his way against this soft frontcourt. Because of his playing time, he’s more of a cash play but we’ve all seen him explode before in limited time so he’s worth a shot in GPPs.

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Other options: Paul Millsap, Jerami Grant, James Johnson, Ed Davis

Centers

 

Jonas Valanciunas – $7,700 @ ORL

The beast was finally unleashed for the first time in decades and he came through with a career high scoring total of 33 points to go along with his 15 boards. He has always been one of the most elite point-per-minute producers not just among big men but among the league, so it was definitely a pleasant sign to see the leash loosened. Conley is currently listed as doubtful for tonight’s game and with Bradley already out of the picture, it paints a picture of bleakness for the Grizzlies. But, from a fantasy perspective, all that usage and scoring should now trickle on down to Valanciunas. Although Vucevic is a staunch defender, I have no qualms about Valanciunas being able to produce with the amount of usage he’ll be having. Even in a blowout, Valanciunas is likely the one player that will have been of value for the Grizzlies. He grades out as an elite play in a perplexing group of centers tonight.

JaVale McGee – $5,600 vs BKN

Who would’ve thought he would make the article? I don’t know if I could’ve seen that coming….you know the drill by now. Get your exposure to what should end up being the best game of the night. Brooklyn has long been a target for us to play centers against as they are at the bottom in terms of rebounding, paint defense, and blocks against. McGee’s minutes have admittedly been rather volatile but on the chance that he does get closer to 25 minutes, he should be able to reach 30 for you.

Other options: Brook Lopez, Steven Adams, Jarrett Allen, Mason Plumlee, Ante Zizic

Bonus Lineup

Well that just about does it for today’s breakdown of the main slate. We’ve got games that figure to be very competitive while others are likely blowouts that can provide good value so there’s plenty of production to be had. As per usual, I hope you guys enjoyed this breakdown and hopefully it gives you a jump start on your lineup building for today. You can follow me @gr33nappleboy on Twitter or reach out as I’m always willing to hear feedback. May the force be with you all!

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