5 Daily Fantasy Basketball Value Plays for 3/29/17
One of the keys to finding success in daily fantasy basketball is uncovering potential value plays. If you're looking to roster a stud player or two, you need to consider squeezing in one of these lower-priced options into your lineup.
Let's take a look at five players who can help fill in the gaps in your lineup.
J.J. Barea, PG, Dallas Mavericks
FanDuel Price: $4,000
Projected FanDuel Points: 18.8
Projected FanDuel Value: 4.69
J.J. Barea has scored at least 24.2 FanDuel points in each of the last three games in which he has played at least 20 minutes. Of course, the issue is Barea actually getting 20-plus minutes. Tonight, our models project him to see 20.39 minutes and total 18.8 FanDuel points, or 4.69 fantasy points per $1,000 in salary.
The New Orleans Pelicans aren't the easiest matchup, but DeMarcus Cousins is iffy. If Boogie sits, the matchup gets a whole lot nicer. With Cousins off the court, the Pels' defensive rating has been 107.4 since the break, per NBAWowy, which is just slightly better than league average.
Nik Stauskas, SG, Philadelphia 76ers
FanDuel Price: $3,600
Projected FanDuel Points: 19.7
Projected FanDuel Value: 5.48
The run is there as Nik Stauskas has played at least 23 minutes in 20 straight games, averaging 30.6 over his last 5, and the matchup is right, too. The Atlanta Hawks have struggled all year against opposing shooting guards. For the season, the Hawks are allowing 38.77 FanDuel points per game to two-guards, the fifth-most in the league, and they've given up 39.29 FanDuel points per game to the position over the last seven days.
At this salary, Stauskas needs 18 FanDuel points to hit value (5 fantasy points per $1,000), and our projections see him scoring 19.7 FanDuel points, good for 5.48 FanDuel points per $1,000.
Taurean Prince, SF, Atlanta Hawks
FanDuel Price: $3,800
Projected FanDuel Points: 25.9
Projected FanDuel Value: 6.81
Paul Millsap is still out, and that means the Hawks will continue to be a source of value. Taurean Prince tops that list. He was the highest-owned player last night, and he delivered with 27.7 FanDuel points.
Prince's salary hasn't changed, and he's probably going to be very popular again tonight. He's averaged 37 minutes per game over his last two, and our models have him as the slate's top value play, forecasting him to score an eye-popping 6.81 points per $1,000 in salary.
Zach Randolph, PF, Memphis Grizzlies
FanDuel Price: $5,600
Projected FanDuel Points: 33.5
Projected FanDuel Value: 5.99
Zach Randolph is a little more expensive than a typical value play, but our projections have him trailing only Prince tonight in terms of point-per-dollar value. Z-Bo and the Memphis Grizzlies will be hosting the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers are on the second game of a back-to-back set, and they are allowing the seventh-most total rebounds per game this season, including the fifth-most offensive boards per contest.
That's right up Randolph's alley as he's averaging 8.2 rebounds per game, and he's coming off a 15-board performance in his last outing. On top of all that, Marc Gasol is out and JaMychal Green is questionable, so Randolph may see big minutes tonight. We project him to rack up a double-double -- 17.8 points and 10.1 rebounds -- on his way to 33.5 FanDuel points, which is 5.99 points per $1,000.
Willy Hernangomez, C, New York Knicks
FanDuel Price: $5,100
Projected FanDuel Points: 27.3
Projected FanDuel Value: 5.35
Despite a tough matchup against Hassan Whiteside and the Miami Heat, our models love Willy Hernangomez tonight. This season's top rookie, per our metrics, Hernangomez has averaged 30.6 FanDuel points per game over his last four contests despite playing an average of just 25.25 minutes per night in that span.
We project Hernangomez to post 27.3 FanDuel points, or 5.35 per $1,000. New York has a solid 103.25-point implied total, and Miami is on the second leg of a back-to-back set after last night's key win over the Detroit Pistons.
