NBA

DraftKings Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Friday 2/21/20

Can Hassan Whiteside step up in Damian Lillard's absence? Who should you target on DraftKings tonight?

With nine games to choose from on tonight's NBA slate, let's take a look at how to utilize the DFS possibilities.

Here are some of the top plays on DraftKings. As always, good luck.

Point Guard

C.J. McCollum ($6,600) -- WIth Damian Lillard out of the lineup, McCollum becomes in an instant option to replace Lillard's production. The Portland Trail Blazers open the second half of the season with the New Orleans Pelicans. In three games versus New Orleans, McCollum averages 33.6 fantasy points on 20.7 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game. New Orleans ranks among the top-10 worst in points allowed, made three-pointers, and fantasy points per game to both guard positions. C.J. is averaging 0.98 fantasy points per minute this season, but I have a feeling that number is going to skyrocket as long as Lillard's out. McCollum is a threat for big night offensively versus the team with the second-fastest pace of play in the NBA.

Fred VanVleet ($7,400) -- VanVleet has recorded at least 30 fantasy points 8 times in his last 10 games and faces the Phoenix Suns for the first time this season coming out of the All-Star break. The Suns allow the seventh-most points to point guards (49.23), giving VanVleet a favorable matchup. He's averaged 0.97 fantasy points per minute over his last 10 games, and in four games with three days or more of rest, VanVleet is averaging 23.3 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game. The Toronto Raptors are tied for third with 118.6 points per game over their last 15 games, and VanVleet has surpassed 20 real-life points in 7 of his last 15 games, including three of his last four.

Shooting Guard

Malik Beasley ($4,900) -- Beasley is one of the hottest fantasy players with a 101.95% increase in fantasy points per game over his last five contests. Beasley has more than doubled his production going from 15.72 fantasy points per game to 31.75. Beasley is averaging 1.08 fantasy points per minute over his last five games, and his usage rating has increased from a 22.71% to a 25.12% per game average over those five contests. He's posted six straight fantasy games of 20 or more fantasy points, including two of 40 or more. He's averaging 25.9 minutes over his last 10 games, and you can book him for another increased role with Karl-Anthony Towns out for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Seth Curry ($5,100) -- Curry -- along with Beasley -- is on fire and should be an option for you as a sleeper pick. Curry's averaging 32.45 fantasy points per game over his last five, a 68.27% increase from his season average (19.28). The Dallas Mavericks welcomed Luka Doncic back before the break, but Curry didn't skip a beat, posting 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists for 32.25 fantasy points -- his third 30-point fantasy game or higher in four games. Curry only played 6.4 minutes for 8.5 fantasy points in the first meeting between the two teams, and numberFire's model projects Curry with a much better performance this time around. Curry's pegged to record 11.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists, but he's shown lately, he's capable of more.

Small Forward

LeBron James ($10,500) -- The Los Angeles Lakers are in a favorable position tonight facing a Memphis Grizzlies team that lost on the road to the Sacramento Kings last night. The King is averaging well under his 55.3 fantasy points per game average versus Memphis (41.8), but with fatigue being a factor, James is a must-play tonight. James had a triple-double in his last outing versus Denver before the break and is averaging 24.3 points and a league-best 11 assists at the Staples Center, to go along with 7 rebounds per game. LeBron has recorded 49.5 or more fantasy points in three of his last four games, and numberFire's model projects him to total 50.41 tonight.

Gordon Hayward ($7,000) -- The Boston Celtics are without Kemba Walker tonight, but Hayward and company can handle his workload -- and they've showcased that ability. Hayward has two double-doubles in his past three games and has recorded 40 fantasy points or more in 7 of his last 10 games. Hayward is averaging 41.03 fantasy points per game over his last 10 to go along with 20.2 real-life points, 8.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists during that stretch. He's yet to play Minnesota this season and is currently averaging more points (18.1) and rebounds (6.8) on the road than at home. Hayward is one of a few players in this matchup that could have a solid night, and backing him -- and his 43.55 fantasy points per game average over his last five -- is a smart move tonight.

Power Forward

Brandon Ingram ($6,800) -- Ingram has saw his workload decrease because of the Zion Williamson impact, but he remains the 13th-leading scorer in the league (24.9), and a primary offensive weapon for the Pelicans. Ingram is averaging 1.34 fantasy points per minute over his last five games and is facing the league's worst defense versus power forwards. Portland ranks second-to-last in points (24.47) and last in fantasy points allowed per game (53.38) to the position. Ingram has shared the floor with Zion, and both are threats to have double-doubles versus Portland tonight. Ingram has surpassed his 42.6 fantasy per game average in two of his last three games after failing to do so in each of his previous five games. After his first All-Star nod, look for Ingram to prove his selection wasn't just a one-time deal -- starting with the Blazers, who he's had success against in the past.

Kyle Kuzma ($4,400) -- Kuzma's value is at an all-time low, and he remains inconsistent when it comes to scoring. Kuzma has scored double-digits in 6 of his last 10 games and is averaging 24.35 fantasy points over his last five games. Kuzma played Memphis earlier this season, recording just 6.9 fantasy points in 25.6 minutes of action. This time around, he had a week off, is coming off 1.04 fantasy points per minute in his last five, and is facing a fatigued Grizzlies team. Kuzma has a lot going for him tonight, including Memphis' sub-par defense against small forwards. Memphis allows the sixth-most real-life points (21.57), most three-pointers (2.72), and fifth-most turnovers per game (2.63) to the position. numberFire projects Kuzma to record 12.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists, but I'll back him for a much better game.

Center

Serge Ibaka ($6,500) -- Ibaka has hit 30 fantasy points or more in eight of his last nine games, and his fantasy points per game and usage rating have increased over the last five. He's now averaging 37.40 fantasy points and a 24.1% usage rate in his last five games before the All-Star break. Ibaka has double-doubled in three of his last nine games and topped 40 fantasy points in four of those. With Marc Gasol remaining out of the lineup, look for Ibaka to continue his strong stretch of play. He's averaging a season-high 1.19 fantasy points per minute over his last 10 games, which is slightly higher than teammate Pascal Siakam (1.17) and the Suns' Devin Booker (1.12).

Hassan Whiteside ($9,200) -- Whiteside has shot 62.1% from the field versus New Orleans in three games this season, averaging 39.5 fantasy points per game. Whiteside is averaging 1.39 fantasy points per minute on the season, and the Pelicans rank 20th in rebounds while giving up 53.53 fantasy points per game to opposing centers (15th). Whiteside has grabbed 10 or more rebounds in 9 of his last 10 games and double-doubled in 9 out of those 10 outings. He currently ranks third in the league for rebounding (14.1), and numberFire's model projects him as the third-leading rebounder tonight with 14.2 -- in addition to 17.3 real-life points -- resulting in 40.28 fantasy points.


Vaughn Dalzell is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Vaughn also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username vdalzell. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his/her personal views, he/she may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his/her personal account. The views expressed in his/her articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.