3 NBA DraftKings Studs to Target on 3/2/20
While building a daily fantasy basketball lineup, it's important to make sure you find the right studs to anchor your team. As the most expensive players in your lineup, they need big-time production to match their high price tag.
You may find it hard to fit some of these guys in while staying under the salary cap, but you can check out our projections to find value players for your rosters. Let's take a look at the top high-priced DraftKings plays of the day.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, PF, Milwaukee Bucks
DraftKings Price: $11,400
It would appear that James Harden's recent comments have sparked a fire under Giannis Antetokounmpo. In the two games since the Beard basically called the reigning MVP a one-trick pony, the Greek Freak has shot 62.5% from the floor (3 of 8 from three) with 36.5 points, 16.5 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game. He's put up 58.25 and 77.5 DraftKings points, bringing his per-game clip to 64.0 over his last 10 contests.
The matchup with the Miami Heat isn't the most ideal, as they are -- according to Fantasy Pros -- in the top eight in DK points allowed to the power forward spot. However, Giannis isn't your average power forward, and he might get a slight boost for a second straight game. Khris Middleton can be considered questionable after missing Sunday's game against the Charlotte Hornets, and following Antetokounmpo's massive outing he's upped his season average to 1.95 DK points per minute in his 705 minutes without Middleton.
At that rate and this price, Antetokounmpo needs to play just over 29 minutes, and though Milwaukee's monitored his minutes at times this game figures to be far from the blowouts we have become accustomed to seeing (particularly if Middleton sits). Our models project him to tally 59.2 DK points in his 31.3 minutes of action.
Russell Westbrook, PG, Houston Rockets
DraftKings Price: $10,000
Giannis is tops on the slate as the only player priced above $11,000, but there are four other players at or above $10,000, including a pair of Houston Rockets. Dollar for dollar, Russell Westbrook looks like a better play at a $500 discount to Harden. Over the long run, Harden holds an edge of more than 8.0 DK points a game, yet Westbrook has been just as dominant of late.
Since the calendar flipped to 2020, Westbrook has averaged 56.0 DK points to Harden's 54.9 during that same span. Per NBA.com, Brodie's 35.4% usage rate is 1.2% higher than his teammate, and when he's played he's logged an additional 1.6 minutes a game. All in all, his workload is as good -- if not better -- than that of Harden.
The baseline is there every night for Westbrook, and tonight his 60-plus ceiling is even higher. The Rockets are 9.5-point road favorites against the New York Knicks, providing them with a 120 implied total -- 1.2 above their already second-ranked average. Due to the favorable matchup, our models project Westbrook for 48.25 DK points but with room for much more.
Kristaps Porzingis, C, Dallas Mavericks
DraftKings Price: $8,600
Kristaps Porzingis seemed to have taken a page out of Giannis' playbook on Sunday when he too went off in the absence of a major teammate. Luka Doncic failed to take the floor opposite the Minnesota Timberwolves, while Porzingis took full advantage, to the tune of 38 points, 13 rebounds, 5 blocks, 4 assists, and 75.75 DK points. He returned more than 9.0 points per $1,000 in the 37 minutes he played in Dallas' 20-point victory.
Sunday wasn't a blip on the radar, either. Over the last 10 days, KP has played in five games, producing 54.0 DK points per game with four double-doubles and at least three blocks in three of those meetings. He's also improved his shooting from 42.4% to 47.8% from the floor in part thanks to 39.6% shooting from downtown (on 10.6 attempts a game).
Porzingis is hot, but he could be even more of a lock if Luka isn't able to give it a go. According to NBA Wowy, the big man has turned in 1.36 DK points per minute in 500-plus minutes without Doncic (not counting Sunday's lights-out line). But be sure to monitor both of the young stars prior to tip in Chicago.
Brett Oswalt is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Brett Oswalt also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username BrettOswalt__14. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his/her personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in his articles are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.
