NBA

3 NBA FanDuel Value Plays to Target on 2/8/21

Maxi Kleber is playing big minutes for the Mavericks and has a soft matchup tonight. Is he one of the top values on the slate?

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-salaried options into your lineup.

Let's take a look at three players who can help fill in the gaps in your lineup.

Maxi Kleber, PF, Dallas Mavericks ($4,200)

If Maxi Kleber continues to see solid minutes for the Dallas Mavericks, he will be a solid value play every night.

Since returning from the COVID list, Kleber has played four games, surpassing 20 minutes in three of them. His production has fluctuated since returning, going for more than 24 FanDuel points twice but being held to under 15 FanDuel points two times. This inconsistency isn't unusual in an offense that features both Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis, who take up a large portion of the offensive usage. Even with that range of outcomes, tonight is a spot to target Klever because the matchup is so favorable against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Mavericks (21st) are in a big pace-up spot versus the Timberwolves (7th), along with seeing a very solid over/under of 225.5 points. This should provide an appealing fantasy environment for scoring, allowing Kleber to reach value. He comes in projected for 30.3 minutes and 23.8 FanDuel points, making him the second-best value option at power forward tonight.

Denzel Valentine, SF, Chicago Bulls ($4,400)

With a massive 237.5-point over/under, targeting the Washington Wizards at Chicago Bulls game is a clear option in DFS tonight.

When an over/under is this high in NBA DFS, you should be looking to get plenty of exposure to it and try to accomplish that with some value options. Tonight, Denzel Valentine is one of the values you should be targeting, and you won't be alone, as he should be one of the chalkiest players on the slate. The Bulls have Otto Porter listed as out, Wendell Carter Jr. listed as out, and Lauri Markkanen listed as doubtful for tonight's game. This should tighten up the Bulls' rotation and continue to give big minutes to Valentine, who has now played 19 minutes or more in three straight games.

Not only have the minutes been solid for Valentine, but he has been very productive -- producing 26 FanDuel points or more in each of his last three games. That is right where Valentine is projected for tonight's matchup versus the Wizards, set to go for 25.17 minutes and 24.6 FanDuel points. That should be very achievable tonight with the over/under this high and both teams in the top four of the league when it comes to the fastest-paced offensive teams.

Keldon Johnson, SF, San Antonio Spurs ($5,300)

With LaMarcus Aldridge out for the San Antonio Spurs, they have some value options to consider.

Aldridge has missed two straight games for the Spurs and tonight will make it three in a row, which means we can look to Keldon Johnson again. When Aldridge is out of the lineup, the Spurs run a smaller starting five, with Johnson starting at power forward and Jakob Poeltl at center. This puts Johnson in a great spot tonight since he is up against the Golden State Warriors, who are allowing the fifth-most (47.32) FanDuel points per game to opposing power forwards.

On top of having a fantastic matchup, this game features a very strong 234-point total and a close 1.5-point spread. Both the matchup and the overall game environment are reflected in Johnson's projection of 28.2 FanDuel points in 32.37 minutes.