3 NBA FanDuel Value Plays to Target on Thursday 4/7/22
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.
Devin Vassell, SG, San Antonio Spurs ($5,500)
Tre Jones has caught the NBA world on fire, but there's reason to believe Devin Vassell is the guy for as long as Dejounte Murray is out.
Entering April, Jones averaged just 0.88 FanDuel points per minute in sporadic minutes when Murray was sidelined or off the floor. In April, that's ballooned to 1.14 per minute, but it's been due to insane efficiency. Jones' 15.4% usage rate is still very low.
Vassell's usage rate this season with Murray off the floor is much higher (20.1%), and in the long run, he's outpaced Jones in overall FanDuel production (0.95 points per minute). Now, entering this great matchup with the Timberwolves, Vassell is oddly $300 lower in salary than Jones is.
With the Spurs holding a whopping 116.75 implied team total, you'll want bits of their offense, and Vassell is a cost-effective way to get a piece of it.
Gary Trent Jr, SG/SF, Toronto Raptors ($5,100)
This is solely a play on talent.
The Philadelphia 76ers have a top-five defensive rating, and the 220.0-point total in Toronto is far from desirable. Still, Gary Trent Jr. has had some monstrous evenings, and I don't want to miss on one considering the slate is short on value.
In a full-time role, Trent is averaging 0.84 FanDuel points per minute this season, and he's erupted for at least 25 real-life points four times since March 1st. Although he hasn't really put together that can't-miss evening, he's viable for it any night with that type of scoring upside.
It should help that Matisse Thybulle is unvaccinated, so he can't play in Toronto tonight. Philly's top wing defender not even making the trip should help all of the Raptors' forwards.
Chuma Okeke, PF, Orlando Magic ($4,100)
The Lakers and Celtics are in individual spots that could net more value this afternoon, but as of now, Chuma Okeke is the top option in the vicinity of minimum salary.
Wendell Carter Jr. will miss another game as Orlando limps to the finish line, and Okeke turned that opportunity into a start, 33 minutes, and 33.8 FanDuel points in Cleveland on Tuesday.
The Hornets are as favorable of a matchup as it gets for bigs these days. Their 139.8 defensive rating in April overall is unsightly, and they've allowed the most second-chance points per game (15.2) in the league this season.
Mohamed Bamba has outproduced his value salary and saw a significant bump, so Okeke is the lone salary-efficient method to attack Charlotte's rebounding woes in this one.
