College Basketball Daily Fantasy Helper: Wednesday 3/11/20

College basketball season is in the midst of conference championship week, and we have a 10-game slate tonight.

March Madness is right around the corner, but you can get in all the college hoops hype by playing daily contests at FanDuel today. If you've played NBA DFS before, it's quite simple: pick a total of eight players -- four guards, three forwards, and one utility spot you can use for either position. Stay within the $50,000 salary cap and field the team you think will score the most fantasy points.

Where scoring differs from NBA is in the blocks and steals categories, with each worth two FanDuel points apiece rather than the three you get in daily NBA contests.

Now that you're in the know, we can attack today's main slate, which locks at 7:00 p.m. EST.

Which players should you be targeting, and why?

Known Relevant Injury Situations: Cam Mack (Nebraska), Dachon Burke Jr. (Nebraska), Nik Popovic (Boston College) are OUT. Paul Reed (DePaul), Rasir Bolton (Iowa State), Mac McClung (Georgetown), Omer Yurtseven, Paul Scruggs (Xavier), Jairus Hamilton (Boston College), Jared Hamilton (Boston College), Devonte Green (Indiana) are all questionable.

Guards

Mason Jones, Arkansas ($8,400) - Jones is almost always a great player to anchor your lineups with since he plays a ton of minutes and takes a ton of shots. The junior has a usage rate of 31.7% (per KenPom) and has logged 37-plus minutes in three out of the last four games. On tap of that, the Arkansas Razorbacks have one of the best matchups on the slate as they take on the Vanderbilt Commodores. Vanderbilt is atrocious defensively as evidenced by its 216th ranking in KenPom's adjusted defense ratings. Backcourt mate Jimmy Whitt Jr. ($5,900) is also a strong play at a significantly cheaper price tag.

Elijah Hughes, Syracuse ($7,700) - We can count on Hughes to be heavily involved on the offense end and play nearly the entire game for the Syracuse Orange. The junior's 25.6% usage rate leads the Orange; he's also taking 27.1% of the team's shots when he's on the floor (also a team high), per KenPom. Tired legs could be a factor for Syracuse's opponent, the North Carolina Tar Heels, as the Tar Heels take the court for the second consecutive day. That doesn't bode well for their struggling defense (89th in KenPom's adjusted defense ratings).

Isaac Likekele, Oklahoma State ($6,300) - Likekele is averaging 0.8 FanDuel points per minute. At that production clip, he is expected to pay off his price tag in 31.5 minutes of action. The Oklahoma State star is averaging 32.1 minutes this season. His viability is further enhanced as the Cowboys square off against the fast-paced and defensive-optional Iowa State Cyclones. Iowa State is 147th in KenPom's adjusted defense ratings. Likekele is one of my favorites plays on the entire slate. Anthony Edwards ($7,300) and Breein Tyree ($7,100) are fine options priced in between Hughes and Likekele. Jahvon Blair ($6,000) is also a solid play in Likekele's price range.

Isaiah Joe, Arkansas ($5,200) - Joe remains cheap despite averaging 27.24 FanDuel points in five games since returning from injury. The sophomore takes 27.0% of the team's shots when he's on the floor (per KenPom), which ranks second amongst the Razorbacks. He rarely leaves the court as he's averaging 36.3 minutes per game this season. Then, throw in a matchup with Vanderbilt's brutal defense, and Joe will be one of the most popular players on this slate.

Jervay Green, Nebraska ($4,900) - Nebraska is extremely short-handed to kick off the Big Ten tournament. With Cam Mack and Dachon Burke Jr. sidelined for the second straight game, there will be plenty of minutes to go around for the remaining players. In the Cornhuskers' regular season finale, Green scored 15 points, collected five rebounds, assisted on three baskets, and recorded a steal in 34 minutes (23.5 FanDuel points). Haanif Cheatham ($6,100) and Thorir Thorbjarnarson ($4,600) are also fine options, as they'll be counted on heavily as Nebraska takes on the Indiana Hoosiers.

Other guards to consider ($5,000 and below): TJ Gibbs, Greg Williams Jr., Terrell Allen, Scotty Pippen Jr., Jaire Grayer, Bryce Wills, Sahvir Wheeler, Maxwell Evans, Nick Rutherford, Jordan Harris, Al Durham, Devonte Green (if he plays), Rob Phinisee, and Jalen Coleman-Lands.

Forwards

John Mooney, Notre Dame ($8,500) - Mooney has one of the steadiest floors and highest ceilings in all of college basketball due to his ability to rack up points and rebounds. The Notre Dame forward has recorded 26-plus FanDuel points in 25 consecutive games. He's topped 40 FanDuel points in eight of the last 25 games. He could be in for a ceiling performance against a Boston College squad that is brutal defensively and extremely short-handed. Mooney is an excellent option if you're spending up at forward.

Tyrique Jones, Xavier ($7,600) - Jones is an excellent rebounder and an elite rim protector. He's also heavily involved on the offensive end with a 25.6% usage rate, per KenPom (second-best on the team). He could be in for a huge night as the Xavier Musketeers square off with the DePaul Blue Demons. With DePaul star Paul Reed's availability in question, the Blue Demons could be shorthanded in the front court. Jones averaged 10.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.5 blocks in regular season games with DePaul.

Oscar da Silva, Stanford ($6,800) - da Silva is averaging 0.97 FanDuel points per minute. At that production clip, he is expected to pay off his price tag in 28.1 minutes of action. The junior big man has played 29-plus minutes in five out of the last six games. His prospects are further enhanced as the Stanford Cardinal open up the PAC 12 tournament against the California Golden Bears. California is 156th in KenPom's adjusted defense ratings.

Xavier Sneed, Kansas State ($6,000) - Sneed is a force on both ends of the court for the Kansas State Wildcats. He leads the Wildcats in points (14.4 per game), steals (1.8 per game), and minutes (32.5 per game). His 24.3% usage rate, per KenPom, is second-best on the team. He ranks in the top three amongst the Wildcats in rebounds (4.7 per game), and assists (1.7 per game). In two games (this season) against tonight's opponent, Texas Christian, the senior averaged 26.65 FanDuel points. I also like Steffon Mitchell ($6,500), who's priced in between da Silva and Sneed. KJ Buffen ($6,100), Cameron McGriff ($5,800), and Armando Bacot ($5,600) are also worth a look in Sneed's price range.

Dylan Disu, Vanderbilt ($4,000) - The freshman starts and has a secure role, which is appealing at his dirt-cheap price tag. Additionally, Disu is averaging 14.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.0 blocks/steals in 31.5 minutes over the Vanderbilt Commodores last two games. I like his chances of stringing together a third consecutive solid outing as the Commodores are playing in a pace-up game against Arkansas. Vanderbilt is 109th in KenPom's adjusted tempo ratings, while Arkansas is 45th. I'm also bullish on CJ Felder ($3,700); his price tag hasn't adjusted for his increased role with Nik Popovic sidelined.

Other forwards to consider ($5,000 and below): Marcellus Earlington, Qudus Wahab, Khadim Sy, Quincy Guerrier, Justin Smith, Race Thompson, and Yor Anei.

Matthew Hiatt is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Matthew Hiatt also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username easternmh. 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.