NBA Daily Fantasy Helper: Thursday 11/12/15
If you've never played daily fantasy basketball before, it's time to start. Unlike traditional leagues, you're able to select the players you want on that specific day only, giving you a different squad to root for each and every NBA night.
Today's lineups can be found here. The information below is to help you understand why particular players are being picked, because we don't want you going into the night completely blind. We want to help you. Keep in mind, however, that things often change up until tip-off, so make sure you're refreshing the optimal lineups as close to the start of games as possible.
Let's get to it.
The Best of the Best
Stephen Curry - Curry has been virtually unstoppable this season. The reigning MVP is averaging 31.9 points, 5.8 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 2.7 steals with a huge 32.1% Usage Rate. He leads the league in Win Shares per 48 minutes (.432), Box Plus/Minus (15.6), Player Efficiency Rating (36.2) and our very own nERD metric (35.6) all by a wide margin and has topped 40 fantasy points all but once on DraftKings and twice on FanDuel this season. Although the Timberwolves have been solid against the point guard position this season, Curry is essentially matchup proof and should have little trouble reaching value tonight. He is our top overall projected player on what is a very small slate.
Eric Bledsoe - When the Suns traded Goran Dragic to the Heat last season they made it clear that Bledsoe was their point guard of the future, and he has rewarded them with outstanding play. Bledsoe has gotten off to a hot start this season, posting 21.9 points, 6.1 assists, 3.3 rebounds and a whopping 2.1 steals per game in 34.4 minutes per game. His ability to fill up the stat sheet combined with his 27.5% gives him a high floor and his matchup against a Clippers team that has given up the sixth most fantasy points per game to opposing point guards gives him solid upside tonight, especially considering he may see a decent amount of time being guarded by Jamal Crawford and his 110 Defensive Rating.
Top Mid-Range Values
Derrick Favors - I would be writing about Rudy Gobert in this spot, but he's questionable to suit up tonight. And although he played through his ankle injury on Tuesday, I would make sure he's in the starting lineup before inserting him into your lineup. That said, I like Favors regardless of whether or not Gobert is able to play. Favors has posted 15 points, 9 boards, 2.3 steals, 1.3 assists and a block in 30 minutes per game. He's earned a 23.5% Usage Rate and should be able to overpower Chris Bosh in the post. The Jazz forward also comes into tonight red hot having averaged 14.5 points and 12.5 rebounds over his past two games in tough matchups against Memphis and Cleveland. If the Stifle Tower sits Favors immediately becomes one of my favorite players on the board tonight, but he is definitely a viable play regardless of Gobert's status.
Draymond Green - After a breakout campaign last season, Green has picked up right where he left off a year ago. The former Michigan State Spartan continues to fill up the stat sheet on a nightly basis, averaging 10.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, 6 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.1 rejections per game. Green is a triple-double threat pretty much any time he takes the floor and can accumulate fantasy points is a number of different ways, which helps keep his floor high. While the Timberwolves have been a much improved defensive team this season they have somewhat struggled against opposing power forwards, giving up the 12th most fantasy points per game to the position. The Warriors' forward can be had at a very reasonable price of $7,800 on FanDuel and $6,900 on DraftKings and makes a solid play in all formats tonight.
Basement Ballers
Jamal Crawford - J.J. Redick has been ruled out for tonight's game which means Crawford will slide into the Clippers' starting lineup tonight. While he will likely split time with Austin Rivers -- who also makes a very strong value play tonight -- Crawford has proven the ability to step into a starter's role and perform well. He's averaging 16.7 points, 2.7 assists and 2.3 rebounds on a per-36 minute basis and should push for 30 minutes tonight against a suns team that plays at the second fastest pace in the league. The Clippers' veteran guard should hit value easily at just $4,400 on FanDuel and $3,500 on DraftKings.
Nemanja Bjelica - If you don't know who Bjelica is, it's about time for your to learn. Our own Russell Peddle previewed Bjelica's debut in the NBA in a preseason article, and the Timberwolves' rookie has made Russ proud. Bjelica comes into tonight's matchup with the Warriors red hot having averaged 13.6 points, 7.6 boards and 4.3 assists in 32.6 minutes per game over his last three outings. As the Timberwolves phase Kevin Garnett out of their offense, their rookie forward's price tag will only increase so tonight is a perfect opportunity to buy low on the impressive Serbian while you still have a chance.
