NBA Daily Fantasy Helper: Wednesday 12/2/15
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
James Harden - Despite Houston's early-season struggles as a team, Harden has still managed to produce at a high level. The Rockets' star is averaging 29.8 points, 6.6 assists, 6.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals with an outrageous 33.6 Usage Rate in a league-leading 39.7 minutes per game. He draws a tremendous matchup against a porous Pelicans' defense that ranks dead last in both Defensive Rating (111.4) and opposing points per game (109.1) and has given up the seventh most fantasy points per game to opposing shooting guards. The Beard should absolutely dominate in a game that Vegas expects to be the highest scoring tilt on tonight's slate with a massive 215 over/under and makes a strong play in all formats despite his expensive price tag.
Anthony Davis - Davis has fought through some durability issues early this season, but has been extremely effective when on the floor. The Brow has filled up the stat sheet with 23.9 points, 10.5 boards, 2.4 blocks, 1.6 dimes and 1.1 steals with a 29.8% Usage Rate and is coming off of a ridiculous 17-point, 14-rebound, 9-block near triple-double last night against Memphis. As I already mentioned, tonight's matchup between the Pelicans' and Rockets is expected to be a fast-paced shootout and Davis should be New Orleans' prime beneficiary considering Houston has given up the most fantasy points per game to opposing power forwards on the year. The Pelicans' star is our top overall projected player on the board for the second straight night.
Top Mid-Range Values
Kristaps Porzingis - It seemed like the majority of both Knicks fans and analysts were furious when New York selected Porzingis with the fourth overall pick in this past years' draft, but the Latvian star has silenced all of his critics with a spectacular start to his NBA career. The Knicks' rookie is averaging 13.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game this season and wasn't even really playing starters minutes until mid-November. He's already recorded eight double-doubles this season and is averaging 34.8 minutes per game over his last five outings. Although his price tag continues to climb, he makes a great play tonight against a 76ers front court that has allowed the fourth most fantasy points per game to opposing power forwards this season.
Robert Covington - After playing just 22 minutes over the first 10 games of the season due to a knee injury, Covington has been scorching hot since being fully integrated back into the 76ers' rotation. The third year forward has posted 18.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.2 blocks and an absurd 4.3 steals in 35.2 minutes per game over his last six outings and should have little trouble taking advantage of another plus matchup against a Knicks' backcourt that has given up the third most fantasy points per game to opposing shooting guards this season. Covington's price tag remains at a reasonable $6,400 on FanDuel and $7,200 on DraftKings tonight, but it's unlikely that you will see many more opportunities to play him at this price range so take advantage tonight while you still can.
Basement Ballers
Clint Capela - Capela has overtaken Terrence Jones for the starting power forward role in Houston and boy has he made the most of it. In eight games in the Rockets' starting lineup, the sophomore big man is averaging 12.1 points, 9.3 boards, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks in 25.3 minutes per game. He's recorded three of his last five performances -- including two of his last three -- and should see plenty of action in what is expected to be an absolute shootout tonight against New Orleans. Although a matchup with the aforementioned Davis is less-than-ideal, Capela should see more than enough playing time to exceed value at just $5,500 on DraftKings and $4,900 on FanDuel.
Alex Len - Tyson Chandler will not be able to return to the Suns lineup tonight which means Len will draw yet another start at center. The former Maryland Terrapin standout has not seen much action this year, but has been impressive when on the floor, averaging 12.5 points, 11.5 boards, 1.4 blocks and 1.3 steals on a per-36 minute basis. The Suns' center dominated the Nets to the tune of 13 points, 14 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 assists and 2 steals in 35 minutes last night and should have similar success against a Pistons' interior defense that has struggled to slow down opposing big men as of late. Len is dollar for dollar my favorite play on the board tonight at his minuscule price of $3,500 on FanDuel and $3,300 on DraftKings.
