NBA Daily Fantasy Helper: Tuesday 1/5/16
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.
Oh, and if you're interested, check out our daily fantasy basketball heat chart for today's slate. It's full of information like tonight's Vegas lines, team offensive and defensive efficiency ratings, pace, fantasy points against and so much more.
As for today's picks -- let's get to it.
The Best of the Best
DeMarcus Cousins - Boogie has scored at least 32 points in each of his last two games and is coming off of a monstrous 33-point, 19-rebound performance against the Thunder. With Vegas projecting tonight's matchup between the Kings and Mavericks as the highest scoring game on the slate, the Kings' star big man is our top overall projected player on the board.
Draymond Green - Green has averaged an absurd 17.3 points, 14.3 boards, 13.3 dimes, 2.3 steals and 1.7 blocks per game over his last three games, and now finds himself eighth in our player power rankings with an impressive 11.5 nERD. Despite blowout potential in a matchup with the lowly Lakers, the Warriors' versatile forward should have little trouble reaching value tonight against a Los Angeles defense that ranks 29th in the league in Defensive Rating, even if he doesn't play his full compliment of minutes.
Jimmy Butler - With Derrick Rose sidelined, Butler has posted 31 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds per game over his last three outings. Although Rose may return to action tonight, the Bulls will more-than-likely be very careful with their oft-injured former MVP, which means the offense should run through Butler once again in a plus matchup with the Bucks.
Top Mid-Range Values
Pau Gasol - While Rose may be back in the Bulls' lineup tonight, Joakim Noah will not. Gasol has been scorching hot in his absence, averaging 18.3 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.8 blocks in 34.3 minutes per game while Noah has been sidelined, and he should see another massive workload tonight against a Milwaukee defense that has struggled to slow down opposing big men all season long.
Rajon Rondo - After a horrific season in Dallas a year ago, Rondo has found the fountain of youth in Sacramento this season, scoring 12 points with 6.5 rebounds to go along with a league-leading 11.5 assists in a whopping 35.4 minutes per game. Regardless of whether he is matched up with the banged-up Deron Williams or J.J. Barea and his abysmal 109 Defensive Rating, Rondo should have his way with the Mavericks tonight in what should be an incredibly fast-paced, high-scoring affair.
UPDATE: Rajon Rondo is now doubtful for tonight. Darren Collison would start in his place and would become an elite play in all formats.
Michael Carter-Williams - Carter-Williams has saw a huge increase in playing time when Jerryd Bayless was out with an ankle injury in December, an injury which Bayless reaggravated last night against the Spurs. With the Bucks' starting point guard unlikely to play, look for MCW to see minutes in the 30s once again tonight against a Bulls' backcourt that has allowed the sixth most fantasy points per game to opposing point guards on the season.
Basement Ballers
Chandler Parsons - The Mavericks' swingman has averaged 33.2 minutes per game over his last six, but is still priced as if his minutes are still restricted. At just $5,600 on DraftKings and $5,100 on FanDuel, Parsons makes a tremendous play against one of the worst defenses in the league tonight.
Taj Gibson - In 14 starts this season, Gibson has averaged 8.5 points with 8 rebounds, 1.6 assists and a block in 28.6 minutes per game. He should push for a double-double tonight against a Bucks' squad that has given up the seventh most fantasy points per game to opposing power forwards on the year.
Robin Lopez - Lopez is coming off of a monstrous 16-point, 11-rebound, 5-assist, 3-block outing against the Hawks on Sunday, and will likely see similar success in tonight's rematch in Atlanta. He's an absolute steal at just $4,100 on FanDuel and $4,600 on DraftKings on a night where value is not easy to come by.
