NBA Daily Fantasy Helper: Monday 2/8/16
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
Russell Westbrook (FD: 11,100, DK: $11,300) - Westbrook has been on an absolute tear as of late, averaging a triple-double over his last seven outings, posting 25 points, 11.9 assists and 10.3 rebounds per game. While there is some blowout potential tonight against the Suns, Westbrook should have little trouble reaching value against a Suns' backcourt that's given up the second most fantasy points per game to opposing point guards on the season, even if his minutes are limited. He is our top overall projected player on the board.
Anthony Davis (FD: $10,300, DK: $10,000) - Since returning from his concussion, Davis has filled up the stat sheet with 26.8 points, 11.4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks and 1.2 steals in 38.6 minutes per game over his last five games. He draws a great matchup against the Timberwolves, who rank just 26th in the NBA in Defensive Efficiency according to our metrics and will continue to see a significant boost in usage with Tyreke Evans and Eric Gordon still out of the lineup.
Chris Paul (FD: $9,600, DK: $9,500) - In the 21 games Blake Griffin has missed this season, Paul is averaging 20.5 points, 9.9 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 2.1 steals with a 29.9% Usage Rate. He should be in store for another huge outing tonight against a 76ers' defense that has given up the sixth most points per game in the league (105.3), plays at the fifth fastest pace in the NBA and has allowed the ninth most fantasy points per game to opposing point guards on the year.
Top Mid-Range Values
Thaddeus Young (FD: $6,900, DK: $6,700) - Young comes into tonight red hot, averaging 15 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 34.2 minutes per game over his last four outings. He draws a tremendous matchup against a Nuggets squad that ranks 23rd in the league in Defensive Rating (108.2), having given up the seventh most fantasy points per game to opposing power forwards on the season.
Nicolas Batum (FD: $6,700, DK: $6,700) - Speaking of players who are off to scorching hot starts to the month of February, Batum has posted 19 points, 7.3 rebounds and 7 assists in 37.9 minutes per game in three February games. With Jimmy Butler already ruled out for tonight, Batum gets a much more favorable matchup against E'Twaun Moore and his 108 career Defensive Rating.
Gorgui Dieng (FD: $6,100, DK: $6,500) - Dieng has averaged 15.7 points, 9 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 33.5 minutes per game in nine starts this season. He will make his tenth start of the season tonight and gets one of the best matchups on the board against a Pelicans' defense that ranks 25th in the league in Defensive Efficiency and has allowed the second most fantasy points per game to opposing centers this season.
Basement Ballers
Norris Cole (FD: $5,100, DK: $5,900) - Similarly to the aforementioned Dieng, Cole has been very impressive since being inserted into the New Orleans starting lineup, averaging 13.9 points, 5.4 assists and 4.2 rebounds in 11 games as a starter this season. With Evans and Gordon still sidelined, Cole should see another massive workload tonight in a game that features one of the highest totals on the board at 212.
E'Twaun Moore (FD: $4,100, DK: $4,900) - In the two games Butler has missed this season, Moore has averaged 20.5 points, 5.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds in 37.6 minutes per game. Moore should see minutes in the mid-30s once again tonight in what should be a high-scoring affair in Charlotte.
Marco Belinelli (FD: $4,000, DK: $4,600) - Belinelli has played at least 35 minutes in each of his last four games, averaging 16.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.8 steals per game over that span. He will see all the minutes he can handle once again tonight and can be had for a very affordable price across the industry.
