5 NBA FanDuel Value Plays for 12/29/17

Dennis Smith, PG, Dallas Mavericks

FanDuel Price: $4,700
Projected FanDuel Points: 24.5
Projected FanDuel Value: 5.21

Full disclosure: on today's slate, you probably don't want to pay down at point guard. But, just in case you do, Dennis Smith makes for the most intriguing option below $5,000. In fact, our models have Smith pegged as the single best point-per-dollar value at the position tonight. He draws a pace-up game as well as a plus defense-versus-position matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Even with two monsters at power forward and center, the Pelicans have managed to play at a pace (99.8 possessions per 48) slower than just five teams. As a result, they've scored the third-most points per game to date, but they've also allowed the second-most points at 110.9 a night. That has a lot to do with their style of play. However, it's also a byproduct of the Pelicans' bottom-10 defense.

Rajon Rondo was once a very good, lengthy defender. Nowadays, he's allowing 111 points per 100 possessions and is one of the many weaknesses of the Pelicans' defense. Outside of the naturally higher-scoring center position, point guard is where they've been most vulnerable, allowing 46.1 FanDuel points and 23.4 points per game. Just don't take that the wrong way -- an inexperienced rookie, Smith is a tournament play only.