3 NBA FanDuel Value Plays for 12/5/17
One of the keys to finding success in daily fantasy basketball is uncovering potential value plays. If you're looking to roster a stud or two, you need to consider squeezing in one of these lower-priced options into your lineup.
Let's take a look at a trio of players who could provide value and salary relief on Tuesday's short three-game slate.
Tyler Ulis, PG, Phoenix Suns
FanDuel Price: $4,000
Projected FanDuel Points: 20.7
Projected FanDuel Value: 5.18
Tyler Ulis' minutes have been up-and-down of late. He's logged 20, 31, 23, 25, and 37 minutes in his last five games, thus his production has been inconsistent as well. While averaging 20.3 FanDuel points per game over that span, the second-year point guard has been limited to 10 or less on two occasions -- both of which he played 25 or fewer minutes.
Tonight, our models like Ulis to play 26 minutes, but he could be in line for more. Last game out, he turned his season-high 37 minutes into a double-double (12 points and 12 assists) and a 14-point win over the Philadelphia 76ers. The Suns' implied total of 106 points only helps to make Ulis our top point-per-dollar play at the point guard position.
Norman Powell, SG, Toronto Raptors
FanDuel Price: $4,200
Projected FanDuel Points: 18.9
Projected FanDuel Value: 4.50
With rookie OG Anunoby overthrowing Norman Powell for the team's starting shooting guard spot, Powell has seen limited minutes since making his return from injury -- and even more so lately. In back-to-back contests, Powell has played just 17 and 15 minutes. Both Anunoby and C.J. Miles have played more minutes, but that hasn't prevented Powell from being a force in his reserve role.
In the five games in his new role, Powell has averaged 12.8 points on 9.6 field goal attempts and a 23.3% usage rate. He's even added a pair of three-point makes in addition to 3.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists a game. The minutes haven't always been there, but the Toronto Raptors are 13.5-point favorites, which could lead to a blowout and more minutes for second-unit guys like Powell. And when you consider the Phoenix Suns' 40.69 FanDuel points allowed per game to the position, there's more than enough opportunity to go around in tonight's matchup.
Al-Farouq Aminu, PF, Portland Trail Blazers
FanDuel Price: $4,600
Projected FanDuel Points: 21.6
Projected FanDuel Value: 4.70
Believe it or not, there is value to be had outside the Suns/Raptors matchup. In Portland, the Trail Blazers host the John Wall-less Washington Wizards and we might just see the value play of the night in that one.
Just three days ago, Al-Farouq Aminu returned from a nearly month-long absence due to an ankle injury. Since then, he's come off the Blazers' bench and has played under a minutes restriction with an average of 24 minutes across two games. But Blazers coach Terry Stotts has said that Aminu has been cleared to play 30-or-so minutes so tonight might be the time for him to be unleashed.
We're still cautiously projecting Aminu to play just under 28 minutes, but if he does see 30 or more minutes he should easily hit five-times value tonight. Never mind his 24-FanDuel-point average --- he has put up 30.1 FD points per in the four games he's logged over 30 minutes this season. If you're paying up for Russell Westbrook it's hard not to run out Aminu given his low price and consistent floor.
Brett Oswalt is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Brett also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username BRO14THEKID. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his/her personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in his articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.
