NBA

3 NBA FanDuel Value Plays to Target on 1/14/21

One of the keys to finding success in daily fantasy basketball is uncovering potential value plays. If you're looking to roster a stud player or two, you need to consider squeezing in one of these lower-salaried options into your lineup.

Let's take a look at three players who can help fill in the gaps in your lineup.

Precious Achiuwa, SF, Miami Heat ($4,100)

The Miami Heat are dealing with a ton of players out tonight, making Precious Achiuwa a very clear top value play.

The Heat have eight players in the NBA's health and safety protocols and another player listed as doubtful. We saw this situation the other night against the Philadelphia 76ers, when the Heat only had eight players take the court. This led to the available players seeing big minutes. Achiuwa got the start two days ago, played 25 minutes, and posted 37.1 FanDuel points. That is amazing production from a player under $5,000, and with him projected for 32 minutes tonight, you should look to have him in your lineups.

Tonight's game against the 76ers has a solid 223.5-point over/under and sees both teams in the top 10 in pace. This should provide a strong fantasy environment and make Achiuwa a chalky value play.

Sterling Brown, SG, Houston Rockets ($3,800)

With James Harden traded to the Brooklyn Nets, the Houston Rockets' starting lineup will look different.

Removing Harden from any lineup is bound to change things. But on top of that, the Rockets will be without John Wall, and Eric Gordon is listed as questionable. All of this should push Sterling Brown either into the starting lineup or into increased minutes off the bench. Brown has been playing minutes in the mid-teens to start the season and is now projected for 27 minutes tonight by our model. That is a significant increase in playing time, but his salary hasn't caught up to that.

Given the fact the season is still young and so many of the Rockets' players have been in and out of the lineup, there isn't a large sample size to look at for Brown. However, in the time when Harden and Wall have been off the court this season, Brown held an 18.2% usage rate and produced 1.10 FanDuel points per minute. That's solid production from a player at this salary, and he will likely be another chalky value option.

Edmond Sumner, PG, Indiana Pacers ($3,500)

Edmond Sumner got the start for the Indiana Pacers in their most recent game and should be in that role again tonight.

The Pacers traded Victor Oladipo to the Rockets yesterday, and that alters their startling lineup. Sumner was actually in the starting five the other night when the Pacers played the Golden State Warriors since Oladipo was out for rest. This is a good indication that he will be back in the lineup tonight.

Sumner played 30 minutes in that one, and although he managed just 16.8 FanDuel points, those are significant minutes for a player who is listed at the minimum salary. Tonight's game against the Portland Trail Blazers has an over/under set at a slate-high 229.0 points and features two teams in the top half of the league in pace. This should be a very popular game to target for fantasy production, and Sumner is a low-salary way to get exposure to it.