NBA

3 NBA FanDuel Value Plays to Target on 4/8/21

Andre Drummond is set to return to the Lakers' lineup tonight and is a top value option. Who else should we be considering for our lineups?

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.

Andre Drummond, C, Los Angeles Lakers ($5,200)

Andre Drummond is the best-projected value option on tonight's slate. Let's talk about it.

Drummond's Laker debut was nothing to write home about because it was so short. Drummond played only 14 minutes and left the game due to a toe injury, but he is expected to be back for tonight's matchup versus the Miami Heat.

While we want on final confirmation that Drummond will be in the lineup, we have to view him as an elite value option. He is projected for 28.60 minutes and 40.2 FanDuel points -- or the best value option on the slate.

Drummon was producing 1.47 FanDuel points per minute on a 31.3% usage rate during his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier this season, so reaching 40 FanDuel points shouldn't be an issue for him. While the matchup is tougher versus the Heat, who are allowing the sixth-fewest (50.31) FanDuel points per game to opposing centers, Drummond has far too low a salary for his potential production.

Isaiah Hartenstein, PF, Cleveland Cavaliers ($4,000)

Isaiah Hartenstein has been coming off the bench for the Cavaliers but is still a great value option.

Right now, the Cavaliers are without Jarrett Allen and Larry Nance Jr., while Kevin Love is back but still on a minutes limit. This has put Hartenstein in a spot to see plenty of minutes and be a consistent value option in DFS.

Over his last four games, Hartenstein has played 19 minutes or more three times while posting 27.9 FanDuel points or more three times. That production is right where we should see him tonight, projected for 24.42 minutes and 20.1 FanDuel points, making him the second-best value option on the slate.

Hartenstein has the potential to play either power forward or center for the Cavaliers and is in a good matchup either way. He is up against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are allowing the second-most (48.28) FanDuel points per game to opposing power forwards and the eighth-most (55.71) FanDuel points per game to opposing centers.

Hartenstein has a solid matchup in either role and should continue producing fantasy points tonight.

Isaiah Steward, PF, Detroit Pistons ($3,700)

If Isaiah Stewart is going to see 20-plus minutes a game for the Detroit Pistons, we have to use him as a value play.

Stewarts has played 21 minutes or more in three straight games and is somehow still under $4,000. While he started in one of those games and came off the bench in the others, the path to reaching value is clear for him, as the Pistons are seemingly set on playing him more than Mason Plumlee. This is why we see Stewart come in with a projection of 22.95 minutes and 22.0 FanDuel points tonight against the Sacramento Kings.

Speaking of the Kings, they are terrible against centers this season, allowing 55.84 FanDuel points per game, which is the seventh-worst in the league. Add in a solid 225.0-point over/under and we have all the makings of a good spot for fantasy production from Stewart.