NBA

3 NBA FanDuel Value Plays to Target on Friday 12/17/21

Thomas Vecchio  —  @DFS_Tom Dec 17th, 2021

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 two players who can help fill in the gaps in your lineup.

Davion Mitchell, PG, Sacramento Kings ($4,700)

With eight players listed as out, doubtful, or questionable for the Sacramento Kings, Davion Mitchell is set for a big role tonight.

Mitchell should step into the starting lineup tonight and be one of the chalkiest players on tonight's slate. He's viable in all formats. If we account for all of those players being off the court, Mitchell is holding a 24.6% offensive usage rate and produces 0.93 FanDuel points per minute. That's in line with his projection of 34.14 minutes and 29.1 FanDuel points, making him the top overall value option among point guards tonight -- and the third-best option among all positions.

He'll be up against the Memphis Grizzlies, where the over/under is set at 221.5 points with a 5.0-point spread. What should also help Mitchell reach value is the fact that both teams -- Sacramento (2nd) and Memphis (9th) -- are in the top 10 of the league in offensive pace. That should allow Mitchell to exceed his projection and be one of the best value options on the slate.

Austin Reaves, SG, Los Angeles Lakers ($3,900)

The Los Angeles Lakers are another team dealing with a number of players out tonight.

As of now, there are four players listed as out for the Lakers, including Russell Westbrook. Austin Reaves could be stepping into the starting lineup tonight as the starting point guard. He's played 25 minutes or more in each of the last three games. An expanded set of minutes, more offensive usage, and a salary under $4,000 is a clear recipe for a value option in NBA DFS.

Reaves comes in projected for 34.45 minutes and 22.6 FanDuel points -- the second-best value option among shooting guards tonight. The matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves is setting up to be an NBA DFS dream since we have a 222.0-point over/under, a 2.0-point spread, and both teams in the top five of the league in offensive pace.

Sandro Mamukelashvili, PF/C, Milwaukee Bucks ($3,500)

Surprise, surprise. The Milwaukee Bucks are another team with several players out tonight.

When a team has seven players listed as out or doubtful, we know we are going to get some value options. Tonight, that starts with Sandro Mamukelashvili, who could be in line to be the starting center for the Bucks. Mamukelashvili has played sparingly throughout most of the season but should be in for 20-plus minutes tonight against the New Orleans Pelicans. The other center the Bucks have available tonight is DeMarcus Cousins, who hasn't played more than 17 minutes in his seven games this season.

It's a solid matchup against the Pelicans, who are allowing 54.82 FanDuel points per game to opposing centers (10th-worst in the league). A minimum salary player like Mamukelashvili will help you pay up for LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the same lineup.