NBA

3 Daily Fantasy Basketball Value Plays For 3/15/16

Jacob Gibbs  —  @jagibbs_23 Mar 15th, 2016
Nerlens Noel is in a prime spot for production tonight. Who else provides good value?

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'll need to find one of these lower-priced options to squeeze everyone into your lineup.

Let's take a look at three guys who can help fill the gaps in your lineup tonight. Of course, remember to check our projections closer to tip because so much can change in the NBA throughout the day.

Nerlens Noel, PF, Philadelphia 76ers

FanDuel Price: $6,400

In three games since returning from a knee injury, Nerlens Noel has been nothing short of spectacular for the depleted 76ers -- averaging 34.3 minutes and 34.1 FanDuel points per game.

Philadelphia is set to be without Jahlil Okafor, Robert Covington, Jerami Grant, and Richaun Holmes tonight -- leaving Noel, Carl Landry, and Elton Brand as the only available big men. Noel should see as many minutes as he can handle against Brooklyn's 28th ranked Defensive Efficiency, making it hard to imagine him not exceeding value tonight.

Noel's recent hot streak has come with Okafor out of the lineup, which offers an explanation for his increase in production. Per NBAwowy.com, Noel has averaged 1.06 FanDuel points per minute without Okafor on the floor, as opposed to 0.77 while sharing the court with the rookie center. Noel has played nine games without Okafor this season with Ishmael Smith running the point. In those games, he has averaged 33.2 FanDuel points and has no games below 25 FanDuel points.

Noel has averaged 30.5 FanDuel points in three games against Brooklyn this season, including a 34.2-point performance against them just four days ago.

Evan Turner, SF, Boston Celtics

FanDuel Price: $5,900

Evan Turner will likely step into the starting lineup for the injured Jae Crowder tonight. In four previous starts this season, Turner has averaged 35.6 minutes and 28.3 FanDuel points per game -- including a 32.1 FanDuel point performance against Indiana, who he'll play tonight.

Even without a starting role, Turner has been very valuable recently -- averaging 29.8 FanDuel points per game off the bench in his past four contests. Turner has averaged 0.85 FanDuel points per minute on the season and should be locked in to at least 35 minutes tonight.

The extra minutes and upgraded role should be enough for Turner to reach value at this price, but if you're not convinced, this is also a revenge game. Turner will be returning to Indiana, the franchise that gave up on him after just 27 games as a Pacer.

Bismack Biyombo, C, Toronto Raptors

FanDuel Price: $3,800

Bismack Biyombo will likely be stepping into a larger role tonight following a hand injury that forced Jonas Valanciunas to leave last night's game against the Bulls. Biyombo went on to collect 25.2 FanDuel points in 26 minutes in his absence, which is right in line with his season average without Valanciunas.

In 17 games without Valanciunas this season, Biyombo has averaged 24.3 FanDuel points in 30 minutes per game. While 24.3 isn't necessarily a GPP-winning score, the salary saved by rostering Biyombo at this price may just make up for it. Biyombo has shown big upside as a starter this season too -- posting five games of 30-plus FanDuel points, including totals of 45.6, 38.0, and 37.9.

Biyombo will match up with the Bucks tonight, who rank 22nd in Defensive Efficiency and 21st in Rebounding Rate. Milwaukee is also the sixth-most blocked team in the NBA, which bodes well for Biyombo, who ranks third in the league in blocks per 48 minutes. In Biyombo's last start against Milwaukee, he put up 14 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 blocks.

If Valanciunas doesn't give it a go tonight, Biyombo is close to a must play.