Embiid has scored at least 56 DraftKings points in 10 of his last 11 games, generating a 62-point average in that span.
This has been a fun week, and I’m excited to see how the weekend plays out. We had a light card on Thursday, but we’re back to eight games tonight. That’s the perfect amount for DFS because we have plenty of options to pick from and not too many to be overwhelmed with. With that in mind, let’s start with the schedule and odds!
Injury Report
- LaMelo Ball (ankle) OUT
- Mark Williams (thumb) Questionable
- Draymond Green (suspension) OUT
- Kyle Kuzma (knee) Questionable
- Jarrett Allen (eye) Questionable
- Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) OUT
- Lonzo Ball (knee) OUT
- Alex Caruso (illness) Questionable
- Zion Williamson (hamstring) OUT
- Ja Morant (suspension) OUT
- Brandon Clarke (Achilles) OUT
- All the Spurs (who knows what they’re going to do)
- Robert Williams (hamstring) OUT
- Jerami Grant (quad) Questionable
- Luka Doncic (thigh) Questionable
- Kyrie Irving (foot) Questionable
- Tim Hardaway Jr.(calf) Questionable
- LeBron James (foot) OUT
Core Plays
Joel Embiid (PF/C – PHI): $11,400 DraftKings, $12,000 FanDuel
Embiid is now tied with Nikola Jokic in MVP odds, and he will be the frontrunner if he keeps playing like this. The big man has scored at least 56 DraftKings points in 10 of his last 11 games, generating a 62-point average in that span. That’s the highest average in the NBA during that stretch, but this is the best matchup he’s had all year. Charlotte surrenders the most fantasy points to opposing centers, with Joel dropping 76 DK points in their most recent matchup.
Stephen Curry (PG – GSW): $10,500 DraftKings, $10,000 FanDuel
Chef Curry was cooking the Clippers on Wednesday, and his oven should be steaming here. The former MVP has scored at least 39 DK points in all six games since his return from an injury, culminating in that 69-point masterpiece on Wednesday. This team needs him to play like that with how much they’re struggling, and we obviously don’t mind that he faces a 24th-ranked Atlanta defense. In their last matchup, Curry collected 89 DraftKings points in one of the best games of his career.
Brandon Ingram (SF – NOP): $8,100 DraftKings, $8,200 FanDuel
With Zion out for New Orleans, BI has to do everything for the Pelicans. Ingram has scored at least 35 DK points in 12 of his last 16 outings, totaling a 39-point average in that span. It’s easy to understand why when evaluating his role, with BI playing 35-40 minutes while taking 20 shots a game. If he gets that opportunity against the 29th-ranked Rockets defense, Ingram should be incredible once again.
Cash Game Considerations
Jayson Tatum (SF – BOS): $10,800 DraftKings, $10,800 FanDuel
Not many players can match the floor that Tatum has provided this year. The MVP candidate has scored at least 35 DraftKings points in all but one game, scoring at least 44 DK points in 54 of 65 games this year. That’s why he has one of the highest averages in the NBA, and the matchup with Portland is phenomenal. The Trail Blazers rank 27th in defensive efficiency while allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing forwards.
Desmond Bane (SG – MEM): $7,400 DraftKings, $8,400 FanDuel
Bane is a borderline All-Star player at this point of his career, and he’s only getting better with Ja Morant out. With Ja off the floor, DB leads the team with a 33% usage rate, averaging 1.3 DK points per minute. He’s also scored at least 38 fantasy points in 12 of his last 16 games, accruing a 39-point average in that span. The Spurs are the best possible matchup in DFS, too, ranked last in both points allowed and defensive efficiency.
D’Angelo Russell (PG – LAL): $8,400 DraftKings, $8,000 FanDuel
D-Lo has been passed around from team to team, but it’s hard to understand why. This former All-Star has been outstanding since rejoining the Lakers, averaging 42 DraftKings points per game since the trade. That’s absurd for a player in this price range, but it should continue as long as LeBron James remains out. Dallas used to be a daunting matchup, but this has been one of the worst defenses since making that blockbuster Kyrie Irving trade.
GPP Targets
Dillon Brooks (SF – MEM): $5,000 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
Brooks plays 35 minutes a night and takes 15-20 shots a game. That’s massive since Morant remains out, making DB an excellent value with his volume shooting. His biggest asset is the matchup because the Spurs surrender the most fantasy points in the NBA.
Josh Green (SG – DAL): $6,500 DraftKings, $6,200 FanDuel
This Dallas team has been decimated by injuries, but Green has been awesome since Doncic and Irving both went down. In the last three games without those superstars, JG has scored at least 37 DraftKings points in all of those. He was also one of the only other role players with a guaranteed 30-minute role, and he should continue to run this offense with these studs sidelined. He should also slice through L.A., with the Lakers ranked fourth in pace and 24th in total defense.
Jonathan Kuminga (SF – GSW): $4,400 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel
It looks like Draymond will be suspended for this game, which means Kuminga should start and play 30 minutes. This guy has been superb in that sort of role all year, posting a 29-point average in the 15 games he’s played over 25 minutes. That would be a tantalizing total from a player in this price range, and it should be easy to reach since Atlanta allows the second-most fantasy points to opposing forwards.
Value Plays
Zach Collins (PF/C – SAS): $6,500 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel
We have to assume Collins will play here after sitting on Wednesday. This man has been unbelievable since Jakob Poeltl was traded, earning ZC the starting center job for the Spurs. He’s also averaging 36 fantasy points per game in this expanded role, scoring 44 and 50 DraftKings points in his two most recent outings. Memphis used to be a scary matchup, but their center spot has been struggling defensively since Steven Adams got injured.
Al Horford (PF/C – BOS): $5,400 DraftKings, $6,200 FanDuel
Big Al is showing his age this season, but the big man shouldn’t be this cheap in this sort of role. Now that Robert Williams is out, Horford is locked into a 35-minute role as the starting center. He also averaged over 35 DK points per game when Rob-Will was out last year and has a 34-point average since his most recent injury. The Trail Blazers won’t slow him down, allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing centers.
Advantageous Pricing
Dennis Smith (PG – CHA): $5,000 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel
Tobias Harris (SF – PHI): $4,900 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
Caris LeVert (SG – CLE): $5,400 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel
Daniel Gafford (C – WAS): $4,600 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel
Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG – ATL): $4,000 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
Jaren Jackson Jr.(PF – MEM): $7,300 DraftKings, $8,400 FanDuel
David Roddy (PF – MEM): $3,800 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel
***
Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.
