3 NBA FanDuel Value Plays to Target on 1/23/20
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-priced options into your lineup.
Let's take a look at three players who can help fill in the gaps in your lineup.
Anfernee Simons, PG, Portland Trail Blazers ($4,000)
With C.J. McCollum listed as questionable, Anfernee Simons could be in the starting lineup tonight.
McCollum has missed each of the last two games for the Portland Trail Blazers and it's safe to assume Simons will be in the starting lineup if McCollum sits again. Simons is the backup point guard for Portland -- playing around 20 minutes per game normally -- but he has seen those minutes jump up to 28 or more in each of the last three games. With only three games on tonight's slate, it can be tough to find a cheap player who is seeing the volume of minutes Simons is currently getting.
Simons is up against the Dallas Mavericks -- who are strong against shooting guards this season -- allowing only 39.2 FanDuel points per game, the fourth-fewest in the league. While this matchup isn't amazing, Simons doesn't need to do a ton to reach or exceed value. The over/under is solid (229.5), and he should be playing big minutes if McCollum is out.
Ian Mahinmi, C, Washington Wizards ($5,100)
Ian Mahinmi is coming off a big game and can replicate that production against the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight.
Last night, Mahinmi posted 37 FanDuel points in 34 minutes against the Miami Heat -- who are allowing the sixth-fewest FanDuel points per game to opposing centers. It was a tough matchup for him, but he was able to get it done and produce more than one FanDuel point per minute. We should be seeing that same level of production -- if not more -- against the Cavaliers, who are allowing the fifth-most FanDuel points per game to centers (54.8).
Even with Thomas Bryant returning from his injury, Mahinmi is holding down the starting job and has been very productive as of late. He has posted at least 25 FanDuel points in five of his last six games, a trend which should continue tonight given the favorable matchup.
Maxi Kleber, PF, Dallas Mavericks ($4,800)
With Dwight Powell out for the season with an Achilles injury, Maxi Kleber should be in the starting lineup.
While Powell wasn't a big usage player in Dallas' offense -- only 12.9% -- he was a starter and regularly played around 30 minutes per game. The Mavs will have a new starting lineup, and there are plenty of rotation minutes that need to be played. Kleber should be in the starting lineup against the Blazers, and this is a good buy-low spot.
When I say buy-low, it's safe to assume that Kleber's minutes and role within the offense should only grow as the season goes on, so you want to jump in now before his prices increases. With a 229.5-point over/under in this one, we should see this as a fantastic fantasy environment for fantasy, putting Kleber in a great spot. Portland comes into this game allowing 54.1 FanDuel points per game to opposing centers this season, the eighth-most in the league.