5 NBA FanDuel Value Plays to Target on 3/3/20
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 five players who can help fill in the gaps in your lineup.
Alec Burks, SG, Philadelphia 76ers ($4,700)
The Philadelphia 76ers can't seem to stay healthy, but that brings us some value tonight.
We know that Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid are out, but over the weekend, the 76ers lost Josh Richardson, who is now in the concussion protocol. Three of their five starters are out, and that means plenty of minutes and usage to be spread around. Richardson played only 10 minutes before leaving Sunday's game, which led to Alec Burks playing 25 minutes and posting 25.7 FanDuel points. Solid production for what was a bench player, and Burks should now be in the starting lineup.
Our projections have Burks going for 28 minutes and 27.9 FanDuel points against the Los Angeles Lakers tonight, making him the third-best value option on the slate. The over/under is set at 220 points -- the third-lowest -- but is still a strong total. Despite a modest over/under, the minutes and role should be there for Burks.
Norman Powell, SG, Toronto Raptors ($4,900)
With two starters for the Toronto Raptors listed as questionable, Norman Powell could be in the starting lineup again tonight.
Those two players are Fred VanVleet and Serge Ibaka, who have both missed two straight games for Toronto. This was somewhat lucky timing for the Raptors since Powell came back from his injury in the last two games and was able to contribute immediately. He piled up 26 and 34 FanDuel points in his first two games back, and that is what we should be seeing from him tonight. He is projected for 31 minutes and 27 FanDuel points, coming from a 20.4% usage rate. It's under 1.00 FanDuel point per minute, but we know most of the production will come from Kyle Lowry and Pascal Siakam in this current starting five.
The Raptors are on the road to take on the Phoenix Suns. The total is set at 225.0, and the Suns come into this game allowing 42.3 FanDuel points per game to shooting guards, the 11th most in the league. It's a good matchup for Powell. We just need final confirmation on the injury status of VanVleet.
Juancho Hernangomez, SF, Minnesota Timberwolves ($4,800)
Since being traded from Denver to Minnesota, Juan Hernangomez has carved out a strong role for himself.
Hernangomez has played nine games with the Timberwolves and has scored in double-digit real points in seven of them, along with three double-doubles. Two of those three double-doubles have come in his last two games, and that is a streak that should continue tonight. Why should it continue? Tonight's game versus the New Orleans Pelicans is a dream scenario for NBA DFS. The over/under is set at a staggering 246.5 points, and both teams are in the top five for fastest-paced teams. On top of this, both squads are in the bottom eight for total FanDuel points allowed per game.
This is an unbelievably great fantasy environment, and you want plenty of exposure here. Hernangomez is seeing nearly 30 minutes a game and is still under $5K, so there is no reason you shouldn't be looking to him in this one. Hernangomez is producing 0.92 FanDuel points per minute -- in this current starting five -- along with a 15.9% usage rate. With the Pelicans allowing 45.6 FanDuel points per game to opposing power forwards, Hernangomez is in an ideal spot.
Jerami Grant, PF, Denver Nuggets ($4,400)
One relatively minor injury situation to monitor tonight is with Paul Millsap of the Denver Nuggets.
The Nuggets are hosting the Golden State Warriors, which has Denver coming in as a massive 15.0-point home favorite. I'll say this from the start -- I don't think the Nuggets need Millsap to play in this game for them to be able to pick up the win. The Nuggets are good, and the Warriors are bad. If Denver plays it safe with Millsap -- who missed their most recent game -- and gives Jerami Grant the start, that would hand us another value option.
Grant got the start in the most recent game with Millsap out and was able to produce 24.6 FanDuel points in 34 minutes. It's under 1.00 FanDuel points per minute, but he was still able to reach 5x value based on his salary. That is what we should get from him tonight if Millsap is out.
Trey Lyles, PF, San Antonio Spurs ($5,400)
Trey Lyles was an easy play last night, and it should be the same today.
The San Antonio Spurs have ruled out LaMarcus Aldridge for tonight's game and will be without Jakob Poeltl for a number of weeks. Lyles played 36 minutes last night and piled up 35 FanDuel points, mainly from 20 real-world points. They need him out on the court for 30-plus minutes since they are lacking size in their frontcourt.
He is up against the Charlotte Hornets, who are allowing 47.4 FanDuel points per game to power forwards, the fourth-most in the league, and 56.2 FanDuel points per game to centers, the third-most in the league. Lyles has a great matchup and will see a large volume of minutes.
