3 NBA FanDuel Studs to Target on 4/19/21
Basketball is the most consistent sport for daily fantasy purposes.
A top slugger in baseball will have his fair share of 0-for-4 days, and an elite fantasy football player is at risk of having games where his team's offense as a whole is shut down. A high-salaried NBA stud is generally going to get his, though. With so many possessions in a game providing opportunities to produce, top fantasy basketball options will be posting high scores just about every night.
While this consistency puts us in a good position to identify top plays, it also means you can't afford to miss when you're paying a heavy salary to roster someone. Even with strong value plays in your lineup, getting a dud from a stud is likely going to leave your lineup lacking.
Let's get right into it and look at which top players should be the focal points of your lineups today.
All injury updates are via the NBA's official injury report or numberFire's player news.
Malcolm Brogdon, PG, Indiana Pacers
FanDuel Salary: $7,500
On a slate featuring Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry, Ben Simmons, and Chris Paul, among others, Malcolm Brogdon could go overlooked. And we should be all over that.
Brogdon has managed to post at least 39 FanDuel points in three of his last four games, including outputs of 52.3 and 59.3. That kind of upside could be on display here against a San Antonio Spurs team that ranks 25th against point guards, according to numberFire's DvP tool.
For tonight's matchup, the Indiana Pacers have an implied total of 115.5, per numberFire's Matchup Heatmap. That means that opportunities should be robust for Brogdon to take advantage.
Brogdon's upside makes him a worthwhile differentiator option in tournaments.
Bradley Beal, SG, Washington Wizards
FanDuel Salary: $8,500
Unlike Brogdon, Bradley Beal is likely to be highly rostered tonight, and yet embracing that chalk is likely the way to go.
Over his last four games, the league's leading scorer has averaged 43.8 FanDuel points per contest, including a low-water mark of 38.3. Tonight's matchup could bring out the best in Beal, as the Oklahoma City Thunder have ceded the most real-life points and third-most fantasy points to shooting guards over their last 15 games, according to FantasyPros.
Exposure to the Washington Wizards in any way, shape, or form tonight is highly recommended. The Wiz currently sport an implied total of 121.5, which is four points higher than any other team on the slate.
Not only does numberFire's algorithm project Beal the be the top scorer at two-guard tonight, but we also have him as the fourth-best point-per-dollar play at the position.
Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers
FanDuel Salary: $10,400
From top to bottom, the center position is absolutely stacked on tonight's nine-game slate, which means someone like Joel Embiid could be under-rostered.
While a convincing argument can be made for a number of other players at the position, few possess the same slate-breaking upside as Embiid.
Embiid's floor looks to be back to what we've come to expect this season, as he's racked up 49.4, 53.8, 55.3, and 61.6 FanDuel points in his last four games -- the latter two coming on his home court. In 2020-21, no player in the league averages more fantasy points on their home court than Embiid's 56.4. The 27-year-old's upside at home is monstrous, as evidenced by his nine outings with more than 60 fantasy points at the Wells Fargo Center. That'll play.
Embiid will draw a salivating matchup tonight, as the Golden State Warriors have surrendered the fourth-most real-life points and rebounds, the most steals, and the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing centers over their last 30 games. Golden State plays at the second-fastest pace among the 18 teams suiting up tonight, which certainly doesn't hurt Embiid's stock.
Do make sure that Stephen Curry is active before locking in Embiid.
