If you've never played daily fantasy basketball before, it's time to start. Unlike traditional leagues, you're able to select the players you want on that specific day only, giving you a different squad to root for each and every NBA night.
Today's lineups can be found here. The information below is to help you understand why particular players are being picked, because we don't want you going into the night completely blind. We want to help you. Keep in mind, however, that things often change up until tip-off, so make sure you're refreshing the optimal lineups as close to the start of games as possible.
Let's get to it.
The Best of the Best
John Wall - After a somewhat slow start to the season, Wall seems to have finally found his groove. Over his last six outings, the Wizards' floor general is averaging 27.7 points, 9.8 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 3 steals in a whopping 38.7 minutes per game. He's accumulated a 29.3% Usage Rate, has scored at least 25 points in all but one game and has recorded four double-doubles over that span. The Wizards' star draws a dream matchup against a Pelicans' defense that ranks dead last in the league in Defensive Efficiency according to our metrics and has allowed the second most fantasy points per game this season. Wall is an elite play in all formats tonight in what is Vegas expects to be one of the highest scoring games on tonight's slate.
Anthony Davis - As I just mentioned, tonight's matchup between the Wizards and Pelicans should be a fast-paced, back-and-forth shootout, which always bodes well for fantasy value. While Wall may be dollar for dollar the most exciting play from that game, Davis is not far behind, despite his massive price tag. Washington is incredibly banged-up in their front court with Nene, Drew Gooden and Kris Humphries all unlikely to suit up tonight, which leaves Jared Dudley and his less-than-stellar 108 Defensive Rating to try to slow down one of the most talented players in the league at the power forward position. Dudley is simply too undersized and not a polished enough defender to cover The Brow, and Davis should take full advantage in a game that features an over/under of 214.5. Davis is in play nearly every time he takes the floor, and tonight is no exception.
Top Mid-Range Values
Gordon Hayward - Hayward comes into tonight scorching hot. He's averaging 23.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4 assists and 1.9 steals per game in 37.1 minutes per game over his last seven outings and is coming off of an impressive 24-point, 5-assist, 4-rebound performance on just 14 shots in 27 minutes in the Jazz recent destruction of the Knicks. Although he draws a relatively tough matchup against Kevin Durant tonight, Hayward is just too hot to ignore in what should be a high-scoring game at home in Utah. He should have little trouble reaching value at just $7,000 on both FanDuel and DraftKings and should be a staple in your lineups tonight.
Marcin Gortat - With the Wizards' frontcourt so thin tonight, Gortat will once again be expected to carry a heavy load down low. He's played at least 33 minutes in each of his last four games and has posted double-doubles in all four, averaging 16.8 points and 11 boards in the process. He gets a spectacular matchup against the defensively-challenged Pelicans, who have allowed the most fantasy points per game to opposing centers on the season, and should see minutes in the mid-to-upper 30s for the fifth consecutive game. Look for the Polish Hammer to extend his double-double streak to five tonight in another huge fantasy outing.
Basement Ballers
O.J. Mayo - With Jerryd Bayless and Greivis Vasquez both expected to remain sidelined for tonight's game against the Raptors, Mayo will once again slide into the starting point guard role for Milwaukee. While he has already made seven starts this season, several of those starts were at shooting guard alongside Bayless, but it wasn't until the versatile veteran moved over to point guard that his daily fantasy value really skyrocketed. Over his last three games as the Bucks' starting point guard, Mayo has scored 15.3 points to go along with 5 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 2 steals per game. He has played at least 35 minutes in each of those three games and should see a similar workload tonight. While a matchup against a stout Raptors' defense is less-than-ideal, Mayo's recent workload and usage definitely warrant fantasy consideration tonight at his low price of just $5,400 on DraftKings and $4,800 on FanDuel.
Jon Leuer - Markieff Morris has all but been removed from the Suns' rotation, leaving Leuer to fill a massive void at power forward for Phoenix. Leuer has already started seven games this season. In those seven games, the Suns' big man has posted 11.4 points, 5.9 boards and 2.1 dimes in 28.5 minutes of action. He draws a tremendous matchup against a Portland frontcourt that has given up the sixth most fantasy points per game to opposing power forwards on the year, and although his price has continued to climb over the past few weeks, he should have little trouble reaching value tonight at just $5,200 on DraftKings and $4,500 on FanDuel. His price will only continue on an upward trajectory as long as he keeps starting, so buy low while you still can.