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'll need to find one of these lower-priced options to squeeze everyone into your lineup.
Let's take a look at three guys who can help fill the gaps in your lineup tonight. Of course, remember to check our projections closer to tip because so much can change in the NBA throughout the day.
Marcus Smart, PG, Boston Celtics
FanDuel Price: $4,800
There are a multitude of exciting point guard options tonight, and paying down at the position might not be the best approach, but if you want to be a bit unique, you can consider Marcus Smart. Among the 20 teams in play tonight, the Celtics rank third in Pace, and the Rockets are sixth. Amazingly, the 223.5 over/under is only the third-highest on the slate, but that's still an eye-popping mark.
Smart has topped 28 minutes in three of his past four games, but that hasn't always led to big fantasy points, as he topped 21 FanDuel points just once in that recent stretch. With the Pace and general weakness of Houston's defense (they're 15th among the 20 teams in play in Defensive Rating, 17th in Effective Field Goal Percentage allowed, and 18th in fantasy points allowed), Smart and the Celtics could offer some much-needed salary relief to roster the stars
Tony Allen, SG, Memphis Grizzlies
FanDuel Price: $4,500
This is less an endorsement for Tony Allen and more a way to discuss the Memphis/New Orleans game tonight. A slew of players on both sides tonight will be missing the game -- Mario Chalmers, Marc Gasol, Brandan Wright, Eric Gordon, Alexis Ajinca -- and game-time decisions -- Norris Cole, Mike Conley, Zach Randolph, Chris Andersen. I think that covers it.
Anyway, the point is that value in this game might be readily available, and that could leave you with enough space to roster multiple superstars.
Of course, don't forget to keep an eye on the usual suspects who could see more minutes, such as Ryan Anderson, who grades out as one of our best value plays tonight.
Omri Casspi, SF, Sacramento Kings
FanDuel Price: $4,400
Omri Casspi has been flirting with 20 minutes per game of late, and that's never enough to inspire confidence. However, DeMarcus Cousins has been suspended for tonight's game, and Ben McLemore is a game-time decision to play. Without both players on the court, per NBAWowy, Casspi owns a Usage Rate of 21.1% since the calendar turned to 2016 (210 minutes).
He scored 0.93 FanDuel points per minute in that stretch under those conditions. We project him for roughly 28 minutes tonight, and with those minutes and that rate, he could top the 22 FanDuel points he needs to hit five times value.
Amir Johnson, PF, Boston Celtics
FanDuel Price: $3,500
Amir Johnson isn't a safe play by any means, but with the loads of stars from which to choose, you might be in need of a rock-bottom player. Consider Johnson.
Based on the combination of fantasy points allowed to power forwards, over/under, and spread, Johnson owns one of the premier matchups on the night, per our Matchup/Game Composite tool.
His minutes are rocky, and -- again -- he's not safe, but he does come in as our top algorithm-selected value play on the evening. It'll help if Kelly Olynyk, a game-time decision, is declared out.
Enes Kanter, C, Oklahoma City Thunder
FanDuel Price: $4,700
Enes Kanter is never really fun to roster because he comes off the bench, but this game has a massive total (225.5 points), and the Thunder are favored by 12 points. That could lead to a high-scoring blowout, which would mean more run for Kanter, who can certainly rack up the points in garbage time.
In games featuring totals of at least 218 points and when his team was favored by at least 8 points, Kanter has averaged 26.1 FanDuel points, per the Rotoviz Game Splits app. That would help him surpass the value threshold you're probably seeking and give you exposure to one of the most enticing games on the slate.
You can also look to the starter, Steven Adams ($4,200) for much the same logic -- in case the game stays close.