Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Daily Fantasy Basketball: DraftKings Values for March 11th

If you play daily fantasy sports (and who isn't these days?!), you know that one of the keys to success is uncovering undervalued players to allow you to load up on studs elsewhere.

In case you've never played daily fantasy basketball, you select your team based on a player's salary and your team's salary cannot exceed the game salary-cap maximum.

For DraftKings leagues, rosters consist of eight players and the salary cap is $50,000, which averages to roughly $6,250 per player. To give you an idea of the range for Tuesday's games, Thunder SF/PF Kevin Durant ($11,200) has the contest's highest salary while many are tied for the lowest at the game-minimum salary ($3,000).

There are a number of benefits compared to traditional full-season re-draft leagues, such as:
  • you don't have to worry about being saddled by players sidelined by injury;
  • having a late pick doesn't rule out owning studs like Kevin Durant or LeBron James;
  • you get the instant gratification of winning your league(s) that night.
And you know that enthusiasm you have after drafting your fantasy team(s)? Well, you get to experience that feeling on a nightly basis with daily fantasy basketball.

OK, with the preliminary stuff out of the way, here are some value plays to consider for Tuesday (March 11th) DraftKings leagues:

PG - D.J. Augustin, Chicago Bulls (vs. SAS), $4,800: Augustin has averaged 20.2 points and 2.4 three-pointers per game this month and is averaging 27.95 fantasy points per game in March. The Spurs have allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to opposing point guards this season.

PG - Will Bynum, Detroit Pistons (vs. SAC), $3,900: Despite modest minutes, Bynum has scored 20-plus fantasy points in five of his past six games. The Kings have allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing point guards this season.

PG - Ray McCallum, Sacramento Kings (at DET), $3,300: Born in Detroit, McCallum returns home to face the Pistons, who have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points this season to opposing point guards. McCallum is coming off a quiet night against the Nets on Sunday (9.5 fantasy points in 30 minutes), but he had scored 17.25 to 22.0 fantasy points in each of his previous four games.

* DraftKings is running a one-day contest (Mar. 26th) with $1 million in prizes including $100k for 1st place. The entry fee is $500, but they are running qualifiers every day including a free qualifier plus deposit bonus to new accounts.

PG/SG - Jerryd Bayless, Boston Celtics (at IND), $4,500: Bayless has scored at least 23.75 fantasy points in four of his past five games including one against tonight's opponent. Over those five games, Bayless is averaging 15.8 points, 1.6 three's, 4.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.

PG/SG - Devin Harris, Dallas Mavericks (at GS), $3,700: Over his past three games, Harris has averaged 27.5 fantasy points per game including 38.25 of them on Sunday against the Pacers. During that three-game span, Harris has averaged 11.33 points, 5.67 assists and 2.0 steals per game. Based on salary cost per average fantasy points produced this month, Harris has the lowest number (160.43) among guard-eligible players for Tuesday games.

SG/SF - Corey Brewer, Minnesota Timberwolves (vs. MIL), $4,900: In 44 minutes against the Raptors on Sunday, Brewer had 17 points, six steals, three assists and three rebounds as he scored 39.25 fantasy points. In his past 10 games, he has seven games with multiple steals (22 steals in those games) and three games with none. That said, the Bucks have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing small forwards.

SG/SF - Danny Green, San Antonio Spurs (at CHI), $4,600: While the matchup is far from favorable, Green has been productive recently and his production should at least exceed his relatively modest cost. In his past three games, Green has scored more than 30 fantasy points twice and at least 21.75 per game. Doing a bit of everything, Green has averaged 13.33 points, 3.0 treys, 3.33 boards, 3.33 assists, 1.67 blocks and 1.0 steals per game over his past three.

SF - Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors (vs. DAL), $3,800: Green saw a three-game streak of games with 23.75-plus fantasy points end as he fouled out in 22 minutes on Sunday. That said, he's a solid contributor in virtually all categories at a minimal price point. The Mavs have allowed the 11th-most fantasy points to small forwards this year.

SF/PF - Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks (at MIN), $4,400: With a strong all-around performance, Middleton scored 47.0 fantasy points against the Magic last night. Middleton knocked down five-of-eight three-pointers as he scored 21 points and added six rebounds, seven assists, two steals and a block. Over his past four games, he has scored a minimum of 24.5 fantasy points in each game.

SF/PF - Ersan Ilyasova, Milwaukee Bucks (at MIN), $5,200: Ilyasova posted a double-double (16 points, 11 rebounds) and finished with 33.25 fantasy points last night against the Magic. Despite some inconsistency, he has scored at least 26.5 fantasy points in four of the five games he has played this month.

PF/C - Taj Gibson, Chicago Bulls (vs. SAS), $5,600: Gibson had an poor shooting outing (3 of 11) on Sunday vs. Miami, but he played through the flu. In his previous three outings, he was 25 of 43 (.581) from the field. Even with an off game against the Heat, Gibson has scored 24.5-plus fantasy points in three consecutive games.

PF/C - Reggie Evans, Sacramento Kings (at DET), $3,600: Evans played a four-game low of 17 minutes on Sunday, but he still grabbed nine rebounds in limited playing time. In his previous matchup in Detroit, Evans just missed a double-double (11 points, nine rebounds) as he scored 23.75 fantasy points in 20 minutes.

C - Kelly Olynyk, Boston Celtics (at IND), $4,700: There are a couple of concerns with Olynyk — the matchup is unfavorable and he has played just 17 and 18 minutes in his past two games. That said, he has averaged 16.67 points, 1.67 treys and 6.0 rebounds with 26.67 fantasy points per game over his past three since returning from injury.

* Sign up with DraftKings and double your money: Get a 100-percent bonus (up to $600) on your initial deposit with DraftKings.

If you play in full-season leagues, check out my rest-of-season Fantasy NBA rankings.

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