Daily Fantasy Basketball: FanDuel Values for March 23rd

If you play daily fantasy sports (and who doesn'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, every player has a salary and your roster cannot exceed the game's salary-cap maximum.

For FanDuel leagues, rosters consist of nine players and the salary cap is $60,000, which averages to roughly $6,667 per player. To give you an idea of the range for Sunday's games, Timberwolves PF Kevin Love ($11,300) has the contest's highest salary while many are tied for the lowest at the game-minimum salary ($3,500).

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 Sunday (March 23rd) FanDuel leagues:

PG - Jeff Teague, Atlanta Hawks (at TOR), $6,900: Teague has exploded for a total of 90.7 fantasy over his past two games, which includes 50.1 fantasy points against the Raptors on March 18th. Over his past five games, he has scored at least 34.6 fantasy points four times and he's averaging 21.6 points, 8.0 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game during that stretch.

PG - Shaun Livingston, Brooklyn Nets (at DAL), $4,400: Livingston has scored at least 20-plus fantasy points in seven consecutive games. Even though the matchup isn't necessarily a great one, he has been extremely consistent at his (still) low price.

PG - Matthew Dellavedova, Cleveland Cavaliers (at NYK), $3,800: For a second consecutive game, Dellavedova recorded a double-double as he finished with 14 points, 10 assists and six boards against the Rockets on Saturday. With Kyrie Irving (biceps) out, Dellavedova should continue to get a healthy amount of minutes.

FanDuel is offering an MLB Freeroll for Opening Day: $1,000 in prizes, FREE entry

SG - Victor Oladipo, Orlando Magic (at LAL), $6,500: If I didn't have you at he's facing the Lakers, Oladipo has started recently in place of Jameer Nelson (knee). In six games since returning from his own two-game absence, Oladipo is averaging 14.17 points, 5.17 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game. And as a reminder, the Lakers have allowed the most points to opposing shooting guards this season.

SG - Dion Waiters, Cleveland Cavaliers (at NYK), $5,600: Waiters has played 40-plus minutes in three consecutive games and he has scored at least 34.3 fantasy points in each of those games. During that three-game span, he is averaging 24.33 points, 7.67 assists, 3.33 rebounds and 1.33 steals per game. In addition, the Knicks have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing shooting guards this season.

SF - Shawn Marion, Dallas Mavericks (vs. BKN), $5,200: The Matrix has scored more than 30 fantasy points in back-to-back games and at least 21.2 fantasy points in four consecutive games. During that four-game span, Marion is averaging 15.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game.

SF - Maurice Harkless, Orland Magic (at LAL), $4,500: Harkless has been inconsistent with single-digit fantasy points in two of his past five games. He also has two games with 26-plus fantasy points in that stretch and a favorable matchup against the Lakers on Sunday.

PF - Amir Johnson, Toronto Raptors (vs. ATL), $6,100: Johnson scored 25 points and added 12 boards, five blocks, four assists and two steals in 50 minutes on Friday. While Sunday's game is unlikely to be extended to two overtimes, Johnson has at least 25 fantasy points in seven straight games and at least 36 fantasy points in four of them. The Hawks have allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to opposing power forwards this season.

PF - Amar'e Stoudemire, New York Knicks (vs. CLE), $5,300: Stoudemire has averaged 31.32 fantasy points per game in his past five games played. During that stretch, he is averaging 19.6 points, 7.6 boards and a block per game.

PF - Jordan Hill, Los Angeles Lakers (), $4,300: After missing eight games, Hill got 27 minutes on Friday and made the most of his playing time as he finished with nine points, 14 boards and four blocks. If he gets as many minutes on Sunday night, he could be productive once again as the Magic have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing power forwards.

PF - Trevor Booker, Washington Wizards (at DEN), $4,000: Bad news first: Booker played only 15 minutes in his most recent game due to foul trouble. Now the good news: Booker has still managed to score 20-plus fantasy points in three consecutive games and in four of his past five. In addition, the Nuggets have allowed the third-most fantasy points this season and J.J. Hickson is out for the year with a torn ACL.

C - Gorgui Dieng, Minnesota Timberwolves (vs. PHO), $5,100: In the three games that Nikolva Pekovic has missed, Dieng has been a double-double machine. In his most recent game, the rookie from Louisville had 22 points, 21 rebounds and four assists against the Rockets. Reports are that Pek is unlikely to play on Sunday.

C - Kyle O'Quinn, Orlando Magic (at LAL), $4,800: In the month of March, O'Quinn has averaged more fantasy points (24.4) than minutes (22.3). During the month, he has averaged 8.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 0.9 steals per game. With the Lakers allowing the most fantasy points to opposing centers, there is no reason that trend won't continue on Sunday.

FanDuel's Daily Fantasy Basketball Championship: $1.2 million in cash prizes
>> FanDuel's MLB Freeroll for Opening Day: FREE entry, $1K in prizes
>> Or find other FanDuel NBA games here.

Keep track of our Fantasy NBA updates by following us on Twitter, "liking" us on Facebook and/or adding us to your Google+ circle.

Knicks C Tyson Chandler won't play Monday

When the Knicks host the Sixers tonight, they will be without center Tyson Chandler due to personal reasons.

It's unclear if Chandler will be available for Wednesday's game against the Celtics.

Over his past 10 games, Chandler has averaged 15.0 rebounds, 12.3 points and 1.1 blocks per game.

With Chandler out, Amar'e Stoudemire should see more minutes.  Over his past four games, Stoudemire is averaging 16.2 points, 6.75 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.

For those that play daily fantasy basketball, Stoudemire is a nice value in both FanDuel leagues at $4,200 (at PF) and DraftKings leagues at $4,500 (at PF/C).

Amar'e Stoudemire to return Tuesday

When the New York Knicks face the Portland Trail Blazers on New Year's Day, they may or may not have the services of small forward Carmelo Anthony.

Either way, however, they will have the services of power forward Amar'e Stoudemire, who will make his season debut Tuesday, according to Yahoo!'s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Stoudemire had knee surgery in late-October and he will come off the bench whether Melo plays or does not, per Wojnarowski.

Excluding his three-game season (2005), Stoudemire's numbers of 17.5 points and 7.8 rebounds last year were his lowest averages since his rookie season.

NBA Consensus Power Rankings, Week 7

Who needs Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire?

Without both of their "superstars," the Knicks have continued to win behind their new superstar Jeremy Lin. Nearly cut by the Knicks themselves, Lin has taken the NBA world by storm.

It has led to words like Linsanity, Lincredible, Linning, etc.

No player has scored more points in his first four starts than Lin, who has scored 20-plus points in five straight games including a career-high 38 points against Kobe and Lakers on Friday night.

From getting MVP chants at Madison Square Garden and "overrated" chants on the road in places like Minnesota, how could you not root for a guy that is sleeping on his brother's couch and was an unknown about a week ago? (And this is coming from a Sixers' fan, i.e., I hate the Knicks.)

The Knicks have moved up a couple of spots in our power rankings to No. 18 from No. 20 (tied with Milwaukee) in last week's rankings.

Like last week, the top three teams all have No. 1 ranks from at least one of our four rankers, but the Thunder and Bulls are tied for the No. 1 spot. On the other hand, the bottom three teams were unanimous choices with the Wizards, Hornets and Bobcats as the worst three teams in the league.

Here are some more stats about this week's NBA Consensus Power Rankings:

- Biggest jump from last week: New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs (+2.50)
- Biggest drop from last week: Denver Nuggets (-3.75)
- Team with widest difference between high and low ranker: Indiana Pacers (7)

[See our full NBA Consensus Power Rankings.]

Each week, we respond to one roundtable question and here's this week's question: Who will win the Southwest Division this season?

John (follow on Twitter): San Antonio Spurs

The Southwest Division is one of the toughest in the league, with four of the five teams above .500, and the top three teams within 2.5 games of one another. I like the Spurs to remain atop the division. While they have been left off most people's lists as being a legitimate contender, I think the Spurs have a real shot this year. They have fallen off from what they were a few years ago, and I think most people think they're just too old now. It's tough to argue, though, that the Spurs are playing great ball. They have a 13-1 home record and have experience over most other teams in the West come playoff time. If the Lakers fail to make a big splash before the trade deadline (i.e., get Dwight Howard), I think that Oklahoma City is the clear favorite in the West, with few other teams being able to challenge them. With the Clippers losing Billups and Dirk not playing like the MVP he played like last year, I think the Spurs are the closest real contender, and I expect them challenge to represent the West. Right now, I have them in the Western Conference Finals, with a sporting chance against the KD and the Thunder.

Sean (follow on Twitter): Dallas Mavericks

I think the defending champion Mavericks win the Southwest division this year. I think they are going to make some moves towards the trade deadline to improve their team. The short season is definitely hurting them thus far since they have the oldest starting five in the NBA, but I think they will overtake the Spurs at some point this season, and never let up.

Dan (follow on Twitter): San Antonio Spurs

In what has been the most competitve divison in the league this year, the Southwest Divison will most certainly come down to the wire. I have the San Antonio Spurs coming out on top, as even in this compressed schedule I love thier veteran poise. The Spurs have also been the hottest team lately as they have won seven in a row, and are an impressive 13-1 at home. I love the Spurs to take this divison down even over the defending champs.

Kevin (follow on Twitter): Dallas Mavericks

Going into the playoffs last season, the Dallas Mavericks were widely considered to be a team ripe for an early-round exit from the postseason. Instead they kept disproving their doubters along the way to winning the NBA title. The Mavs had some key losses in the offseason like Tyson Chandler and J.J. Barea last year, but they added Lamar Odom, arguably the league's best sixth man. Although Dirk Nowitzki is averaging only 18.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, his lowest averages since the 1990's, I expect him and the Mavs to get on a roll and win the Southwest Division. That said, I expect half of the West's playoff teams to come from this division.

To see where all 30 teams fall in our power rankings going through Week 7, click here.

Follow HitTheBoards.com: Twitter | Facebook

Related: Our End-of-season NFL Consensus Power Rankings

Amare Stoudemire to miss tonight's game due to brother's death

The brother of Knicks forward Amar'e Stoudemire was killed in a car accident this morning, per the Orlando Sentinel.

Our condolences go out to Stoudemire and his family.

As you might expect, Stoudemire is headed to Florida, where his brother lived, and won't play tonight against the Jazz.

"My thoughts and prayers and everything is with him," Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni said, per the NY Daily News. "Whatever time he needs to take, he'll take. And we'll get him back as soon as possible.

"I know he's very close to his brother so my heart goes out to him. He cherishes his family. He does a great job of maintaining all the relationships. It's just a trying moment for him."

On the season, Stoudemire is averaging 18.2 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.