Daily Fantasy Basketball: FanDuel Values for March 13th

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 Thursday's games, Thunder SF Kevin Durant ($12,000) 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 Thursday (March 13th) FanDuel leagues:

PG - Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder (vs. LAL), $8,700: While I've never before listed a player with a salary greater than $7,500 in this post, Westbrook will be the exception as he's a must-start against the Lakers, especially considering there are only three games on tonight's NBA slate. In his past seven games, Westbrook has 34.9-plus fantasy points and he has averaged 48.0 fantasy points in his past four games, which includes a triple-double in just 20 minutes against the Sixers. The Lakers have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing point guards this season.

PG - D.J. Augustin, Chicago Bulls (vs. HOU), $5,800: In his past six games, Augustin has scored 22-plus points four times including in his previous two games. During that six-game stretch, he has averaged 20.83 points, 3.17 assists and 2.0 rebounds per game.

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SG - Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls (vs. HOU), $6,700: Only James Harden ($10,000) has a higher price at shooting guard, but the gap is enormous. In his eight games since returning from injury, Butler has scored 30 or more fantasy points six times. During that span, he is averaging 16.5 points, 6.13 rebounds, 2.38 assists and 2.38 steals in more than 42 minutes per game. The Rockets have allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing shooting guards this season.

SG - Jodie Meeks, Los Angeles Lakers (at OKC), $5,800: While I don't expect a repeat of his 42-point performance (49.4 fantasy points) when these two teams met on March 9th, Meeks is one of the league's best shooters and you know he will get his minutes. With Mike D'Antoni pulling the strings, there is no guarantee for others. For example, Kent Bazemore ($4,900) has played 32, 16 and 20 minutes in his past three games.

SG - Kyle Korver, Atlanta Hawks (vs. MIL), $5,000: With strong outings in back-to-back games, Korver has averaged 21.5 points, 3.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals in his past two games. In those two games, he has had 32.8 and 32.9 fantasy points, respectively.

SF - DeMarre Carroll, Atlanta Hawks (vs. MIL), $5,800: In his past eight games, Carroll has scored a minimum of 19.2 fantasy points in each game while averaging 25.49 FPPG. During that stretch, he has averaged 14.88 points, 5.25 rebounds and 1.25 steals per game. Carroll gets a favorable matchup tonight as the Bucks have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing small forwards this season.

SF - Ryan Kelly, Los Angeles Lakers (at OKC), $4,500: After losing his starting gig and seeing a huge reduction in minutes, Kelly has played 33-plus minutes in back-to-back games. In those two games, he has scored 41.7 and 36.0 fantasy points, respectively. Against OKC on the 9th, Kelly played 37 minutes and scored 12 points while adding eight assists, five rebounds, two blocks and a steal. In most of my FanDuel contests tonight, it will be a Durant-Kelly duo at SF for me.

PF - Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City Thunder (vs. LAL), $8,200: Like Durant and Westbrook, it would be extremely hard (i.e., foolish) to sit Ibaka. No team has allowed more fantasy points to opposing power forwards and Ibaka abused the Lakers for 48.5 fantasy points (21 points, 15 boards, two blocks and two steals) in their previous matchup on Sunday.

PF - John Henson, Milwaukee Bucks (at ATL), $4,900: Provided Ersan Ilyasova (ankle) misses more time, Henson's fantasy value increases (in theory). Henson has 19.2 or more fantasy points in four consecutive games. With back-to-back games of 30-plus minutes, Henson has scored exactly 10 points with eight rebounds in each game after 12/6 in his previous two games with fewer minutes.

C - Pero Antic, Atlanta Hawks (vs. MIL), $4,300: If you don't start a stud like Joakim Noah, Antic is a cheap option to consider. Not only has he been productive in his past two games (22.1-plus fantasy points in each game), but he has a favorable matchup tonight. Only the Lakers and Sixers have allowed more fantasy points to opposing centers than the Bucks have this season.

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Kevin Durant posts triple-double in loss to Lakers

Before today, there were 28 triple-doubles this season in the NBA and Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant was one of six players to have multiple triple-doubles this season.

Against the Lakers today, Durant posted his third triple-double of the season by scoring 27 points and adding 12 assists and 10 rebounds.

In addition to Durant, Serge Ibaka (21 points and 15 rebounds) and Russell Westbrook (20 points), but it wasn't enough as they lost to the Lakers by four points, 114-110.

Westbrook (eight) and Durant (five) combined to commit 13 turnovers in today's loss and Lakers shooting guard Jodie Meeks scored a career-high 42 points today.

The Thunder will face ex-teammate James Harden, Dwight Howard and the Houston Rockets on Tuesday night.

Jodie Meeks scores career-high 42 points in upset over Thunder

In an upset over the Thunder, Lakers guard Jodie Meeks led all players with 42 points, which also sets a career high.

To demonstrate Meeks' shooting efficiency today, he scored 22 more points than teammate Pau Gasol (20 points) despite having only one more field-goal attempt than Gasol, who was eight of 17 from the field.

Meeks was 11-for-18 from the field including six three-pointers (on 11 attempts) and a perfect 14-for-14 at the free-throw line.

Not only was it a career high for Meeks, but it was only the second time in his career that he scored more than 30 points in a game.  His previous career high was 31 points set back in 2012 when he was with the Sixers.

In addition to his 42 points, Meeks added four steals and two rebounds.

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire (February 23rd Update)

With roughly two months left in the regular season, now is the time to make your push in your fantasy league(s).

Here are some players to consider adding and all are available in at least 50 percent of Yahoo! leagues:

PG - D.J. Augustin, Chicago Bulls (48 percent): It was an ugly performance for Augustin on Sunday. In fact, it was the worst shooting performance of his career as he was an imperfect 0-for-10 from the field against the Heat. Previously, his career-worst was an 0-for-8 performance.

In his previous two games, however, Augustin was 9-of-12 from behind the arc. And in 18 games from Jan. 15th to Feb. 21st, Augustin averaged 2.94 three-pointers per game and connected on 51.46 percent of his 103 treys attempted during that stretch. During that span, he has averaged 17.39 points, 5.06 assists and nearly a steal (0.94) per game.

PG - Patty Mills, San Antonio Spurs (31 percent): Over his past eight games, Mills has scored 16 or more points six times and he has averaged 18.88 points per game during that span. Mills has also averaged two treys and one steal per game while adding 3.88 rebounds and 2.38 assists per game.

PG/SG - Alec Burks, Utah Jazz (27 percent): Over his past 18 games, Burks has scored in double digits in 15 games and has averaged 16.6 points during that stretch. Averaging more than seven free-throw attempts per game over the stretch, he has been especially aggressive over the past five games with an average of 10.4 FTA per game.

PG/SG - Patrick Beverley, Houston Rockets (21 percent): Although he is not a big scorer, Beverley has averaged nearly two three-pointers (1.88) per game over his past eight games played. In addition, Beverley has also averaged two steals, 4.38 rebounds and 4.13 assists per game during that span.

PG/SG - Lou Williams, Atlanta Hawks (21 percent): In his past two games, Williams has averaged 14.5 points, 7.5 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. In addition, he has made six three-pointers as well.

PG/SG - Brian Roberts, New Orleans Pelicans (20 percent): Until Jrue Holiday returns, Roberts will continue to get the start at point guard. In his past eight games, Roberts has averaged 14.88 points, 4.88 assists, 1.5 three-pointers and 1.63 steals per game.

SG - Jodie Meeks, Los Angeles Lakers (50 percent): Back from injury, Meeks has connected only 4-of-14 three-point attempts over his past two games, but he has scored 17.5 points per game in those two games. Meeks is one of the league's better three-point shooters.

SG - Tim Hardaway, Jr., New York Knicks (22 percent): Hardaway's primary fantasy value comes from scoring and more specifically his three-point shooting. Over his past four games, Hardaway has made 11 three-pointers and averaged more than 15 points per game. In addition, Hardaway Jr. has played at least 30 minutes in five consecutive games.

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SG/SF - Vince Carter, Dallas Mavericks (32 percent): In February, Carter is averaging 11.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. Over the past six games, Carter has knocked down three three-pointers three times and averaged 1.43 steals per game over that span.

SG/SF - Mike Dunleavy, Chicago Bulls (25 percent): Over his past six games, Dunleavy has averaged 6.5 rebounds, 1.33 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. While his scoring has been down in general, he has scored double figures in three of his past four games.

SG/SF - P.J. Tucker, Phoenix Suns (22 percent): Although he had a disappointing performance on Friday (four points and five rebounds), Tucker had three double-doubles in his previous four games. Since January 8th, Tucker has averaged 10.05 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game.

SG/SF - Kyle Singler, Detroit Pistons (11 percent): Scoring double figures in 10 of his past 12 games, Singler has averaged 11.92 points per game during that span. In addition, he is averaging 1.58 steals and 1.92 three-pointers per game during that stretch.

SG/SF - James Anderson, Philadelphia 76ers (10 percent): Anderson has played more than 30 minutes in three consecutive games and has eight three-pointers and seven steals in those three games.

SG/SF - Kent Bazemore, Los Angeles Lakers (four percent): In 33 minutes on Friday, Bazemore scored 15 points and added three rebounds, four assists, two steals and two treys. Bazemore will move into the starting lineup on Sunday.

SF/PF - DeMarre Carroll, Atlanta Hawks (35 percent): On Saturday, Carroll scored a career-high 24 points and hit four three-pointers. In addition, he added six rebounds and two steals in 34 minutes.

PF - Mike Scott, PF, Atlanta Hawks (six percent): In his past two games, Scott has scored 50 points on 20-of-30 shooting from the field and 8-of-11 from behind the arc. For as long as Paul Millsap (knee) is out, Scott should be a productive fantasy option even if he's not shooting 72 percent from three-point range.

PF/C - Josh McRoberts, Charlotte Bobcats (30 percent): Over his past six games, McRoberts has knocked down nearly half of his three-point attempts (14 of 29). During that span, he has averaged 11.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.67 assists.

PF/C - Markieff Morris, Phoenix Suns (42 percent): With the exception of a zero-point performance on Feb. 8th, Morris has scored in double digits in 16 of 17 games and is averaging 15.59 points and 5.88 rebounds per game during that stretch. In his past seven games, Morris is averaging more than a steal and block per game as well.

PF/C - Brandon Bass, Boston Celtics (41 percent): Bass has played at least 30 minutes in three consecutive games and he has scored in double figures in five consecutive games. In those five games, he is averaging 14.8 points and 6.2 rebounds.

For more assistance with waiver-wire decisions, check out my rest-of-season fantasy basketball rankings.

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Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire (January 19th Update)

Here are some players to consider adding and all are available in at least 50 percent of Yahoo! leagues:

PG - D.J. Augustin, Chicago Bulls (owned in 24 percent of Yahoo! leagues): Augustin has scored 16-plus points in four of his past five games and has dished out seven-plus assists in six of his past eight games. Over the past eight-game stretch, Augustin is averaging 13.88 points, 2.0 three's, 6.88 assists and 1.13 steals per game.

PG - Ramon Sessions, Charlotte Bobcats (14 percent): With Kemba Walker suffering an ankle injury on Saturday, Sessions played a season-high 38 minutes and scored 16 points with five assists. Sessions now has five assists in four consecutive games.

PG - Brian Roberts, New Orleans Pelicans (13 percent): In his past four games, Roberts has averaged 11.25 points, 5.25 assists, 1.25 three's and 0.75 steals. As long as Jrue Holiday (stress fracture) is out, Roberts should continue to see 30-plus minutes each night.

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PG/SG - Alec Burks, Utah Jazz (23 percent): With Gordon Hayward out, Burks has scored 16-plus points in four of his past five games. During that five-game span, he is averaging 18.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 0.8 steals per game.

PG/SG - Kirk Hinrich, Chicago Bulls (13 percent): In his past two games, Hinrich has a total of 24 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists and four blocks. He also has at least five assists in five of his past six games.

SG - Jodie Meeks, Los Angeles Lakers (49 percent): One of the league's better three-point shooters, Meeks has knocked down 2.25 three's per game this month including six of them on Wednesday. In addition, he's averaging 19.5 points, 3.13 assists and 1.5 steals per game as well.

SG/SF - Wesley Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers (22 percent): Over the past six games, Johnson has averaged 15.17 points, 2.0 three's, 5.0 rebounds, 1.33 steals and 0.67 blocks per game. As long as both Kobe Bryant and Xavier Henry are out, Johnson should continue to see big minutes, but one or both could return by the end of the month.

SG/SF - Courtney Lee, Memphis Grizzlies (nine percent): Lee has scored 15-plus points in three of his past four games and has five three-pointers, four steals and three blocks during that span as well.

SG/SF - Martell Webster, Washington Wizards (32 percent): Over his past four games, Webster has scored in double figures mostly due to his three-point shooting. In those four games, he has a total of 12 three's and four steals.

SG/SF - P.J. Tucker, Phoenix Suns (12 percent): Over his past six games, Tucker has averaged 8.83 rebounds per game and has eight or more rebounds in five of those six games. During that span, he has also averaged 10.67 points and 1.67 three-pointers as well.

SF - Al-Farouq Aminu, New Orleans Pelicans (14 percent): With the injuries in the Pelicans' frontcourt (Ryan Anderson and Jason Smith), it means more minutes for Aminu. Over his past four games, he is averaging 10.5 points and 10.25 rebounds per game.

SF/PF - James Johnson, Memphis Grizzlies (20 percent): Johnson has two blocks or more — including six blocks on Wednesday — in six consecutive games. While he has scored in double-digits only twice this month (out of nine games), he is averaging 4.0 rebounds, 3.11 assists, 1.44 steals and 2.11 blocks per game in January.

PF/C - Glen Davis, Orlando Magic (44 percent): In nine games this month, Davis has four double-doubles and he was just a rebound off of two other double-doubles. During the month, he is averaging 14.89 points, 9.44 rebounds and 1.11 steals per game.

PF/C - Josh McRoberts, Charlotte Bobcats (18 percent): McRoberts has scored in double digits in three consecutive games and he has a total of nine three-pointers in that span. In his past six games, he has at least four assists in four of those games and a total of seven steals and seven blocks during that span.

* Note: All stats referenced above are through Saturday's games.

For more assistance with waiver-wire decisions, check out my rest-of-season fantasy basketball rankings.

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Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire (January 12th Update)

The fourth overall pick in the NBA Draft 10 years ago, Shaun Livingston has never lived up to his potential and hype in large part due to injuries.

Since being drafted straight out of high school in 2004, Livingston has bounced around from franchise to franchise as the Brooklyn Nets are his eighth team.

While he has averaged just 6.8 points and 3.4 assists per game over his career, he has been a major contributor recently with Deron Williams (ankles) out of the Nets' lineup.

“I’ve been in some rough places, especially after my injury [in 2007], but that’s a long time ago. And there were a lot of different thoughts, but those doubts kind of turned to faith. My family, everybody that’s been in my corner, God, it’s brought me a long way,” Livingston said per Mike Mazzeo of ESPN New York.

With or without Williams in the lineup, however, Livingston has played at least 30 minutes in every game this month. Livingston has been a solid contributor in multiple categories, especially on defense: 10.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.2 blocks per game this month.

According to Tim Bontemps of the New York Post, it appears likely that Williams will not make the team's trip to London and miss another week.

Even when Williams returns to the starting lineup, Livingston should continue to be involved in the team's rotation and he's currently available in nearly 90 percent of Yahoo! leagues. With a rash of injuries at the point guard spot this year (Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Jrue Holiday, etc.), Livingston can probably help many fantasy owners in need.

That said, if you play in leagues that allow lineup changes only weekly, please note that Livingston and the Nets play only one game this week.

Here are some players to consider adding and all are available in at least 50 percent of Yahoo! leagues:

PG - Kendall Marshall, Los Angeles Lakers (owned in 48 percent of Yahoo! leagues): With multiple injuries in the Lakers' backcourt, Marshall has run with his opportunity. So far this month, Marshall is averaging 13.6 points, 11.2 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game.

PG - Brian Roberts, New Orleans Pelicans (16 percent): The injury to Jrue Holiday (stress fracture) means starter minutes for Roberts at the point for at least a month's time, if not longer. Roberts shot only 2-of-10 from the field Saturday night, but he added eight assists and two steals in 31 minutes as well.

PG/SG - Randy Foye, Denver Nuggets (46 percent): Foye has averaged 17.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game this month. In addition, Foye has knocked down 20 three-pointers in his past five games.

PG/SG - Shaun Livingston, Brooklyn Nets (11 percent): See above.

SG - Jodie Meeks, Los Angeles Lakers (44 percent): Meeks is averaging nearly 20 points (19.7) per game this month. Launching a career-high 5.3 treys per game this season, Meeks ranks 14th in the Association in three-pointers made (76).

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SG/SF - Gerald Green, Phoenix Suns (50 percent): Green is averaging 14.8 points, 2.2 treys and 1.7 steals per game this month. With Eric Bledsoe (knee) sidelined for a while (and possibly the rest of the season), Green will continue to get starter's minutes.

SG/SF - Iman Shumpert, New York Knicks (30 percent): After scoring more than 25 points in back-to-back games to start the month, Shumpert has averaged only 8.25 PPG over his past four games. Even so, he has also averaged 1.75 three-pointers, 7.0 rebounds and 2.25 steals per game during that four-game stretch as well.

SG/SF - Mike Dunleavy, Chicago Bulls (27 percent): With Luol Deng now in Cleveland, Dunleavy should get plenty of opportunities to contribute for fantasy owners. Dunleavy has averaged 17.5 points, 2.0 three-pointers and 5.0 rebounds in his past two games.

SG/SF - Terrence Ross, Toronto Raptors (26 percent): Ross is currently averaging 12.3 points, 2.8 three-pointers, 4.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game this month.

SG/SF - Jeremy Lamb, Oklahoma City Thunder (15 percent): The 12th overall pick of the 2012 NBA Draft, Lamb is getting many more minutes this year (21.7 per game) than he got as a rookie (6.4 MPG). In addition, his playing time has increased each month from 20.2 MPG (Nov.) to 21.9 MPG (Dec.) to 25.2 MPG (Jan.). Not great in any category, Lamb has contributed across the board with the following averages this month: 10.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.3 three-pointers, 1.0 steals and 0.8 blocks.

SG/SF - James Anderson, Philadelphia 76ers (eight percent): Someone to consider in deeper leagues, Anderson has returned to the Sixers' starting lineup. Over his past four games, he is averaging 14.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 0.75 blocks per game.

SF/PF - Terrence Jones, Houston Rockets (47 percent): In four games this month, Jones is averaging nearly 30 minutes per game and a double-double: 11.5 points and 11.75 rebounds per game.

PF - Kris Humphries, Boston Celtics (38 percent): If you need rebounding or blocks, Humphries is averaging 10.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.0 steal and 2.3 blocks per game this month.

PF/C - Jared Sullinger, Boston Celtics (40 percent): After playing less than 20 minutes in three consecutive games, Sullinger has posted back-to-back double-doubles with 32 and 28 minutes, respectively. He now has double-doubles in all four games this month that he has played more than 20 minutes.

PF/C - Patrick Patterson, Toronto Raptors (seven percent): Patterson's minutes have fluctuated a bit this month, but he is averaging 14.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.2 three's and 1.0 blocks per game over his past five games played.

For more assistance with waiver-wire decisions, check out my rest-of-season fantasy basketball rankings.

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