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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Daily Fantasy Basketball (Feb. 24th): Some FanDuel Bargains

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, you select your team based on a player's salary and your team's salary cannot exceed the game 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 Monday's games, Knicks PF Carmelo Anthony ($10,700) 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 Monday (Feb. 24th) FanDuel leagues:

PG - Brandon Knight, Milwaukee Bucks (at PHI), $6,700: At roughly the average salary for the contest, Knight is a much better than an average option for tonight's games. After missing a game, Knight returned to drop 52 (FanDuel points, that is) against the league's best defense on Saturday. Tonight, Knight and the Pistons face the league's 30th-ranked defense in the Sixers (110.7 PPG allowed).

PG - Trey Burke, Utah Jazz (vs. BOS), $5,700: Burke has had three consecutive solid performances in a row. Averaging 33 minutes per game in that stretch, the rookie out of Michigan has scored 34.6, 38.7 and 31.6 fantasy points, respectively. During that span, he has averaged 17.0 points, 7.67 assists, 4.0 rebounds, 1.0 steal and only 1.0 turnover per game.

PG - Will Bynum, Detroit Pistons (vs. GS), $3,900: Bynum has been playing extremely well recently. Since the All-Star break, Bynum is averaging 12.25 points and 7.25 assists in four games.

SG - Vince Carter, Dallas Mavericks (at NYK), $5,000: Over his past three games, Carter has been productive with 24.9, 26.8 and 34.7 fantasy points, respectively. On Saturday, Carter scored 18 points and added six boards, five assists, a steal and block.

SG - James Anderson, Philadelphia 76ers (vs. MIL), $4,300: Anderson has played at least 30 minutes in each of his past three games. In those games, Anderson has knocked down eight treys to go along with seven steals.

SF - Andre Iguodala, Golden State Warriors (at DET), $5,300: Iggy has had back-to-back strong performances. In those two games, he has averaged 9.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 2.5 steals.

SF - Matt Barnes, Los Angeles Clippers (at NO), $4,200: Barnes followed up a strong Friday performance (15 points and seven boards) with an even better outing against the Thunder on Sunday. Barnes had 24 points, seven rebounds, two steals and assist in OKC on Sunday.

SF - Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors (at DET), $3,700: With David Lee (flu) expected to miss tonight's game, it should more minutes for Green again. With Lee out on Saturday, Green had the second double-double (career-high 18 points with 10 rebounds) of his career and added three steals and two assists in 38 minutes.

PF - John Henson, Milwaukee Bucks (at PHI), $5,600: Henson has played 25 minutes (or less) in each of his past two games, but he has the potential on any given night for big numbers if given the minutes. With both Larry Sanders and Ekpe Udoh out, Henson (and the Bucks) get a great matchup against the Sixers.

That said, if you're looking for bargains in order to load up with studs, this is the star-studded position for Monday night. In addition to Melo being the most expensive option, the next two highest-priced options tonight are power forwards as well: Blake Griffin ($9,900) and Anthony Davis ($9,800).

PF - Kris Humphries, Boston Celtics (at UTA), $4,100: With Jared Sullinger (concussion) out on Saturday, it appears that he won't play on Monday either. With Sullinger out on Saturday, Humphries took advantage: 19 points, eight boards, four dimes, two blocks and two steals in 36 minutes.

PF - Arnett Moultrie, Philadelphia 76ers (vs. MIL), $3,800: A former first-round pick, Moultrie got 31 minutes on Friday. With Spencer Hawes in Cleveland, Moultrie should continue to get extended minutes and put up roughly 20 fantasy points as a low-priced option.

C - Tyson Chandler, New York Knicks (vs. DAL), $5,500: Chandler has scored a total of 80.8 fantasy points in his past two games. While I wouldn't count on another 23-rebound performance like he had on Saturday, a double-double (plus) with a couple of blocks is close to a sure thing.

C - Enes Kanter, Utah Jazz (vs. BOS), $5,400: Frustration! That's probably the word best used to describe the emotion most experienced by Kanter's fantasy owners. That said, Kanter is getting minutes with Derrick Favors currently sidelined. In his past three games, Kanter has played 33-plus minutes each game. Not only does he have two double-doubles in that span, but he has scored 25 points in back-to-back games.

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If you play in full-season leagues, check out my rest-of-season Fantasy NBA rankings or my waiver-wire post from yesterday.

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John Henson (foot) to miss Pelicans' game

Bucks power forward John Henson stepped awkwardly on the foot of Zaza Pachulia in the fourth quarter of Monday's game against the Celtics and did not return.

At a minimum, Henson won't be available to play on Wednesday night against the Pelicans, according to Andrew Gruman of Fox Sports Wisconsin.

In addition to Henson, the Bucks will also be without Ekpe Udoh, Larry Sanders, O.J. Mayo and Caron Butler on Wednesday.

This will be the 12th game that Henson has missed since Dec. 21st.

It's unclear whether Henson will be able to return directly after the All-Star Break or if he will miss more time.  When asked about Henson's return, Gruman responded, "Unknown yet. He's getting checked out today."

Over 40 games this season, Henson is averaging 11.9 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game.