Daily Fantasy Basketball: FanDuel Values for March 16th

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 and Thunder SF Kevin Durant ($11,800) have 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 16th) FanDuel leagues:

PG - Darren Collison, Los Angeles Clippers (vs. CLE), $5,700: Even though Chris Paul ($9,400) has the highest salary among point guards today, you could argue that he is a "value" as well. Only the Sixers have allowed more fantasy points to opposing point guards this season. If Jamal Crawford returns from injury tonight, that subtracts a little of the value from Collison but he's worth consideration in Sunday FanDuel leagues.

PG - Trey Burke, Utah Jazz (at SAS), $5,600: In his past three games, Burke has played 35-plus minutes and scored 25-plus fantasy points in each game. During that three-game span, he has averaged 20.33 points and 4.67 assists per game. The Spurs have allowed the 11th-most fantasy points to opposing point guards this season.

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

SG - Dion Waiters, Cleveland Cavaliers (at LAC), $5,200: Against the Warriors on Friday, Waiters scored 18 points in 31 minutes and added four assists for 25.2 fantasy points. This season, the Clippers have allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to opposing shooting guards.

SG - Gary Neal, Charlotte Bobcats (at MIL), $3,800: On the other sides of sitting out a game for disciplinary actions, Neal has scored 19 points and added four assists on March 10th and March 14th. In his past two games played, Neal has averaged 26.9 fantasy points per game.

SF - Matt Barnes, Los Angeles Clippers (vs. CLE), $5,600: After averaging 38.77 fantasy points per game over a three-game stretch, Barnes has cooled off with an average of 22.13 FPPG over his past four. That said, Barnes has a very favorable matchup on Sunday. Only the Sixers and Lakers have allowed more fantasy points to opposing small forwards this season.

SF - Jeff Adrien, Milwaukee Bucks (vs. CHA), $4,600: This month, Adrien has a 43.0-point fantasy performance (March 7th) and a 0.2-point performance (March 10th). That said, his minutes and fantasy production has been more consistent over his past three games with 20.9-plus fantasy points in each of those games. During that span, he has averaged 11.33 points, 6.67 rebounds, a block and a steal per game.

SF - Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors (at POR), $4,400: Green has scored at least 20 fantasy points in three consecutive games and in six of his past seven games. In his past three games, Green is averaging 11.33 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.33 assists and 1.33 steals per game.

SF - Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Charlotte Bobcats (at MIL), $3,700: Kidd-Gilchrist has had productive outings in back-to-back games with 24.9 and 24.3 fantasy points, respectively. In those two games, he has averaged 10.0 points, 10.5 rebounds and a block per game. Today he faces the Bucks, who have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing small forwards.

PF - Amir Johnson, Toronto Raptors (vs. PHO), $5,700: Johnson is a lock for 20-something fantasy points, but he has scored 36-plus fantasy points in two of his past three games. Over his past three games, he has averaged 16.0 points, 7.33 boards, 1.67 blocks and 2.0 steals per game.

PF - Kris Humphries, Boston Celtics (at NOP), $4,900: Despite playing no more than 27 minutes, Humphries has scored at 26 fantasy points in four consecutive games and has two double-doubles in that span. The Pelicans have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing power forwards this season.

PF - Josh McRoberts, Charlotte Bobcats (at MIL), $4,900: McBob has scored 20-plus fantasy points in three consecutive games and in five of his past six. The Bucks have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing power forwards this season.

C - Spencer Hawes, Cleveland Cavaliers (at LAC), $6,700: At roughly the average cost per starter, Hawes is an above-average option on Sunday. Hawes is averaging 30.1 fantasy points this season, but he has at least 43 fantasy points in two of his past three games. During that three-game span, Hawes is averaging 20.67 points, 9.67 boards, 2.67 assists and 1.33 blocks per game. The Clips have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing centers this season.

C - Enes Kanter, Utah Jazz (at SAS), $5,800: Kanter, the third-overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, has failed to get the minutes that his fantasy owners have thought he deserved, but that has changed recently. In eight games this month, he has played 25-plus minutes seven times and a month-high 42 minutes on Friday. Kanter has four double-doubles this month including in three of his past four games.

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.

Hanson: 2012 NBA Mock Draft, 2.0

With just slightly more than a month before the 2012 NBA Draft, I updated the first round of my mock draft.

The NBA lottery will be held on May 30th, which means the order will (likely) change and I will update my mock at that point to reflect that change and then at least weekly until the NBA Draft.

Here is how I see things shaking out:

1. Charlotte Bobcats: Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky

This is such a no-brainer pick that, as Kyle Baillargeon points out in his mock, GM Michael Jordan "can't mess this up."

2. Washington Wizards: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky

Aside from his outside shooting, there are virtually no holes in Kidd-Gilchrist's game. MKG is a tough-minded, versatile defender with good size and strength on the wing. With intangibles, leadership and a great feel for the game, MKG will make his teammates better.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers: Andre Drummond, PF/C, UConn

Drummond has the ability and physical tools to dominate yet the propensity to disappear at times as well. With plenty of upside, Drummond has the size, strength and athleticism to contribute right away on the defensive end but is a work-in-progress on the offensive end.

4. New Orleans Hornets: Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas

Like Drummond, Robinson has good strength, size and athleticism. Unlike Drummond, there is no questioning Robinson's motor and his offensive game is much more advanced.

5. Sacramento Kings: Bradley Beal, SG, Florida

Both of my counterparts -- Kyle Baillargeon (view mock) and Brendan Donahue (view mock) -- have Beal going within the top three picks as do many other sites. If he is still on the board at this spot, Beal gives the Kings a shooter with great range and a good all-around offensive game.

6. Portland Trail Blazers: Austin Rivers, SG, Duke

Rivers, the son of Celtics coach Doc Rivers, can provide the Blazers with instant offense. Many of Portland's guards become free agents or can opt out this year: Nicolas Batum, Jamal Crawford, Raymond Felton and Johnny Flynn.

7. Golden State Warriors: Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina

Barnes did himself no favors in the tournament, but I don't have him slipping as far as Kyle has in his mock. Barnes has plenty of offensive skill, but often settles for jumpers and does not get to the line as much as you would expect for a wing player with his size and strength.

8. Toronto Raptors: John Henson, PF, North Carolina

Although he needs to add strength and bulk to his frame, Henson is an NBA-ready defensive player with the wingspan (7-foot-4) and athleticism to alter, affect and block plenty of shots. He will need to continue to improve his game offensively, however, but he has continued to improve on the offensive end at Carolina.

9. Detroit Pistons: Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State

Returning for his sophomore season means Sullinger will likely be selected (much) lower than he would have been in 2011. While he is not the most athletic player (or tallest for his position), Sullinger has great strength, polished moves in the post and was a dominant rebounder in college.

10. New Orleans Hornets: Jeremy Lamb, SG, UConn

Lamb has all the physical tools to be successful at the next level and he led the Huskies in scoring with the departure of Kemba Walker. That said, Lamb disappeared at times for a team that was a major disappointment given its talent and expectations.

11. Portland Trail Blazers: Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina

A skilled seven-footer, Zeller improved his game in all four seasons in Chapel Hill posting career highs across the board last year: 16.3 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 0.9 steals per game with 55.3 percent from the field and 80.8 percent from the line.

12. Milwaukee Bucks: Perry Jones, PF, Baylor

One of the more naturally-gifted players in the draft, Jones has the length and athleticism you can't coach. On the other hand, Jones has been often criticized, and rightfully so, for his inconsistent motor.

13. Phoenix Suns: Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina

With Steve Nash, the former "MP3," about become a free agent, the Suns may need to find his replacement. Marshall is arguably the best point guard in this year's draft class.

14. Houston Rockets: Terrence Jones, PF, Kentucky

Jones, who was a point guard early in high school, has the versatility to play and defend a variety of positions due to his length and athleticism.

15. Philadelphia 76ers: Arnett Moultrie, PF/C, Mississippi State

After sitting out a year since he transferred from UTEP, Moultrie averaged a double-double (16.4 points and 10.5 rebounds per game) for the Bulldogs last year. Athletic with a high motor, Moultrie would fit well with the athletic Sixers squad.

Click here to see picks 16-30.

For more mock drafts, check out our mock draft database.