While there is plenty of star power on display in Monday’s NBA playoff games, the Knicks, Pacers, Nuggets and Timberwolves do have some tremendous role players who have stepped up in a big way to elevate their teams. We’ll go through which rotation guys are going to make the best value plays for DFS managers.
In NBA DFS, you can find quality value plays $5K or under that can give you a quick 10 points off the bench, grab some rebounds, or stuff the stat sheet. We are going to provide you with three players that you need to put in your lineup.
T.J. McConnell, Pacers, $4,400
Guys like Andrew Nembhard ($5,000) and Aaron Nesmith ($4,800) might get more playing time but McConnell has carved out a nice role for himself in this rotation. He’s coming off a massive performance in Game 6 against the Bucks where he logged 44.5 fantasy points. McConnell is consistently one of the first guys off the bench for the Pacers, and he could see more playing time if Tyrese Haliburton’s back spasms act up. I like him as a value add at a slightly lower price point that Nembhard and Nesmith.
Naz Reid, Timberwolves, $4,300
It can be easy to get caught up in the hype of Reid’s fourth-quarter performance in Game 1 against the Nuggets. However, this price point is a bit confusing given the forward’s consistent role in this rotation. Reid won Sixth Man of the Year and has showcased his versatility already in this series. He’s coming off a nice showing in Game 1 with 27 fantasy points and I think he’s an automatic addition to your lineup at this price tag.
Mitchell Robinson, Knicks, $4,000
The big man avoided a major injury in his mix-up with Joel Embiid and appears to be finally getting back to his usual self. Robinson combined for 39.6 fantasy points in Games 5 and 6 against the 76ers, playing 43 combined minutes. He should have better matchups against Indiana’s second unit, which doesn’t feature as much size as Philadelphia. The Pacers rank 17th in fantasy points allowed to opposing centers, so Robinson is worth rostering at $4k.
Christian Braun, Nuggets, $3,500
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope ($4,600) has been more productive but the Nuggets have issues on their bench in this particular matchup. Braun is the most likely candidate to break out, and he did give the team good minutes at the end of Game 1. His playing time has been inconsistent but he’s capable of big showings, highlighted by a 45-fantasy point effort in the final game of the regular season. I see Braun getting more run in this contest and in turn, providing DFS managers a strong fantasy showing at a low cost.