Injuries and ever-changing rotations are the only guarantee in the NBA, which makes finding value in DFS contests a difficult task. Yet, if you look close enough, there’s plenty of hidden gems available to slot into your lineups. Here are three players from Thursday’s thirteen-game slate that are being slept on.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $200K Fadeaway [$50K to 1st]
C Nic Claxton, Brooklyn Nets ($5,500)
Despite their 10-16 record, the Nets have been surprisingly competitive this season. Much of the focus from first-year head coach Jordi Fernandez has come on the defensive end, where the team is 15th in points allowed to opponents (113.3). In theory, that should make a rim protector like Nic Claxton a key piece on an otherwise depleted roster. However, the big man has only played 25.2 minutes per game, his lowest total in over two years.
In defense of Brooklyn, the coaching staff has opted to play it safe with their center, easing him into action after a back injury he initially suffered this summer. Since Claxton returned to the starting lineup in December, the numbers have improved. Over his past six games, the sixth-year pro is averaging 12.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks on 57.9% shooting from the field. Those numbers should only go up tonight against a Raptors team missing starting center Jakob Poeltl.
SG/SF Julian Champagnie, San Antonio Spurs ($5,400)
The Spurs have managed to stay in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race, even with injuries to some of their top scorers. Among San Antonio’s pleasant surprises has been Julian Champagnie. The former St. John’s star had served as a depth piece for most of his career, playing just under 20 minutes per game last year. That’s changed this season, as the wing has put up an impressive 12.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists through 26 games.
Champagnie’s shooting splits aren’t the most impressive (42.9/35.6/90.0), but he’s become more comfortable from beyond the arc. The 23-year-old has taken over nine three-pointers per game this month, up from his season-long mark of 7.3 attempts. That could lead to plenty of points against a Hawks defense that ranks last in the NBA in three-pointers made (15.7) and three-pointers attempted (41.5). Having taken more than ten shots in each of his last eight appearances, look for Champagnie to let the ball fly from deep.
PF/C Obi Toppin, Indiana Pacers ($4,700)
Obi Toppin has always been a difficult player to figure out. The talent and athleticism are undeniable, but the former lottery pick has struggled to find a role for himself over half a decade in the NBA. However, the 26-year-old has shined as a sixth man for the Pacers this season, pushing the pace in head coach Rick Carlisle’s uptempo offense. Through 26 games, he’s posted 10.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists on 54.8% shooting (35.8% 3PT).
Recently, Toppin has taken his game to another level, averaging 15.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists over his last seven outings. The timing of this hot streak lines up perfectly for tonight’s matchup against a Phoenix team giving up the third-most DK fantasy points to opposing power forwards. In a potential shootout against a Suns squad with depth issues, look for Indiana’s second-unit scorer to lead the charge on Thursday.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $200K Fadeaway [$50K to 1st]
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is barmy) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
