A six-game, 12-team NBA slate is on tap for Thursday. Plenty of stars are set to take the floor, but there’s also several under the radar names worth watching. In other words, there’s value to be had for fantasy basketball managers. Here are three players that are being slept on tonight in DFS contests.
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PF/C Wendell Carter Jr., Orlando Magic ($5,300)
An offensively starved Magic squad relies heavily on stars Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner as scorers. Backing anyone else on this roster can be difficult, especially with Jalen Suggs injured. Wendell Carter Jr. is a prime example of Orlando’s inconsistent production. Despite losing minutes to backup Goga Bitadze earlier in the season, WCJ has caught fire recently. Over his last eight games, the center has recorded 10.1 points and 9.4 rebounds while shooting 46.9% from the field.
Those numbers aren’t spectacular, but double-double potential isn’t something to sneeze at. The big man will have an advantageous matchup on Thursday against his old team. This season, the Bulls have allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing centers. Chicago will likely be without Nikola Vucevic (calf), forcing poor defender Zach Collins into its starting lineup. Carter Jr. should have no trouble producing tonight against a depleted front court.
PG/SG Andrew Nembhard, Indiana Pacers ($5,000)
Under head coach Rick Carlisle, the Pacers have built their identity on pushing the pace. That makes high-energy role players such as Andrew Nembhard a perfect fit for Indiana. The Canadian will never be an NBA star, but he’s emerged as one of basketball’s better role players. This season, he’s averaged 10.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game (24.1 FPTS). Opportunistic defense (1.3 STL) has only boosted the guard’s fantasy floor.
Heading into a potential shootout tonight, Nembhard is seriously undervalued at just $5,000. Indiana’s opponent, the Hawks, have surrendered the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing shooting guards. In addition, Atlanta has coughed up the fifth-most points (118.8) and sixth-most assists (28.6) per game. The Pacers will likely keep their better perimeter defenders on the court to slow down Trae Young. That would give Nembhard a solid workload on both ends of the court in Thursday’s contest.
PF Dillon Brooks, Houston Rockets ($4,700)
The enigma that is Dillon Brooks can be a source of frustration, for both opposing teams and Rockets fans. However, the infamous pest is still capable of delivering a terrific stat line. Over 58 starts this season, the forward has posted 13.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 0.8 steals (23.6 FPTS). Those scoring numbers have been made possible by a career-best 38.8% three-point percentage.
Tuesday was not kind to Brooks, as he shot just 4-of-16 from the field vs. Indiana. However, prior to that performance, he notched at least 30 fantasy points in five of his last eight appearances. Houston faces an atrocious Pelicans squad tonight, allowing the ninth-most fantasy points to power forwards this season. When Brooks last played New Orleans on December 19th, he accounted for 26 points and seven rebounds (42.25 FPTS). Anything that comes close to that on Thursday would make the veteran a value play in any fantasy lineup.
