Eight games between 16 teams account for Thursday’s featured NBA DFS slate. That gives fantasy basketball managers an assortment of big names when attempting to fill out their lineups. Superstars such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cade Cunningham, and Jalen Johnson are all set to take the court.
Still, fantasy hoops requires more than just chasing after high-end talent. To make it all work under a limited budget, snagging a few underpriced players is a necessity. Finding those values, however? Easier said than done. Here are three bargains to consider in DFS and season-long fantasy formats.
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SG/SF Justin Champagnie, Washington Wizards vs. MIL ($4,800)
Making sense of this Wizards roster is a fool’s errand. There are some intriguing young pieces, and a few notable veterans, but nothing feels coherent. All these players feel fairly similar in terms of talent level, making it difficult to trust one over the other. Justin Champagnie sums this up perfectly. Over his last five games, the wing’s workload has fluctuated between 18 and 32 minutes. Still, when given the opportunity, he’s impressed. This season, the fifth-year pro is averaging 7.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game (18.7 FPTS).
Those numbers, while unimpressive, don’t tell the whole story. Washington has a golden matchup on tap for Thursday, especially in the backcourt. The Bucks are allowing the third-most fantasy points to opposing shooting guards this season. In addition, Milwaukee is without its best defender in Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf). Against such uninspiring competition, Champagnie should find a way to contribute tonight. Even if his minutes are somewhat limited, the guard won’t need to do much in order to justify this price tag.
SF/PF Simone Fontecchio, Miami Heat at CHI ($4,300)
The Heat have been a values list favorite all season, and it’s easy to see why. Erik Spoelstra’s crew plays at the NBA’s quickest pace on offense. It doesn’t take a genius to see how that would lend itself to inflated counting stats. Miami has dealt with injuries all year, and Thursday is no different. Tyler Herro (ribs) and Davion Mitchell (shoulder) are both expected to sit out again tonight. In their absence, Simone Fontecchio has seen increased usage. The forward, known primarily as a sharpshooter, fits the mold of this new-look Heat squad. Through 45 games, he’s recorded 8.8 points on 41/39/80 shooting splits (16.8 FPTS).
In spite of lackluster season-long statistics, Fontecchio has impressed recently. The Italian has notched at least 26.0 fantasy points in five of his previous six outings. That’s despite playing between 19 and 27 minutes during that time. He’ll get an opportunity to deliver once again on Thursday. The Bulls are giving up the tenth-most fantasy points to opposing small forwards. Chicago has also allowed the fifth-most points (119.8) and 11th-most three-pointers made (13.8) to opponents. Factor all that in, and Fontecchio appears poised for another impressive showing tonight.
PF/C Danny Wolf, Brooklyn Nets at DEN ($4,200)
You’re forgiven if you haven’t been catching much Nets basketball this season. Still, there are a few reasons to watch this young, unproven group. Brooklyn made a whopping five selections during last summer’s NBA Draft. One of those picks was used on big man Danny Wolf. The Michigan alum has taken some time adjusting to life in the pros. However, he’s arguably the most NBA-ready rookie on this roster. This season, Wolf is putting up 7.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game (17.8 FPTS).
As an oversized playmaker, Wolf often takes a backseat to his teammates. However, Thursday appears to be an advantageous matchup. The Nuggets are giving up the fifth-most fantasy points per game to power forwards. Denver remains without Nikola Jokic (knee), while Aaron Gordon (hamstring) is also sidelined. For the visitors, forwards Noah Clowney (back) and Ziaire Williams (calf) have already been ruled out. That leaves an abundance of minutes available in Brooklyn’s frontcourt. In each of his last five games with 20+ minutes, Wolf has accumulated at least 22.0 fantasy points. That’s a solid floor for production going into tonight’s showdown.
