A nine-game NBA slate is on tap to tip off the second half of the season on Thursday. Plenty of stars are set to take the floor, but there’s also several under the radar names worth watching. That means there’s value to be had for fantasy basketball managers. Here are three players that are being slept on tonight in DFS contests.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $400K Return From Break Special [$100K to 1st]
PF/C Precious Achiuwa, New York Knicks ($5,700)
An already thin Knicks rotation will be without Josh Hart due to a knee injury. It’s another blow to a roster already without wing O.G. Anunoby (foot) and center Mitchell Robinson (ankle). In the absence of several contributors, New York will need Precious Achiuwa to step up. The backup big man has had a decent season, averaging 7.1 points and 6.0 rebounds through 33 games (19.6 FPTS).
The last time Achiuwa suited up, he dropped 26 points and eight rebounds against the Hawks on February 12th. While another season-high in scoring is wishful thinking, the fifth-year pro could enjoy another solid outing on Thursday. The Bulls enter tonight’s contest having allowed the most points in the paint (55.9) and the third-most rebounds (55.1) per game. Without Anunoby and Hart, the only other Knicks player that can flirt with 10+ rebounds is Karl-Anthony Towns. Achiuwa has a clear path to 30+ minutes, making him a double-double threat against Chicago’s weak front court.
PF/C Jeremy Sochan, San Antonio Spurs ($4,500)
Victor Wembanyama’s season is over due to a blood clot, leaving the Spurs in disarray without their young superstar. San Antonio’s dreams of reaching the play-in are over in a deep Western Conference, but the team does have plenty to play for. Figuring out which players are best suited to co-exist around the former Rookie of the Year takes priority in the second half. In that regard, the jury is still out on Jeremy Sochan. The Baylor alum has battled injuries and inconsistent performance all season, making it difficult to figure out his role. Through 33 games, the forward has posted 11.7 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists while shooting 54.5% from the field (26.9 FPTS).
After playing just 13 minutes against the Celtics last week, it was fair to wonder if Sochan was being phased out of San Antonio’s rotation. Now that Wembanyama is gone, those concerns can likely be put to rest. The Spurs will need every big man they have, even a 6’8″ ‘tweener’ that often played guard last season. Tonight’s matchup with the Suns is promising; Phoenix has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing power forwards. At just $4,500, this could be a potential steal for fantasy managers.
SG/SF Aaron Nesmith, Indiana Pacers ($3,700)
Everyone knows the Pacers are designed to put up points in a hurry. While Indiana may have slowed things down slightly this season, the team is still generating the ninth-most points per game (116.0). However, one player on this roster without a significant role on offense is Aaron Nesmith. The fifth-year wing is utilized more as a defender, putting most of his effort into stopping opposing guards. This season, the 25-year-old has averaged 7.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.7 steals per game (15.6 FPTS).
Given his limitations on offense, it’s tough to trust Nesmith in most fantasy basketball formats. An exception might need to be made for tonight’s contest with the high-octane Grizzlies. Memphis is playing at the NBA’s fastest pace, leading to several shootouts this season. After starting each of Indiana’s last two outings, Nesmith might be gaining some trust with head coach Rick Carlisle. In a game that will see plenty of scoring, a solid two-way presence might be needed for the Pacers.
