:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68779795/1300596199.0.jpg)
The NBA is offering up another big night of fantasy basketball on the eve of the Super Bowl with nine games on the main slate, which locks at 7:00 p.m. on DraftKings. Ten of the 18 teams are on the second day of a back-to-back, so keep a close eye out for any late-breaking injury or availability news that could impact the slate. Let’s take a look at a few of the top studs and values at each position to help you build your DraftKings lineups.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $450K Fadeaway [$100K to 1st]
Point Guard
Stud
Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors at Atlanta Hawks ($8,000) – While Fred VanVleet ($8,400) has been on fire lately and getting plenty of attention, Lowry has also been playing well and comes a little bit cheaper. He had 47.0 DKFP and 54.0 DKFP in back-to-back matchups with the Magic early in the week, and he posted 30 points and 51.75 DKFP in Toronto’s 123-117 win over the Nets on Friday night. Lowry hit six 3-pointers against Brooklyn and has multiple 3-point shots in five straight contests. He has also been staying very busy with a usage rate of at least 20% in each of his past four games.
Lowry brings his good run of production to a great matchup against the Hawks, who have allowed the second-most DKFP to opposing PGs this season. With Trae Young ($9,500; calf) questionable, the Hawks could be stretched very thin at PG, allowing even more potential opportunity for Lowry to deliver elite numbers from his $8K salary.
Other Options – Stephen Curry ($9,700), Dejounte Murray ($6,800)
Value
Kenrich Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Minnesota Timberwolves ($4,200) – The Thunder have multiple issues that could leave them extremely short-handed for this matchup against Minnesota. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($7,400; knee), Luguentz Dort ($4,700; knee) and Theo Maledon ($5,300; health protocols) were all sidelined Friday, and Al Horford ($6,500) usually sits out the second game of back-to-backs. Without all those options, Williams got his first start of the season and played 36 minutes on Friday and scored nine points to go with four rebounds, two assists, two steals and 20 DKFP. If he gets similar run in this rematch, he should be able to perform even better and comes with very nice upside at this price point.
Other Options – Cole Anthony ($5,700), Donte DiVincenzo ($5,000), Rajon Rondo ($4,100)
Shooting Guard
Stud
James Harden, Brooklyn Nets at Philadelphia 76ers, ($10,700) – It was a wild ride for the Nets and Kevin Durant last night who was in and out of the health and safety protocols multiple times even after the game vs. the Raptors started. Ultimately, Durant is expected to be sidelined for this game against the Sixers, which gives a huge boost to Harden’s usage. Since joining the Nets, Harden has become quite a playmaker since joining his new team, and he may take a special glee in sticking it to the Sixers, who came up second in the bidding to acquire him from Houston.
Over his past four games, Harden has been averaging 13 assists to go with his 24 points per game and produced over 60 DKFP three times. He did only take eight shots last night against the Raptors, but with Durant out for this whole game, Harden’s usage and shot attempts should pick back up in an uptempo contest against Philadelphia, which is an above-average matchup for the SG position.
Other Options – Zach LaVine ($8,600), D’Angelo Russell ($7,200)
Value
Bruce Brown, Brooklyn Nets at Philadelphia 76ers ($3,500) – Brown is the other big beneficiary of Durant’s absence since he usually steps into the starting lineup with KD out. After starting in place of Durant and taking over after Durant was ruled out in the second half, Brown finished with more shot attempts in Friday night’s game than Harden and scored 13 points in 25 minutes as part of his 25.0-DKFP performance. He has over 22 DKFP in three of his past four games, and as long as he gets to around that level again in this one he’ll be a great bargain play at this salary.
Other Options – Eric Gordon ($5,800), De’Anthony Melton ($4,800)
Small Forward
Stud
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers vs. Detroit Pistons ($10,300) – While LeBron continues to show up on every injury report with his bum ankle, he doesn’t seem to be slowed down at all once the game tips off. He had a triple-double in his most recent game with 27 points, 10 boards, 10 assists and 61.0 DKFP against the Nuggets in 35 minutes. He is averaging a ridiculous 1.4 fantasy points per minute on the season and has been over 1.1 DKFP per minute in eight straight contests. One of those games was in this same matchup that he gets again with the Pistons, when he produced 1.4 DKFP per minute and hit for over 50 DKFP on 22 points, 10 assists and seven boards. With the Lakers at home, LeBron should be a good play again as he continues to carry plenty of usage for the champs.
Other Options – DeMar DeRozan ($7,200), Jerami Grant ($7,100)
Value
Hamidou Diallo, Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Minnesota Timberwolves ($5,900) – Another player stepping up for the Thunder due to all their injury issues has been Diallo, who logged 37 minutes against the Timberwolves and had 36.0 DKFP on 16 points, 10 assists and a pair of rebounds. In his previous matchup, he started alongside Maledon and had nine rebounds to go with 16 points and finished with 31.75 DKFP. Whether he does his work at PG again or slides over, he should stay involved enough to be a good play under $6K as long as everyone doesn’t return all at once for the Thunder, which seems very unlikely.
Other Options – Jae’Sean Tate ($5,000), Juan Toscano-Anderson ($4,200)
Power Forward
Stud
Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans vs. Memphis Grizzlies ($8,400) – Zion is in a smash spot against the short-handed Grizzlies on Saturday night, who are expected to get Jonas Valanciunas ($7,100) back, but he will likely be on a minutes limit in his first game in three weeks. Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee) is still out and Brandon Clarke ($5,900; calf) is questionable as well, which could leave Memphis without a great matchup against Zion.
Williamson has done a great job diversifying his production this season, averaging 6.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.0 steals to go with his 23.0 points per game over his past seven contests. His usage rate over that stretch has been over 25% and he has an 11.0% rebound percentage and 20.4% assist percentage over that stretch. His shooting percentage and scoring have been up and down, but he has reached over 40 DKFP in five of those contests and I think he’ll be able to take advantage of his mismatch with Memphis in this contest.
Other Options – Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,000), Thaddeus Young ($6,600)
Value
Isaiah Roby, Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Minnesota Timberwolves ($3,700) – Yeah, a Thunder stack feels weird, but it’s hard to argue with the value they bring across the board in this matchup. Roby has shown good value when given extended run this season, and he could be in for a ton of work if Horford takes the night off. Last night, Roby started and played 33 minutes against Minnesota, producing 34.25 DKFP on 11 points, seven rebounds, three assists, three steals and three blocks. In his eight starts, he has reached 24.0 DKFP seven times while averaging 12.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game on a 19.1% usage rate. Whether he starts next to Horford or in place of the veteran, he’s a must-play at under $4K.
Other Options – Bobby Portis ($5,600), Maxi Kleber ($3,900)
Center
Stud
Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic vs. Chicago Bulls ($8,900) – Vooch exploded for a career-high 43 points against the Bulls just last night, making 17-of-29 shots to go with 19 rebounds, four assists and a blocked shot on his way to 77.75 DKFP. His price only went up a few hundred and he has reached at least 40 DKFP in 10 of his past 11 games, so the risk of a bust is very low. He has been getting extra usage while Aaron Gordon (ankle) is out, and the Bulls are still short-handed without Wendell Carter Jr. (quad). The Bulls had no answers for Vucevic on Friday, and I don’t think they’ll have a solution Saturday either, allowing Vucevic to pick up where he left off and serve as a great play once again.
Other Options – Joel Embiid ($10,500), DeMarcus Cousins ($6,300)
Value
Jakob Poeltl, San Antonio Spurs at Houston Rockets ($5,800) – Poeltl stepped in for LaMarcus Aldridge (hip) on Wednesday and should be in line for another busy night against the Rockets. In his 34 minutes against Minnesota, Poeltl shot an uber-efficient 9-of-10 from the field for a season-high 19 points to go along with eight rebounds, four blocks and a steal on his way to 40 DKFP. He has averaged 9.5 points and 6.8 rebounds in his 25.6 minutes per game as a starter, and he should be a very solid mid-range target against the Rockets, who will be without Christian Wood (ankle) in their frontcourt. Get some Poeltl power in your lineup if you go with a value center or stack up a pair of big men using that UTIL spot.
Other Options – Eric Paschall ($4,200), Mike Muscala ($3,800)
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $450K Fadeaway [$100K to 1st]
Put your knowledge to the test. Sign up for DraftKings and experience the game inside the game.
For sports betting, head over to DraftKings Sportsbook or download the DraftKings Sportsbook app.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is mlamarca) 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 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.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL).
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER(NJ/WV/PA/MI), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (NH/CO), 1-800-BETS OFF(IA), 1-888-532-3500 (VA) or call/text TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN).
21+ (18+ NH). CO/IL/IN/IA/NH/NJ/PA/TN/VA/WV/MI only. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for full terms and conditions.