NBA Daily Punts: January 7th, 2014
When I start building my lineups, I like to look for a few low salary options that should have no trouble exceeding value. On most days, there will be a few injuries that open up opportunities for players who don’t typically see big minutes. A change in a teams rotation or a particular match-up can also be the cause of a value play emerging. As we all know, NBA injury news continues to pour in as the day moves along and is not usually made official until close to tip-off, so be sure to sign up for our NBA alerts and check out the RotoGrinders Twitter Feed leading up to roster lock.
In order to be considered a “punt,” a player must meet Bargain Bin Baller status on either FanDuel ($5500), DraftStreet ($9500) or DraftKings ($4500). I’ll typically make a note of which site a particular player is best suited for.
Guards
Dion Waiters – Jarrett Jack has already been ruled out for tonight, and Kyrie Irving status is still up in the air. Even if Uncle Drew gives it a go, I still like Waiters to produce nicely against a Sixers team that’s 28th against shooting guards on the season. As we all know, the Sixers play at an extremely fast pace and are defensively inept, which makes their opponent a popular target each and every night they play. If Irving ends up sitting, Waiters is a great option for $5200 on FanDuel, 8.5K on DraftStreet and $5500 on DraftKings, but he’s in play regardless due to the opponent and Jarrett Jack already being ruled out. The Sixers give up way too many open looks from beyond the arc, so if Waiters gets his shot to fall early he could be in for a big night.
Jodie Meeks – With all of the injuries to the Lakers back-court, Meeks has admirably stepped in and makes a nice play again tonight against the Mavericks. He’s starting at shooting guard but will also see some time at point guard when Kendall Marshall needs a rest, so he’ll have plenty of opportunities to rack up fantasy points. Meeks is locked into major minutes and should be matched up with Monta Ellis early on, which is a match-up he should be able to take advantage of. He’s a safe H2H-50/50 play for just $5200 on FanDuel and $4700 on DraftKings.
Gerald Green – With Eric Bledsoe on the shelf for the time being, Gerald Green will start at shooting guard and although the match-up with Jimmy Butler is tough, he should still be able to return value for $4500 on DraftKings. Green is a good shooter from deep (and DK awards a bonus for 3PT makes) and has been racking up steals at a high rate, so it’s hard for me to get away from him tonight even though I’m not a fan choosing players against the Bulls. I would be surprised if Green doesn’t return value on DK tonight, and his G/F eligibility only adds to his value for tonight and allows you to spend bigger on another position.
Also receiving consideration: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Iman Shumpert, C.J. Miles, Terrence Ross, Nate Robinson, Matthew Dellavedova (if Kyrie Irving sits)
Forwards
Taj Gibson – It doesn’t look like Carlos Boozer is going to play tonight, which along with the absence of Luol Deng makes Gibson a great play across the board this evening. Gibson is a solid bet for a double-double with a few blocks/steals/assists mixed in when he plays big minutes, which he should tonight. He’ll be pretty heavily owned on sites like DraftStreet and FanDuel, but that doesn’t mean he’s not worth rostering. Check for confirmation on Boozer’s status closer to game-time, but it seems unlikely that he suits up. Mike Dunleavy and Jimmy Butler also make nice plays with Deng out of town.
Brandon Bass – His minutes have been fluctuating recently which is concerning, but Bass played well last time these teams met and Denver’s front-court is not very intimidating for opposing big-men. Jared Sullinger is banged up and it’s showing on the court recently, and Kris Humphries (who has been eating up PF minutes off the bench) missed practice today and may sit out tonight. If Humphries does sit, Bass should play 30+ minutes and would return value for just $4500 on DraftKings.
Earl Clark – This play is catered towards DraftKings and DraftStreet, where Clark would become a very interesting punt play if he gets the start tonight against Philly. It’s common practice at this point to roster a few players matched up with the 76ers, so why not roster Clark for near minimum price and spend up for a few guys in the Portland/Sacramento game? Check closer to game-time to make sure he’s starting, and if he is you have to seriously consider him if you need a bottom of the barrel play.
Also receiving consideration: Shawn Marion (his status is still up in the air), Mike Dunleavy, Kawhi Leonard, Trevor Booker, Chris Douglas-Roberts
Centers
Marcin Gortat – I don’t really like him when salary isn’t being considered, but he hasn’t been priced this low on FanDuel ($5500) all season. His minutes have went from the mid-30’s to the mid-20’s, which has really killed his value over the past two weeks. Al Jefferson is not a steady defender, so if Gortat gets it going early he could get back to his 30+ minutes, but the front-court is a little more crowded with Trevor Booker playing well.
Amare Stoudemire – Tyson Chandler is doubtful for tonight’s game, which would open up more playing time for a guy like Stoudemire in a matchup with a big Pistons front-court. While they are a talented group of big-men, they aren’t all that effective on the defensive end, so if he can get some extra run, Stoudemire would have no trouble paying off his $3500 price tag on DraftKings (where he’s center eligible). He doesn’t come without risk, but the upside is certainly there for the price.