NBA Daily Punts: November 22, 2013
When I construct my NBA lineups, I usually start by taking a look at players with low salaries that will allow me to pay for a few top tier players. Most DFS lineups will consist of 2-3 value plays each night, depending on the site, and this article will act as a guide on which players to keep an eye on as the day moves along. As we all know with NBA, injury news will continue to pour in as we inch closer to tip-off, so check out the RotoGrinders Twitter Feed as roster lock approaches.
In order to be considered a “punt,” a player must meet Bargain Bin Baller status on either Fanduel (5500), Draftstreet (8500) or Draftkings (4500). I will typically make a note of which site a particular player is best suited for.
Guards
Luke Ridnour – He stole the starting PG job from Nate Wolters in Wednesday’s game against Portland, and was pretty productive in the 30 minutes he played. Ridnour is more of an offensive force than Wolters, and the Bucks are in desperate need of any kind of scoring considering they rank 28th in points per game. Ridnour’s 13 points on Wednesday actually led the team, and at least until Brandon Knight returns (he’s listed as doubtful for tonight), Ridnour will be a key piece for Milwaukee. He is very affordable across the board and is a safe play in H2H or 50/50 formats. The match-up with the Sixers is just icing on the cake.
Shaun Livingston – Deron Williams has already been ruled out for tonight, which automatically puts Livingston in play. He played an average of 33 minutes in the three games that D-Will missed prior to re-injuring his ankle on Wednesday, so you can expect that kind of playing time again tonight. In his three starts this season, he’s managed 35, 26 and 30 fantasy points (FD scoring), which is pretty solid production from a guy priced at just 4700. It’ll be tough for the Nets to hang with the T’Wolves tonight, but Livingston should still see enough run to make him a worthwhile selection.
Also receiving consideration: Kyle Korver, Jodie Meeks, Trey Burke (he’s at 4600 on DK, but he’s expected to play more minutes tonight and would be an even bigger factor if Gordon Hayward ends up sitting out.)
Forwards
Martell Webster – He’s probably not going to win you a GPP, but he’s seeing big minutes with Trevor Ariza on the shelf and has been contributing nicely. I haven’t been shy about playing him since he’s been starting, and I’ll continue to do it until Ariza returns. He’s averaging almost 40 minutes a game in his last four and he gets an extra boost on sites which award a bonus for 3-point FG’s. Don’t overpay for him on a full schedule but if his price hasn’t risen too high yet, plug him in.
Miles Plumlee – Plumlee is a nightly threat for a double-double and the match-up with Charlotte should only help to make that a reality. Al Jefferson will be in the lineup tonight, which is actually a good thing for Plumlee as Jefferson is not a good interior defender. The former Duke Blue Devil is regularly seeing 30 minutes a night, and I see him paying off his 5400 salary this evening on Fanduel.
Andray Blatche – Brook Lopez has been ruled out tonight, and the Nets should be pretty shorthanded tonight against Minnesota. This could mean big minutes for Blatche, who always seems to produce when he’s given the chance. He put up 25 and 7 in just 29 minutes in Wednesday’s game against Charlotte, and his price on Fanduel hasn’t shifted (he’s still just 4700), so feel free to let him loose again tonight if you want to save at PF.
Also receiving consideration: Jared Sullinger, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Marcus Morris, Corey Brewer, Caron Butler
Center
DeJuan Blair – It pains me to list him here as he burned me pretty bad the other night, but you can’t argue with his production in limited minutes so far this year. I’ll preface this pick by saying that I’m much more in favor of spending at center tonight and saving on different positions, but if you feel differently than Blair could pay off a low salary tonight. His minutes have dwindled recently but if he can get back into the 25 minute range, he should be able to pay off his salary on DraftKings and Fanduel.
Channing Frye – He’s not your prototypical big man, but he can have a big game if he gets hot from three-point land. Frye’s minutes have been fluctuating and he had a bad performance in the Sun’s last game against Sacramento, but he could be worth a flier in a GPP lineup or two against a bad Charlotte front-court.
Also receiving consideration: Gustavo Ayon