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NBA Grind Down: Monday, March 7th

by Derek Farnsworth (Notorious) Last Updated 2016-03-10 03:26:33

Welcome to the RotoGrinders NBA Grind Down. In this all-encompassing preview of today’s NBA action, every game will be broken down statistically, with several key elements highlighted in our charts.

Vegas lines are broken down to show projected team totals, to give you an idea of who is favored to win, and often more importantly, how many points they’re expected to score. We also provide pace numbers, so you can spot a game that might have a few extra possessions and more opportunities for fantasy points.

We also provide position-by-position matchup rankings for every team, to give you an idea of the players who will be in better situations to succeed. Using Defense versus Position data, every projected starter is listed along with his opponent’s rank in points allowed to players of his position. These color-coded charts will help you spot the best matchups of the night at a glance.

Every game is also broken down by our NBA experts, providing an overview of the game and a selection of players to consider from each contest.

Note: As always, if you want to try a new DFS site, be sure to click through a RotoGrinders link and use our DraftKings promo code and FanDuel promo code to receive the best perks in the industry.

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Minnesota Timberwolves at Charlotte Hornets – 7:00 PM

Minnesota Timberwolves Charlotte Hornets
minnesotanba Vegas Total 214.0 charlottenba Vegas Total 214.0
Vegas Sprd 9.0 Vegas Sprd -9.0
Team Proj. 102.5 Team Proj. 111.5
Team Pace 97.30 Team Pace 97.70
Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks and Projected Starters Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks and Projected Starters
DvP Rks PG SG SF PF C DvP Rks PG SG SF PF C
Proj. Starter Ricky Rubio Zach LaVine Andrew Wiggins Gorgui Dieng Karl-Anthony Towns Proj. Starter Kemba Walker Courtney Lee Nicolas Batum Marvin Williams Cody Zeller
Opp. Season 11 12 23 22 10 Opp. Season 19 23 20 9 7
Last 3 Weeks 3 8 29 11 8 Last 3 Weeks 13 29 30 13 3

Minnesota Timberwolves

Record: 20-43 — Road: 9-22 — Last 10: 4-6

The Wolves have lost six of their last ten games, but have been a viable team to target recently in DFS. Tonight they head to Charlotte to take on the Hornets in a game that features a total of 214 points. The Wolves are projected to score 102.5 points, which is one point above their scoring average on the season.

The Hornets have been better than most realize defensively, ranking ninth in both points allowed per game and defensive efficiency. The Wolves will once again be without Kevin Garnett, Nemanja Bjelica, and Nikola Pekovic. While this is a mediocre matchup for Minnesota, it does feature a 9-point spread.

Elite Plays

Zach LaVine
zach-lavine-300x200 FanDuel: DraftKings:
Salary:$5,500 Salary:$6,000
Position:SG Position:SG
FP/Min:0.83 FP/Min:0.90
Statistics Season Average Last 10 Games Last 10 +/- Last 5 Games Last 5 +/-
Minutes 25.9 35.2 9.3 38.3 12.4
FPPG (FD) 21.6 26.5 4.9 29.6 8.1
TO-Adj. Usage 21.3 17.8 -3.5 18.4 -2.9

LaVine has been a fantasy darling over the last few weeks. In his last ten games, he is averaging 26.5 fantasy points in 35.2 minutes per contest. He has shown that he provides both a high floor and a high ceiling, which makes him a strong play in all league formats. His price is starting to come up across the industry, but he is still one of the top plays at the shooting guard position tonight.

Secondary Plays

Karl-Anthony Towns
karl-anthony-towns-300x200 FanDuel: DraftKings:
Salary:$8,900 Salary:$8,300
Position:C Position:C
FP/Min:1.14 FP/Min:1.23
Statistics Season Average Last 10 Games Last 10 +/- Last 5 Games Last 5 +/-
Minutes 30.8 34.7 3.9 32.2 1.4
FPPG (FD) 35.1 42.3 7.2 41.7 6.6
TO-Adj. Usage 20.1 22.7 2.6 21.6 1.4

Other than the game where Towns was benched for basically the entire second half, he has been in terrific form recently. Over his last ten games, he is averaging 42.3 fantasy points in 34.7 minutes per contest. The crazy part is that his numbers aren’t that far below the likes of DeMarcus Cousins. His matchup against the Hornets is a decent one, but I will probably limit my Towns exposure to GPPs.

Ricky Rubio
ricky-rubio-300x200 FanDuel: DraftKings:
Salary:$6,700 Salary:$6,500
Position:PG Position:PG
FP/Min:0.99 FP/Min:1.05
Statistics Season Average Last 10 Games Last 10 +/- Last 5 Games Last 5 +/-
Minutes 30.6 32.9 2.3 30.8 0.2
FPPG (FD) 30.2 31.2 1.0 28.3 -1.9
TO-Adj. Usage 16.5 15.7 -0.7 17.2 0.7

Rubio has seen a minutes boost over his last ten games, which has led to a nice boost in fantasy production. During that stretch, he is averaging 31.2 fantasy points in 32.9 minutes per contest. While the Hornets have been decent against point guards this season, Kemba Walker is not a shutdown defender. If the Wolves can keep this close, Rubio will have a good chance at paying off his reasonable salary.

Charlotte Hornets

Record: 33-28 — Home: 21-9 — Last 10: 8-2

The Hornets have been playing some great ball recently, winning eight of their last ten gams. They draw a favorable matchup tonight against the Wolves at home. The Hornets are projected to score 111.5 points, which is the second highest team total on the board. Charlotte also has the second highest projected point differential at +9.2.

The Wolves have really struggled defensively this season, ranking 25th in points allowed per game and 27th in defensive efficiency. The Hornets’ frontcourt continues to be a tough one to predict. With Al Jefferson healthy and playing limited minutes, it has been tough to predict their production on an individual level. For now, I will continue to avoid their bigs.

Elite Plays

Kemba Walker
kemba-walker-300x200 FanDuel: DraftKings:
Salary:$8,700 Salary:$8,000
Position:PG Position:PG
FP/Min:1.01 FP/Min:1.07
Statistics Season Average Last 10 Games Last 10 +/- Last 5 Games Last 5 +/-
Minutes 36.0 37.4 1.4 36.6 0.6
FPPG (FD) 36.3 40.8 4.5 41.6 5.3
TO-Adj. Usage 23.2 24.3 1.2 25.8 2.6

Walker is one of the top plays on the board tonight. As I always mention with Walker, he is one of the few players that we need to adjust for whether he is playing at home or on the road. In his career, he averages five more fantasy points per game at home than he does on the road. In addition to playing in Charlotte, Walker comes into this game in good form. He also draws a nice matchup against the Wolves, who are ranked 19th against point guards this season.

Nicolas Batum
nicolas-batum-300x200 FanDuel: DraftKings:
Salary:$6,500 Salary:$6,800
Position:SG Position:SG
FP/Min:0.86 FP/Min:0.95
Statistics Season Average Last 10 Games Last 10 +/- Last 5 Games Last 5 +/-
Minutes 35.4 36.6 1.2 35.6 0.2
FPPG (FD) 30.4 29.6 -0.8 27.9 -2.5
TO-Adj. Usage 17.3 14.8 -2.5 15.5 -1.8

Batum has struggled with consistency lately, but tonight is a good time to buy low on the versatile small forward. He should see 35+ minutes tonight against a Wolves’ defense that is ranked 20th against small forwards this season. Batum is a stat-stuffing machine that should benefit from an uptempo game against Minnesota.

Secondary Plays

NONE

Memphis Grizzlies at Cleveland Cavaliers – 7:00 PM

Memphis Grizzlies Cleveland Cavaliers
memphisnba Vegas Total 204.0 clevelandnba Vegas Total 204.0
Vegas Sprd 12.5 Vegas Sprd -12.5
Team Proj. 95.8 Team Proj. 108.3
Team Pace 95.30 Team Pace 95.30
Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks and Projected Starters Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks and Projected Starters
DvP Rks PG SG SF PF C DvP Rks PG SG SF PF C
Proj. Starter Mike Conley P.J. Hairston Matt Barnes Zach Randolph JaMychal Green Proj. Starter Kyrie Irving J.R. Smith LeBron James Kevin Love Timofey Mozgov
Opp. Season 20 3 7 1 1 Opp. Season 7 4 12 10 3
Last 3 Weeks 27 1 10 1 7 Last 3 Weeks 2 13 2 6 15

Memphis Grizzlies

Record: 37-25 — Road: 14-15 — Last 10: 7-3

The Grizzlies have won seven of their last ten games and are now 37-25 overall. They draw one of the worst possible fantasy matchups tonight, as they head to Cleveland to take on the Cavaliers. The Grizzlies are only projected to score 95.8 points, which is the second lowest team total. They also have the second lowest projected point differential at -3.3.

The Cavaliers have been stout defensively this season, ranking third in points allowed per game, defensive efficiency, and fantasy points allowed per game. Tony Allen and Chris Andersen are both listed as questionable for tonight’s game, while Brandan Wright has been ruled out. Given the potential blowout, there is only one Grizzlies’ player on my radar.

Elite Plays

NONE

Secondary Plays

Mike Conley
mike-conley-300x200 FanDuel: DraftKings:
Salary:$6,800 Salary:$6,700
Position:PG Position:PG
FP/Min:0.94 FP/Min:0.99
Statistics Season Average Last 10 Games Last 10 +/- Last 5 Games Last 5 +/-
Minutes 31.4 31.1 -0.3 30.1 -1.3
FPPG (FD) 29.5 31.3 1.8 29.3 -0.2
TO-Adj. Usage 21.3 22.6 1.4 23.3 2.0

The position that the Cavaliers are susceptible to is point guard. They have given up some monster fantasy outings to top tier point guards this season. If the Grizzlies are going to keep this game close, they will need a big game from Conley. He comes into the game in good form, averaging 31.3 fantasy points over his last ten games. While I like the upside that he provides, the potential blowout gives him a low floor. Conley is best suited as a GPP play tonight.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Record: 44-17 — Home: 27-5 — Last 10: 7-3

The Cavaliers have won seven of their last ten games and are now 44-17 overall. They are listed as 12.5-point favorites tonight against the Grizzlies at home. Both of these teams pride themselves on the defensive end of the floor, which makes it a tough game to target for fantasy purposes. The Cavaliers do have the fifth highest team total tonight though at 108.3 points.

The Grizzlies have played some great defense over the last couple of months, even after Marc Gasol went down with his injury. They are now ranked seventh in points allowed per game and sixth in fantasy points allowed per game. I’m not going to have too much exposure to this game, especially since we have a couple of great game environments that we will get to here shortly. I will be avoiding both Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving, as there are better plays at each of their respective positions.

Elite Plays

LeBron James
lebron-james-300x200 FanDuel: DraftKings:
Salary:$10,100 Salary:$9,600
Position:SF Position:SF
FP/Min:1.24 FP/Min:1.33
Statistics Season Average Last 10 Games Last 10 +/- Last 5 Games Last 5 +/-
Minutes 35.8 35.6 -0.2 35.9 0.1
FPPG (FD) 44.6 46.4 1.8 47.9 3.4
TO-Adj. Usage 27.5 27.6 0.1 28.2 0.7

If you are paying up for one superstar tonight, I would rather target DeMarcus Cousins or Anthony Davis. However, James can still be considered an elite fantasy option, as he fills the always-thin small forward position. James hasn’t had many 60 fantasy point outings this season, but he rarely scores below 40 either. He offers a high floor and he is still a little too cheap on DraftKings ($9,600).

Secondary Plays

NONE

San Antonio Spurs at Indiana Pacers – 7:00 PM

San Antonio Spurs Indiana Pacers
sanantonionba Vegas Total 196.5 indiananba Vegas Total 196.5
Vegas Sprd -7.0 Vegas Sprd 7.0
Team Proj. 101.8 Team Proj. 94.8
Team Pace 96.50 Team Pace 99.20
Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks and Projected Starters Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks and Projected Starters
DvP Rks PG SG SF PF C DvP Rks PG SG SF PF C
Proj. Starter Tony Parker Danny Green Kawhi Leonard LaMarcus Aldridge Tim Duncan Proj. Starter George Hill Monta Ellis Paul George Myles Turner Ian Mahinmi
Opp. Season 13 14 5 12 13 Opp. Season 4 1 1 4 4
Last 3 Weeks 26 4 22 7 12 Last 3 Weeks 7 7 1 10 4

San Antonio Spurs

Record: 53-9 — Road: 23-9 — Last 10: 9-1

The Spurs have won seven of their last ten games and are now 23-9 overall. Tonight they head to Indiana to take on the Pacers in what should be a competitive game throughout. The Spurs are projected to score 101.8 points tonight. While that is the fourth lowest team total on the board, the spread is low enough that we can project their starters for a full complement of minutes.

The Pacers have a top ten defense this season. They are ranked 11th or better in points allowed per game, defensive efficieny, and fantasy points allowed per game. LaMarcus Aldridge, Tim Duncan, and Danny Green all sat out Saturday night’s game, but all three are expected to return to the lineup tonight.

Elite Plays

Kawhi Leonard
kawhi-leonard-300x200 FanDuel: DraftKings:
Salary:$8,600 Salary:$8,200
Position:SF Position:SF
FP/Min:1.12 FP/Min:1.19
Statistics Season Average Last 10 Games Last 10 +/- Last 5 Games Last 5 +/-
Minutes 32.8 35.2 2.4 37.1 4.3
FPPG (FD) 36.8 45.4 8.5 46.9 10.1
TO-Adj. Usage 21.8 24.9 3.1 24.5 2.6

My hope is that people will see the Spurs’ low team total and immediately think to avoid them altogether tonight. When it comes to the Spurs, it’s more about the spread than it is the matchup. Anytime we can projected Leonard to play 35+ minutes, he is going to be in play regardless of the matchup. I prefer him to Paul George tonight and actually think it’s worth the savings coming down from LeBron James to Leonard.

Secondary Plays

LaMarcus Aldridge
lamarcus-aldridge-300x200 FanDuel: DraftKings:
Salary:$7,400 Salary:$6,800
Position:PF Position:PF
FP/Min:1.03 FP/Min:1.08
Statistics Season Average Last 10 Games Last 10 +/- Last 5 Games Last 5 +/-
Minutes 30.1 32.8 2.7 34.1 4.0
FPPG (FD) 30.9 33.2 2.3 37.8 6.8
TO-Adj. Usage 21.6 21.3 -0.4 23.4 1.8

Aldridge missed Saturday night’s game with a migraine, but is expected to be back in the lineup tonight. He is not a sexy play by any means, but he has been in very good form recently. Over his last five games, he is averaging 37.8 fantasy points in 34.1 minutes per contest. He also draws a decent matchup against Myles Turner and the Pacers.

Tim Duncan
tim-duncan-300x200 FanDuel: DraftKings:
Salary:$5,100 Salary:$4,700
Position:C Position:C
FP/Min:0.96 FP/Min:1.03
Statistics Season Average Last 10 Games Last 10 +/- Last 5 Games Last 5 +/-
Minutes 25.1 21.6 -3.5 24.7 -0.4
FPPG (FD) 24.2 20.6 -3.6 24.2 0.0
TO-Adj. Usage 14.7 16.3 1.6 16.1 1.5

Before I go any further, let me preface this pick by saying he is strictly a GPP play tonight. Duncan’s minutes and production have both been down over his last ten games, but anytime the spread is close, I like to use Duncan in tournaments. He still has that 40 fantasy point type of upside and his price is very cheap across the industry.

Indiana Pacers

Record: 33-30 — Home: 18-11 — Last 10: 5-5

The Pacers have been treading water over their last ten games. They are only three games above .500 on the season and are within a game of dropping out of the Eastern Conference playoffs. They draw the worst possible fantasy matchup, as they square off against the Spurs tonight. The Pacers have the lowest team total (94.8 points) and the lowest projected point differential (-7.5 points).

I keep waiting for the Spurs to edge out the Thunder in rebounding differential so that they can be ranked first in all four of the defensive categories listed above. They are basically a black hole for fantasy production, they just suck the life out of it. The spread is only at seven points, but that’s not enough of a reason to target any Pacers’ players tonight.

Elite Plays

NONE

Secondary Plays

Paul George
paul-george-300x200 FanDuel: DraftKings:
Salary:$9,000 Salary:$8,100
Position:SF Position:SF
FP/Min:1.10 FP/Min:1.22
Statistics Season Average Last 10 Games Last 10 +/- Last 5 Games Last 5 +/-
Minutes 35.4 35.8 0.4 34.7 -0.7
FPPG (FD) 39.0 42.7 3.6 41.0 2.0
TO-Adj. Usage 25.2 26.7 1.5 25.4 0.2

George has been terrific since the All-Star break. Over his last ten games, he is averaging 42.7 fantasy points per contest. The issue tonight is his matchup. The Spurs are the best defensive team in the NBA and they are ranked number one against small forwards this season. I plan on employing a full George fade tonight for cash games, but may use him in a tournament lineup or two.

Milwaukee Bucks at Chicago Bulls – 8:00 PM

Milwaukee Bucks Chicago Bulls
milwaukeenba Vegas Total 207.0 chicagonba Vegas Total 207.0
Vegas Sprd 7.0 Vegas Sprd -7.0
Team Proj. 100.0 Team Proj. 107.0
Team Pace 96.90 Team Pace 99.10
Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks and Projected Starters Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks and Projected Starters
DvP Rks PG SG SF PF C DvP Rks PG SG SF PF C
Proj. Starter O.J. Mayo Khris Middleton Giannis Antetokounmpo Jabari Parker Miles Plumlee Proj. Starter Derrick Rose Jimmy Butler Mike Dunleavy Taj Gibson Pau Gasol
Opp. Season 27 16 22 23 26 Opp. Season 8 25 25 21 17
Last 3 Weeks 19 17 15 30 16 Last 3 Weeks 11 22 25 8 22

Milwaukee Bucks

Record: 26-37 — Road: 8-25 — Last 10: 5-5

The Bucks have won five of their last ten games, but are a little too late to make a push for the playoffs. Tonight they head to Chicago to take on the Bulls in what should be one of the top games to target in this seven game slate. The Bucks are projected to score 100 points, which is slightly above their scoring average.

The Bulls have been awful defensively, but should improve now that Jimmy Butler is back in the lineup. Unfortunately for Chicago, Butler can’t defend all five positions at once. Khris Middleton has been a popular target on Milwaukee recently, but it’s a good time to fade him, as he will be defended by Butler. The rest of the usual Bucks are in play, though.

Elite Plays

Giannis Antetokounmpo
giannis-antetokounmpo-300x200 FanDuel: DraftKings:
Salary:$8,700 Salary:$8,200
Position:SF Position:SF
FP/Min:0.95 FP/Min:0.99
Statistics Season Average Last 10 Games Last 10 +/- Last 5 Games Last 5 +/-
Minutes 35.2 38.5 3.3 39.8 4.6
FPPG (FD) 33.3 48.0 14.7 51.1 17.8
TO-Adj. Usage 18.1 22.0 3.9 22.3 4.2

Giannis aka the Greek Freak aka the Alphabet is developing into a star right before our eyes. If you didn’t see him Euro step Russell Westbrook and dunk over Serge Ibaka, check it out. He is now priced well above $8,000, which seems too expensive, but he is averaging 48 fantasy points per game in his last ten outings. During that stretch, he is averaging more fantasy points than LeBron James.

Jabari Parker
jabari-parker-300x200 FanDuel: DraftKings:
Salary:$6,000 Salary:$6,500
Position:PF Position:PF
FP/Min:0.75 FP/Min:0.77
Statistics Season Average Last 10 Games Last 10 +/- Last 5 Games Last 5 +/-
Minutes 30.5 39.3 8.8 37.2 6.7
FPPG (FD) 22.9 34.6 11.8 33.2 10.3
TO-Adj. Usage 16.8 20.6 3.8 22.2 5.4

Parker has really flourished ever since Jason Kidd moved Greg Monroe to the bench. Parker’s minutes, usage, and fantasy production are all way up over his last ten games. He should see upwards of 40 minutes tonight against the Bulls, who have not fared well against power forwards this season. Parker’s salary also seems too high, but not when you look at his recent level of production.

Secondary Plays

Jerryd Bayless
jerryd-bayless-300x200 FanDuel: DraftKings:
Salary:$4,100 Salary:$4,400
Position:PG Position:PG
FP/Min:0.70 FP/Min:0.76
Statistics Season Average Last 10 Games Last 10 +/- Last 5 Games Last 5 +/-
Minutes 28.3 29.1 0.8 31.2 2.9
FPPG (FD) 19.9 20.3 0.5 20.3 0.4
TO-Adj. Usage 14.9 14.8 -0.1 13.9 -1.0

I’d like to recommend Greg Monroe in his favorable matchup against Pau Gasol, but he isn’t playing enough minutes for my liking. The one bench player that is on my radar is Bayless. As long as Michael Carter-Williams is out again, Bayless should see around 30 minutes in a favorable matchup against Derrick Rose. On the season, the Bulls are ranked 27th against point guards.

Chicago Bulls

Record: 31-30 — Home: 20-11 — Last 10: 4-6

The Bulls have lost six of their last ten games and are now one game above .500 overall. If the season ended today, they would be the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. Luckily for Chicago fans, Jimmy Butler is back in the lineup. The Bulls are projected to score 107 points tonight against the Bucks, which is 5.4 points above their scoring average.

The Bucks have struggled defensively all season, ranking 19th or worse in all four of the defensive categories listed above. The Bulls’ offense should see a sizable boost as a whole. Given their high team total, they are one of the top teams to target tonight.

Elite Plays

Pau Gasol
pau-gasol-300x200 FanDuel: DraftKings:
Salary:$9,200 Salary:$8,300
Position:C Position:C
FP/Min:1.21 FP/Min:1.30
Statistics Season Average Last 10 Games Last 10 +/- Last 5 Games Last 5 +/-
Minutes 32.1 32.8 0.7 33.2 1.1
FPPG (FD) 38.8 42.2 3.4 44.0 5.2
TO-Adj. Usage 21.3 23.0 1.7 24.9 3.6

Gasol loves to face the Bucks. In four meetings against Milwaukee last season, Gasol averaged 43 fantasy points per contest. In two meetings against them this season, he is averaging 46.5 fantasy points per contest. Everyone is going to assume that Gasol’s usage takes a big hit with Jimmy Butler in the lineup, but he actually didn’t see a usage boost while Butler was out. Target Gasol with confidence tonight against the Bucks.

Secondary Plays

Jimmy Butler
jimmy-butler-300x200 FanDuel: DraftKings:
Salary:$8,700 Salary:$8,400
Position:SG Position:SG
FP/Min:1.00 FP/Min:1.05
Statistics Season Average Last 10 Games Last 10 +/- Last 5 Games Last 5 +/-
Minutes 37.8 34.0 -3.8 34.0 -3.8
FPPG (FD) 37.8 43.2 5.4 43.2 5.4
TO-Adj. Usage 22.0 23.6 1.5 23.6 1.5

After his first game back, Butler said that he was out of shape. He may have been tired afterward, but he was terrific against the Rockets, scoring 43 fantasy points in 34 minutes of action. He should see minutes in the mid-30s tonight against the Bucks, who are ranked 25th against shooting guards this season.

Sacramento Kings at New Orleans Pelicans – 8:00 PM

Sacramento Kings New Orleans Pelicans
sacramentonba Vegas Total 220.0 neworleansnba Vegas Total 220.0
Vegas Sprd -1.0 Vegas Sprd 1.0
Team Proj. 110.5 Team Proj. 109.5
Team Pace 102.30 Team Pace 98.70
Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks and Projected Starters Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks and Projected Starters
DvP Rks PG SG SF PF C DvP Rks PG SG SF PF C
Proj. Starter Rajon Rondo Ben McLemore Rudy Gay Quincy Acy DeMarcus Cousins Proj. Starter Norris Cole Jrue Holiday Dante Cunningham Anthony Davis Omer Asik
Opp. Season 14 26 15 16 29 Opp. Season 23 29 24 29 21
Last 3 Weeks 21 28 20 18 25 Last 3 Weeks 18 25 28 24 6

Sacramento Kings

Record: 25-36 — Road: 11-20 — Last 10: 4-6

The Kings have lost six of their last ten games and are now 25-36 overall. Tonight they head to New Orleans to take on the Pelicans in what should be a close, high-scoring game. The Kings are projected to score 110.5 points, which is the third highest team total on the board and 3.7 points above their scoring average.

The Pelicans have been one of the top teams to target players against this season. They are ranked 21st or worse in all four of the defensive categories listed above. Seth Curry and Kosta Koufos are both questionable for tonight’s game, but neither player makes a big fantasy impact either way.

Elite Plays

DeMarcus Cousins
demarcus-cousins-300x200 FanDuel: DraftKings:
Salary:$10,700 Salary:$10,200
Position:C Position:PF
FP/Min:1.37 FP/Min:1.49
Statistics Season Average Last 10 Games Last 10 +/- Last 5 Games Last 5 +/-
Minutes 34.6 35.6 1.0 35.4 0.8
FPPG (FD) 47.3 49.3 2.0 51.0 3.7
TO-Adj. Usage 29.2 29.1 -0.1 30.4 1.2

Cousins likes facing the Pelicans just about as much as Pau Gasol likes facing the Bucks. Cousins has scored at least 45 fantasy points in each of his last six outings against the Pelicans, topping the 70 fantasy point mark twice. Cousins also comes into tonight’s game in great form, averaging 51 fantasy points over his last five games. He is my top overall play in this seven game slate.

Secondary Plays

Rajon Rondo
rajon-rondo-300x200 FanDuel: DraftKings:
Salary:$8,600 Salary:$8,000
Position:PG Position:PG
FP/Min:1.07 FP/Min:1.17
Statistics Season Average Last 10 Games Last 10 +/- Last 5 Games Last 5 +/-
Minutes 35.3 36.4 1.1 37.7 2.4
FPPG (FD) 37.9 40.6 2.7 36.1 -1.7
TO-Adj. Usage 17.2 17.3 0.1 16.7 -0.5

Does anyone ever roster Rondo? It seems like his ownership is always too low for the type of production that he provides. I’m not going to look his way in cash games, but I wouldn’t blame you if you did. Over his last ten games, he is averaging 40.6 fantasy points in 36.4 minutes per contest. He also draws a great matchup against the Pelicans, who are ranked 21st against point guards over the last three weeks.

New Orleans Pelicans

Record: 23-38 — Home: 16-15 — Last 10: 4-6

The Pelicans have lost six of their last ten games and continue to be plagued by the injury bug. Eric Gordon and Bryce Desean-Jones are the latest injuries to add to the list. The Pelicans draw a favorable matchup tonight against the Kings in what could be the top game to target tonight. New Orleans has the second highest projected point differential at +7.2.

The Kings play at the fastest pace of any team in the NBA and they are ranked dead last in points allowed per game. That is a lethal combination in daily fantasy basketball. The Pelicans’ offense sees a major boost as a whole. Norris Cole is listed as questionable for tonight’s game. If he is unable to suit up, Toney Douglas would become one of the top value plays on the board.

Elite Plays

Anthony Davis
anthony-davis-300x200 FanDuel: DraftKings:
Salary:$9,900 Salary:$10,000
Position:PF Position:PF
FP/Min:1.23 FP/Min:1.30
Statistics Season Average Last 10 Games Last 10 +/- Last 5 Games Last 5 +/-
Minutes 35.8 36.9 1.1 36.9 1.1
FPPG (FD) 43.9 46.0 2.2 42.5 -1.4
TO-Adj. Usage 24.4 25.8 1.3 25.1 0.6

Davis does not play well in favorable matchups. Davis does not play well when we expect him to. Davis gets his jollies by letting down DFS players. So, will I be using Davis tonight? Yes. Yes, I will. Not only is the matchup too good to ignore, but the Pelicans just keep losing players left and right. With Eric Gordon now out, I expect Davis’s usage to be north or 30 tonight against the Kings.

Jrue Holiday
jrue-holiday-300x200 FanDuel: DraftKings:
Salary:$7,400 Salary:$7,700
Position:PG Position:PG
FP/Min:1.06 FP/Min:1.14
Statistics Season Average Last 10 Games Last 10 +/- Last 5 Games Last 5 +/-
Minutes 27.0 31.7 4.7 31.3 4.3
FPPG (FD) 28.7 36.5 7.8 32.1 3.4
TO-Adj. Usage 25.0 26.7 1.7 24.2 -0.8

Is Holiday finally going to enter the starting lineup? With Eric Gordon out, we’ve heard that Holiday may crack the starting five. I almost prefer him coming off the bench though, as everyone will be on him if he does start. Regardless of whether or not he starts, Holiday is locked into my cash game lineups across the industry. The combination of an increased workload and a favorable matchup are too good to pass up.

Secondary Plays

Norris Cole
norris-cole-300x200 FanDuel: DraftKings:
Salary:$5,100 Salary:$5,000
Position:PG Position:PG
FP/Min:0.76 FP/Min:0.81
Statistics Season Average Last 10 Games Last 10 +/- Last 5 Games Last 5 +/-
Minutes 26.3 27.5 1.2 31.5 5.2
FPPG (FD) 19.9 23.6 3.7 28.3 8.4
TO-Adj. Usage 18.7 19.2 0.5 18.8 0.1

Cole is a game-time decision for tonight’s game. If he is able to suit up, he is certainly worth a look against the Kings. Not only do they struggle to contain point guards, but Cole should see a boost in minutes with Eric Gordon out. If Cole is unable to play tonight, Toney Douglas would likely draw the start and would immediately become the top value play on the board.

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About the Author

Notorious
Derek Farnsworth (Notorious)

Derek Farnsworth (aka Notorious) is a lead RotoGrinders Expert and one of the most recognizable names and faces in all of DFS. Before joining the RotoGrinders team, Derek received a Master’s Degree from the University of Utah. When he’s not busy providing content, he’s dominating the DFS industry as evidenced by his consistent top rankings in several sports and multiple Live Final appearances. Noto provides expert NBA, NFL, MLB, and PGA analysis for RotoGrinders Premium members on a daily basis and has also been nominated for five different Fantasy Sports Writer’s Association (FSWA) awards. Follow Noto on X – @RG_Notorious