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NBA Grind Down: Monday, November 28th

by Derek Farnsworth (Notorious) Last Updated 2016-11-29 02:43:44

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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.

If you want to try a new DFS site, be sure to click through a RotoGrinders link and use promo code “GRINDERS” to receive the best perks in the industry.

Editor’s Note: Don’t yet have a Rosters account? Click here to create one. You’ll receive free access to our premium Rosters strategy content, which will build upon the guide below. Create your Rosters account now!

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Sacramento Kings at Washington Wizards – 7:00 PM ET

Sacramento Kings Washington Wizards
sacramentonba Vegas Total 212.0 washingtonnba Vegas Total 212.0
Vegas Spread 5.0 Vegas Spread -5.0
Team Total 103.5 Team Total 108.5
Pace +/- -0.6 Pace +/- -2.4
Proj. Starter Ty Lawson Darren Collison Matt Barnes Rudy Gay DeMarcus Cousins Proj. Starter John Wall Bradley Beal Otto Porter Markieff Morris Marcin Gortat
Opponent DvP Rank PG SG SF PF C Opponent DvP Rank PG SG SF PF C
2016-17 6 20 20 20 9 2016-17 13 25 11 26 4

Sacramento Kings

The Kings are finally starting to play like the team that we have come to know and love over the years. Over the last two weeks, they have picked up their pace of play and they are no longer a bottom five offense in terms of points per game. The Kings are listed as 5-point underdogs tonight against the Wizards in the second leg of a back-to-back. The total for the game is set at a whopping 212 points and by all accounts, this is an exploitable matchup. Through the first 15 games of the season, Washington is ranked 18th in points allowed per game, 24th in defensive efficiency, and 20th in rebounding differential.

The Kings have been playing around with their starting lineup the last few games and Dave Joerger has given his starters big minutes, so keep an eye out for their official lineup as we get closer to lineup lock. Darren Collison hasn’t flashed a ton of upside, but he should see 30+ minutes against a Wizards’ defense that has historically struggled against guards. Collison is averaging 25.9 fantasy points in his last three games and is a nice value play on FanDuel, DraftKings (SG-eligible), and Rosters. Matt Barnes has seen a major boost in his minutes recently and we know that targeting wings against the Wizards can be profitable. Rudy Gay has scored at least 43 fantasy points in three of his last seven games and is still a bit too cheap on DraftKings. He’s in play either way, but I prefer to target him if he starts at small forward. DeMarcus Cousins didn’t play great in back-to-back situations last season, but is averaging 30.5 points and 11.5 rebounds in four attempts this season. Marcin Gortat is a stout defender, but in their last meeting, Cousins put up 60 fantasy points.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary Rosters Sal. FP/Min Minutes L3 +/- FP/Game L3 +/- True Usage L3 +/- DvP
Ty Lawson $4,000 $3,800 $6,500 0.69 27.8 -4.0 19.2 -0.9 17.6% 2.5% 6
Darren Collison $5,800 $5,500 $8,500 0.81 29.8 -0.3 24.3 1.6 23.2% -0.4% 20
Matt Barnes $3,900 $4,400 $7,800 0.65 26.1 7.0 17.0 -3.1 17.3% -3.5% 20
Rudy Gay $7,100 $6,800 $11,000 0.96 34.6 1.0 33.4 0.1 25.2% -3.0% 20
DeMarcus Cousins $10,000 $10,100 $14,800 1.37 33.5 -1.7 46.0 0.0 35.5% 3.2% 9
Kosta Koufos $3,700 $3,000 $7,200 0.76 19.5 0.6 14.9 5.8 14.9% 0.8% 9

Elite Plays – DeMarcus Cousins, Darren Collison (DK), Rudy Gay (DK)

Secondary Plays – Darren Collison (FD), Rudy Gay (FD), Matt Barnes

Washington Wizards

The Wizards have played at a slightly below-average pace this season and are ranked 21st in points scored per game. They are only 5-10 to start the season, but are 5-point favorites tonight against the Kings at home. Even though Sacramento has played at a slow pace this season, they have been one of the most inefficient teams defensively. They are ranked 21st in points allowed per game, 27th in defensive efficiency, and 18th in rebounding differential. The Wizards have an implied total of 108.5 points, which is the third highest in the slate and 6.4 points above their season average (highest point differential in the slate). The Wizards didn’t play yesterday and they don’t play again until Wednesday, so we don’t have to worry about their starters’ minutes being monitored.

John Wall would be the talk around the NBA if it weren’t for the insane numbers that Russell Westbrook and James Harden have been putting up. Wall is quietly averaging 42.4 fantasy points per game and he is doing it in less than 35 minutes per start. He is an elite option tonight against the Kings, who have been mediocre against point guards this season. His splits are fairly close this season, but historically Wall has been better at home than on the road. Bradley Beal is averaging 38.8 fantasy points in his last three games, but he relies so much on scoring that I hate paying up for him tonight. With that said, he’s certainly a player that I will have in tournaments. Otto Porter price is also above $6,000, but he should play around 35 minutes in a favorable matchup at home. Markieff Morris has burned a lot of bridges this season, but I don’t mind going back to the well in tournaments. He has scored over 30 fantasy points five times this season. Marcin Gortat will likely have to deal with DeMarcus Cousins. Not only is that a bad matchup on the offensive end, but he could easily get into foul trouble.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary Rosters Sal. FP/Min Minutes L3 +/- FP/Game L3 +/- True Usage L3 +/- DvP
John Wall $9,200 $8,700 $13,100 1.24 34.2 3.8 42.4 4.1 36.3% -2.7% 13
Bradley Beal $6,300 $6,900 $10,600 0.89 33.7 4.9 30.0 8.8 26.1% 0.7% 25
Otto Porter $6,100 $6,100 $9,600 0.89 34.5 -3.1 30.9 -1.1 16.8% -0.6% 11
Markieff Morris $4,700 $5,100 $9,100 0.79 29.9 -4.4 23.6 -5.7 21.0% -1.0% 26
Marcin Gortat $6,000 $6,000 $9,700 0.85 34.8 0.1 29.5 -4.8 13.7% -1.5% 4

Elite Plays – John Wall

Secondary Plays – Bradley Beal, Otto Porter, Markieff Morris

Boston Celtics at Miami Heat – 7:30 PM ET

Boston Celtics Miami Heat
bostonnba Vegas Total 198.0 miaminba Vegas Total 198.0
Vegas Spread -3.5 Vegas Spread 3.5
Team Total 100.8 Team Total 97.3
Pace +/- -2.8 Pace +/- -0.4
Proj. Starter Isaiah Thomas Avery Bradley Jae Crowder Amir Johnson Kelly Olynyk Proj. Starter Goran Dragic Josh Richardson Rodney McGruder Derrick Williams Hassan Whiteside
Opponent DvP Rank PG SG SF PF C Opponent DvP Rank PG SG SF PF C
2016-17 2 6 9 7 27 2016-17 6 8 30 21 27

Boston Celtics

The Celtics haven’t played at the same pace this season and it has taken a toll on their offense. They are currently ranked ranked around the league average in pace of play and points scored per game. To make matters worse, they have to go on the road and take on a Heat team that is ranked fourth in points allowed per game and fifth in defensive efficiency. This is a pace-down spot for Boston, which helps explain the low point projection. The Celtics implied total of 100.8 points is the seventh lowest in the slate and 3.3 points below their season average. Al Horford has already been ruled out of tonight’s game, which should result in another spot start for Kelly Olynyk.

Isaiah Thomas has a slightly higher usage rate with Jae Crowder out of the lineup, but a true usage rate of 34% is nothing to scoff at. His production has been down a little over his last three games, but his price has come all the way down to $7,800 on FanDuel and $7,600 on DraftKings. I typically don’t like targeting point guards against the Heat, but may throw Thomas into a tournament lineup or two given his upside. Avery Bradley has been exceptional this season, but his rebounding rates may be unsustainable. He’s an easy fade for me in a pace-down game against Miami. Amir Johnson and Kelly Olynyk are intriguing punt plays at close to minimum salary across the industry. Both should see minutes in the upper 20s with Al Horford out. I slightly prefer Olynyk, as I expect Johnson to cover Hassan Whiteside.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary Rosters Sal. FP/Min Minutes L3 +/- FP/Game L3 +/- True Usage L3 +/- DvP
Isaiah Thomas $7,800 $7,600 $11,500 1.15 33.1 0.0 38.2 -3.8 35.1% -1.4% 2
Avery Bradley $6,600 $6,400 $10,900 0.91 35.8 -0.8 32.8 -3.4 22.8% -0.6% 6
Jae Crowder $5,600 $5,200 $8,700 0.89 26.5 -2.0 23.5 -3.7 18.9% 1.2% 9
Amir Johnson $3,500 $3,500 $7,700 0.73 21.7 -4.6 15.9 -6.6 14.3% -3.0% 7
Kelly Olynyk $3,500 $3,700 $7,400 0.66 23.1 -5.7 15.3 -0.9 17.4% -0.3% 27
Marcus Smart $5,200 $5,400 $8,100 0.76 31.5 -2.1 24.0 2.7 19.8% 2.2% 6

Elite Plays – NONE

Secondary Plays – Isaiah Thomas, Kelly Olynyk, Amir Johnson

Miami Heat

The Heat should have a better record than 5-11. With their collection of talent, they should be hovering around the .500 mark, especially since they play in the Eastern Conference. They have a chance to inch one game closer to .500 tonight with a win over the Celtics. The Heat are only 3.5-point underdogs in what should be an exploitable matchup for fantasy production. On the season, Boston is ranked 16th in defensive efficiency, 25th in rebounding differential, and 22nd in fantasy points allowed per game. Justise Winslow, Dion Waiters, and Tyler Johnson have all been ruled out for tonight’s game, while Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside are both listed as questionable.

If Goran Dragic is able to suit up, he would step into a spot where the Heat would need 30+ minutes out of him. Tyler Johnson and Dion Waiters are both out tonight, which would put Dragic in consideration even though he is coming off of an injury. Josh Richardson is close to a must start tonight, even if Dragic is active. He should play 35+ minutes and see a nice usage boost with all of the injuries. We can also expect big minutes for Rodney McGruder and James Johnson, both of which are viable plays at small forward. If Hassan Whiteside is active and isn’t on any sort of minute restriction, he’ll be one of the top plays on the board. The Celtics are ranked 27th in fantasy points allowed to centers and 25th in rebounding differential.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary Rosters Sal. FP/Min Minutes L3 +/- FP/Game L3 +/- True Usage L3 +/- DvP
Goran Dragic $6,400 $6,000 $10,600 0.88 31.8 -9.5 27.8 -16.4 27.3% 0.7% 6
Josh Richardson $4,200 $4,900 $7,600 0.67 28.0 -2.5 18.9 0.1 20.6% -0.7% 8
Rodney McGruder $3,600 $3,800 $6,000 0.56 20.9 11.4 11.8 6.0 13.8% 2.1% 30
Derrick Williams $3,500 $3,000 $6,800 0.67 15.0 -1.0 10.0 -0.1 19.6% 1.5% 21
Hassan Whiteside $8,500 $8,500 $13,900 1.24 32.4 -3.7 40.2 -15.0 22.9% -7.1% 27
James Johnson $4,200 $4,500 $6,400 0.80 24.5 8.2 19.7 4.5 18.8% -1.0% 30

Elite Plays – Hassan Whiteside, Josh Richardson (if Goran Dragic is out)

Secondary Plays – Goran Dragic (DK GPP – if he’s active), Rodney McGruder (if Goran Dragic is out)

Philadelphia 76ers at Toronto Raptors – 7:30 PM ET

Philadelphia 76ers Toronto Raptors
philadelphianba Vegas Total 208.0 torontonba Vegas Total 208.0
Vegas Spread 15.0 Vegas Spread -15.0
Team Total 96.5 Team Total 111.5
Pace +/- -1.4 Pace +/- 0.6
Proj. Starter Jerryd Bayless Gerald Henderson Robert Covington Ersan Ilyasova Jahlil Okafor Proj. Starter Kyle Lowry DeMar DeRozan DeMarre Carroll Pascal Siakam Jonas Valanciunas
Opponent DvP Rank PG SG SF PF C Opponent DvP Rank PG SG SF PF C
2016-17 16 2 15 14 14 2016-17 23 21 28 11 25

Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers have won six of their last ten games, but will be without their pride and joy tonight. Joel Embiid, aka The Process, is expected to sit out after playing 25 minutes yesterday against the Cavaliers – he had another great game, by the way. Philadelphia’s offense could struggle mightily tonight against the Raptors in Toronto. They are ranked 24th in points scored per game and will be without Embiid. The Sixers are listed as 15-point underdogs with an implied total of only 96.5 points. Surprisingly, there is a team with a lower total, but we will get to them later. This game has blowout written all over it and it’s really hard to trust any of the Sixers in cash games or tournaments. Sergio Rodriguez would see a boost if Jerryd Bayless is ruled out, but he wouldn’t crack my list of top five point guard options. Jahlil Okafor should see a nice usage boost with Embiid out, but he hasn’t shown much upside. He has yet to score 30 fantasy points in a single game this season. Ersan Ilyasova is my favorite target here, but that’s not saying a whole lot.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary Rosters Sal. FP/Min Minutes L3 +/- FP/Game L3 +/- True Usage L3 +/- DvP
Jerryd Bayless $3,700 $4,200 $8,100 0.81 23.8 4.2 19.4 3.7 29.7% -0.5% 16
Gerald Henderson $3,900 $3,500 $8,500 0.70 25.1 0.1 17.6 -0.5 18.1% 0.9% 2
Robert Covington $4,400 $4,300 $8,000 0.69 27.5 1.3 19.1 2.4 16.7% -0.2% 15
Ersan Ilyasova $4,600 $4,600 $7,000 0.79 25.2 6.3 20.0 6.1 19.4% 0.1% 14
Jahlil Okafor $4,200 $5,000 $8,600 0.87 20.9 4.3 18.1 -0.1 23.9% -3.3% 14
Sergio Rodriguez $4,200 $3,600 $8,000 0.78 27.0 -6.1 21.0 -5.7 22.9% 1.3% 16

Elite Plays – NONE

Secondary Plays – Jahlil Okafor, Ersan Ilyasova

Toronto Raptors

The Raptors are ranked 21st in pace of play, yet are averaging the sixth most points per game this season. They have been incredibly efficient on the offensive end of the floor, which is good news considering how poorly they have played defensively. They draw a cupcake matchup tonight against the Sixers at home. Toronto is favored by 15 points and they have an implied total of 111.5 points, which is the second highest in the slate and 3.2 points above their season average. The main concern here is a potential blowout. I advocate targeting players from favored teams in blowouts, but we have to be fine with the possibility that the Raptors’ starters may only play three quarters.

Kyle Lowry has been one of my favorite point guards to target this season due to his playing time. He leads the NBA in minutes per game, but it’s hard to project him for a full complement of minutes tonight. Even if he only plays 30 minutes, he’ll have a decent shot of posting another 40-fantasy point outing. The Sixers have allowed the eighth most fantasy points to point guards this season. DeMar DeRozan is a little too expensive on FanDuel, but very much in play on DraftKings at only $8,400. He is averaging 42.9 fantasy points per game this season and he has the fifth highest true usage rate in the NBA. DeMarre Carroll has quietly averaged 27.6 fantasy points in his last three games and is cheap enough that I would consider him a borderline elite play. Jonas Valanciunas isn’t a center that makes many of my lineups, but I love this spot. His price has come down, the Sixers don’t defend the paint well, and the Sixers are ranked 24th in rebounding differential this season.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary Rosters Sal. FP/Min Minutes L3 +/- FP/Game L3 +/- True Usage L3 +/- DvP
Kyle Lowry $8,300 $8,100 $12,100 0.99 38.4 -0.2 38.0 -1.9 27.2% -1.8% 23
DeMar DeRozan $9,300 $8,400 $13,000 1.17 36.7 -1.2 42.9 -0.8 35.6% -4.5% 21
DeMarre Carroll $4,200 $4,200 $8,500 0.69 25.8 0.6 17.9 9.7 15.1% 5.8% 28
Pascal Siakam $3,500 $3,000 $7,200 0.66 18.8 0.4 12.5 -3.8 12.2% -2.9% 11
Jonas Valanciunas $5,900 $5,700 $10,300 0.95 29.8 0.7 28.4 -1.4 19.0% -0.5% 25
Patrick Patterson $4,300 $3,800 $7,600 0.63 30.1 -0.8 19.1 3.6 12.0% -0.4% 11

Elite Plays – DeMar DeRozan (DK), DeMarre Carroll, Jonas Valanciunas (GPP)

Secondary Plays – Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan (FD), Jonas Valanciunas (Cash)

Oklahoma City Thunder at New York Knicks – 7:30 PM ET

Oklahoma City Thunder New York Knicks
oklahomacitynba Vegas Total 214.5 newyorknba Vegas Total 214.5
Vegas Spread 1.0 Vegas Spread -1.0
Team Total 106.8 Team Total 107.8
Pace +/- -0.3 Pace +/- 2.7
Proj. Starter Russell Westbrook Victor Oladipo Andre Roberson Domantas Sabonis Steven Adams Proj. Starter Derrick Rose Courtney Lee Carmelo Anthony Kristaps Porzingis Joakim Noah
Opponent DvP Rank PG SG SF PF C Opponent DvP Rank PG SG SF PF C
2016-17 9 29 14 7 17 2016-17 28 5 18 10 3

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder have lost six of their last ten games, but are looking for their third win in a row tonight. They head to New York to take on the Knicks in Madison Square Garden. This should be a fun one, as the spread is at a single point and the over/under is set at 214.5 points. We love to target close, high-scoring games in DFS and this one certainly fits the bill. This is a favorable matchup for Oklahoma City, as the Knicks are ranked 22nd in points allowed per game and 26th in defensive efficiency this season. The Thunder have an implied total of 106.8 points, which is the fifth highest in the slate.

Russell Westbrook is an elite fantasy option every time he steps onto the floor. If you don’t know that by know, then I highly recommend my Ultimate Guide to Beating NBA DFS. However, if you don’t know about Westbrook, all hope is probably lost anyway. He is averaging 31.2 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 11.2 assists per game. I know it’s a long season, but there is a chance that he could average a triple-double. His price is up over $12,000 on both FanDuel and DraftKings, but I have no issues playing him tonight in Madison Square Garden. Shooting guards against the Knicks is a thing in DFS. They are ranked 29th against the position and Victor Oladipo is coming off of his best two-week stretch of the season. You can play Oladipo with Westbrook or you can play him alone. The key is that you are playing the opposing shooting guard against this Knicks’ defense. The rest of the Thunder don’t stand out, although Andre Roberson should play 30+ minutes.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary Rosters Sal. FP/Min Minutes L3 +/- FP/Game L3 +/- True Usage L3 +/- DvP
Russell Westbrook $12,200 $12,500 $16,300 1.63 35.4 2.5 57.6 4.0 44.9% -4.7% 9
Victor Oladipo $6,300 $6,600 $10,400 0.78 34.8 2.2 27.3 9.1 21.2% -0.4% 29
Andre Roberson $3,800 $4,100 $7,000 0.59 29.9 3.5 17.7 -2.5 10.7% -2.3% 14
Domantas Sabonis $3,500 $3,300 $7,800 0.63 22.1 0.2 13.8 0.0 14.6% -3.1% 7
Steven Adams $4,800 $5,100 $8,700 0.75 31.5 -2.1 23.7 -1.9 14.5% 0.3% 17
Enes Kanter $4,600 $4,300 $9,300 1.10 18.7 0.7 20.6 -2.5 24.4% -1.6% 7

Elite Plays – Russell Westbrook, Victor Oladipo

Secondary Plays – Andre Roberson

New York Knicks

The Knicks play at a mediocre pace and are ranked 18th in points scored per game this season. They draw a decent matchup tonight against the Thunder, who play at the fifth fastest pace and are ranked 20th in points allowed per game. The Knicks are listed as 1-point favorites with an implied total of 107.8 points. Not only is that the fourth highest team total in the slate, but it is also 4.5 points above their season average. We can safely give a boost the Knicks’ offense as a whole and the fact that the game is expected to be close throughout is just icing on the cake.

Derrick Rose has quietly been playing well recently, averaging 33.4 minutes and 36.7 fantasy points in his last three games. He has been dependent on scoring for much of his fantasy production, but we are finally starting to see the rebounds and assists come up. It pains me to say it, but Rose is an elite play in al formats tonight against the Thunder, who are ranked 28th against point guards this season. Courtney Lee should play 30+ minutes tonight, but his usage is too low for my liking. Carmelo Anthony minutes and production are both trending upward. He is a borderline elite play tonight, although he will draw the defense of Andre Roberson. The Thunder are ranked tenth against power forwards this season, but I always like targeting Kristaps Porzingis at home where he is averaging six more fantasy points per game than on the road.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary Rosters Sal. FP/Min Minutes L3 +/- FP/Game L3 +/- True Usage L3 +/- DvP
Derrick Rose $6,100 $6,000 $8,900 0.89 32.2 1.2 28.5 8.2 27.8% 0.6% 28
Courtney Lee $3,900 $3,800 $7,100 0.56 30.6 0.9 17.2 2.4 14.9% -0.2% 5
Carmelo Anthony $7,900 $7,700 $12,400 1.04 33.8 3.0 35.0 4.6 29.0% 1.6% 18
Kristaps Porzingis $7,200 $7,500 $11,100 1.02 33.3 3.6 34.0 3.7 23.5% 1.2% 10
Joakim Noah $4,300 $4,200 $8,000 0.93 22.2 -7.1 20.7 -9.4 13.5% -5.6% 3

Elite Plays – Derrick Rose, Kristaps Porzingis

Secondary Plays – Carmelo Anthony

Charlotte Hornets at Memphis Grizzlies – 8:00 PM ET

Charlotte Hornets Memphis Grizzlies
charlottenba Vegas Total 198.0 memphisnba Vegas Total 198.0
Vegas Spread 1.5 Vegas Spread -1.5
Team Total 98.3 Team Total 99.8
Pace +/- -4.1 Pace +/- 0.5
Proj. Starter Kemba Walker Nicolas Batum Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Frank Kaminsky Cody Zeller Proj. Starter Mike Conley Tony Allen Troy Williams JaMychal Green Marc Gasol
Opponent DvP Rank PG SG SF PF C Opponent DvP Rank PG SG SF PF C
2016-17 4 10 2 6 1 2016-17 16 8 22 18 23

Charlotte Hornets

The Hornets are ranked 13th in pace of play and tenth in points scored per game this season. When you combine that with a stifling defense, you are bound to have good results. The Hornets are 9-7 overall and only a game out of second place in the Eastern Conference. They draw a difficult matchup tonight against the Grizzlies, who play at a slow pace and punish teams with their half-court defense. On the season, Memphis is ranked eighth or better in points allowed per game, defensive efficiency, and rebounding differential. The Hornets have an implied total of only 98.3 points, which is the fourth lowest in the slate and 7.6 points below their season average.

Kemba Walker is an easy fade tonight. I typically try to avoid him on the road (averages five more fantasy points per game at home) and he draws the defense of Mike Conley. In addition to the slow pace, the Grizzlies are ranked fourth in fantasy points allowed to point guards. Nicolas Batum is expected to be back in the lineup tonight, which basically ends the one-game run where we could target Jeremy Lamb. Frank Kaminsky is the only Hornets’ player on my radar in this slate. He should draw another start at power forward tonight with Marvin Williams out and he has scored at least 23 fantasy points in seven straight games. The matchup isn’t ideal, but the opportunity will be there for Kaminsky.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary Rosters Sal. FP/Min Minutes L3 +/- FP/Game L3 +/- True Usage L3 +/- DvP
Kemba Walker $7,800 $7,900 $12,000 1.19 33.4 1.2 39.7 0.1 31.1% -1.6% 4
Nicolas Batum $6,700 $6,600 $10,700 0.89 35.1 7.4 31.1 2.0 21.1% -0.2% 10
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist $5,200 $4,900 $8,200 0.72 31.7 -0.5 22.9 -6.0 13.5% 0.5% 2
Frank Kaminsky $4,700 $5,200 $7,600 0.85 26.2 9.0 22.4 3.3 22.0% -0.7% 6
Cody Zeller $4,800 $4,800 $7,700 0.98 23.6 0.7 23.2 4.9 18.8% 2.2% 1
Jeremy Lamb $4,000 $4,300 $7,100 1.08 16.6 4.4 18.0 5.0 23.6% -2.0% 10

Elite Plays – Frank Kaminsky (FD)

Secondary Plays – Frank Kaminsky (DK)

Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies aren’t my favorite team to see on the schedule. They are currently ranked 28th in pace of play and 25th in points scored per game. To make matters worse, they are ranked second in points allowed per game. They draw a mediocre matchup tonight against the Hornets in what is expected to be one of the slowest-paced games in the slate. The Grizzlies have an implied total of 99.8 points, which is the sixth lowest on the board. While no one gets excited to target Grizzlies’ players in DFS, there are a few good plays tonight thanks to some injuries. Zach Randolph, Chandler Parsons, and James Ennis are all expected to miss this game.

Mike Conley has played well this season, averaging 34.5 fantasy points per game with a true usage rate of 29.2%. The problem is that they randomly rest him and when they do, it it typically after lineups already lock. With point guard being such a deep position, I wouldn’t look his way in cash games, but he is on my radar in tournaments. Tony Allen struggled in his first two starts with James Ennis and Chandler Parsons out, but bounced back with 27.6 fantasy points the other night. He should see around 30 minutes tonight and he’s extremely cheap across the industry. Troy Williams has played well in his spot starts, but if I’m taking a cheap wing player from Memphis, I’d rather go with Allen. JaMychal Green should see around 30 minutes tonight with Zach Randolph out. In his last two games without Randolph, Green has scored 20.7 and 25.9 fantasy points. Marc Gasol is a high-floor cash game option, but center is actually a loaded position tonight.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary Rosters Sal. FP/Min Minutes L3 +/- FP/Game L3 +/- True Usage L3 +/- DvP
Mike Conley $7,400 $6,500 $11,300 1.05 32.9 1.2 34.5 2.0 29.2% 2.2% 16
Tony Allen $4,000 $4,100 $6,800 0.70 23.8 3.0 16.6 0.8 17.4% 0.7% 8
Troy Williams $3,700 $3,600 $6,000 0.64 11.1 16.8 7.2 14.3 17.0% 3.0% 22
JaMychal Green $4,600 $5,000 $7,200 0.66 29.0 4.0 19.3 4.7 14.5% -2.2% 18
Marc Gasol $7,000 $6,700 $10,700 0.99 33.2 2.2 33.0 3.1 27.8% -1.3% 23
Vince Carter $4,000 $4,000 $7,200 0.69 26.8 -3.3 18.6 -5.5 16.6% 2.4% 22
Zach Randolph $5,400 $5,000 $8,900 1.13 22.3 4.8 25.2 0.5 29.8% -5.4% 18

Elite Plays – NONE

Secondary Plays – Mike Conley, Tony Allen, JaMychal Green, Marc Gasol

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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