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NBA Grind Down: Thursday, March 16th

by Derek Farnsworth (Notorious) Last Updated 2017-03-17 02:42:49

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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.

Legend & FAQ

Oklahoma City Thunder at Toronto Raptors – 7:00 PM ET

Oklahoma City Thunder Toronto Raptors
oklahomacitynba Vegas Total 207.5 torontonba Vegas Total 207.5
Vegas Spread 2.5 Vegas Spread -2.5
Team Total 102.5 Team Total 105.0
Pace +/- -1.6 Pace +/- 1.8
Proj. Starter Russell Westbrook Victor Oladipo Andre Roberson Taj Gibson Steven Adams Proj. Starter Cory Joseph DeMar DeRozan DeMarre Carroll Serge Ibaka Jonas Valanciunas
Opponent Rank PG SG SF PF C Opponent Rank PG SG SF PF C
Adj. DvP 5 5 4 14 8 Adj. DvP 20 10 13 13 23
DRPM -2.79 -2.38 1.18 0.60 0.14 DRPM -0.09 0.85 2.02 1.46 1.67

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder are looking for their fourth win in a row tonight. With the Clippers struggling, they have a chance to move up to fifth place in the Western Conference standings. They draw a fairly difficult matchup tonight against the Raptors, who are ranked 12th or better in points allowed per game, defensive efficiency, and rebounding differential this season. The Thunder have an implied total of only 102.5 points, which is the third lowest in the slate and 3.8 points below their season average

The Raptors may be ranked fifth against point guards this season, but Kyle Lowry is not available and Russell Westbrook is not your average player. He is averaging a triple-double and comes into the game in great form. There isn’t a single player on the Raptors that I can see slowing him down, so I will be trying to fit him into as many lineups as possible. Victor Oladipo is no longer underpriced, but he still grades out as one of the top shooting guards in the slate. Taj Gibson is coming off of a big game against the Nets, but I’m not expecting a repeat performance against Serge Ibaka and the Raptors. I’d rather take a shot on Enes Kanter off the bench. Steven Adams continues to underperform and can be avoided in all formats.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary FP/Min Minutes L5 +/- FP/Game L5 +/- True Usage L5 +/- DvP DRPM
Russell Westbrook $13,500 $13,000 1.68 34.9 0.3 58.6 6.6 46.0% 0.0% 5 -2.79
Victor Oladipo $6,000 $6,500 0.80 33.5 -2.6 26.9 2.1 21.3% 0.5% 5 -2.38
Andre Roberson $3,900 $3,900 0.58 30.3 -2.8 17.7 -2.1 10.3% -0.4% 4 1.18
Taj Gibson $4,200 $4,400 0.82 26.7 -3.7 22.0 -5.7 18.3% 0.9% 14 0.60
Steven Adams $5,200 $4,700 0.82 30.5 -1.8 25.1 -5.0 16.4% -1.7% 8 0.14
Enes Kanter $5,600 $5,300 1.14 21.6 -2.0 24.6 0.3 25.9% 3.8% 14 N/A

Elite Plays – Russell Westbrook, Victor Oladipo

Secondary Plays – Enes Kanter

Toronto Raptors

The Raptors have managed to play well without Kyle Lowry. They have won six of their last ten games and are still in fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings. They draw a mediocre matchup tonight against the Thunder, who are ranked right around the league average in points allowed per game and defensive efficiency. The Raptors come into the game as 2.5-point favorites with an implied total of 105 points. Even though their team total is below their season average, we have to remember that they are missing their second best scorer.

Cory Joseph has been a viable value play at point guard and his price is affordable on both FanDuel and DraftKings. Over his last five games, he is averaging 30 minutes and 23 fantasy points per contest. If you need a value play at point guard, Joseph is worth a look. DeMar DeRozan has struggled over the last couple of weeks, but his price is down to $8,300 on DraftKings. Even though he will draw the defense of Andre Roberson, he’s one of the top shooting guard targets on DK. If DeMarre Carroll is unable to suit up, Norman Powell would likely draw another start at small forward. He has played well in his spot starts this season. Serge Ibaka has a little revenge narrative brewing, as he gets to face his former team in the Thunder. Jonas Valanciunas is typically in play against teams that have a traditional center and the Thunder certainly have that in Steven Adams. Valanciunas is a great tournament play in this slate.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary FP/Min Minutes L5 +/- FP/Game L5 +/- True Usage L5 +/- DvP DRPM
Cory Joseph $4,800 $4,800 0.73 24.0 6.4 17.4 5.4 20.4% -1.1% 20 -0.09
DeMar DeRozan $9,300 $8,300 1.12 35.4 -2.1 39.6 -7.9 34.1% -3.9% 10 0.85
DeMarre Carroll $4,200 $3,700 0.66 27.4 -1.4 18.2 3.3 15.1% 1.7% 13 2.02
Serge Ibaka $6,000 $5,900 0.90 30.9 0.5 28.0 -6.0 20.1% -2.3% 13 1.46
Jonas Valanciunas $5,600 $5,000 0.98 26.2 -0.5 25.7 4.4 19.1% 2.0% 23 1.67
Norman Powell $4,100 $4,500 0.75 18.1 8.1 13.5 6.6 20.0% -0.5% 10 N/A

Elite Plays – Cory Joseph (FD), DeMar DeRozan (DK), Jonas Valanciunas (GPP)

Secondary Plays – Cory Joseph (DK), DeMar DeRozan (FD), Serge Ibaka, Norman Powell (if Carroll is out)

Utah Jazz at Cleveland Cavaliers – 7:00 PM ET

Utah Jazz Cleveland Cavaliers
utahnba Vegas Total 206.5 clevelandnba Vegas Total 206.5
Vegas Spread 7.0 Vegas Spread -7.0
Team Total 99.8 Team Total 106.8
Pace +/- 0.0 Pace +/- -5.1
Proj. Starter George Hill Joe Ingles Joe Johnson Gordon Hayward Rudy Gobert Proj. Starter Kyrie Irving Iman Shumpert LeBron James Richard Jefferson Tristan Thompson
Opponent Rank PG SG SF PF C Opponent Rank PG SG SF PF C
Adj. DvP 19 29 18 7 20 Adj. DvP 6 1 3 1 3
DRPM -1.53 -0.49 1.17 -0.61 1.30 DRPM 0.94 0.28 -1.09 -0.11 5.49

Utah Jazz

The Jazz are playing in the second half of a back-to-back, after beating the Pistons last night. Even though they are facing the defending champions, the Jazz are only listed as 7-point underdogs tonight against the Cavaliers. This is a decent matchup overall, as the Cavaliers are ranked 18th or worse in points allowed per game, defensive efficiency, and rebounding differential. The Jazz have an implied total of 99.8 points, which is slightly below their season average.

With Shelvin Mack out and Rodney Hood questionable, we can expect big minutes and usage from George Hill. He has scored at least 34 fantasy points in three of his last five games and draws an exploitable matchup against the Cavaliers, who are ranked 19th in adjusted DvP against point guards. Joe Ingles and Joe Johnson have both played well with Derrick Favors out and are both worth a look as tournament fliers. If Rodney Hood is eventually ruled out, we can consider Ingles and Johnson in cash games as well. Gordon Hayward’s price is all the way down to $6,900 on DraftKings and he should see minutes in the mid to upper 30s tonight. He is firmly in play at that price point. Rudy Gobert is also underpriced on DraftKings at only $6,800. Even though Tristan Thompson is a good defender, Gobert has great upside in this matchup.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary FP/Min Minutes L5 +/- FP/Game L5 +/- True Usage L5 +/- DvP DRPM
George Hill $6,300 $6,300 0.90 31.6 -2.9 28.5 -3.1 24.8% -0.4% 19 -1.53
Joe Ingles $4,000 $3,900 0.67 22.7 4.5 15.3 6.1 14.9% -1.1% 29 -0.49
Joe Johnson $3,600 $3,800 0.66 22.9 4.2 15.1 3.5 18.2% 1.3% 18 1.17
Gordon Hayward $7,800 $6,900 1.00 34.5 -1.7 34.6 -2.2 27.7% 0.6% 7 -0.61
Rudy Gobert $7,700 $6,800 1.03 33.6 2.7 34.6 2.0 15.7% -0.5% 20 1.30

Elite Plays – George Hill (GPP), Gordon Hayward (DK), Rudy Gobert (DK)

Secondary Plays – George Hill (Cash), Gordon Hayward (FD), Rudy Gobert (FD), Joe Ingles, Joe Johnson

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavaliers have lost six of their last ten games, but it sounds like Kevin Love is close to returning to the lineup. He has been upgraded to questionable for tonight’s game. Once he returns, the Cavaliers should get back to their winning ways. They draw an awful matchup tonight against the Jazz, who are ranked dead last in pace of play and first in points allowed per game. There is some hope for Cleveland though, as Utah is playing in the second half of a back-to-back and playing on the road. The Cavaliers have an implied total of 106.8 points, which is the sixth highest in the slate.

A lot is going to hinge on the availability of Kevin Love. If he is cleared to play and sees at least 25 minutes of action, that takes the appeal away from Kyrie Irving and LeBron James. It’s one thing to take players against the Jazz, but I don’t want to pay a premium for them if Love is going to play. If Love is out, Irving will continue to see a massive usage boost. His price is all the way down to $7,900 on DraftKings, which puts him into the ‘elite play’ category. LeBron James is also a bit cheaper than usual at $10,500 on FanDuel and $10,600 on DraftKings. If Love is out, we can look to James as a high-floor cash game target. The rest of the Cavaliers can be avoided in a tough spot against the Jazz.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary FP/Min Minutes L5 +/- FP/Game L5 +/- True Usage L5 +/- DvP DRPM
Kyrie Irving $9,100 $7,900 1.09 35.2 1.3 38.4 1.8 32.1% 0.5% 6 0.94
Iman Shumpert $3,700 $3,500 0.58 25.9 5.7 15.1 2.3 13.9% 0.6% 1 0.28
LeBron James $10,500 $10,400 1.30 37.5 -0.7 48.9 3.7 33.0% 0.5% 3 -1.09
Richard Jefferson $3,700 $3,600 0.51 20.6 8.5 10.5 5.8 12.3% -1.6% 1 -0.11
Tristan Thompson $5,500 $4,500 0.79 30.2 -0.5 23.7 0.9 11.2% -0.7% 3 5.49

Elite Plays – Kyrie Irving (DK), LeBron James (Cash) – if Love is out

Secondary Plays – Kyrie Irving (FD), LeBron James (GPP) – if Love is out

Brooklyn Nets at New York Knicks – 7:30 PM ET

Brooklyn Nets New York Knicks
brooklynnba Vegas Total 222.0 newyorknba Vegas Total 222.0
Vegas Spread 4.0 Vegas Spread -4.0
Team Total 109.0 Team Total 113.0
Pace +/- 0.4 Pace +/- 4.9
Proj. Starter Jeremy Lin Randy Foye Caris LeVert Rondae Hollis-Jefferson Brook Lopez Proj. Starter Derrick Rose Courtney Lee Carmelo Anthony Lance Thomas Willy Hernangomez
Opponent Rank PG SG SF PF C Opponent Rank PG SG SF PF C
Adj. DvP 10 26 24 18 27 Adj. DvP 28 30 30 29 26
DRPM -2.62 -0.86 -1.93 -1.42 1.13 DRPM -0.37 -1.75 -1.23 0.69 0.30

Brooklyn Nets

The Nets have been playing some good basketball of late, which can’t be said about the Knicks. Even though this game is on the road, I expect the Nets to keep it close. They are only 4-point underdogs against a Knicks’ defense that is ranked 25th in both points allowed per game and defensive efficiency. The Nets have an implied total of 109 points, which is the fourth highest in the slate and 3.2 points above their season average.

Jeremy Lin has played at least 26 minutes in three straight games. While the restriction caps his upside, he can still reach and exceed value at a price of $5,900 on FanDuel and $6,000 on DraftKings. I expect people to hop off of him tonight, but I like his chances to score 30+ in a matchup against Derrick Rose, who has a DRPM of -2.62 this season. Caris LeVert is averaging 20 fantasy points in his last five games and could see minutes in the mid to upper 20s tonight with Joe Harris and Sean Kilpatrick out. LeVert offers nice value, especially on DraftKings. Isaiah Whitehead may be asked to play big minutes off the bench if you need a cheap tournament flier at point guard. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Trevor Booker are both productive on a per-minute basis, but neither player is going to see heavy minutes. They are in play against a beatable Knicks’ frontcourt, but secondary options at their respective positions. Brook Lopez should be able to dominate in this spot, as the Knicks are ranked 27th in adjusted DvP against centers. Lopez is one of the top center targets in the slate.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary FP/Min Minutes L5 +/- FP/Game L5 +/- True Usage L5 +/- DvP DRPM
Jeremy Lin $5,900 $6,000 1.10 23.5 2.2 25.9 2.7 28.7% 2.0% 10 -2.62
Randy Foye $3,600 $3,000 0.58 18.6 -0.1 10.9 1.4 16.4% -3.0% 26 -0.86
Caris LeVert $4,400 $4,000 0.73 20.9 3.1 15.3 4.3 16.4% -2.2% 24 -1.93
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson $4,400 $4,000 0.86 21.8 0.0 18.8 0.8 18.5% -1.4% 18 -1.42
Brook Lopez $7,000 $6,800 1.09 29.6 0.3 32.3 -2.5 28.1% -2.0% 27 1.13
Isaiah Whitehead $3,500 $3,900 0.65 22.2 4.1 14.5 3.2 19.9% -0.1% 10 N/A
Trevor Booker $5,100 $5,100 0.95 25.8 -1.5 24.6 -2.4 18.3% 2.6% 18 N/A

Elite Plays – Jeremy Lin, Brook Lopez, Caris LeVert (DK)

Secondary Plays – Caris LeVert (FD), Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Trevor Booker, Isaiah Whitehead

New York Knicks

The Knicks are going to be a popular team to target tonight and for good reason. Not only are they expected to be without Kristaps Porzingis, but they draw the best matchup in the slate. On the season, the Nets are ranked first in pace of play and dead last in points allowed per game. The Knicks have an implied total of 113 points, which is the second highest in the slate and 7.5 points above their season average. We can safely give a nice boost to the Knicks’ offense as a whole.

Derrick Rose sees a small usage bump with Kristaps Porzingis off the floor and should see 33-35 minutes against a Nets’ defense that is ranked 28th against point guards this season. Rose’s price has come up across the industry, but he is still a borderline elite play in this matchup. Courtney Lee is a sneaky play in all formats. People hate rostering him in DFS, but he should play close to 35 minutes in a premier matchup for shooting guards. Carmelo Anthony is one of my core plays in this slate. He finally broke out of his slump on Tuesday and he should go back to chucking up shots without Porzingis in the lineup. Lance Thomas will likely draw the start at power forward and is worth a look as a punt play in cash games. Willy Hernangomez continues to produce at a high level and may finally see close to 30 minutes tonight. I see him as an elite tournament play.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary FP/Min Minutes L5 +/- FP/Game L5 +/- True Usage L5 +/- DvP DRPM
Derrick Rose $6,800 $6,700 0.88 32.5 -0.1 28.6 -3.0 27.5% -3.8% 28 -0.37
Courtney Lee $5,000 $5,200 0.62 32.0 4.0 19.8 4.9 14.4% 2.2% 30 -1.75
Carmelo Anthony $8,400 $8,100 1.01 34.6 3.7 35.1 -4.5 29.1% -5.9% 30 -1.23
Lance Thomas $4,300 $4,000 0.54 20.6 5.4 11.0 6.1 13.5% 0.9% 29 0.69
Willy Hernangomez $6,000 $6,200 1.04 17.0 7.2 17.6 11.6 19.6% 5.0% 26 0.30
Kyle O’Quinn $4,200 $3,900 1.15 15.3 -3.2 17.6 -2.6 19.2% -1.6% 26 N/A

Elite Plays – Derrick Rose, Carmelo Anthony, Willy Hernangomez (GPP)

Secondary Plays – Courtney Lee, Willy Hernangomez (Cash), Lance Thomas

Memphis Grizzlies at Atlanta Hawks – 7:30 PM ET

Memphis Grizzlies Atlanta Hawks
memphisnba Vegas Total 203.0 atlantanba Vegas Total 203.0
Vegas Spread 3.5 Vegas Spread -3.5
Team Total 99.8 Team Total 103.3
Pace +/- 1.0 Pace +/- -3.4
Proj. Starter Mike Conley Tony Allen Vince Carter JaMychal Green Marc Gasol Proj. Starter Dennis Schroder Kent Bazemore Thabo Sefolosha Paul Millsap Dwight Howard
Opponent Rank PG SG SF PF C Opponent Rank PG SG SF PF C
Adj. DvP 24 23 29 6 7 Adj. DvP 13 21 7 2 1
DRPM -2.83 -0.84 2.41 3.36 2.66 DRPM -1.00 2.06 -0.30 1.01 0.66

Memphis Grizzlies

We go from one of the best games in the slate (BKN/NY) to one of the worst games, at least in terms of potential fantasy production. The Grizzlies and Hawks are both ranked in the top nine in points allowed per game and in the top six in defensive efficiency. The Grizzlies are playing in the second half of a back-to-back and have an implied total of only 99.8 points. Not only is it the second lowest in the slate, but it is 1.7 points below their season average.

While I don’t love the spot as a whole, there is one matchup that I will be looking to exploit. Statistically speaking, Dennis Schroder is one of the worst defenders in the NBA. Point guards have had success against Atlanta all season and there is no reason to think that won’t continue tonight with Mike Conley. He is one of the many elite point guard options in tonight’s slate. Even with Chandler Parsons out, I don’t trust any of the Grizzlies’ wing players. Marc Gasol is a decent value on DraftKings at $7,300, but I’d rather save a few hundred dollars and go down to Rudy Gobert. Zach Randolph’s minutes and fantasy production are both trending in the wrong direction.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary FP/Min Minutes L5 +/- FP/Game L5 +/- True Usage L5 +/- DvP DRPM
Mike Conley $7,700 $7,600 1.05 33.3 2.6 34.8 2.1 29.1% -1.7% 24 -2.83
Tony Allen $4,100 $4,000 0.75 27.3 -4.3 20.6 -3.6 17.6% 1.3% 23 -0.84
Vince Carter $3,900 $4,200 0.69 23.8 1.2 16.4 0.6 15.7% -2.2% 29 2.41
JaMychal Green $3,900 $4,100 0.73 28.1 -3.9 20.6 -2.0 14.0% -0.1% 6 3.36
Marc Gasol $7,700 $7,300 1.07 34.4 -0.7 36.7 -3.0 28.1% -2.6% 7 2.66
Zach Randolph $5,800 $5,400 1.10 24.2 -3.1 26.5 -4.7 28.5% 3.1% 6 N/A

Elite Plays – Mike Conley

Secondary Plays – Marc Gasol (DK)

Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks have lost five of their last ten games and have dropped down to the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. They draw a difficult matchup tonight against the Grizzlies, but Memphis has been struggled over the last couple of weeks. With this game being played in Atlanta, the Hawks’ offense should be fine in this spot. They come into the game with an implied total of 103.3 points, which is nearly identical to their season average.

Dennis Schroder is too expensive on FanDuel ($7,400) and too cheap on DraftKings ($6,400). We saw him play well in a tough matchup against the Spurs the other night and I’m willing to take a shot on him at his discounted price point on DK. The Grizzlies are typically tough on wing players, which puts Kent Bazemore, Tim Hardaway, and Thabo Sefolosha as deep tournament plays at best. Paul Millsap is underpriced again on DraftKings. He burned a lot of people the other night against San Antonio, but I will be going right back to the well tonight. Dwight Howard is too inconsistent for my liking and draws a tough matchup anyway. Marc Gasol is one of the best low post defenders in basketball.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary FP/Min Minutes L5 +/- FP/Game L5 +/- True Usage L5 +/- DvP DRPM
Dennis Schroder $7,400 $6,400 0.97 31.1 1.2 30.1 8.1 30.1% 4.3% 13 -1.00
Kent Bazemore $4,300 $4,000 0.75 27.3 -0.1 20.4 -1.4 20.7% 1.0% 21 2.06
Thabo Sefolosha $3,800 $3,800 0.71 26.1 1.2 18.7 0.7 13.8% -0.2% 7 -0.30
Paul Millsap $7,600 $7,100 1.04 34.3 3.2 35.7 -0.3 24.8% -1.1% 2 1.01
Dwight Howard $6,900 $6,100 1.11 29.5 1.0 32.6 -3.5 18.2% -0.4% 1 0.66
Tim Hardaway $5,600 $5,200 0.80 25.8 3.6 20.6 6.1 22.5% -0.5% 21 N/A

Elite Plays – Dennis Schroder (DK), Paul Millsap (DK)

Secondary Plays – Dennis Schroder (FD), Paul Millsap (FD)

Los Angeles Clippers at Denver Nuggets – 9:00 PM ET

Los Angeles Clippers Denver Nuggets
laclippersnba Vegas Total 219.0 denvernba Vegas Total 219.0
Vegas Spread 4.5 Vegas Spread -4.5
Team Total 107.3 Team Total 111.8
Pace +/- 1.6 Pace +/- -0.4
Proj. Starter Chris Paul J.J. Redick Raymond Felton Luc Richard Mbah a Moute Marreese Speights Proj. Starter Jameer Nelson Gary Harris Juancho Hernangomez Mason Plumlee Nikola Jokic
Opponent Rank PG SG SF PF C Opponent Rank PG SG SF PF C
Adj. DvP 27 24 23 9 13 Adj. DvP 14 7 27 10 16
DRPM -0.66 -1.94 -0.50 0.68 1.30 DRPM 3.50 -1.63 -0.89 2.79 0.46

Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers lost to the Bucks at home last night and have decided to rest Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan for tonight’s game against the Nuggets. This obviously hurts their chances of picking up a win on the road, but they are only listed as 4.5-point underdogs. Even without those two in the lineup, the Clippers still have an implied total of 107.3 points, which is massive. The Nuggets are one of the worst defensive teams in all of basketball.

The sample size is extremely small (57 minutes), but Chris Paul is averaging 1.51 fantasy points per minute with Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan off the floor this season. If this game stays close, I don’t see how Paul doesn’t have a monster fantasy outing. He is an elite play in all formats, unless you expect the game to get out of hand. J.J. Redick, Austin Rivers, and Jamal Crawford will all be asked to pick up the slack offensively and all three are viable plays in what should be a high scoring game. Raymond Felton has been quiet recently, but there is a chance that he could enter the starting lineup tonight. If he does, he would make a great value play, especially on DraftKings where he is small forward eligible. Marreese Speights rarely plays more than 18-20 minutes, but the matchup is great and he is close to min-salary. I hate to say it, but it’s going to be hard to fade Speights tonight.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary FP/Min Minutes L5 +/- FP/Game L5 +/- True Usage L5 +/- DvP DRPM
Chris Paul $9,800 $8,800 1.26 31.4 1.5 39.5 -5.1 28.9% 0.2% 27 -0.66
J.J. Redick $4,000 $4,300 0.70 28.3 -1.1 19.8 -0.2 20.8% -0.1% 24 -1.94
Raymond Felton $3,500 $3,400 0.73 21.8 -3.6 15.9 -5.8 18.1% -1.6% 23 -0.50
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute $3,500 $3,000 0.53 22.1 -6.3 11.7 -5.9 10.9% -3.2% 9 0.68
Marreese Speights $3,500 $3,300 1.04 15.9 -2.2 16.6 -4.4 23.1% -0.6% 13 1.30
Jamal Crawford $4,000 $4,100 0.70 26.3 -0.5 18.5 -2.9 23.4% -1.9% 24 N/A
Austin Rivers $4,400 $3,700 0.69 27.8 -3.6 19.1 -2.5 20.9% 2.5% 27 N/A

Elite Plays – Chris Paul, J.J. Redick, Marreese Speights

Secondary Plays – Austin Rivers, Jamal Crawford, Raymond Felton

Denver Nuggets

The Clippers wouldn’t usually be a great matchup, but they are missing two of their best players and the Nuggets get to face them at home. Despite ruling out Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, and Darrell Arthur, the Nuggets still have an implied total of 111.8 points, which is the third highest in the slate. As long as this game stays close, it will be one of the top ones to target in the slate.

Jameer Nelson continues to start at point guard, but the Nuggets want to get Jamal Murray as many minutes as possible. Neither player is on my radar tonight, but Murray is the preferred play of the two moving forward. Gary Harris and Will Barton should both see all of the minutes they can handle with Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler out. Harris and Barton are both elite plays at shooting guard. I slightly prefer Barton, as he is better on a per-minute basis. Juancho Hernangomez should also see minutes in the upper 20s, which makes him one of the top value plays on the board. Kenneth Faried is expected to play tonight, but the Nuggets will likely ease him back into rotation. Nikola Jokic is close to a must play for me here, as the Clippers don’t have anyone that can defend him in the post or keep him off the glass. With all of the value available in the slate, Jokic is an easy play.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary FP/Min Minutes L5 +/- FP/Game L5 +/- True Usage L5 +/- DvP DRPM
Jameer Nelson $5,000 $4,000 0.73 26.7 2.7 19.4 -0.7 19.3% -3.9% 14 3.50
Gary Harris $5,900 $5,800 0.79 29.8 6.0 23.4 5.5 19.3% -1.7% 7 -1.63
Juancho Hernangomez $3,600 $3,900 0.76 12.6 2.3 9.6 4.1 14.2% -0.6% 27 -0.89
Mason Plumlee $5,800 $5,500 1.03 27.4 0.4 28.2 2.9 19.7% 0.9% 10 2.79
Nikola Jokic $10,600 $10,600 1.30 27.1 -0.1 35.3 6.0 25.0% 3.3% 16 0.46
Will Barton $5,300 $5,300 0.86 28.5 -4.8 24.6 -5.9 22.3% -0.1% 7 N/A
Jamal Murray $4,000 $4,900 0.75 20.3 1.4 15.3 4.4 22.1% 3.6% 14 N/A

Elite Plays – Gary Harris, Will Barton, Nikola Jokic, Juancho Hernangomez

Secondary Plays – Mason Plumlee

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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