Starting 5: DvP - Sunday, March 1st

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The Starting 5 Series will provide Grinders with a quick look at the day’s top positional plays, analyzed through the lens of our Daily Research Tools.

For today’s Sunday Funday Starting 5, we’ll take a closer look at the Defense vs Position. This is one of the tools I really like to use. Typically I toggle back and forth between the full season and the last three weeks to see which teams are currently struggling against the various positions.

Because there are obvious chalk plays at each position today, let’s dive a little deeper into the numbers and see if we can uncover any hidden gems that will also double as against the grain plays.

Point Guard: Jordan Clarkson (LAL) vs. Oklahoma City

Last three weeks vs PGs

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Yes, D.J. Augustin is going to be a phenomenal play against the Lakers. However, it is actually OKC that has given up the most fantasy points to opposing point guards over the last three weeks and they are #2 on the season, just behind the Lakers.

I like to utilize this particular tool to help me uncover some hidden gems that may be overlooked. It appears that we have one with Jordan Clarkson, who has arguably been LA’s most reliable fantasy option. This should be a close, fast paced game and Clarkson is in play as a differentiation option.

Shooting Guard: Wesley Matthews (POR) at Sacramento

Last three weeks vs SGs

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Matthews has been in a bit of a shooting slump, hitting just 17-of-47 shots (36.2%) since the All-Star break. Matthews is a solid shooter, averaging 44.8% on the season and holding a 44.5% field goal rate for his career.

To me this seems like a good time to roll the dice in a “get well” matchup against the Sacramento Kings, who are allowing the most fantasy points to shooting guards both on the season and over the last three weeks.

Small Forward: Dante Cunningham (NO) at Denver

Last three weeks vs SFs

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The Denver Nuggets are a hot mess right now. We all know to pick on them with opposing big men, but did you also realize that they have been a bottom five team against small forwards over the last three weeks as well as for the full season?

Dante Cunningham is definitely not a sexy option and he will probably go unnoticed by most daily gamers. Cunningham has started the last three games, coincidentally all Pelicans victories, in place of the injured Ryan Anderson and he is averaging 34 minutes and 25 DraftKings points in those contests. Not too shabby for a player that will be near the minimum price across the DFS world.

Power Forward: David West (IND) vs. Philadelphia

Season Stats vs PFs

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On the season, the Philadelphia 76ers are the worst team against power forwards from a fantasy perspective, and that is no real surprise. They have actually been better over their last half dozen games, improving to the 11th-worst (hey, that is an improvement for them!). It sounds like there is a chance that Nerlens Noel sits out today with a minor injury, mainly because Sam Hinkie is of course wanting to protect his assets (read as improve his draft lottery odds).

Today’s foe, the Indiana Pacers, are just one game out of the playoff picture, and could potentially see the return of Paul George for the postseason, so they will be doing everything they can to win today. David West has been scuffling a bit since the All-Star break, but we have seen him have excellent games in the past, and he should be a lock for 30 fantasy points today with some upside.

Center: Robin Lopez and Chris Kaman (POR) at Sacramento

Season Stats vs Centers

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The Sacramento Kings have been a bottom five team against centers all season and there is a good chance they will be without DeMarcus Cousins for tonight’s contest. This moves both Robin Lopez and Chris Kaman into the mix as cheap center options.

Yes, most gamers are going to be going with Alexis Ajinca and Omer Asik, but this article today is all about finding alternative sneaky plays.

Portland has a good matchup here against the shorthanded Kings, and while LaMarcus Aldridge is the standout name, the two value frontcourt options should be considered too.

About the Author

emac
Emac (emac)

Emac won the 2007 Fantasy Baseball grand prize (trip for two to the MLB All-Star game) in the Roto format on ESPN. He won again in 2008, this time in the H2H format. You can check out his ESPN Fantasy Experience here. Emac finished in the top ten for the DraftKings inaugural $1,000,000 Chase for the Crown promotion and also won the first ever MLB King’s Crown ($5k top prize) on DailyJoust.