FanDuel & DraftKings NBA Value Plays: 3-23-17

With guys like Russell Westbrook and James Harden dropping 60+ fantasy point games, they will be staples in the lineups for many of us. But... To grab those players, value is crucial in NBA, just like any other DFS sport. Value opens up through injuries, site pricing, and rotational changes. We are staying on top of the ever changing rotation, and injury news on a daily basis. Value plays will be given based on game type, and also mid-range options in comparison to the top-priced guys. Sometimes value doesn't mean a near punt price, but a few thousand dollar difference from a Stephen Curry.

As far as new injuries go, at the moment we look pretty clean. Dion Waiters remains the most recent injury, as Jeremy Lin is expected to return tonight. Lin's minutes are up in the air, unless we get some clarification before the slate starts. Given the injury was with his ankle, and not the hamstring that kept him out, he should be around 25 minutes. Against Phoenix, that should be plenty for him to hit value and then some. The Nets-Suns game is sitting with a 223 total, and Phoenix are four point underdogs. No player is really expensive in this one, and everything adds up for plenty of fantasy value on both sides.

Phoenix's minutes are a bit more solidified as we can see in the image below for projected minutes. Alan Williams is probable tonight, and has been averaging 30 fantasy points on both sites, over his last ten games played. That should continue tonight against a team that is bottom ten in rebounding, and in fantasy points allowed to opposing centers. Tyler Ulis' price is on the rise, but in comparison to other point guards, he is still at a value.

The Waiters injury has given Josh Richardson a bump in minutes, but production is fairly lackluster. However, on a smaller slate going back to the well isn't a bad idea. Even if it is for 20 fantasy points or so. He offers up some salary relief, even in a tough matchup. Tyler Johnson is coming off of a big game, and is only $500 less than Ulis on FanDuel. I will pass, but he is more playable on DraftKings. In that same game, Serge Ibaka is suspended for tonight's game, meaning Patrick Patterson and Lucas Nogueira will pick up time. Neither are attractive options.

Minutes have trended in the right direction for Noah Vonleh, who is averaging 27 minutes per game over the last four. In that span, he has scored 20+ DraftKings points in each game. At only $3,800 against a hapless Knicks defense on the second night of a back to back, I don't mind using him.

Speaking of the Knicks, I will be keeping a close eye on their minutes moving forward. There have been murmurs of the Knicks starting to restrict minutes, and also coming off a game in Utah, it is a very tough turnaround. Derrick Rose tweaked his ankle last night, and while he was available to come back in, he didn't. Carmelo Anthony might see a lower dose of minutes, while guys like Justin Holiday and Lance Thomas see an increase. Kristaps Porzingis is the safer target right now, especially in tonight's game.