NBA GPP Green Light 12-29-17

We enter the New Year's weekend with a 9-game Friday slate, and injury news dropping already. Paul George was just ruled out for the Thunder. With George off the floor, Westbrook has a 46.2% usage rate and averages 1.59 FPPM. Carmelo Anthony has a 33% usage rate, and 1.11 FPPM. We also need to keep an eye on Kyle Kuzma, who is questionable tonight. If he ends up sitting, Julius Randle becomes a slightly safer play, while Larry Nance would enter the picture. Victor Oladipo is ruled out tonight, so the Lance Stephenson train will keep on rolling. There is some good chalk tonight, and he is one of them. Lakers value that opens up will be as well.

DK Salary: $6,800 / FD Salary: $7,900

First things first, I am going more mid-range plays in this article, but I do believe DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis are two GPP bigs you can build around tonight. I will gander at a few other names for you, however. Myles Turner has been very inconsistent this season, but has started to flash the upside a bit more of late. The Bulls have allowed the seventh most fantasy points per game to opposing centers this season, and rank 17th in defensive efficiency. Turner had a 22% usage rate in that last game without Oladipo. Turner sees a very slight bump with him off the court, but not a sizable difference. Turner is averaging 16-6-2 over the last ten games, with 3.0 blocks + steals per game. Turner is a slightly better play over on DK tonight for the discount, but the block shot upside is appealing on FD as well.

DK Salary: $6,100 / FD Salary: $6,100

With Paul George ruled out, Russell Westbrook looks like a lock tonight. He has a 46.2% usage rate without George on the court. Carmelo Anthony has a 32.9% usage rate with George off the court, and averages 1.11 FPPM. In the two games Paul George missed earlier this season, Melo averaged 16-10-1 with 2.0 blocks + steals per game. He also played 36 minutes per game. He gets a bump in minutes and usage without George tonight, and given the $6,100 price tag tonight, he could pay that off handsomely. Over the last ten games, Milwaukee is allowing the 10th most fantasy points per game to opposing power forwards. They also rank inside the bottom ten in rebounding, so a few extra boards should go Melo's way tonight.

DK Salary: $6,600 / FD Salary: $7,300

Now the Lakers will be popular tonight, and we are waiting on the Kyle Kuzma news to clear up some of the front court plays. Whoever comes out of this in secure minutes are fine GPP plays, even at higher ownership. Brandon Ingram returned from his brief injury absence, and played 44 minutes. He went 23-4-4, and has averaged 16-5-3 on the season. The minutes continue to be one of the more attractive things about Ingram, averaging 35.1 this season. The Clippers rank 25th in defensive efficiency against opposing SF, and have allowed the fifth most fantasy points per game. Keep an eye on Larry Nance and Julius Randle tonight, and don't be afraid of the price hike on Jordan Clarkson. These are all guys we want to target on this slate.

DK Salary: $4,700 / FD Salary: $4,600

Dion Waiters is already ruled out for tonight's game against Brooklyn. Tyler Johnson will draw the start at SG, but Wayne Ellington is the cheaper option. The Nets are allowing the fifth most fantasy points per game to opposing shooting guards this season. Ellington has hit 30+ fantasy points in two of the last four games, but hit 20~ in the other two. Ellington has seen 34, 35, 39, and 32 minutes in the last four, as injuries continue to create playing time for him. He has averaged ten three point attempts in each of the last four games, and if his three point shot falls, he has potential to put up 30+ again tonight.

DK Salary: $7,700 / FD Salary: $8,300

The ownership hasn't been there with Kyle Lowry this season, and I don't expect it to this evening. This is a great matchup for Lowry, as the Hawks rank 27th in defensive efficiency against point guards. Over the last ten games, the Hawks are allowing the fourth most fantasy points per game. Lowry dropped 15-13-6 in 27 minutes last time out against the Hawks, and has owned them even going back to last year. Lowry has scored over 40 fantasy points in four of the last five games against Atlanta. Matching up with Dennis Schroder is one of the better fantasy matchups a point guard could have.