NBA GPP Green Light: 2-2-18

We are a few days away from the trade deadline, so we need to keep our head on a swivel. Nikola Mirotic won't make his debut tonight, but should be in New Orleans this weekend. Injury report is a little busy, and more so in Milwaukee, which I will get to below. Outside of that, Dennis Schroder, Myles Turner, Marcus Morris, Kyrie Irving, Eric Bledsoe, Alex Len, and Willie Cauley-Stein are the questionable tags to keep an eye on.

DK Salary: $7,300 / FD Salary: $7,500

If you watched last night's game, Giannis Antetokounmpo twisted his ankle late in the game, and it did not look good. Even worse, Malcolm Brogdon went down with a quad issue, and he is more likely to miss tonight's game. Oh, and on top of that, Eric Bledsoe is questionable. With Brogdon and Giannis off the court, Khris Middleton sees a 34.8% usage rate, and averages 1.10 FPPM. If Bledsoe sits tonight, Middleton's usage rate jumps to 39%. If Bledsoe plays, Bledsoe's usage is 32.8%, averages 1.22 FPPM. Eric Bledsoe would also be very playable if he suits up tonight, but that is news we need to wait on. Even with a high ownership, a limited Milwaukee team would lean heavily on Middleton, and for these prices, he is a tough fade in GPPs. If you are truly looking to play the ownership angle or Giannis does play, Devin Booker and Jrue Holiday are other excellent options. New York is allowing 111 points per game over the last ten, allowing them to shoot 46.8% from the field. The Knicks defense has slipped, and regardless of the back-to-back, getting some Middleton exposure is the right thing to do.

DK Salary: $8,000 / FD Salary: $7,800

There are a number of Utah players viable tonight, Ricky Rubio, Derrick Favors, Alec Burks, and Joe Ingles are all terrific options. Rudy Gobert is someone I want some exposure to this evening, which lacks a clear cut center option, outside of an expensive Dwight Howard. Phoenix ranks 21st in defensive efficiency against centers over the last ten games, and have allowed the 9th most blocks per game to opposing centers this season. Phoenix is bottom five in offensive rebounds allowed this season, and Gobert averaged the third most offensive rebounds per game last season. Gobert is averaging 36 fantasy points per game over his last five games, and has averaged 40 fantasy points per game in his last five against Phoenix, with 3.6 blocks per game.

DK Salary: $7,200 / FD Salary: $7,300

Kyle Lowry's price hasn't moved, even coming off the big game. Portland ranks sixth in defensive efficiency against opposing point guards this season, but have been middle of the road of late. Toronto has a shockingly high 109 implied total, and we know the backcourt carries a majority of the usage. Lowry's usage over the last ten games is 25.1%, which is back to where we want it from earlier in the season. At these price tags, we get a point guard who has 45+ fantasy point upside. We saw Lowry average 23-8-5 in two games against Portland last season, which is in his range of outcomes for tonight. Lowry is one of my favorite mid-range plays on the slate, and has averaged 40 fantasy points on zero days rest this season, so no worries there.

DK Salary: $4,900 / FD Salary: $5,100

We might see a handful of injuries open up value guards, which actually makes me like Tyler Johnson even more. Johnson is probably viewed as a cash game play tonight, but out of the cheaper guards, Johnson has some upside. Over Johnson's last ten healthy games, his ceiling is 32 fantasy points, which at these prices would be huge. Philadelphia has been solid defensively of late, and this isn't a prime game to target, but J.J. Redick being back weakens their defense against opposing shooting guards. Redick is a negative DRPM player. Johnson's minutes should hover around 30, and overall Philly ranks 23rd in defensive efficiency against opposing shooting guards.