One of the most intriguing parts of DFS is how you need to constantly adapt to situations. Sometimes you love a play going into a slate but his price is higher than you'd like. Sometimes you hate a play going into a slate, but is price is lower than expected. Tonight's sometimes scenario on Fanduel relates to Denzel Valentine. I'll go further into detail under his name below, but just know that he will be my top high priced option truly because of lack of options. When I overlooked this slate, I was hoping not to have to make this decision and simply fade, but this just wasn't the case. If you think your alone making tough decisions on a nightly basis for who to play/fade, I can promise you you're not. Just know going into the Fanduel slate that the forward position being as ugly as it is may force you to do something your not totally comfortable with. Obvious teams to target will be UCLA and USC, and you'll see below which guys I prefer to play on each site.
High-Priced Plays
Denzel Valentine - Forward, Michigan State. (FD Price $10,000, DK Price $10,100)
Some of you may be thinking, well it's Denzel and it's Northwestern; this is an obvious play. For one thing, I rarely pay 10K premiums for players on the road. My one true exception is Simmons, and I think you understand why that is. Again though, after looking over the entire slate the best direction to go is with Valentine, as I'm far more comfortable with how my lineup looks with him vs without him. With the need to fill five forward positions and Valentine being a true guard, I feel he is a good play for Fanduel's late slate. His floor is fairly high with the rare dud in the mid 20s, and he is still a forward on Fanduel which is a huge plus. I don't love the play, but I like him more than two mid-priced guys based on the slate.
Isaac Hamilton - Guard, UCLA. (FD Price $8,200, DK Price $7,400)
Let me first point out that Hamilton's DK price is highway robbery, and I expect him to be the highest owned player on the entire slate over there. On Fanduel though, it will be a different story, since Bryce is cheaper than him at $8,100. UCLA plays fairly quick as it is, but they draw the fantasy goldmine that is the Huskies. This isn't meant to be a putdown to Washington either, but their average possession length is the 2nd lowest in the country and UCLA will love the extra possessions. I prefer Hamilton on both sites as he's more efficient and been playing better recently. His price is a bit higher than I'd like on Fanduel, but the projected pace of this game as a potential 40 burger looming for him.
Tony Parker - Forward, UCLA. Price $7,700, DK Price $7,700)
Mid-Priced Plays
Kadeem Allen - Guard, Arizona. (FD Price $6,400, DK Price $6,600)
Allen is coming off a mediocre at best stretch of four games, and I really like his bounce back chances at home against the Ducks. Foul trouble has hindered his success, but Allen's recent minutes limitation has dropped his price down a few hundred dollars. These are the spots you always look for in DFS when good players run through a stretch of some bad games and it impacts their price. Allen's peripherals are real nice, and look for him to have a nice game for this price tomorrow. As a side note, I don't mind Gabe York, but would prefer to play him on DK as he's cheaper there.
Nikola Jovanic - Forward, USC. (FD Price $6,300, DK Price $6,100)
Jovanic falls into a very similar category as Kadeem Allen. He is someone who has recently struggled, after a stretch of good games and his price has gone down because of it. I don't believe it's a coincidence either that his last three duds all came on the road. Jovanic plays far better at home and this price is just too low for him. USC is projected the most points on the entire slate, so you'll want action somewhere and Jovanic is the best bargain. Jump down the chute and pay for Jovanic instead of climbing the ladder with Boatwright.
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