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All throughout the 2014-15 NBA campaign, RotoBaller will be analyzing the top NBA DFS lineup picks and providing our expert advice for the best sleepers at the guard, forward and center positions. Below are our favorite FanDuel DFS picks for March 10th, 2015.
Keep in mind, fantasy basketball is a fickle game when it comes to injured players, so be sure to check all lineups prior to tip-off. If you want to chat about your roster picks, check out the DFS chat room at the bottom of this post.
Editors Note: If you have not tried out FanDuel 1-day fantasy basketball leagues, RotoBaller offers the best bonuses around. Signup and make a deposit for a new FanDuel account, and receive a 100% bonus on your deposit up to $200.
Before I get started: Wow. Just wow. Have you seen Russell Westbrook’s price? I’ve been trying to steer away from him lately simply because everyone has him, and his $13,300 price is making that even easier. I usually regret it at the end of the night when he drops 70 FDP, but I’m sticking to my guns. If you want to spend a fortune on the triple-double machine, go for it. But one of these nights he’s going to come back down to Earth again and ruin a lot of FanDuel lineups.
Worth The Investment
Damian Lillard (POR, PG) - $8,700
In the first game the Trailblazers played without Wesley Matthews, Lillard took over. He recorded 32 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists. I don’t expect Lillard to be in triple-double territory every game with Matthews out, but he will certainly take more shots without Matthews’ presence. In a game against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, I’m thinking Lillard with use the fast temp to his advantage, and take a large volume of shots. Put Lillard in your lineups confidently.
Eric Bledsoe (PHO, SG) - $8,300
Everyone knows that Bledsoe is one of Phoenix’s best scorers and perimeter defenders. However, it’s when he does the other things (rebound and assist) that he has great FanDuel value. With point guard Brandon Knight sitting out on Wednesday, I expect Bledsoe to control the offense for the majority of the night. Hopefully that means he hits that 20-point mark, records a bunch of assists, and grabs a couple of boards too. Bledsoe could quietly have a great night on Wednesday. If you don’t want to spend the big bucks on stars like Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and others, Bledsoe can be that viable 40-FDP performer.
Safer Bargains
These players are on the cheaper side, but you can expect some solid production from them with the potential for star-like numbers.
Thaddeus Young (BKN, PF) - $5,800
It’s about time the Nets moved Young into the starting five. He has made a very good impact on their offense and with added minutes lately. Working with Brook Lopez, Young has shown his ability to score in various ways, rebound, pass well, and force turnovers. The athletic forward is simply a work horse, and is the perfect type of player to compliment Brooklyn’s big men. Playing against the Miami Heat who are without the suspended Hassan Whiteside on Wednesday, I fully expect Young to continue his solid production at a very reasonable price.
Nikola Mirotic (CHI, PF) - $5,700
Mirotic was on my Monday list too, but now he’s jumped up a section from “risky” to “safe.” I have no doubt anymore about Tom Thibodeau’s plan to get Mirotic as many minutes as possible. With Taj Gibson still without a definite return date, and the Philidelphia 76ers on the schedule, Mirotic is going to find himself on a lot of FanDuel rosters. Don’t miss out on a great price that will soon rise.
High-Risk / High-Reward
These inexpensive picks are more trained for the tournament players. If you need to stand out from a crowd, these guys have the potential to hit 30 FDP. On the other hand, don't be surprised if they come up well short of that mark.
Dennis Schroder (ATL, PG) - $5,000
Schroder has been playing a great sixth man role in Atlanta lately. Although his minutes have varied, he has scored between 12 and 16 points in all but one of the last eight games. I’m intrigued by the fact that Schroder has been playing large parts of games alongside fellow guard Jeff Teague. I’m even more intrigued that the Denver Nuggets matchup may lead to some major blowout minutes for Schroder. The only real risk here is if Denver keeps it close, and for some reason Schroder can’t find his shot in limited minutes. However, I expect him to be right around his usual 30 FDP if not more.
Michael Beasley (MIA, SF) – ($4,200)
After signing his second 10-day contract with the Miami Heat, Beasley has played 38 and 32 minutes in his past two games. With Whiteside suspended, Chris Anderson a game-time decision, and Udonis Haslem coming off an injury, I’m interested to see what kind of role the 6’10” forward will play Wednesday. He will have a tough task on his hands against a relatively strong Brooklyn Nets defense, but with enough minutes Beasley can be a valuable FanDuel play. If you want to load up a stars and scrubs lineup, Beasley is sure to get you some minutes. Whether they’ll be productive minutes or not, who knows.
Avoid At All Costs
If it were up to me, these players would have a 0% usage.
Brandon Bass (BOS, PF) - $5,900
Bass has been playing very good basketball on a very average basketball team. He’s tallied at least 33 minutes in the past three games, and his FDP ranged from 25 to 44. With this kind of production at a reasonable price, a lot of FanDuel players will try to fit Bass into their lineups. Don’t bother. Bass is going up against one of the best front court defenses in the NBA in the Memphis Grizzlies. Whether it will be foul trouble or lockdown defense, I’m not banking on Bass reaching 20 FDP on Wednesday.
Have a Twitter account? Want more lineup help for your FanDuel team? Follow me @BellRoto and mention me in a tweet. The first 5 mentions will receive my FanDuel lineup for Monday night. My lineup… for free! Find me on Twitter for more info.
