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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 3, 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 haven’t tried out FanDuel one-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.
Worth the Investment
Russell Westbrook (OKC, PG) - $12,000, Chris Paul (LAC, PG) – $10,300, Stephen Curry (GS, PG) – $10,200
No commentary needed. These three point guards have been playing out of their minds. Take your pick, and hope the game isn’t a blowout by the time the fourth quarter rolls around.
Serge Ibaka (OKC, PF) - $8,200
Ibaka has broken out of his midseason slump in a big way, becoming Russell Westbrook’s right-hand man and playing major minutes. He has seen at least 35 minutes of court time in three consecutive games, and although his FDP totals have wavered between 20 and 50, he has been exploiting the good matchups. Wednesday against Philadelphia is a prime matchup for this big man. Ibaka should post at least 40 FDP against this carousel of undersized “big men.”
Hassan Whiteside (MIA, C) - $8,100
After showing he has some football experience on Monday and ending an amazing FanDuel night early, Whiteside matches up against a putrid Los Angeles Lakers defense on Wednesday. I am tempted to take anyone against L.A., and Whiteside being that guy makes my mouth water. He’s a double-double machine whenever he exceeds 20 minutes. He has been playing upwards of 35 minutes as of late, and I just love to watch this guy play.
Safer Bargain
These players are on the cheaper side, but you can expect some solid production from them with the potential for star-like numbers.
George Hill (IND, PG) - $6,300
Hill has played at least 29 minutes in six of the Indiana Pacers last seven games. He’s produced very well in his last three, averaging 39 FDP. I don’t necessarily expect 40 FDP on Wednesday, simply because I anticipate the rebound rate will regress some. Nevertheless, Hill is perfectly capable of a 15/4/8 line with a couple of steals. I’ll take that kind of production at his middle-of-the-road price.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (CHA, SF) - $6,000
MKG has come back from his two-game absence in a resounding way, wavering between 25 and 35 FDP in five games. He began the five-game stretch with good point totals and subpar rebounds, and ended the stretch with subpar point totals but great rebounding numbers. I am predicting a settling of the two metrics into the 15/15 area, and with a couple of assists steals and blocks, MKG will have some quality value. The Charlotte Hornets should rely on him heavily in what should be a scrappy matchup against the New York Knicks. Look for some solid production from Kidd-Gilchrist on Wednesday.
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.
Alan Anderson (BKN, SG) - $4,100
Anderson is a player who has quietly been putting in a lot of minutes of late. He usually eclipses 27 minutes, and sometimes gets over the 35-minute mark. With a guy like this, it’s tough to know when he’s going to have a solid game. I expect this game to be a scrappy and low-scoring affair. However, Anderson plays enough minutes to make an impact, and if you’re spending big at other positions, you’re going to need a player like this to throw in, as well. He can very easily get you 25 points with his offensive touches, but I wouldn't be surprised if he were in the 15-FDP range, either. If you find yourself running out of cap room, consider taking a shot on Anderson.
Alex Len (PHO, C) - $5,200
I was a big Alex Len fan back in January. He slowly faded off the map in February. And shhh! Don’t look now, but decent Len is coming back. He has been playing between 30 and 35 minutes on normal nights lately, and he has been a rebounding machine. Add some blocks and points in there, and Len can put up a good game against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. The big risk here is if Nikola Vucevic will get Len into foul trouble, but for this low of a price, I’m taking the chance.
Avoid at All Costs
If it were up to me, these players would have a 0% usage.
Kenneth Faried (DEN, PF) - $5,800
With Jusuf Nurkic likely out for the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, a lot of FanDuel players will look to Faried as the only big man with value in Denver. Don’t fall for the trap. Faried has been dreadfully inconsistent this year, and I don’t expect his big game to come on Wednesday. If Nikola Pekovic is able to play for the Minnesota Timberwolves, then Faried will have the twin towers in his face all night long. I want nothing to do with most of the Denver players on a nightly basis, but especially not Kenneth Faried.
