RADIO
Welcome back, RotoBallers! We were rudely reminded what it's like to play MLB DFS last night thanks to the strange postponement of the Pacers and Pelicans game. I'll echo what all of Twitter was saying, which was that if you faded the postponed game, you are bad at NBA DFS. It was one of, if not the most, fantasy-relevant game on the short slate, so don't get discouraged if a lot of your lineups were burned by that freak occurance. There's not much you can do, and you won't be a profitable DFS player in the long run if you start fading some of the best plays of the night because there might be a leak in the roof. Rant over. Let's move on.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 2/8/18. I'll break down some of the best players at each position in regards to price versus projected production. I'll also identify some possible GPP considerations at each position as well.
As always, feel free to hit me up on Twitter @BellRoto with any questions or comments for today's slate or slates going forward. Let's get to it!
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DraftKings DFS Guards
Stephen Curry - PG/SG, GS vs. DAL (DK - $9,900)
Whether we hear about the status of Russell Westbrook's ankle before lock or not, I can assure you I won't be playing him at an increased price tag and in a game in which he could easily take a back seat and coast to a win. I also never pay up for Kevin Durant, especially when he is questionable like he is on Thursday. So, that only leaves a select few players to pay up for, and Steph Curry will likely be the one I lean towards. Not only does he get a fantastic matchup against a Mavs defense that is in the bottom half of the league defending both guard positions, but we know he has all of the upside in the world thanks to his high volume of three-point shots. There's also a chance that Durant or teammate Draymond Green (probable) get the night off, which would only help Curry's already massive usage. I'll be taking Steph over any of the other high-priced guards on Thursday.
Raymond Felton - PG/SG, OKC @ LAL (DK - $3,400)
Obviously this pick is contingent upon Westbrook sitting tonight. If he does, Felton would become a lock in a 25+ minute role playing point guard for the Thunder against the Lakers. There's no reason to play an injured Westbrook in this game, as the Thunder should win either way. I'm expecting (and hoping) that he gets the night off, and Felton becomes our lock-and-load value play of the night.
Other Guards to Consider: Kyrie Irving, Nicolas Batum, Wesley Matthews
DraftKings DFS Forwards
Michael Beasley - SF/PF, NY @ TOR (DK - $6,300)
There is plenty of injury news that could shake up this position, including Paul George and Carmelo Anthony getting a boost if Westbrook were out and Draymond Green getting a boost if Durant were to sit. You can adjust accordingly with those players, but in the mean time we should take a look at Michael Beasley. He sported a 30% usage rate in the second half, replacing the injured Kristaps Porzingis. It will be Beasley and a player-to-be-named-later manning the front court, and not much else, so it's his team for the time being. The matchup is tough and the price is high, but in this role Beasley could easily go for 40 DraftKings points.
Al-Farouq Aminu - SF/PF, POR vs. CHA (DK - $5,300)
I can never seem to get Al-Farouq Aminu right. He seems to go for 5.5-6 times value every game, but when I roster him he lays a dud. I refuse to give up, though, as he's shooting and racking up peripherals more than ever. If you can get a double-double with a couple of steals/blocks and a few three-pointers you'll be at 30 DK points with ease. I like Aminu's floor and ceiling at this price tag.
Other Forwards to Consider: Paul George, Draymond Green, Carmelo Anthony, Jerami Grant
DraftKings DFS Centers
Kyle O'Quinn - PF/C, NY @ TOR (DK - $4,400)
With Kristaps Porzingis and Enes Kanter injured and Willy Hernangomez traded, there's literally no one else to play the center position on this team. Kyle O'Quinn has shown us his ability to put up monster numbers in limited minutes, and typically busts as a chalk play every time. I don't care in this spot though, because he should be close to the rim all night covering Jonas Valanciunas and Jakob Poeltl. O'Quinn should get a double-double with ease, and he's always good for a steal/block or two, making this price silly. Lock him in.
Other Centers to Consider: Jonas Valanciunas, Brook Lopez
