This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
Each week, RotoWire will provide value plays for your daily fantasy basketball lineups on FantasyDraft. Users have a salary cap of $100,000 to select a lineup comprised of eight players. Of these eight players, you must select three guards, three forwards/centers and two utility players. The scoring is as follows:
Points Scored – 1.0 point for each point scored
3-Point Basket – 0.5 bonus points for each three-pointer made
Assist – 1.5 points for each assist
Rebound – 1.25 points for each rebound
Steal – 2.0 points for each steal
Block – 2.0 points for each blocked shot
Turnover – minus 0.5 points for each turnover
Double-Double – 1.5 bonus points for double-double
Triple-Double – 3.0 bonus points triple-double
FantasyDraft is running contests in beta stage, but full capabilities for their users are available. There are 50/50s, guaranteed tournaments, and more available options in the lobby, so be sure to check it out.
The target for each player to reach value is 2.5x the player's salary. If a player costs $10,000 against the cap, expected value is 25 fantasy points.
Without further ado, here are this week's value plays for daily fantasy basketball on FantasyDraft.
Value Plays
Guard
Kent Bazemore, ATL, $8,000 – With Kyle Korver (nose) out, Bazemore is likely to start for the Hawks. In games without Korver this season, Bazemore is averaging 23.3 fantasy points per game, which is nearly identical to the 22.8 fantasy points he has averaged as a starter. As long as Korver is out, Bazemore is worth up to $9,500 on FantasyDraft. Seeing as he is currently priced at $8,000, Bazemore is a bargain.
Justin Holiday, GSW, $6,300 – Klay Thompson (ankle) is out for at least a week, which gives Holiday an uptick in minutes and production. Holiday has played one game this season without Thompson, in which he tallied 34.3 fantasy points in 36 minutes. Holiday was listed as the starter for that contest, and Stephen Curry was also out.
Even with Curry available, Holiday has a usage rate of 19.3 percent when Thompson is off the floor. If Holiday is named the starter, he is an excellent play as near-minimum priced player on FantasyDraft. If he comes off the bench, Holiday is a tournament play only, but he's still a nice option as he has played the fourth-most minutes of any player when Klay Thompson is out this season.
Forward/Center
Steven Adams, OKC, $8,000 – Adams is one of the top beneficiaries with Serge Ibaka (knee) out for the next month. In three games without Ibaka, Adams has averaged 11 points and nine rebounds for an average of 27.7 fantasy points per game. Adams has started the last two games for the Thunder alongside Enes Kanter, making a formidable, yet cheap, duo to stack with Russell Westbrook in tournament games.
As a starter this season, Adams is averaging 20.7 fantasy points per game, but most of those games were with Ibaka and/or Kevin Durant in the lineup. Feel free to select Adams for your lineups as long as he starts, as his price requires just 20 fantasy points to reach value on FantasyDraft.
Notable Injuries
Kevin Durant (foot) remains out. Durant began to practice on Saturday, and he's likely to return to the floor by April. Until he returns, Westbrook is the top play each night.
Serge Ibaka (knee) is out for four-to-six weeks. Adams and Enes Kanter will continue to start in the Thunder's frontcourt, with Mitch McGary receiving a boost off the bench.
Klay Thompson (ankle) is out for at least a week. Curry receives a bump in value, as he will take more shots in Thompson's absence. Andre Iguodala should see more time and opportunity, as will the aforementioned Holiday.
More injury information can be found here.
Good luck, and do not forget to join the fun at FantasyDraft and sign up now.
