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
Shane Larkin, NYK, $8,100 – With Alexey Shved (ribs) out for the remainder of the season, Larkin is locked in as the starting point guard for the Knicks. While he's only averaging 15.6 fantasy points per game as a starter this season, Larkin has managed to reach value in two straight games and six of his last seven. Larkin is averaging 0.5 fantasy points per minute this season, making him a candidate for value if he nears 40 minutes a game, which is unlikely.
But he is a different player without Shved in the lineup, as Larkin is now the primary ball-handler. With Shved out in March, Larkin averaged 37.1 minutes per game and reached value in three of four games. The one game he did not reach value was against Chris Paul, who is one of the better defensive point guards in the NBA, despite his efforts against Stephen Curry on Tuesday night.
Forward/Center
Jason Thompson, SAC, $7,200 – With DeMarcus Cousins likely to rest for multiple games down the stretch, Thompson sees a boost in value. In 17 games without Cousins this season, Thompson has averaged 8.3 rebounds per game. As a starter, Thompson averages 22.7 fantasy points per game, which is higher than his expected return at his current salary.
Thompson is averaging 0.7 fantasy points per minute this season, but that number increases to 0.8 with Cousins out. In games where Cousins sits, Thompson plays over 28 minutes per game. In addition Rudy Gay (concussion) is also out, giving Thompson a 19.1 percent usage rate, which translates to one shot every three minutes. Thompson shoots 50 percent from the floor, which would project him to be 5-fot-10 from the field based on his minutes and usage rate. That gives him at least 10 points and a chance for a double-double when both Cousins and Gay sit.
He has a high floor at a low price, which is an excellent safety net on FantasyDraft. Be sure to get him into your lineups as long as Cousins is out.
Omri Casspi, SAC, $6,800 – Similar to Thompson, Casspi should see a spike in playing time with the injuries to Gay and Cousins. Casspi averages 0.7 fantasy points per minute without Cousins and Gay this season. He is third on the team in usage rate and has played the third-most minutes among current rotation players on the Kings. What does this mean? Casspi is a top-three option on offense, which help his value at his price of $6,800.
His current price would require 17 fantasy points to reach value, which is easily attainable. Casspi has started six games with Cousins and Gay out, and he has averaged over 30 minutes per game in those outings. Given his pace of 0.7 fantasy points per minute and his minutes played, Casspi is a candidate to exceed value. Keep an eye on the Kings' starting lineup, but as long as Casspi starts, he is a value on FantasyDraft.
Notable Injuries
DeMarcus Cousins (rest) is day-to-day. Rumors are floating around that Cousins may sit out multiple games down the stretch or be shutdown completely. As mentioned above, if Cousins sits, Thompson and Casspi are the primary beneficiaries.
Rudy Gay (concussion) is out for up to a week. With Gay sidelined, Casspi is likely to start for the Kings, and Derrick Williams will receive a boost in value.
Greg Monroe (knee) is day-to-day. As long as Monroe is out, Reggie Jackson is an elite play, as he has averaged over 50 fantasy points per game in the last seven contests.
Kyle Lowry (back) is day-to-day. Until Lowry returns to the lineup, DeMar DeRozan's usage rate will remain high. Greivis Vasquez and Louis Williams will benefit at the point guard position.
Gorgui Dieng (concussion) is day-to-day. Until he can return, Justin Hamilton's value is sky-high with Nikola Pekovic (ankle) out for the remainder of the season.
More injury information can be found here.
Good luck, and do not forget to join the fun at FantasyDraft and sign up now.
