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 three guards, three forwards/centers and two utility players.
FantasyDraft is running NBA contests each and every day. There are 50/50s, guaranteed tournaments and more available options in the lobby, so be sure to check it out. With contests at every entry fee level, there are a ton of options to choose from.
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.
Evan Turner ($10,500)
Even before word of Jae Crowder's ankle injury broke, Turner's stock was already pointing up following three performances of at least 34.0 fantasy points in his last four games. Now that he's expected to see an increase in minutes, Turner makes for a no-brainer choice. His 36.25 fantasy points Tuesday against Houston without Crowder should set the expectations for what Turner will be capable of over the next couple weeks.
Nicolas Batum ($13,300)
Batum's high level of play has been the driving factor behind Charlotte's 7-1 record this month. He is averaging 16.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game this month en route to an impressive 38.2 fantasy points per game. The Frenchman has been outplaying his expected value of 33.25 all month, but even more so over his last three games. With 26 assists and no performances below 40.0 fantasy points in his last three, Batum should easily continue outperforming his valuation.
Ricky Rubio ($11,700)
Rubio's recent assist spree has allowed him to top 50.0 fantasy points in consecutive games, yet he still has the salary of a player expected to fall short of the 30.0 fantasy point threshold. Even if he takes a step back from his 14.5 assists and 3.5 steals per game averages from his last two appearances, the Spaniard just needs to avoid a total reduction in points of over 40 percent to outproduce his salary. With at least 35.75 fantasy points in each of his last five games with over 30 minutes played, Minnesota's starting point guard is unlikely to experience such a sudden drop-off.
Nikola Mirotic ($9,300)
Mirotic is still working his way back after an appendectomy, but he is trending in the right direction with at least 29.0 fantasy points in three of his last four games after getting just 13.75 in his return. He played 32 minutes Monday while starting in place of the injured Pau Gasol (knee), and he should continue trending up now that he's proven he can handle that workload. Mirotic's minuscule price won't be hard to outperform if the Montenegrin starts seeing his old complement of minutes again.
Notable Injuries
Jae Crowder (ankle), Week-to-Week
According to Celtics coach Brad Stevens, Crowder is projected to miss a couple weeks after spraining his ankle Friday against the Rockets. Expect versatile wing Evan Turner to take on additional minutes at small forward in Crowder's absence, though Stevens also implied that Boston would use a committee approach at the position.
Kelly Olynyk (shoulder), Day-to-Day
After originally being projected to return Tuesday, Olynyk still wasn't able to take the floor for the first time since Feb. 10. Assuming this was just a minor setback, his imminent return should cut into Jared Sullinger's production soon.
Pau Gasol (knee), Day-to-Day
It doesn't bode well for his chances of returning soon that Gasol was ruled out of Wednesday's game against the Wizards before his Bulls even took the floor Monday. With the injury bug continuing to decimate Chicago's roster, guard Jimmy Butler will immediately be tasked with carrying the scoring load upon returning from a knee injury of his own. Gasol's absence should also free up some additional minutes for Nikola Mirotic, who started in his place Monday.
Blake Griffin (hand/quad), Week-to-Week
According to a Saturday progress report, Griffin is running behind schedule in his rehab from a fractured hand and quad injury. Those hoping that Griffin would be back on the optimistic end of his four-to-six week timetable will be left disappointed, as lingering problems with his quad have forced his return date to be pushed back even further. Griffin still has to serve a four-game suspension upon returning, so Jeff Green's days as the Clippers' starting power forward aren't all that close to ending.
Robert Covington (concussion), Week-to-Week
Covington's concussion will keep him out until at least March 21, according to head coach Brett Brown. He's still dealing with concussion-like symptoms, opening up increased minutes for Carl Landry at power forward for the short term.
Ben McLemore (finger), Doubtful
McLemore's doubtful designation Tuesday was the same one he received Saturday. Still, the fact that he had a chance of playing in both games suggest the shooting guard isn't far from a return. Since the Kings seem to have opted against the surgical option to repair McLemore's fractured right ring finger, he should be ready to ease Darren Collison's load soon.
