This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
We are in the final week of the season and it makes for one of the most interesting DFS weeks of the year. There are so many things to take into consideration, as there are numerous players injured and just as many players resting. These types of slates are the most important to keep your ears and eyes open to find values and know who ultimately will be playing. Avoid any circumstances where resting or minutes restrictions can be an issue and capitalize on players who will get big minutes in the absence of players ahead of them. I want to thank all of you for reading and I appreciate the feedback throughout the season.
Point Guards:
Darren Collison, SAC at PHX ($6,300): Collison is playing some of his best ball of the season right now and the circumstances make him a great play in DFS. With DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo likely rested for this game, Collison becomes the primary ballhandler and one of the primary sources of offense. His recent form shows how good he can be as well, as he has scored 27 or more fantasy points in seven-straight games. The icing on the cake here is the matchup though, as the Suns rank 29th in fantasy points allowed to point guards this season.
Ramon Sessions, WSH at BRK ($4,200): Sessions is yet another point guard thriving off a great opportunity, as he is the starting point guard in Washington right now. With nothing to play for, the Wizards have decided to rest John Wall and that has automatically made Sessions a steal in DFS. In fact, he has surpassed 22 fantasy points in four-straight games and has scored 38-plus in two of those games. That sort of upside is impossible to find for a $4,200 player and it makes him a fantastic bargain. The matchup is great too, with the Nets ranking 25th in fantasy points allowed to point guards on the season.
Shooting Guards:
Seth Curry, SAC at PHX ($4,500): Curry has been in and out of the starting lineup recently, but still playing the best ball of his career. With Cousins and Rondo sitting, Curry has gotten a lot more shots and many more minutes. Curry has actually scored 25 fantasy points or more in five of his last seven games, with one of those dud games being with Cousins and Rondo in the lineup. What's most encouraging is his role, as Curry is averaging 28 minutes and 10 shot attempts over his last nine games. If that's not enough incentive, his matchup should be, as he faces a Suns team that ranks 27th in fantasy points allowed to shooting guards.
Dion Waiters, OKC vs. LAL ($3,900): With the Thunder safely in the two-seed, this may be a great opportunity to rest Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. If that is the case, Waiters becomes one of the values of the day as the main scoring option for the Thunder. In his last game when those two superstars were rested, Waiters dropped 31 fantasy points against the Portland Trail Blazers while playing 39 minutes and taking 19 shots. Anyone with that much usage is worth taking a shot on and it's even better at a near minimum price. The matchup is obviously tasty as well, with the Lakers allowing the most fantasy points in the NBA to shooting guards this season.
Small Forwards:
Gordon Hayward, UTA vs. DAL ($7,000): There are only a handful of games that matter on this slate, so it's a good idea to use the best player in one of these matchups. The Jazz and Mavericks are battling to stay in the playoff and a player like Hayward should be leaned on heavily in this do or die game. Hayward is hot too, as he has scored 34 or more fantasy points in four of his last five games. The matchup is solid as well, with the small forward being a weak spot for the Mavericks in the absence of Chandler Parsons.
P.J. Tucker, PHX vs. SAC ($5,600): Tucker has quietly been one of the best small forward value options over recent weeks. Not only has he scored 27 or more fantasy points in eight of his last 11 games, Tucker is playing 35 minutes a game in that span as well. What's most enticing here is the matchup though, as the Kings rank 30th in total defense and rank 26th in fantasy points allowed to small forwards. Not to mention, theses two teams play at the fastest paces in the league and that should open up the door for rebounds and steals for Tucker, which are the two stats he thrives off of most.
Power Forwards:
Markieff Morris, WSH at BRK ($5,800): Morris was a trade deadline acquisition for the Wizards and he finally seems to be discovering is role in Washington. In fact, Morris is becoming one of the focal points of the offense, as he is averaging 13 shot attempts across his last 11 games. He should also see an increase of usage as well, with John Wall expected to sit once again. In the last game without Wall, Morris tallied 29 points and seven rebounds in one of his best games of the season. Since sitting Thaddeus Young, the Nets allow the third-most fantasy points to power forwards as well.
Mirza Teletovic, PHX vs. SAC ($5,600): Teletovic is quietly making a vow for Sixth Man of the Year and he's currently in the best stretch of the season. The power forward has scored 26 or more fantasy points in seven-straight games and playing a season-high in minutes. The stat that really stands out though is that Teletovic is averaging 17 shots and over eight three-point attempts across his last eight games. That's usage at its finest and it makes him a near guarantee for 20-plus points. The matchup is obviously good as well, as we'll want to stack as many players as possible in what should be an extremely high-scoring game.
Center:
Alexis Ajinca, NOP vs. CHI ($4,900): Ajinca did have to leave his last game with a shoulder injury, but he's been fantastic aside from that. The Pelicans are currently without almost all of their starters and it's opened the door for Ajinca to be their go-to post player. In fact, Ajinca is averaging 15.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.0 blocks and 0.9 assists across his last nine games. He is also averaging close to 13 shot attempts in that span, so it's clear he's a major part of this diluted offense. The matchup is a very good one as well, with the Bulls ranking 27th in fantasy points allowed to centers this season. It's unclear at this time if Ajinca will play, but he's a hell of a bargain below $5,000 if he can make an appearance.
