This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Team Analysis
Defense to avoid: Detroit Pistons, vs PHI. With only five games, there aren't any matchups that are definite "avoids". The 76ers are a risk to play because the Pistons have a solid defense (top 12 against all five positions, according to DraftKings) and they also have a tendency to blow out lesser teams. On the other hand, you could argue for playing some of the young players on Philadelphia such as Dario Saric, who could get playing time even in a blowout.
Offense to Use: New Orleans Pelicans, at PHO. The Suns are in the bottom 10 in the NBA at defending all three perimeter positions, the bottom half against power forwards, and are 11th against opposing centers. But with Anthony Davis fresh from sitting Saturday's game, and playing a lot of center, all five Pelicans positions have the matchups to put up big numbers.
Teams on Back-to-Backs:
First game: Lakers
Second game: Warriors, Pelicans
Stephen Curry, GS at MIN ($8400):Russell Westbrook is always a recommendation, so consider him a given. But Curry is also interesting because his price has slid down to almost moderate range, the Warriors just got blitzed by Memphis which should motivate him, and the Timberwolves are the worst defenders against opposing point guards in the NBA.
Avery Bradley, BOS at OKC ($6400): Bradley has been Mr. Consistent all season for the Celtics, and he continues to be a 20-point threat with strong rebounds that also contributes in
Team Analysis
Defense to avoid: Detroit Pistons, vs PHI. With only five games, there aren't any matchups that are definite "avoids". The 76ers are a risk to play because the Pistons have a solid defense (top 12 against all five positions, according to DraftKings) and they also have a tendency to blow out lesser teams. On the other hand, you could argue for playing some of the young players on Philadelphia such as Dario Saric, who could get playing time even in a blowout.
Offense to Use: New Orleans Pelicans, at PHO. The Suns are in the bottom 10 in the NBA at defending all three perimeter positions, the bottom half against power forwards, and are 11th against opposing centers. But with Anthony Davis fresh from sitting Saturday's game, and playing a lot of center, all five Pelicans positions have the matchups to put up big numbers.
Teams on Back-to-Backs:
First game: Lakers
Second game: Warriors, Pelicans
Stephen Curry, GS at MIN ($8400):Russell Westbrook is always a recommendation, so consider him a given. But Curry is also interesting because his price has slid down to almost moderate range, the Warriors just got blitzed by Memphis which should motivate him, and the Timberwolves are the worst defenders against opposing point guards in the NBA.
Avery Bradley, BOS at OKC ($6400): Bradley has been Mr. Consistent all season for the Celtics, and he continues to be a 20-point threat with strong rebounds that also contributes in treys, assists and steals. He has scored between 28.75 and 37.5 points in five straight games.
Sergio Rodriguez, PHI at DET ($5100): Rodriguez has thrived since returning to the starting lineup, with three games between 34 and 38.5 fantasy points in his last four outings. He's been scoring in the mid-to-upper teens, dishing seven or eight assists, grabbing some boards, and contributing in both steals and 3-pointers during this stretch of good play.
Anthony Davis, NO at PHO ($11,200): Davis destroyed one of my DFS teams Saturday as a late scratch for rest. However, because of that, he should be fresh for a good matchup against a Suns defense that doesn't really have anyone capable of slowing him. There's a very good chance he'll put up a big number Sunday.
Andrew Wiggins, MIN s GS ($6000): Wiggins has shown some signs that he may be coming out of his scoring slump, with two 25-plus-point performances in his last four games. On Sunday he'll face a Warriors squad playing in the second half of a back-to-back that ranks 28th in production allowed to opposing small forwards.
Andre Roberson, OKC vs BOS ($4300): Roberson is a defensive role player, so his fantasy value isn't always as large as his actual value. With that said, he has produced between 22.25 and 30.5 fantasy points in four of his last five games to establish a consistent expected range that outproduces his price tag.
Andre Drummond, DET vs PHI ($8000): Drummond has gone 20-20 in each of his last two games, including a 22-point/22-rebound effort in only 28 minutes against Karl-Anthony Towns and the Timberwolves on Friday. The 76ers will be without Joel Embiid on Sunday, and Jahlil Okafor just isn't good enough on defense to prevent Drummond from producing.
Al Horford, BOS at OKC ($6900): Horford is averaging 17.4 points, 6.2 boards, 5.8 assists, 2.4 blocks and 1.8 treys over his last five games to outproduce his price tag on a regular basis.
Steven Adams, OKC vs BOS ($5000): Adams is coming off of consecutive double-doubles, and has a good matchup against a Celtics team that has trouble cleaning the glass. Honorable mention goes to Jahlil Okafor, who could also be a solid buy at $5000 with Joel Embiid out.
