This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
These last couple of weeks are so crazy and it can makes DFS either very frustrating or very profitable. While it's always crucial to keep an eye on injury updates, it's more important than ever right now. There are so many players being rested and so many rotations with random minutes distributions that it opens up the door for tons of value. A "stars and scrubs" approach is the best lineup construction at this time of the year, simply because there are so many minimum-priced players that could be looking at monster minutes. In addition, stars are looking at more minutes and more usage than ever, due to the fact that many of them are fighting for playoff positioning or their playoff lives.
For this article, we'll be focusing on the five night games, with those being the focus of FanDuel's main slate.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL at PHI ($10,000): Out of all the players who are in the five-figure range, Antetokounmpo appears to be the best bet to return value. What really makes Antetokounmpo attractive is his absurd upside, with him scoring at least 60 fantasy points in four of his last nine games. The matchup is hard to deny as well, with Philadelphia ranking 28th in defensive efficiency across their last five games. Not to mention, Antetokounmpo has at least 40 fantasy points in his five previous meetings against the Sixers.
Klay Thompson, GS vs. NOP ($7,300): Thompson is scorching-hot right now and it's strange his price hasn't risen more. Not only does he have at least 27 fantasy points in seven straight games, Thompson is averaging 37 fantasy points per game in that span. The matchup is great as well, with New Orleans allowing the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing shooting guards this season. The absence of Stephen Curry will only add to Thompson's value, as he should be looking at more shots and more usage.
T.J. McConnell, PHI vs. MIL ($5,700): With so many injuries in Philadelphia, McConnell has had to take on a much bigger role recently. That's evident through his consistent fantasy numbers, with McConnell scoring at least 23 fantasy points in eight-straight games. Those numbers look even better recently, with at least 27 fantasy points in five of his last six. Milwaukee are a fantastic matchup for point guards too, allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing point guards this season.
Gordon Hayward, UTA at POR ($7,800): Hayward was in a slump just last week but with with at least 38 fantasy points in three of his last four games, he appears to be out of it. What's really helped him improve his his team-leading usage of over 30, as that's one of the best marks in the league in that span. The matchup may be the most enticing factor in using Hayward, with Portland ranking 25th in total defense this season.
Richaun Holmes, PHI vs. MIL ($6,100): Holmes is another Philly player who is benefiting from all the injuries, as he's turned into a legitimate post presence. Since taking over starting center duties 15 games ago, Holmes is averaging 14.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. Those are good enough averages for a $7,000 player and we get to use Holmes at just $6,100. Center is a major weak spot for Milwaukee as well, as they've cycled through centers all season long.
Khris Middleton, MIL at PHI ($5,900): Middleton has been terrible over his last two games, but it's lowered his price to an intriguing number. Prior to that two-game slump, Middleton had been averaging 31 fantasy points across his previous 19 games. That's a much more reliable sample size and it makes Middleton a fantastic value south of $6,000. Philly have been terrible against small forwards since Robert Covington went down, allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to them since his injury.
Rudy Gobert, UTA at POR ($9,100): Gobert's price is a little too rich for my liking, but he's easily the best pick of this weak center pool. The only other options above $5,700 are Jusuf Nurkic, DeMarcus Cousins, DeAndre Jordan and Hassan Whiteside. Nurkic and Cousins are injured, while Whiteside and Jordan have some of the toughest matchups possible. That leaves us Gobert in a spectacular matchup, with Portland ranking 28th in fantasy points allowed to centers since Nurkic went down with injury. Gobert has been awesome recently, averaging 44 fantasy points across his last 16 games.
Marcin Gortat, WSH vs. MIA ($4,700): Gortat has had a very disappointing season, but Washington continues to ride him as the starting center. That's what makes him so enticing at this price, as he's still a good bet to play 25 minutes. He may be getting out of his slump too, scoring at least 21 fantasy points in four of his last six games. That doesn't sound great, but it's still good value for a player south of $5,000. The Wizards will need him here too, as they have no one else on the roster who can match up with Hassan Whiteside.
