This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
We're set for Game 4 in Atlanta on Tuesday night, a critical contest for a Hawks team facing a 2-1 series deficit and that wants to ensure the contest isn't the last one on their home floor this postseason. However, with Trae Young legitimately questionable due to a foot injury suffered in Game 3, it's very possible the Bucks head into the contest with a significant built-in advantage in their attempt to take a commanding 3-1 lead.
With just one game on the ledger, we're dealing with FanDuel's single-game contest rosters, which are comprised as follows:
· MVP- (Garners points at 2x the normal rate)
· STAR- (Garners points at 1.5x the normal rate)
· PRO- (Garners points at 1.2x the normal rate)
· Two Utility spots- (Garner points at normal rate)
With the pricing also being different than in conventional FanDuel contests on multi-game slates and top players inevitably headed for heavy rostering, there are definitely strategic elements particular to single-game lineups. Finding key value plays for the two utility spots is undoubtedly vital, as it enables you to fill out the multiplier spots with some of the top projected producers.
Slate Overview
Milwaukee Bucks at Atlanta Hawks (Projected total: 219.0 points):
Defense has played a strong role in each of the last two games, as those contests have finished with totals of 216 and 215 points. Interestingly, oddsmakers have projected a slightly higher figure for Game 4 even though Trae's availability is in question for Atlanta. If Young is confirmed out, that total figures to come down. However, if he's available and playing without limitations, the number seems to be within reach.
Positional Breakdown
FanDuel single-game rosters don't have traditional positions that match those of a starting five, so we'll instead break down some candidates for the top three multiplier positions:
MVP (2x): Giannis Antetokounmpo ($16,000) and Trae Young ($15,500) are once again the clear top candidates for this spot, with an obvious caveat on Young being to confirm his availability prior to locking him in. Antetokounmpo enjoyed another fruitful fantasy night in Game 3, posting 57.2 FD points in 41 minutes. Meanwhile, despite hurting his foot in the third quarter and missing some time, Young still totaled 40.0 FD points in 39 minutes. If he's announced as both available and without a minutes restriction, he has to be considered for this spot. In the event of a Young absence, Khris Middleton ($14,000) is certainly in play as well after posting 57.7 FD points over 42 minutes in Game 3. Nevertheless, there's a bit of risk with the veteran wing, who'd shot just 33.0 percent over his four previous road postseason games.
STAR (1.5x): Whichever of the three stars mentioned above doesn't make your MVP spot is naturally a prime candidate here, but a case could also be made for Jrue Holiday ($13,000) and John Collins ($12,000). Holiday had another strong performance in Game 3 with 39.8 FD points over 42 minutes in Game 3, but he went just 2-for-11 from the field and got to his strong tally with the help of 12 assists. Collins has struggled the last two games due to foul trouble, but he's shot 64.7 percent in those contests and could certainly bounce back in Game 4 if he avoids the ref's whistle, and even more so if Young sits out.
PRO (1.2x): Whichever of the players above you haven't used yet would be the top candidates for this slot. Clint Capela ($11,500) is another viable consideration as well, as he bounced back from a Game 2 clunker to post 29.2 FD points over 27 minutes in Game 3, and he also racked up a postseason-high 43.8 FD points in Game 1.
Injury Situations to Monitor
NOTE: Injury reporting is especially fluid in the NBA, where the status of multiple players can change during the course of a day. Therefore, although the following serves as a foundation for the latest injury report as of the time the article is written (usually late morning Eastern time), check back throughout the course of the day with RotoWire for the latest news regarding the status of all players on that night's slate.
Trae Young, ATL (foot)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
If Young is unable to play, the usage rates of Bogdan Bogdanovic, Collins, Kevin Huerter and Capela could all see a boost, while Lou Williams and Kris Dunn should handle the majority of point guard minutes.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL (calf)/ Status: PROBABLE
Antetokounmpo is fully expected to take the floor Tuesday and log his usual workload.
Bogdan Bogdanovic, ATL (knee)/ Status: PROBABLE
If Bogdanovic suits up as expected, he could play a bigger role than usual if Young is out or limited.
Elite Players
The two highest-salaried players on the slate are Giannis Antetokounmpo and Trae Young. As already detailed in the Positional Breakdown section, each player (assuming Young plays) has sky-high upside and should once again log very heavy usage.
Expected Chalk
With only one game on the ledger, the roster rates for Antetokounmpo and Young should be through the roof. On the other hand, if Young does sit out, Huerter, Bogdanovic and Danilo Gallinari should also find themselves in plenty of lineups.
Key Values
Note: On a multi-game slate, I typically try to highlight players that would be considered under-the-radar plays in this section. Naturally, with such a limited player pool, there will be very few players with low roster rates that are likely to also be viable from a DFS perspective, so I'll instead focus on two of the best candidates to provide a strong return relative to salary for the two Utility spots:
Bogdan Bogdanovic, ATL ($9,500)
Bogdanovic is a consideration due to his reduced salary regardless of whether or not Young plays, and he's a prudent option if his star backcourt mate sits. The talented Serbian has struggled with his shot since his knee began acting up, as he's forged just a 30.0 percent success rate from the floor over his last seven contests. Nevertheless, Bogdanovic did managed 25.9 FD points across 35 minutes in Game 3, and he's actually listed as probable for Tuesday's game instead of questionable, which had been the case in the previous contests in which he's dealt with the knee injury. It's also worth noting Bogdanovic generated a 24.4 percent usage rate and averaged 35.0 FD points per 36 minutes with Young off the floor during the regular season, meaning he could take on a sizable role if his backcourt mate is out of action.
Danilo Gallinari, ATL ($9,500)
Gallinari came through as a value play in Game 3, posting 25.8 FD points across 36 minutes while draining half of his series-high 14 attempts. The veteran also put up 20.6 to 34.8 FD points in four games during the conference semifinal round against the 76ers, so he certainly has upside at his current salary. Gallinari also sported a 25.7 percent usage rate and averaged 34.1 FD points per 36 minutes this season with Young off the floor, so he could become even more valuable in the event of Trae's absence.
