This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
We've got a substantial 10-game main slate on FanDuel tonight, so it's time to fire up multiple lineups in search of some GPP value. First, let's look at the numbers from Las Vegas.
SLATE OVERVIEW
(odds provided by FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change)
Games/Teams to Target in BOLD
Games/Teams to Fade in ITALIC
DAL @ IND (-1) O/U: 219
BKN @ CLE (+10.5) O/U: 225.5
BOS @ PHI (-5.5) O/U: 220
MIA @ TOR (-4) O/U: 222
DET @ ATL (-5.5) O/U: 221
ORL @ MIN (+4) O/U: 216.5
PHO @ HOU (+5.5) O/U: 218.5
SAC @ LAC (-10.5) O/U: 231.5
MEM @ POR (-1.5) O/U: 223
SAS @ GSW (-1.5) O/U: 228
Looking back, I probably should have given more attention to the Kings-Clippers matchup. I think you can find some value there, but the elites aren't likely to beat value. Another surprising omission is the Nets-Cavs contest. Kyrie Irving's arrival and the blowout potential make the projections for James Harden and Kevin Durant challenging to pin down, and with other value on the slate, it was a headache I chose to avoid.
INJURIES
BOS Jayson Tatum (COVID-19) - OUT
Tatum will remain out for Wednesday. Rather than take someone like Grant Williams or Semi Ojeleye, slide to the remainder of the starting lineup.
CLE Collin Sexton (ankle) - QUESTIONABLE
CLE Darius Garland (shoulder) - QUESTIONABLE
Damyean Dotson ($5,000) hasn't lit the world up in this spot, but it's difficult to see how he doesn't get significant minutes in a tough game against the Nets if one or both of Sexton and Garland are out. It's worth looking at starting lineups to see if either of these starters give it a go.
DAL Dorian Finney-Smith (COVID-19) - OUT
DAL Dwight Powell (COVID -19) - OUT
DAL Josh Richardson (COVID-19) -OUT
DAL Maxi Kleber (COVID-19) -OUT
With Porzingis back, all of his pivots are off the board. Tim Hardaway ($5,400) has an injury designation but is probable to play, and high usage should be there for him if he can handle it. Trey Burke ($4,300) continues to play well in this injury situation and is worth a look as a value point guard.
IND Myles Turner (hand) - QUESTIONABLE
Turner's hand does not require surgery, and he may try to play with the injury. I don't see a worthy pivot if he's out, and I far prefer going similar to Boston and sliding to the starters.
ATL De'Andre Hunter (knee) - QUESTIONABLE
ATL Cam Reddish (knee) - QUESTIONABLE
ATL Danilo Gallinari (out) - OUT
ATL Bojan Bogdanovic (knee) - OUT
We haven't seen both Reddish and Hunter out yet, so it's a difficult call to see who will benefit. If both Reddish and Hunter are out, I see Brandon Goodwin ($3,700) getting more run, but Trae Young, who we'll discuss in a bit, will see even more usage. Although this is a FanDuel article, someone on staff at DraftKings pulled a misclick on Kevin Huerter ($5,500). I would play him on FanDuel, but I think DK meant for him to be $6,500. Instead, he's listed as $9,500. It happens to the best of us.
MIA Jimmy Butler (COVID-19) - OUT
MIA Tyler Herro (neck) - QUESTIONABLE
A go from Herro would put a wrench in Heat predictions, but Goran Dragic ($5,200) is probable and I don't mind him if Herro doesn't make it. Duncan Robinson ($5,200) is also a stable, albeit unspectacular option.
ORL Evan Fournier (back) -QUESTIONABLE
ORL Michael Carter-Williams (foot) - OUT
Slide to the starters here. If you watch the ACC, you know what Cole Anthony ($5,000) can do, but if you go this way, you're looking for potential upside. I like other Orlando options, which we'll get to momentarily.
MIN Karl-Anthony Towns (COVID-19) - OUT
I have little interest in playing the frontcourt pivots for Minnesota. Jarred Vanderbilt ($4,800) is the best option for the money.
HOU John Wall (knee) - OUT
HOU Danuel House (COVID-19) - OUT
We'll discuss other Houston options shortly, but Eric Gordon ($5,200) is the best budget play. In this injury scenario, he seems almost too cheap right now.
MEM Jonas Valancuinas (COVID-19) - OUT
This is probably the most significant injury designation of the night and an exploitable night for Portland. The chalkiest budget play of the night will be Xavier Tillman ($4,600) and can save you a lot of money on this slate. We're fortunate to have him as a PF option on FanDuel.
CJ McCollum (foot) - OUT
This is a huge absence for Portland. I'll just mention Damian Lillard ($10,000), as he's too obvious in this spot moving forward. Rodney Hood ($5,000) should start, and I like him as a budget play in what is likely my favorite contest on the slate.
ELITE PLAYERS
We've got five guys above $10k right now, and aside from Lillard, I have to admit that I'm not too thrilled with any of them. With Kyrie Irving ($9,200) back in the mix, I think the numbers from Kevin Durant ($10,300) and James Harden ($10,700) become a little difficult to predict. Luka Doncic ($11,500) should be fine, but I sort of feel the same way about him. It's a potentially good matchup against Indiana, but 66 FDFP might be a hard milestone to beat value. All of the above will be explosive and probably very popular, but I think Damian Lillard ($10,000) is my top guy here, despite his evident popularity.
Moving down, I'm also all over Nikola Vucevic ($9,900) in an exploitable spot against Minnesota, as none of Towns' replacements will be able to contain him. Joel Embiid ($9,800) is a nightly upside guy, and I have no problem with him, but I don't know if he's the guy I want to take my valuable center position on FanDuel. Christian Wood ($9,800) is expensive, but I like him better than Embiid against the Suns with a PF designation. Myles Turner's hand makes Domantas Sabonis ($9,600) an obvious nightly add, and I still like him despite Kristaps Porzingis in for Dallas. Kawhi Leonard ($9,100) put up 43 FDFP against Sacramento five days ago, and the math tells us that he's probably not going to make value, so aside from MME guys, he isn't a single-lineup play. Trae Young ($9,000) is excellent across all formats, however. I like this spot against Detroit with the potential absences on the wing.
EXPECTED CHALK
Bam Adebayo, MIA ($8,800) @ TOR
This should be a fun matchup as Adebayo battles Chris Boucher ($8,100). I am a fan of both guys in this spot, but I'm just a bit lower on the usually chalky Boucher against Bam, who's played exceptionally well during Jimmy Butler's absence. He's broken 50 FDFP in each of his last two games.
Ja Morant, MEM ($7,900) @ POR
Morant is back, and he's probably one of my favorite guard plays against Portland. The Trail Blazers have gotten a little bit better against opposing point guards, but they still allow 27 points and seven assists against floor generals. I think Morant will do better than that, and I think he's a cinch to beat 5x value.
Victor Oladipo, HOU ($7,900) vs. PHO
With Wall out, I will go right back to the well with Oladipo, who tore up the Bulls with 50.5 FDFP in his inaugural game as a Rocket. Take advantage of this usage while you still can, as we'll need to hit the reset button on Oladipo's analysis when Wall returns to the lineup.
Aaron Gordon, ORL ($7,000) @ MIN
I like a lot of Orlando against the T-Wolves tonight, and Vucevic and Gordon will be the top two performers. He blew up for 53 FDFP against the Knicks, and while I wouldn't expect a number that high, he only needs 35 FDFP to beat value.
Chris Paul, PHO ($6,900) @ HOU
Although this game's revenge aspect is slightly diluted with James Harden in Brooklyn, I still think he's in a great spot. He's the number one reason why Devin Booker isn't performing up to snuff this season, as Paul is a far more potent point guard option. His floor is incredibly dependable and should deliver in the mid 30's.
Also consider: Richaun Holmes, SAC ($7,000)
VALUE PLAYS ($6,667 and below)
Brandon Clarke, MEM ($6,500) @ POR
The Grizzlies are a great play against Portland tonight, and Clarke's been sneaky good over the past several games. With 46 and 43 FDFP against the Nets and the Knicks, respectively, he has the goods to tackle imposing frontcourts, and that's not an adjective I'd attach to the current version of the Trail Blazers' front line. Portland gives opposing power forward ten or more rebounds on an almost nightly basis, and the loss of Jusuf Nurkic will only drive that average up.
Enes Kanter, POR ($6,300) vs. MEM
Of course, I talk smack about Portland's frontcourt and come right back with an endorsement for Kanter. Jonas Valanciunas' absence can't be ignored in this spot, and all Kanter has to do is stand under the basket to get sufficient rebound output. He needs to stay above 25 minutes, but he's eclipsed that total over the past couple of games, which is an encouraging sign.
Kelly Oubre, GSW ($5,400) vs. SA
Could Kelly Oubre repeat his 40 FDFP against the Lakers? It mostly depends on the condition of Andrew Wiggins, who is currently probable but could be limited. He's a diamond in the rough who's yet to surface on a Golden State team in desperate need of playmakers. It's confounding that he isn't a nightly threat, but it's yet to occur. His last game was an encouraging glimmer of hope, and I'll take the potential upside.
DeAndre Jordan, BKN ($4,800) @ CLE
I've been fading Brooklyn at my peril today, but I do like DeAndre Jordan based on his potential upside and fair salary. It's a revenge game for Jarrett Allen ($6,800) on the other side, but he's way too expensive. Jordan only has to top 23 FDFP to reach value here, and he's hit that number twice in his past three games. Despite his center tag, he's definitely in play.
As always, check back in with us at RotoWire for final starting lineups and injury updates.
