Injuries to watch: Bogdanovic, Bitadze
The Edge: Sixers for value, Harden/Zubac both underowned for GPPs
We have a three-game slate on both sites tonight, as DraftKings was kind enough to include the late Lakers/Clippers game for us! A couple of guys are going overlooked in the battle of Los Angeles, and we have some value we really like with the Sixers. Let’s get to it!
The Hawks and Wizards open the action with a total of 237.5. Jalen Johnson ($9900 DK, $10300 FD) is averaging over 59 on DK over his last seven games, so it comes as no surprise he’s one of the top projected scorers and dollar values tonight. Nickeil Alexander-Walker ($6500, $6400) doesn’t do much more than score, but he’s done that very well lately, pouring in a minimum of 23 points in four of his last five, with his role being secure, seeing minutes in the mid-30s. He projects better on FD. Kristaps Porzingis ($6800, $7000) also projects well coming off a 50+ point fantasy game, but with Onyeka Okongwu due back, we temper our expectations. On the Washington side, with George sitting this one out, Cam Whitmore ($3800, $4200) becomes a strong value play on DK, and is usable on FD but doesn’t project quite as strongly there. He generally relies on points, but he can put them up in a hurry, and at his salary is viable. If healthy, both he and Alex Sarr ($7200, $8100) become viable, especially on DK. If George sits, we like a pivot to CJ McCollum ($5900, $5700). If you are looking for salary relief, Bub Carrington ($3300, $3900) saw 24 minutes with Tre Johnson sidelined last game. Johnson remains out, and Carrington has the ability to stuff a stat sheet, though he does primarily do his damage through scoring.
Salary relief and potential value have opened up in Philly, where Joel Embiid, Paul George, and VJ Edgecombe have been ruled out for the Sixers. Tyrese Maxey ($10000, $10300) should get all the usage he can handle, and may come at reduced ownership with people flocking to the Hawks/Wizards game and to Luka Doncic. After missing out on his 14-point, 24-rebound game on Sunday, Andre Drummond ($6500, $7100) is one of our top projections tonight, especially on DK. Quentin Grimes ($6100, $5600) becomes an elite play on FD. As for the value side, Justin Edwards ($4400, $4100) and Trendon Watford ($4500, $4300) jump off the page, especially Edwards, who we’re projecting for 30+ minutes. Jared McCain (3800, $3800) saw his first game with his minutes over twenty on Sunday with 26, and may need to play that much again tonight. On the Magic side, Jalen Suggs ($6500, $6500) is one of our top plays. He has averaged 36.1 DK points in the games he has played in since Paolo Banchero went down. If you feel like paying down at center, Wendell Carter ($5600, $5400) returns after a one-game absence and will come with low ownership
The late game is the battle of LA, where the Lakers take on the Clippers. For the Lakers, the return of LeBron James has not slowed down Luka Doncic ($12000, $12400), averaging 35/8/9 with 3.5 steals in those two games. Needless to say, he is the top projected scorer tonight. DeAndre Ayton will sit this one out, but we see no value opening up off of it. At $4400 on DK, Jaxson Hayes isn’t a bargain, and you’re not using him on FD as your only center option. For the Clippers, James Harden ($9800, $9700) looks to be a good GPP play. He had just 31 DK points in Kawhi Leonard’s return to the lineup, which should keep his ownership very low. In the six previous games this season that they played together, Harden eclipsed 50 DK points four times, so he still has some nice ceiling. As for Leonard himself, we feel he is priced too high for his likely minutes restriction. Ivica Zubac ($7900, $7200) is coming off a monster 33/18 game and should have his way inside. He’s a top play on FD, especially, and makes for a nice pivot off Drummond on DK in GPPs if you can find the extra $1400.
Good luck, everyone! See ya in Discord with all injury updates and news.