FanDuel NBA tip: Players joining a new team or primed for a heavier workload are the ones to target in daily fantasy basketball leagues.
Success in daily fantasy basketball boils down to finding players capable of making a wide array of contributions at an exceptionally low cost and capitalizing on the performances of superstar players.
The formula sounds simple enough, but executing the perfect lineup is elusive, as All-Star caliber players have off nights, while seldom used bench performers routinely submit stellar outings.
Finding consistent performances from players seemingly undervalued by either FanDuel or DraftKings can be a challenge, but after examining the values assigned for Wednesday night, a few undervalued players have emerged.
Even though opening night featured just three games, plenty of stellar performances were submitted.
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LeBron James needed just 25 minutes to post a triple-double, Damian Lillard scored 39 points, Kawhi Leonard added a career-high 35 points to top Golden State and the Jazz combination of Joe Johnson (29 points) and Rodney Hood (26 points) proved to be solid value plays.
Twenty teams are playing for the first time in the 2016-17 and three provide excellent value in FanDuel on opening night.
Phoenix guard Devin Booker is going for $6,200, nearly $500 less than the cost of an average player, even though he appears to be poised for a breakout sophomore campaign.
The Suns have plenty of talent at the guard position, as the roster features Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight, but Booker provides the team with a pure scorer.
In five preseason appearances, the 19-year-old (Booker turns 20 on Oct. 30) ranked fifth in scoring at 19.6 points per game while converting 45.5 percent of his attempts from the field and 88 percent of his free throws.
From anywhere on the floor, Booker can find the bottom of the net.
Devin Booker will be a star in this league! Mark my words! https://t.co/GsCO9L3mc9
— Sports Empire (@sportsempire123) October 8, 2016
In 51 appearances as a starter last season, Booker posted 17.4 points, 3.5 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game.
Booker seemed to add a defensive presence in preseason, posting 1.6 steals a night, one more than he averaged as a starter last year.
Along with Booker, two players on new teams provide value in daily fantasy basketball leagues.
Brooklyn guard Jeremy Lin looks to bring a scoring impact to a team in desperate need of perimeter points.
Lin seemingly couldn’t miss in preseason, converting 61.9 percent of his attempts from the field as he added 17.2 points, 5.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game.
Throughout his six-year career, Lin has yet to finish a season shooting 45 percent from the field, but if he can score efficiently, he becomes a bargain in fantasy basketball.
Orlando was in need of a star player and pulled a stunning trade prior to the NBA Draft, sending Victor Oladipo, Ersan Ilyasova and the rights to the 11th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft to Oklahoma City for Serge Ibaka, a player entering the final season of his contract.
The move seemed to pay off, as Ibaka torched the Pacers for 19 points, as he connected three times from 3-point range, to go with 17 rebounds in a preseason contest.
The 6-foot-10 forward isn’t the shot blocking presence he once was, as he led the league in total blocks for four consecutive seasons, but he will have plenty of shot attempts and rebounding opportunities for a team lacking in post production.
Valued at just $4,800 in FanDuel, Ibaka could boast perhaps the biggest upside of the night.
Top Four Point Guards
- Russell Westbrook ($12,000) vs. Philadelphia 76ers
- Jeremy Lin ($6,300) vs. Boston Celtics
- Emmanuel Mudiay ($5,800) vs. New Orleans Pelicans
- Deron Williams ($6,000) vs. Indiana Pacers
Rationale:
- The first game for Russell Westbrook in complete control of Oklahoma City’s offense comes against a team that surrendered 107.6 points a night a year ago. Philadelphia has been a particular target for Westbrook, as he has posted 9.4 assists and 7.9 rebounds a game, his highest averages against an opponent.
- Emmanuel Mudiay heads into his matchup against New Orleans with a four inch and a 20 pound advantage on his opponent, Tim Frazier. The Nuggets are at their best when Mudiay is attacking the paint, which he did 7.6 times a night last season, producing both easy looks at the rim and assist opportunities for the sophomore guard.
Top Four Shooting Guards
- James Harden ($11,200) vs. Los Angeles Lakers
- DeMar DeRozan ($7,500) vs. Detroit Pistons
- Devin Booker ($6,200) vs. Sacramento Kings
- Nicolas Batum ($6,200) vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Rationale:
- The move of James Harden to the point guard position will produce even more assist opportunities for a player that averaged a career-high 7.5 assists per game a year ago. Houston anticipates playing even more uptempo, a style that suits Harden perfectly, and everything on the team predicates on the four-time All-Star’s performance.
- Batum shared the league-lead in rebounds per game at the shooting guard position with James Harden an 6.1 a night last season. Along with his ability to crash the boards, Batum thrived as a playmaker, dishing out a team-high 5.8 assists per game to go along with 14.9 points a night.
Top Four Small Forwards
- Paul George ($9,500) vs. Dallas Mavericks
- Danilo Gallianri ($7,100) vs. New Orleans Pelicans
- Andrew Wiggins ($6,600) vs. Memphis Grizzlies
- Trevor Ariza ($5,500) vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Rationale:
- Paul George wants to establish himself as one of the greatest players in franchise history. After posting 23.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.9 steals per game, he is well on his way. The Pacers want to continually push the ball up court and will involve George in the offense as much as possible.
- The primary question facing Andrew Wiggins is if he can contribute in a variety of ways for the Timberwolves. The 3.6 rebounds he hauled in a season ago was one fewer than his debut season. If Wiggins remains just a scorer, his value in fantasy basketball will rapidly decrease.
Top Four Power Forwards
- Anthony Davis ($10,200) vs. Denver Nuggets
- Julius Randle ($6,300) vs. Houston Rockets
- Ryan Anderson ($6,800) vs. Los Angeles Lakers
- Serge Ibaka ($4,800) vs. Miami Heat
Rationale:
- Anthony Davis is the only proven commodity the Pelicans have in the starting lineup Wednesday night. After shaking off a sprained right ankle, and erasing any doubt of his status for opening night by appearing in the preseason finale for New Orleans, Davis hoping to replicate his debut performance from two yeas ago. The three-time All-Star totaled 26 points, 17 rebounds, nine blocks and three steals during a win over the Magic.
- As one of just nine players that averaged at least 10 points and 10 rebounds a night a season ago, Julius Randle enters the 2016-17 season valued lower than an average player. Â Randle has the potential to collect numerous rebounds, as he totaled 15 or more on seven occasions and posted a triple-double with 18 rebounds, 13 points and 10 assists against Denver late in the year last season.
Top Four Centers
- Karl-Anthony Towns ($8,800) vs. Memphis Grizzlies
- Andre Drummond ($8,200) vs. Toronto Raptors
- Al Horford ($7,000) vs. Brooklyn Nets
- Myles Turner ($6,400) vs. Dallas Mavericks
Rationale:
- Karl-Anthony Towns has posted a double-double in 61.2 percent of his career appearances in the NBA, as close to guaranteed production as possible in fantasy basketball. Along with his innate ability to score and rebound the ball, Towns was one of the most consistent shot blockers, rejecting three or more shots in 22 of his 82 games.
- Â The Pacers have one shot blocking presence on their roster: Myles Turner. Already with a massive rejection of LeBron James on his resume, Turner is expected to build on a rookie campaign that saw him post 10.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game.
Final Opening Day Lineup
PG Jeremy Lin $6,300
PG Emmanuel Mudiay $5,800
SG Nicolas Batum $6,200
SG Devin Booker $6,200
SF Trevor Ariza $5,500
SF Andrew Wiggins $6,600
PF Serge Ibaka $4,800
PF Anthony Davis $10,200
C Andre Drummond $8,200
Total Cost $59,800
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