Dillon Brooks has consistently been seeing 30+ minutes per game and could provide some nice salary relief tonight.
See below for a breakdown of value plays for tonight’s slate of games on Fan Duel by FantasyPros.
Armoni Brooks (SG – HOU) $4,500
I spoke on Brooks in the last article, and here he is again. With a lot of players out for Houston, someone has to step up and play. I expect Brooks to be one of those guys, as he has done quite well in his last three games where he has been needed. The Rockets guard has played this season at a 0.62 FPPM clip but should still see a serious bump in usage with the lack of other options on the court. Last time out, he tallied 28 FanDuel points, and I can easily see a repeat performance tonight.
D.J. Augustin (PG – HOU) $4,000
For another Houston Rockets player, we have D.J. Augustin, who I expect to earn a start tonight. In his first game back from injury, Augustin tallied 24 FanDuel points across 28 minutes of play. I could easily see Augustin record similar production tonight against a bad defensive team in the Trail Blazers. The Rockets guard has a chance to return the best value on the slate and should be in your GPP and cash lineups,
James Johnson (PF – NO) $4,400
Make sure to monitor injury news, but if Brandon Ingram and/or Steven Adams are ruled out tonight (both are questionable as I write this), Johnson should be able to step in for a bigger role. In his last game, the Pelicans forward tallied 33.6 FanDuel points across 30 minutes of play. If any of the normal starters are out for New Orleans, Johnson will see similar playing time to give him the ability to record 6X value.
Dillon Brooks (SG – MEM) $5,000
For a player as talented as Brooks against as great of a matchup as New Orleans, the Grizzlies shooting guard is too underpriced. While his production hasn’t been as consistent as I’m sure fantasy owners hope for, his minutes have consistently been north of 30, reaching that benchmark in five of his last six games. I do prefer him in GPP lineups, but Brooks will get more opportunities to produce with an increase in tempo. The Oregon product’s usage rate has consistently been above 22% in his last five games, so I see this as a great opportunity to roster him.
Jae’Sean Tate (PF – HOU) $6,200
I do like the Rockets players tonight, but Tate will be more dependent on the injury news later today. Kelly Olynyk and Christian Wood are both questionable for tonight’s late contest, so even after lock, you might have to do some late swap tinkering with your lineups. If one of Olynyk or Wood is ruled out, Tate is a fine GPP play. If both are ruled out, he should be in both cash and GPP lineups.
Enes Kanter (C – POR) $4,900
For a spend-down value option at the center position, Kanter is your guy. I am risking the chance of a blowout, and Kanter would obviously see more playing time if that’s the case. Nurkic will obviously start and get the majority of playing time, but I still see Kanter reaching roughly 20 minutes or more on the floor.
Naji Marshall (SF – NO) $4,800
I won’t spend too much time on Marshall because it is the same argument for James Johnson. If Adams and/or Ingram are in, then Marshall is nothing more than a GPP risk, but if either of them doesn’t play, don’t be afraid to include the Pelicans’ small forward in your GPP lineups.
Bojan Bogdanovic (SF – UTA) $6,100
With Mike Conley and Donovan Mitchell still out, Bogdanovic has increased his usage and his fantasy output. I see Bogdanovic as a GPP play because he could go off for 62 FanDuel points or a cash play because his minutes are consistent, and the Warriors offer a great pace-up matchup.
Ish Smith (PG – WAS) $3,900
With Bradley Beal out, there should be a bigger need at guard for the Wizards. While I still see Smith as a GPP guy, the Atlanta matchup is a great one, and Smith has a chance to go off. Last time out, Smith tallied 20 FanDuel points across 19 minutes, and with the better matchup in the Hawks, I project him for closer to 25 points across 23 minutes.
