RADIO
Five games make up Thursday night's slate of NBA action. It seems like I'm always picking on the Brooklyn Nets. But it is with good reason. I'll continue that trend tonight.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 3/23/17. The DFS lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays on DraftKings.
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to reach out to me on Twitter @DemetriRafto.
DraftKings DFS Guards
Tyler Ulis – PG, @ BK ($7,100)
The recent hype surrounding Tyler Ulis appears to be real. Ulis, a rookie with a ton of fantasy relevance over his last 10 games, is the only really threat on the Phoenix Suns at the guard position. Seeing over 40 minutes a night over his last three games, Ulis has averaged 16.3 points, 10.7 assists, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.0 steals during that span. The same should easily be the case against a Brooklyn Nets team that allows 113.6 points per game, the most in the NBA. The Nets also allow the most fantasy points to point guards. Considering this is a contest between two of the worst defensive squads in the league, something I tend to target in daily fantasy, we can expect the score to be high and the tempo of the game fast.
Jeremy Lin – PG, vs PHO ($5,600)
Jeremy Lin is officially listed as probable to take the court Thursday night. Lin recently missed Tuesday night's contest against the Detroit Pistons with an ankle injury. The official word should come sometime closer to tipoff. A healthy Lin is a very intriguing and appealing option, specifically against a Phoenix Suns squad that surrenders the second most points at 112.5. The Suns have also relinquished the third most fantasy points to the one spot. If Lin can't suit up for whatever reason, it would be wise to draft Spencer Dinwiddie; a less expensive option, available at both point and shooting guard, who has relished (at his price) in an increase role without Lin in the lineup.
Wesley Matthews – SG/SF, vs LAC ($4,900)
After hitting the ground hard against the Golden State Warriors Tuesday night, Seth Curry is questionable to take the court on Thursday. He's battling with pain in his shoulder. If Curry sits, Wesley Matthews will see a bulk of playing time at shooting guard. Matthews has a relatively low ceiling, as we can't expect much from the veteran because of his inconsistency. But as the Dallas Mavericks cling to their playoff lives, Mattews in an increased role can come in handy. Over his last five appearances playing over 30 minutes, Matthews has dropped 20-plus fantasy points in each.
DraftKings DFS Forwards
T.J. Warren – SF, @ BK ($7,000)
Without Eric Bledsoe in the lineup, T.J. Warren, alongside Tyler Ulis, becomes the team's number one producer. Warren is coming off his worst performance without Bledsoe in the lineup, but has already proven more than capable of carrying the Suns. In Phoenix's first two games without Bledsoe, Warren's usage rate saw a friendly jump while dropping 20-plus points in each. He isn't much of a stud on the defensive side of the ball, but that shouldn't affect his ability to put the ball in the hoop against the lowly Nets.
Marquese Chriss – PF/C, @ BK ($5,800)
Yes, the targeting of the Brooklyn Nets continues. Now, I'm not saying the Suns are much better. They simply have more appealing options for daily fantasy. Alan Williams, who has been another surprisingly solid option for daily fantasy, has been dealing with a stomach issue and missed the team's last contest on Tuesday. If he sits, Marquese Chriss will see another boost in playing time and fantasy value, and will likely shift over to the center position at times in order to give Alex Len some rest. Even if Williams suits up, Chriss still holds plenty of value, coming off a career-high 38 minutes for the 19-year-old rookie. He scored 24 points and grabbed seven boards, and has scored in double-digits in four straight.
DraftKings DFS Centers
Jusuf Nurkic – C, vs NYK ($7,600)
It's been really hard to stay away from Jusuf Nurkic since the Denver Nuggets shipped him to Portland. Nurkic has become a consistent double-double threat in his increased role at the center position, now coming off two straight against the Milwaukee Bucks and the Miami Heat. He also possesses a high ceiling as he has proved to exploit the inadequacies of weaker defensive squads. Earlier in the month, Nurkic dropped 28 points and 20 rebounds against a Philadelphia 76ers team that isn't that much worse than the New York Knicks.
Brook Lopez – C, vs PHO ($6,900)
As you can tell, I'm attracted to the Phoenix/Brooklyn game. Undeniably, yes I am. But regardless of matchup, Lopez has also been extremely difficult to pass up on of late, especially at his affordable price. Lopez has scored 20-plus points in six straight games, and has posted 35-plus fantasy points in seven straight, including performances of over 40 fantasy points in three. As a big man, Lopez is also an extremely sneaky option from behind the arc. Lucky for him, the Suns currently own the highest opponent three point percentage in the league.
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