RADIO
We've got a nine-game slate for Friday. The Jazz is the only team playing the second leg of a back-to-back. The Bucks are the heaviest favorite at 10.5 points. There is only one game with an O/U of at least 230 points: TOR @ BKN (243).
There are two games at 7:00 PM ET (CHI @ ORL and NO @ IND), two games at 7:30 PM (MIL @ CLE and TOR @ BKN), three games at 8:00 PM (MIN @ OKC, UTA @ CHA, and WAS @ MIA), one game at 9:00 PM (DET @ PHO), and the late-night hammer at 10:00 PM is BOS @ LAC.
Here are my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 2/5/21. You can also check out today's DraftKings lineup picks. Keep an eye on Rotoballer’s injury news to stay up to date before lineups are locked.
FanDuel DFS Guards
Malcolm Brogdon, PG - vs. NO ($7,800)
Over the last two games, Brogdon has contributed 25.1 and 36.9 FD points. Yuck. In those two games, though, he only played 28 minutes in each contest because the Pacers blew out the opposition. Brogdon had played fewer than 30 minutes in just one other game all year. Prior to the last two games, Brogdon had contributed 42, 38.8, 43.3, and 57.9 FD points. The Pacers are favored by 2.5 points and the O/U is 226.5, so the game should be competitive. On the season, Brogdon is averaging 1.12 FD points per minute and 36.1 minutes per game. The matchup is a good one as the Pelicans boost the fantasy points per minute to point guards by 5.4% above league average. The cherry on top is that Brogdon is under $8,000 for the first time in 15 games. Yee haw.
Damyean Dotson, PG - vs. MIL ($3,500)
This writeup is solely based on Collin Sexton, who is listed as questionable, not playing. Sexton has missed five games this season and, in those games, Dotson started and averaged 36.7 minutes, 13.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists, one steal, and 0.4 blocks. That was good for 27.42 FD points per game, with a low of 14.9 and a high of 41.4. The Bucks also boost three-point shooting by 5.84% above league average. Dotson attempted 6.6 attempts from beyond the arc in those five starts but only converted 21%. On the season, he's only shooting 29% from downtown, but he's a career 35% from that distance.
Bradley Beal, SG - @ MIA ($10,800)
Beal just faced the Heat and put up 48.6 FD points. He's scored at least 30 points in nine of the last 10 games, with the high being a 60-burger against the 76ers. He's scored at least 40 FD points in every game this season and has a 69.8 and 74.9 FD-point performance on the season resume. The Heat are 20th in defensive efficiency this season and boost the fantasy points per minute to shooting guards by 8.96% above league average. The price is high but the matchup combined with the floor/ceiling is too good to ignore.
Eric Bledsoe, SG - @ IND ($5,300)
I feel gross writing up Bledsoe here, especially since the price tag isn't great. With that said, this is the lowest it's been all season. Now, Bledsoe is inconsistent, as he's scored fewer than 20 FD points six times this season while surpassing 30 FD points five times, with a high of 46. Bledsoe used to be good for two steals and 0.6 blocks per game but those days are long gone. He's primarily a points, rebounds, and assists player now. The matchup with the Pelicans is a good one, as they boost the fantasy points per minute to shooting guards by 16.44% above league average, which is third-most generous in the NBA. Will Bledsoe take advantage? Your guess is as good as mine but his price combined with the matchup and possible ceiling game makes it a decent gamble.
Also consider: Kyrie Irving ($9,500), TJ McConnell ($4,600), Zach LaVine ($8,900), Anthony Edwards ($5,600)
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FanDuel DFS Forwards
Jimmy Butler, SF - vs. WAS ($8,500)
After missing 10 games due to COVID protocols, Butler has played three games and played 34, 37, and 37 minutes while contributing 50.4, 52.3, and 45.1 FD points. He now gets one of the juiciest matchups in the NBA: The Washington Wizards, who are first in pace and 28th in defensive efficiency. Against small forwards, in particular, they boost the fantasy points per minute by 13.62% above league average.
Taurean Prince, SF - vs. MIL ($5,400)
First Bledsoe, now Prince? I truly do hate myself. At least we are getting Bledsoe at a relatively cheap price. This is the first time Prince has been priced above $5,000. I've never been a big fan of Prince, primarily because the shooting efficiency is so poor. On the season, he's converting 38% of the shot attempts. He will chip in some rebounds and defensive stats though. With that said, since arriving in Cleveland he's averaged 25.9 minutes and started three of nine games. Over the last two games, though, he's played 32 and 28 minutes. Here's the main problem with rostering Prince. He has two games with 8 FD points but three over 30. You just never know which Prince you're getting on what day. The matchup against the Bucks is pristine, though, as they boost three-pointers by 27.35% above league average, something Prince is well-versed at doing.
Zion Williamson, PF - @ IND ($8,300)
Zion has been on a tear lately. Over the last 10 games, he's scored at least 40 FD points in eight games. We know he can score and rebound but the uptick in assists, blocks, and steals has been the catalyst to fantasy stardom. Now he gets a matchup against a Pacers team that boosts the fantasy points per minute to power forwards by 13.24% above league average.
Chris Boucher, PF - @ BKN ($4,700)
Just seven games ago, Boucher was priced at $7,300. He's a bargain! My theory this season is that, due to his frail physical composition, Nurse doesn't like playing him against bruisers down low. For the most part, it holds up but he scored a season-high 50 FD points against SAC in early January in 29 minutes but Boucher only played 14 minutes against them three games ago. So, maybe Nurse has just lost faith in Boucher. It's definitely possible. I'm willing to take a chance in this one though. In fact, I may lock in Boucher in all my lineups. For starters, Brooklyn boosts the fantasy points per minute to centers by 12.83% above league average. DeAndre Jordan is no beast in the blocks and Coach Nash has been utilizing Jeff Green as the small-ball center, so Boucher should get extended run in this one. Finally, the Nets play at the fifth-fastest pace and this game has the highest total by a whopping margin.
Also consider: Kevin Durant ($10,700) and Bojan Bogdanovic ($6,200), Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,200), and Jeff Green ($5,100)
FanDuel DFS Centers
Nikola Vucevic, C - vs. CHI ($8,800)
The game environment is great for Vucevic, as the Bulls are third in pace and 27th in defensive efficiency. Zooming in closer, though, they actually do a very good job defending centers, neutralizing the fantasy points per minute by 14.91% below league average. With that said, Vucevic still remains the top center option for me on this slate as he's averaging 1.32 FD points per minute and 33.3 minutes per game. He had a 15.7 FD point stinker three games ago against the Clippers but, outside of that he's scored over 40 in the last two games and eclipsed that mark 15 times this season with a high of 67.5.
Brook Lopez, C - @ CLE ($5,100)
Lopez is averaging 0.84 FD points per minute and 27.1 minutes per game. I'm usually not a Lopez guy but he intrigues me in this matchup. For starters, his size and length are needed to combat Andre Drummond down low. On the offensive side of the ball, Drummond isn't known as the most intense defender so he should get plenty of open looks. Cleveland boosts three-pointers to centers by 21.05% above league average. These two teams played back in early January and Lopez played a season-high 35 minutes and attempted 11 shots, five of those from beyond the arc. He shot poorly (3-for-11) but he grabbed eight rebounds and blocked two shots. If he gets hot, then Lopez could access a ceiling game because the opportunities should be there.
Also consider: Rudy Gobert ($9,600), Thaddeus Young ($6,600), Al Horford ($6,300)
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