RADIO
There are numerous games across Friday’s 10-contest slate that are sure to make defensive-minded fans blush. There will be no shortage of stars playing in games with gaudy projected totals, making it integral to highlight some mid-range priced assets as a means of balancing out lineups.
Injuries that have not yet been disclosed are sure to play a factor in a slate as largess and diverse as this one, but a few contests that can be highlighted without question are Brooklyn/Atlanta, Cleveland/New Orleans, Minnesota/Orlando and Washington/Utah.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 2/28/20. You can also check out today's FanDuel lineup picks. Remember to monitor injury news as the slate can completely change before line-up lock.
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DraftKings DFS Guards
Devin Booker - PG/SG, PHO v. DET ($7,800)
For the first time all season, Booker enters a contest eyeing his third consecutive double-double. In addition to back-to-back double-digit assist total outings, Booker will take on a larger offensive workload with Kelly Oubre Jr. (knee) slated to potentially miss the remainder of the season. Booker's price tag has been kept in check for the time being due to facing the excellent Clippers defensive unit his last time out, but with Oubre’s 18.7 points and 14.8 shot attempts sidelined, the Suns’ leading scorer is the likeliest candidate to absorb his contributions. Detroit has been in the middle of the pack across the league defending guards this year, but the possibility of getting a top-flight scorer for under $8k is too appealing to pass up.
Derrick Rose - PG, DET @ PHO ($5,700)
On the surface, Rose the starter hasn’t been all that different from Rose the reserve, averaging just .5 more points per game among his 13 starts this season. Even with Andre Drummond and Markieff Morris traded and Reggie Jackson bought out, Rose’s offensive role has not exploded like many expected; but all that could begin to shift Friday. Irrespective of whether Bruce Brown Jr. (knee) can play or not, Rose presents an extremely stable floor for his price tag. Injuries could allow him to become a more sought-after commodity in GPP formats, but his role as the No. 1 scoring option against a less-than-stellar Suns defense should pave the way for ample interest.
Mike Conley - PG, UTA v. WAS ($5,100)
Ahead of Wednesday’s game, reports indicated that Conley could be on his way out of the starting five. Whether that was motivation for the five made triples that followed remains unclear, but Conley appears to have both retained his role in the lineup and found his rhythm offensively. The Wizards are the rare defensive unit that both yields copious amounts of points (119.9 per game this year, the highest mark in the league) and simultaneously plays at a breakneck pace offensively. All of that should equate to more opportunities for Conley, who has averaged 16.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists over his seven contests since returning from the starting five, which would put him in line to at the very least return value on his price tag.
DraftKings DFS Forwards
Brandon Ingram - PG/SF, NO v. CLE ($7,500)
Few players have seen their personal fantasy stock decline while the team around him improves quite like Ingram has. With Zion Williamson making his debut, in addition to a nearly entirely healthy Pelicans squad returning to the mix, Ingram’s role has been dialed back. But Tuesday against a stout Lakers squad, that script was flipped as he went for 34 points, his highest single game output since Jan. 16. Replicating that production may be a difficult proposition, but the Cavaliers boast the league’s worst defensive efficiency rating (113.4), which makes essentially every healthy Pelican a high-upside play. Ingram’s price tag has corrected since his last outing, but a high-octane scoring asset like Ingram who contributes across the stat sheet has top notch GPP potential.
Terrence Ross - SG/SF, ORL v. MIN ($5,400)
A rocky offensive season for Ross has seemingly fallen into place over the past six games, where he has exceeded the 20-point plateau on three separate occasions, averaging 14.7 shot attempts in that span. Keying Orlando’s second unit, Ross has been active across the stat sheet, which will serve him well against a Minnesota squad that has accrued an average of 112.1 possessions over its last three games, the second-highest total in the league. The Magic have been one of the league’s slowest teams in terms of pace, but Ross should benefit from the rub of a Timberwolves defensive unit that isn’t likely to provide much defensive resistance.
Davis Bertans - PF, WAS @ UTA ($5,300)
The Bertans shooting barrage has proliferated over his past 10 games: in that span, he has averaged 10.4 field-goal attempts per game, with 8.1 of those coming from behind the arc. Fortunately, he has shot the ball at a 39.5 percent clip from deep, giving him perpetual high upside, especially for a player who is sure to draw 28-32 minutes and be a vital cog in the team’s offense. While he has provided little else statistically aside from points, triples and rebounds, should his shot fall with consistency, he has increased odds of finishing the night with a flame emoji next to his name.
DraftKings DFS Centers
Tristan Thompson - C, CLE @ NO ($5,700)
With Andre Drummond (calf) already ruled out, Thompson will retain his spot in the starting five, which produced a double-double Wednesday against Philadelphia, including 13 boards, his highest total in more than a month. His matchup against the Pelicans is particularly advantageous due to the nature of the expected pace, which has the game slotted to exceed 230 points. Thompson still represents a risky play, as his numbers fluctuated even prior to Drummond’s acquisition, with Larry Nance Jr. further making a case for an extended role off the bench. But on a night full of high-priced centers, Thompson presents a mid-level option for those looking to spend up at other positions.
