RADIO
Happy St. Patricks Day everyone. Amidst the pints of Guinness and plates of corned beef and cabbage, eight games are slated for Friday night's NBA action. There are a ton of value options up for grabs, most coming at the hands of an injury bug suddenly sweeping through the league.
In this article, I will be providing you with daily NBA lineup picks for FanDuel on 3/17/17. The picks will range from some of the elite players, to mid-priced options, and value plays.
Let's get to it.
FanDuel DFS Guards
Rajon Rondo - PG, @ WAS ($5,800)
After an MRI revealed a fracture on his elbow, Dwyane Wade will be shelved for the rest of the regular season. Even before this announcement, the Chicago Bulls had been reeling, dropping out of the playoff picture, and now sit a game back from the idle Detroit Pistons and the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference. It's up to others to step up now, like Rajon Rondo.
It's been a tumultuous season for Rondo, as he has been benched, has watched his minutes get cut, only to start producing again in a new opportunity of increased playing time. Now is his time for redemption. Rondo is coming off back to back solid showings, posting 40.2 and 38.6 fantasy points in 35 and 36 minutes of action; the first time he has cracked the 30-mark since late January. Expect his minutes to remain consistent now as the Bulls look to climb back into the playoff picture against the Washington Wizards.
Marcus Smart - SG, @ BK ($6,300)
The Boston Celtics are also dealing with an injury to a star play at an inopportune time. Isaiah Thomas is dealing with a lingering bone bruise on his right knee and is expected to miss the next two contests. Terry Rozier will likely see a boost in his playing time, but has not proved to be a reliable, or dangerous, threat in daily fantasy all season. Smart has scored in double-digits five times in his last six games and is averaging over 25 minutes in each over that span. Smart has also been quite inconsistent, but heads into a favorable matchup against a Brooklyn Nets team that allows the most points per game in the league. The Nets are also the most frequent targeted squad in daily fantasy when choosing guards. Smart is inexpensive, and should see starter minutes this weekend.
Also Consider: James Harden - SG, @ NO ($11,800)
FanDuel DFS Forwards
Jimmy Butler - SF, @ WAS ($8,300)
Jimmy Butler, like Rajon Rondo, will now play an even bigger role in the Bull's late-season renaissance. In order for a rebirth to occur in Chicago, Buckets needs to cut his inconsistent ways and settle back into his dominant scoring role. Lately, it has been every other game for Butler's daily fantasy production, but that can be blamed mostly on the team's sporadic play. Butler is still the guy in Chicago and heads into a matchup against a good Washington team that still allows the ninth most points per game and the 10th most three pointers made per game in the league.
Dario Saric - PF, vs DAL ($7,900)
Since the injury to Joel Embiid, Dario Saric has been Philadelphia's number one producer. Saric has put together a nice string of games, coming off two 45-plus fantasy point showings, consisting of 25 and 29 points respectively. Saric's ceiling is high, capable of breaking out well into the 20's, yet heads into a difficult matchup against the defensively sound Dallas Mavericks. I won't say that Saric is matchup-proof, but he's been as consistent as it gets in 76ers-Land. That's good enough for me.
Also Consider: Brandon Ingram - SF, vs MIL ($3,600)
FanDuel DFS Centers
Alan Williams - C, vs ORL ($5,800)
There are a ton of really appealing center options on Friday night, like Karl-Anthony Towns and the big man listed below. It's a shame that FanDuel has only one slot at the position. But, since they do, we're forced pick just one. Enter Alan Williams.
Williams, a now consistent daily fantasy option that seemingly came out of nowhere, has posted seven double-doubles over his last eight games. Even with Alex Len back in the lineup after missing two straight games, Williams still logged more minutes than Phoenix's former starting center, and outproduced him. Tyson Chandler is also no longer in the front court picture. The Orlando Magic are playing for the second time in as many nights, coming off a beating at the hands of the Golden State Warriors. Phoenix versus Orlando should be a high-scoring affair as both teams don't play defense well. The Magic also surrender the fourth most opponent defensive rebounds per game.
Also Consider: Hassan Whiteside - C, vs MIN ($8,700)
NBA DFS News & Injury Alerts
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