Daily Fantasy Basketball 2015: Best NBA DFS DraftKings Lineup for April 12
On Sunday, DraftKings players can find some success in ignoring the large salaries.
With so many key players battling injuries or resting, some secondary players should put up primary numbers. The Oklahoma City Thunder's Enes Kanter is my signature player for the day's schedule. That's not to say that he will put up more fantasy points than his teammate Russell Westbrook or the Houston Rockets' James Harden. However, for $7,800, Kanter should prove to be a worthy DraftKings investment.
Kanter and the Thunder visit the Indiana Pacers on Sunday in a crucial game in the race for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. In his last five games, Kanter is averaging 40.3 fantasy points per contest. In a must-win game, expect to see Kanter relentless on the glass. He's grabbed at least 10 rebounds in seven of his last 10 games.
Since joining the Thunder at the All-Star break, Kanter has been a double-double machine, as Thunder Nation's tweet attests.
I like him to add to that total on Sunday, with a monster rebounding effort as the driving force.
Another stud fantasy player I'll be grabbing is the Los Angeles Lakers' Jordan Clarkson. He carries a DK salary of $7,000, but he's proven to be worth the investment more often than not.
Rather quietly, Clarkson has stepped up as a lock to make the NBA All-Rookie Team. In five of his last 10 games, Clarkson has had 40 or more fantasy points.
On Sunday, Clarkson will lead the Los Angeles Lakers against the Dallas Mavericks, and he should continue his productive pace. The rookie point guard has established himself as the Lakers' most consistent fantasy performer. He's had just two games in his last 10 without at least 30 fantasy points. With the Mavs allowing 102.2 points per game this season—which ranks 25th in the NBA—it's wise to expect Clarkson to do well on Sunday.
Here's a look at my entire DK lineup for the day.
| PG | Jordan Clarkson | Dallas | $7,000 |
| SG | Bradley Beal | Atlanta | $6,500 |
| SF | DeMarre Carroll | Washington | $5,700 |
| PF | Tim Duncan | Phoenix | $6,500 |
| C | Enes Kanter | Indiana | $7,800 |
| G | Eric Bledsoe | San Antonio | $7,100 |
| F | C.J. Miles | Oklahoma City | $5,000 |
| UTIL | Mike Muscala | Washington | $4,300 |
Bradley Beal ($6,500) vs. Atlanta Hawks
As the playoffs rapidly approach, the Washington Wizards' Bradley Beal looks to be rounding into postseason form. He's had three straight games with at least 20 points, and four of five where he's reached that plateau. Beal has also had 32-plus fantasy points in five of his last seven contests.
Beal's ability to consistently hit the low-to-mid 30's in fantasy points, as well as the potential to jump to 40 or more is what you need to have a chance to drive toward the top spot in a DK contest. Limiting dead spots is a must, and Beal has proven to be anything but of late.
Tim Duncan ($6,500) vs. Phoenix Suns
Speaking of hitting a playoff stride, Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs have clearly flipped the proverbial switch. The defending champions have won 10 straight games and looked primed to be a force in the Western Conference playoffs.
The Spurs will host the Phoenix Suns on Sunday, and that's a good matchup for Duncan. The Suns allow a 28th-best 45.6 points in the paint per game this season.
Duncan is coming off a 29-point, 10-rebound, three-blocked-shot performance (52.5 fantasy points) in his last game against the Rockets. With home-court advantage in the first round still up in the air, expect the Spurs and Duncan to be all in for this game. That should equate to a solid statistical performance from the future Hall of Famer.
Mike Muscala ($4,300) at Washington Wizards
The biggest value pick of the day might be the Atlanta Hawks' Mike Muscala. He only carries a DK salary of $4,300, but he's been starting in place of the injured Paul Millsap, and he's taken advantage of the opportunity.
In his last three games, Muscala is averaging 25.5 FPPG. That's below the 37.5 fantasy points you need to average per player to reach the coveted 300-point mark that it usually takes to contend for a win in a DK contest.
However, if your bigger guns do their job, Muscala can plug a hole nicely—at least until Millsap returns to the Hawks' lineup.
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