Daily Fantasy Basketball 2015: NBA DFS Must-Starts for Each Position for Dec. 2
This is a tasty nine-game Wednesday night slate that features seven of the 10 fastest-paced teams in the league, according to Basketball-Reference.com. There should be some high-scoring games with high-scoring fantasy players. It might take 380 fantasy points to win a big Guaranteed Prize Pool on DraftKings Wednesday night.
Here are some players at each position that should hit value.
Point Guard: Patrick Beverley ($4,100) vs. Pelicans
Patrick Beverley is a unique NBA point guard that rarely handles the ball. This team tends to sink or swim with James Harden's ebbs and flows. However, since Beverley re-emerged as Houston's starter three games ago, he's averaged over 31 minutes per game and nearly 22 fantasy points per game.
Beverley is a force as an on-ball defender and is probably the best offensive rebounding point guard in the league. Houston will try to get New Orleans to play the frenetic, whirling dervish style of basketball that it's come to love. Beverley should fill up the stat sheet with an all-around performance against the worst defensive team in the league, per Basketball-Reference.com.
Others: John Wall ($8,000) vs. Lakers
Shooting Guard: Tyreke Evans ($6,600) @ Rockets
Tyreke Evans is back from injury and already throwing up monster stat lines. In 31 minutes against the Grizzlies, Evans posted 20 points, 10 assists and five boards for a 45.8-point fantasy night.
Like Harden in Houston, Evans is his team's de facto point guard. The Pelicans will begin almost every possession with Anthony Davis setting a pick for Tyreke Evans at the top of the key. Evans is quick into the lane and big enough to make defenders bounce off of him; plus he can draw contact and make shots at the rim. The two are a terror to defend when they're playing well together.
Evans is the most undervalued mid-level player on the slate. Mark my words, if he stays healthy, he'll cost close to $9,000 in two weeks. Play him while he's this cheap.
Others: James Harden ($10, 300) vs. Pelicans, Jordan Clarkson ($5,600) @ Wizards, Bradley Beal ($7,000) vs. Lakers, J.J. Redick ($4,400) vs. Pacers
Small Forward: Jared Dudley ($3,300) vs. Lakers
Dudley and (spoiler alert) Marcin Gortat should gain the most value if Nene Hilario does in fact sit Wednesday night at home against the Lakers. ESPN's Zach Lowe pointed out that the Wizards played the 6'7" Dudley at center for a portion of their win against the Cavs.
Dudley is a great spot-up shooter who can still defend a few positions in the league. He's played 30 or more minutes in each of his last three games and should cruise to a successful fantasy night against a fast-paced, but poorly, defending Lakers side.
Others: DeMarre Carroll ($5,900) @ Hawks, Brandon Rush ($3,600) @ Hornets,
Power Forward: Draymond Green ($7,900) @ Hornets
Watch any Warriors game. Draymond Green is essentially the point guard for this team.
Here's how the half-court offense goes: Green sets a high screen for Steph Curry, both defenders frantically chase Curry, he gets a difficult pass to Green, who then takes one dribble and either shoots a floater, kicks it to an open three-point shooter or throws a lob to Andrew Bogut or Festus Ezeli.
Draymond Green is essentially the point guard in a four-on-three every possession. That, and improvement in every facet of the game, is why Dray's averaging a career high in assists and nearly notched a third straight triple-double on Monday in Utah. In fact, at 7.1 assists per game, amongst power forwards, he's averaging 2.3 more than second-place Blake Griffin, according to ESPN. Heck, Draymond is eighth in the league in assists per game.
Others: Anthony Davis ($10,700) @ Rockets
Center: Marcin Gortat ($5,600) vs. Lakers
Frontcourt mate Nene Hilario sat out Tuesday with a tweaked calf. If he doesn't play Wednesday, Gortat should continue his run of 33-plus minutes per game. That many minutes while playing alongside John Wall against a Lakers team that can't defend anybody? It's a recipe for success.
Per DraftKings, the Lakers are 29th in the league at defending opposing centers. Gortat has notched a double-double in three of his last four games and should do so again Wednesday night against Kobe and Co.
Others: Dwight Howard ($7,100) vs. Pelicans, Pau Gasol ($6,800) vs. Denver
Enter the DraftKings $35K Sharpshooter contest this weekend. Use the promo code BLEACHER REPORT when you sign up.
