The NBA Daily Plays for Friday, November 20th breaks down the best Stud, Value and GPP plays at each position for FanDuel and DraftKings daily fantasy sports contests. The Stud & Value plays should be considered relatively chalky and are ideal for cash games. The GPP plays dig a little deeper to hopefully find some low owned talent who could pay off big in a tournament. Make sure you check out our NBA projections page to help in your DFS research.
Game Lines
Point Guard
Studs
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder (FD $11,700, DK $12,300) –
Westbrook vs. the Knicks, without Kevin Durant? Talk about a perfect storm. Choose to fade Westy at your own risk tonight.
Values
Jeremy Lin, Charlotte Hornets (FD $4,700, DK $4,200) –
Linsanity continues to be underpriced, despite steady production off of Charlotte’s bench. The Hornets should gain a considerable lead early vs. the Sixers, which will result in plenty of minutes for Lin.
GPP Plays
Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors (FD $8,600, DK $8,100) –
Lowry is in a great spot tonight, as he faces a Lakers team that is susceptible vs. opposing point guards. The point guard has scored at least 20 points over his last 6 games, and that trend should continue vs. Los Angeles.
Shooting Guard
Studs
James Harden, Houston Rockets (FD $10,300, DK $10,400) –
Harden shocked the world on Wednesday, putting up 45 points in a win over Portland. The Beard may be revitalized after a coaching change in Houston, and will look to continue his dominance against the Grizzlies tonight.
Values
Will Barton, Denver Nuggets (FD $5,200, DK $5,300) –
Thrill Barton is the premier value play across the league right now, and his low salary is staying put at the moment. He faces a Suns team tonight that he previously dominated for 19 points and 12 rebounds just six days prior. Fade Barton at your own risk.
GPP Plays
Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls (FD $8,500, DK $7,900) –
Derrick Rose is once again questionable tonight vs. the Warriors, and if he sits, it’ll be the Jimmy Butler Show. Butler was given the reigns of Chicago’s offense vs. the Suns on Wednesday, and his 32 points did not disappoint.
Small Forward
Studs
Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks (FD $9,600, DK $8,500) –
Small forward is pretty ugly tonight, as Carmelo is one of the few appealing options. The all star continues to put up points in bunches, and is surpassing expectations on the boards as well. The Thunder will be without Kevin Durant tonight, and will simply have no answer for Melo defensively.
Values
Jae Crowder, Boston Celtics (DK $5,200, $5,600) –
Small forward is slim pickings tonight, and Crowder will be a staple in every single one of my lineups. His salary is too low to ignore when compared to his consistency and role within Boston. Tonight he faces a lackluster Nets defense, and should impress once again.
GPP Plays
Danilo Gallinari, Denver Nuggets (FD $6,900, DK $6,300) –
[email protected] has the highest O/U of the evening, and Gallinari is due to be a heavy contributor to that total. The small forward is the most reliable scorer for Denver, but is an inconsistent player at best. He’s best suited for tournament lineups tonight.
Power Forward
Studs
Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers (FD $9,700, DK $9,600) –
Griffin is the epitome of a tournament play. He fails to consistently reach his value, but can explode for outrageous numbers. The power forward is a fantastic play tonight, as Portland won’t have an answer for him in the post. If the Clippers elect to sit Chris Paul tonight, Griffin becomes a must play.
Values
Marvin Williams, Charlotte Hornets (FD $5,000, DK $5,500) –
I’m recommending a few Hornets tonight, simply because the Sixers are so dreadful defensively. Williams holds a lot of value within this Charlotte squad, as his ability to drain threes and grab boards should not be understated. Williams is the most appealing fantasy option for the Hornets tonight.
GPP Plays
Nerlens Noel, Philadelphia 76ers (FD $6,500, DK $6,700) –
The Sixers are a mess, and that doesn’t exclude Nerlens Noel. However, the big man has plenty of talent, and should return in a consistent role vs. the Hornets tonight. Charlotte is abysmal in defending the frontcourt, and Noel could put up huge numbers.
Center
Studs
Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons (FD $10,100, DK $9,900) –
Drummond is probably the safest center play tonight. He hasn’t scored less than 30 FPTs this season, and he certainly won’t vs. the Timberwolves. However, his salary has soared, and he may not meet his value. Drummond is the way to go in cash, but I’d rather spend elsewhere in tournaments.
Values
Jonas Valanciunas, Toronto Raptors (FD $6,000, DK $5,700) –
Valanciunas is inexpensive as far as centers go tonight, and he is gifted a matchup versus the abysmal front court of the Lakers. The Toronto Big Man is a great bet to hit value tonight.
GPP Plays
Brook Lopez, Brooklyn Nets (FD $8,200, DK $7,200) –
After a slow start to the season, Lopez seems to have found his shot. He’s already recorded six double-doubles, and has scored 20+ points in his last two outings. The Celtics are allowing opposing centers to grab 15.2 RPG, and Lopez should have no problem producing in this matchup.
