The NBA Daily Plays for Monday, Februrary 8th 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. We have also added an NBA Injury News page which monitors all injury news and offers pivot plays to consider if the injured player ends up sitting.
Point Guard
Studs
Russell Westbrook (FD $11,100, DK $11,300) –
I’m pretty sure Westbrook is not too happy about losing to the Warriors on Saturday. So I’ll gladly start him against the Suns and watch him punish them and the rim. Tonight, he takes on the Suns and their league worst defense vs. the point guard position. His price is ridiculously high, and needs 55 points to reach value, but I have a feeling that he’s going to go big tonight. Lock him in.
Values
Archie Goodwin (FD $5,200, DK $5,900)-
Remember when everyone was drooling over Archie and how amazing he was? What happened? He had a few bad games and people started jumping off the bandwagon like it was on fire. Archie isn’t going to get us that 40 point game he had a few weeks back, but he still gets a ton of minutes and it still relatively cheap. He gets a decent matchup and will need to perform if he and the Suns want to keep up with the Thunder.
GPP Plays
Rajon Rondo (FD $8,400, DK $8,000) –
The Kings are playing on the second leg of a back-to-back and have to take on the Cavaliers. This isn’t the most ideal situation for Rondo and the Kings, but I think Rondo will step up for the Kings and put up some good numbers. The Cavaliers are an elite defense, but their one weakness is at the point guard position. Rondo and the Kings are in a bit of a funk as a team right now, but that doesn’t seem to be effecting Rondo’s numbers much. It’s a risky play, but one that could really pay off in those GPPs.
Shooting Guard
Studs
DeMar DeRozan (FD $8,200, DK $8,000) –
DeMar is back in our good graces. After only scoring in the 20s for a few games, he’s back on the map after his 42 fpt game against Portland. Tonight he gets the Pistons, who are a middle of the pack team at defending the shooting guard position. This game has one of the higher over/unders on the night, and is one you’ll want some exposure to. DeMar has a nice floor and has a very high ceiling as well, he’s a great play tonight.
Values
E’twaun Moore (FD $4,100, DK $4,900) –
It looks like Jimmy Butler is going to miss another game. Which is too bad because he would’ve gotten a nice matchup against the Hornets, who are not so good against shooting guards. His replacement, Moore, has been serviceable in his absence. He has two good games and had a clunker in between those. He obviously doesn’t have the talent of Butler, but at his price and the minutes he’s going to play, he’s almost a must start.
GPP Plays
Devin Booker (FD $5,400, DK $6,000) –
Like Archie, Devin and the Suns are going to have to be firing on all cylinders to keep up with the Thunder. Even if they get blown out, Booker and Archie will still get a ton of minutes and scoring opportunities. He could go off and score 40 fpts or barely reach value. He’s definitely a risk, but I love him in GPPs.
Small Forward
Studs
Paul George (FD $8,700, DK $8,500) –
It looks like we’ve got our old Paul George back. He’s playing great and averaging over 40 fpts are game in his last three. Tonight, he gets the mother of all matchups. He takes on the Lakers who are one of the worst team defenses in the league. He should easily reach value tonight and will most likely exceed it as well. If you’re saving in other positions, I’d look to pay up for PG13.
Values
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (FD $5,400, DK $5,400) –
MKG played great in his first three games back from injury, but has since tapered off a bit. Tonight, he takes on a Chicago Bulls team that has trouble defending the SF position. Even though he hasn’t played well in his last two, he is still getting a ton of minutes, and that’s not going to change tonight. I’m expecting things to change for him tonight, and he should be able to reach value for us tonight.
GPP Plays
Kevin Durant (FD $10,800, DK $10,700) –
Why is KD a GPP and not a ‘Stud’ play? Well, I think the Thunder are going to blow the Suns out of the water and may rest KD in the 4th quarter. Is that going to happen? I have no clue, but that’s why I have him as a GPP. He could easily go off and get us 70 points, or he could just get value. He’s a great play either way and should be a near lock in your tournament lineups.
Power Forward
Studs
Kevin Love (FD $7,500, DK $7,700) –
KLove is probable tonight, after an injury scare two games ago. I love picking on the Kings defense when it comes to DFS. The Kings give up a ridiculous amount of points to the power forward position, and they’re going to have a lot of trouble covering Love. On the season, he’s been averaging right around his value, something that I think he can exceed easily tonight. With all of the value tonight, he can easily be locked into your lineups.
Values
Aaron Gordon (FD $4,900, DK $5,500)-
Now that Marshawn Lynch has retired can we call Aaron Gordon “Beast Mode”? We’ll never know why the Magic didn’t have him in the starting lineup at the beginning of the season, but since he’s been starting he’s been an absolute monster. In his last 5 games he is averaging around 30 fpts a game…. and they have him priced at 4.9k on FanDuel. C’mon! He takes on the same team that he played last night and he just put up 44.6 fpts against them. I’m not expecting the same outcome, but I’ll gladly play him at his price with his upside. Lock him in.
GPP Plays
Anthony Davis (FD $10,300, DK $10,000) –
I hate this guy. That’s right I said it. He has all of the talent in the world and for some reason we haven’t seen it this year. With that being said, I think this is a day to target AD. He hasn’t been putting up those 70 points games like he was last year, but he’s been reaching 50 and 40 with ease. Tonight he gets a decent matchup against the Timberwolves and SHOULD be able to reward those that lock him in.
Center
Studs
Karl-Anthony Towns (FD $8,800, DK $8,200) –
Now this guy, this guy I love. KAT seems to always show up on every night, especially in easy matchups. Tonight, he gets to take on the Pelicans who are the worst defense agains the center position. Yes please! There’s not much more that needs to be said, KAT should be an easy lock in your lineups.
Values
Gorgui Dieng (FD $6,100, DK $6,500)-
If for some reason you don’t want to play Towns, then please play Dieng. This guy has been on a tear lately. He’s been averaging 35 fpts in his last 5 games and has been playing extremely well in the plus matchups. He gets another great matchup tonight and if you’re trying to save a little at this position, Dieng is your guy.
GPP Plays
Jahlil Okafor (FD $6,300, DK $6,300) –
Everyone was so locked in on Brook Lopez yesterday, as he took on the lowly 76ers. So what happens? He goes and puts up a stinker in a favorable matchup. The guy on the other team defending him… well he scored 49.4 fpts last night and make Lopez look like a fool. On paper, Okafor gets a good matchup against the Clippers, as they haven’t been doing too well against opposing centers. In real life, Okafor has a tough matchup against DeAndre Jordan. It’s a risk, but one you should take in GPPs.
