Highest Scoring Teams:
(by Implied Points per KenPom)
- Memphis -- 80 Points (-13 vs. Bradley) **FD Only**
- Michigan State -- 75 Points (-5 vs. Duke)
- Syracuse -- 74 Points (-3 vs. Iowa)
- Louisville -- 72 Points (-8 vs. Michigan)
- Iowa -- 71 Points (+3 vs. Syracuse)
Guards
Zavier Simpson - Michigan ($8,500 DK / $7,300 FD)
Michigan is the biggest story in college basketball so far after they made the jump from being unranked in the preseason to a top five team in the polls, and Simpson is the main reason why the Wolverines have been so good. The senior point guard leads the entire country in assist rate (50.8%), as he’s racked up 13 or more assists in three of the last four games. Most notably, Simpson has provided the senior leadership and playmaking ability to get his teammates involved to spur wins over North Carolina, Gonzaga and Iowa State in the last week. Simpson will have to be at his best again tonight against Louisville in the team’s toughest game to date. However, he should still be able to return his high price tag in this matchup because the Cardinals’ strength is in their frontcourt with tons of size and rebounding. Simpson, though, can take advantage in the backcourt and he’ll be looked upon to provide more scoring than usual.
Devonte Green - Indiana ($5,600 DK / $5,200 FD)
With Indiana’s starting point guard Rob Phinisee still out, Devonte Green continues to see an expanded role in the rotation, and he’s been one of the team’s better guards lately. The senior is still coming off the bench, but that hasn’t hurt his DFS production as he’s put up 21.5 or more DK points in each of the last three games. The Hoosiers are using Green as their score-first sixth man right now. He is getting pretty solid offensive usage and shots share when he’s on the court. There aren’t a ton of mid-priced guards that have the upside of Green on this slate, and you can definitely do worse if you’re looking for someone in this price range to fill out your lineups.
CJ Fredrick - Iowa ($5,500 DK Only)
While Fredrick is locked into a starting role for Iowa, he’s been very up-and-down in DFS production this season. However, the freshman should see an increase in usage and shots share moving forward with Jack Nunge out for the season. Nunge was one of the team leaders in both categories before his injury and in the two-plus games since he’s been out, Fredrick has stepped up with some big efforts. In the game Nunge got hurt, Fredrick put up a season-high 21 points and 34.25 DK points. He followed that up with 30 and 18 DK points in the last two games. Iowa may lean on Fredrick more than usual tonight against Syracuse because he’s one of the best three-point shooters on the team, and a key way in beating the ‘Cuse zone is via the deep ball. Fredrick is shooting 56.5% from three this year and he’s gone 9-for-13 from deep over the last three games with Nunge out. To pull off the road win, Fredrick will have to hit those threes tonight and he’ll definitely get the looks with the way the Orange’s zone allows for three-point shooters to be open.
Alex O’Connell - Duke ($4,300 DK / $4,000 FD)
Duke will need to replace Cassius Stanley’s production and minutes in some fashion and O’Connell looks to be the favorite to enter the starting rotation now. The junior started three of the first four games of the year but he’s been relegated to minimal playing time off the bench lately with the recent emergence of Stanley and Wendell Moore. Without Stanley, though, Duke will likely rotate two or three players in and O’Connell has the prior experience to see an expanded role against Michigan State on the road. O’Connell started a handful of games last year, including the Blue Devils’ Sweet 16 win over Virginia Tech. He doesn’t offer much upside in scoring, but he can certainly provide enough production across many stat categories in extended minutes to return value at these cheap price tags.
Other Guards to Consider:
- Cassius Winston - Michigan State ($8,000 DK / $7,900 FD)
- Joseph Girard - Syracuse ($6,000 DK Only)
- Boogie Ellis - Memphis ($4,900 FD Only)
- Franz Wagner - Michigan ($4,600 DK / $4,400 FD)
- Joe Toussaint - Iowa ($4,400 DK Only)
Forwards
Trayce Jackson-Davis - Indiana ($8,300 DK / $7,700 FD)
There are a bunch of high-priced forwards in play on this slate, but Jackson-Davis looks to have the safest floor among them at a slight discount compared to others. The freshman big man is getting a ton of usage lately with starting point guard Rob Phinisee still out, as he’s put up 41 or more DK points in three of the last four games. In those outings, Jackson-Davis recorded a double-double in each while dominating the opposition in the paint. Although he’ll face a tough defensive team in Florida State tonight, the Seminoles’ strength is in their guard play while getting inconsistent production from the frontcourt. If Jackson-Davis can stay out of foul trouble, he should have no problem racking up a ton of rebounds while being the top scoring option for Indiana.
Precious Achiuwa - Memphis ($7,200 FD Only)
If you’re playing on FanDuel tonight, we definitely want some exposure to Memphis because they are projected to score the most points and some of the players could even go lower owned than other high-profile matchups on the FD slate. With James Wiseman still sitting out, Precious Achiuwa has become the main scoring option on offense and he’s been owning the paint lately as Memphis’ best player. The 6-foot-9 freshman leads the team in offensive usage, shots share, and rebounding rate and he’s put up 31 or more DFS points in all four games without Wiseman. Achiuwa has recorded a double-double in three straight and he should be fed the ball in this matchup against Bradley.
Quincy Guerrier - Syracuse ($4,800 DK Only)
Although he’s yet to crack the starting lineup this season, Guerrier leads Syracuse in offensive usage off the bench and he’s a close second in combined rebounding rate. The 6-foot-7 freshman has emerged as one of the Orange’s best players and despite playing in a reserve role, he’s still seeing a ton of minutes because of ‘Cuse’s short rotation. He’s coming off a season-high 31 minutes against Penn State when he went for 13 points, 10 rebounds and 28 DK points. Guerrier’s minutes have been increasing all season and he should continue to see an expanded role on both ends tonight against Iowa. He’s averaging 17.2 DK points per game thus far and has put up 24 or more in three of the last five, production that would make him a strong value on this slate.
Malik Williams - Louisville ($4,700 DK / $4,500 FD)
Since returning from an ankle injury three games ago, Williams’ playing time and usage have started to slowly ramp up as he gets his conditioning improved. The 6-foot-11 junior big man is a freak athlete who was expected to have a bigger role this season after showing flashes of dominance last year. In the last two games, Williams put up 18.25 and 22.75 DK points in 19 and 18 minutes, respectively. Now that he’s close to full health, Louisville will need his size and rebounding skills in this matchup with Michigan to contain Jon Teske in the paint. If we can get another 18+ minutes from him, his DFS production has proven to be very efficient when he’s on the court, and he could be one of the better value plays on the slate.
Joey Baker - Duke ($4,000 DK / $3,700 FD)
One of the key injuries on tonight’s slate involves Duke’s standout freshman Cassius Stanley, who is expected to miss the next couple games with a recent leg injury. There’s a ton of playing time now open for Duke’s other wing players and while it’s unclear how Coach K will divide the minutes up, Baker should have a solid role off the bench at least. When Stanley went down last game, Baker stepped up with 16 points scored and four made three-pointers in 23 minutes. It was his first double-digit scoring effort of the season, but the increase in playing time certainly makes Baker a value tonight. While he may not start, the sophomore has more offensive upside than Alex O’Connell and Jordan Goldwire, and Duke may need his scoring more in this tough matchup vs. Michigan State.
Other Forwards to Consider:
- Elijah Hughes - Syracuse ($8,600 DK Only)
- Jordan Nwora - Louisville ($8,400 DK / $7,600 FD)
- Isaiah Livers - Michigan ($6,500 DK / $6,100 FD)
- Aaron Henry - Michigan State ($5,800 DK / $5,800 FD)
- Wendell Moore - Duke ($4,900 DK / $4,400 FD)
DraftKings Example Lineup:
G: Zavier Simpson - MICH ($8,500)
G: CJ Fredrick - IOWA ($5,500)
G: Cassius Winston - MSU ($8,000)
F: Joey Baker - DUKE ($4,000)
F: Trayce Jackson-Davis - IU ($8,300)
F: Quincy Guerrier - SYR ($4,800)
U: Malik WIlliams - UL ($4,700)
U: Joseph Girard - SYR ($6,000)
FanDuel Example Lineup:
G: Zavier Simpson - MICH ($7,300)
G: Cassius Winston - MSU ($7,900)
G: Devonte Green - IND ($5,200)
G: Geo Baker - RUT ($6,500)
F: Precious Achiuwa - MEM ($7,200)
F: Joey Baker - DUKE ($3,700)
F: Trayce Jackson-Davis - IND ($7,700)
U: Malik Williams - LOU ($4,500)