THE SLATE

(w/ Implied Team Totals & Odds via KenPom)

  • 7 pm ET -- Indiana (61) at Wisconsin (67) -- 128 total

  • 7 pm ET -- Iowa (80) at Maryland (76) -- 156 total

  • 8:30 pm ET -- BYU (73) at Gonzaga (91) -- 164 total

  • 9 pm ET -- Washington (62) at Stanford (73) -- 135 total **FD Only**

  • 9 pm ET -- USC (69) at Arizona (71) -- 140 total

  • 9 pm ET -- Illinois (78) at Northwestern (74) -- 152 total

  • 10 pm ET -- Washington State (62) at California (64) -- 126 total **DK Only**

  • 10:30 pm ET -- UCLA (76) at Arizona State (75) -- 151 total **DK Only**

 

Top Guards
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Ayo DosunmuILNW930041.2850038.17
The most expensive guard on the slate is firmly in play for all formats as the best player in an expected fast-paced, back-and-forth matchup. Both Illinois and Northwestern like to play quick and Dosunmu’s playmaking ability fits the flow of this one very well. He should bounce back from his dud outing on Saturday to return to his regular 40 DK point production. Dosunmu stuffs the stat sheet with his high usage on the offense end and Illinois’ high-scoring games usually lets him grab more rebounds than most top-tier guards. His DFS floor is safe and his ceiling is always high with the nightly threat to score 30 points. He’ll probably go lower-owned in cash because of Gonzaga’s presence on the slate.
Jalen SuggsGONZBYU740034780031.66
After missing two games with a leg injury, Suggs returned over the weekend and played 23 minutes in the Zags’ blowout win. The standout freshman should be all good to go tonight with a game under his belt - and the high-scoring matchup vs. BYU should help him return to his DFS stud production. Before the recent absence, Suggs was arguably Gonzaga’s best player and he regularly put up 30-40 DK points or more with a balanced stat line. On DK, he’s actually a bit under-priced and will likely be popular in cash games on both sites. There’s also no reason to pay up for Joel Ayayi over Suggs on DK.
Alex BarcelloBYUGONZ730032.02740028.87
It’s crazy to think that BYU is nearly 20-point underdogs to Gonzaga - but is still projected to score 73 points tonight. That’s a testament to how high-scoring and uptempo the Zags play, which usually means a ton of DFS production for competent opponents too. The Cougars are just good enough to hang around until the second half - and they’ll do so with Barcello leading the way. The senior combo guard is averaging a balanced stat line of 16.9 points, 4.8 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game - which usually allows him to reach 30 or more DK points in the right game flow situations. That’s tonight with BYU trying to keep pace with the Zags. He’s the ideal GPP guard on this slate with people rather playing the Zags studs.
Tyger CampbellUCLAASU710027.92  
UCLA is in a great spot tonight going against a fast-paced Arizona State team that’s been shaky on defense at times this year. With Chris Smith out for the season, Campbell will be the Bruins’ offensive catalyst moving forward and his DFS floor and ceiling expectations should be raised. In the first game without Smith on Saturday, the sophomore point guard put up 32 DK points despite only scoring 11 actual points. His high usage while running the offense will keep his DFS value safe for cash games on the DK slate.
Eric AyalaMDIOWA630023.75630022.25
With how high-scoring this Iowa-Maryland game is expected to be, we need to look strongly at the Terps’ top options. Aaron Wiggins and Donta Scott are top options, too, but Ayala is the more affordable of the three - and this should be a bounce-back spot for him. The junior point guard on the road vs. Indiana last time out, but he averaged 15.3 real points and 25.8 DK points over the previous three games. His three-point shooting and floor general role should help him get back to that production in an uptempo matchup tonight. He’s a great GPP play and right on the edge of cash.
        
Value Guards
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Rob PhiniseeIUWISC510014.25480013.16
With Indiana likely without Armaan Franklin tonight, Phinisee should step into a much larger offensive role in the Hoosiers’ backcourt. Franklin injured his foot on Monday and has been considered doubtful to play the next couple games. After he left that last game early, Phinisee logged 31 minutes - his most playing time in a month. The junior has been coming off the bench lately, but he could easily re-enter the starting lineup where he was the first eight games of the season. If Franklin is out, though, expect Phinisee to get a big boost in offensive usage and shot volume from the shooting guard role.
Trent FrazierILNW500019.18500017.29
Although Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn are always top targets when Illinois is in action, Frazier has consistently been a solid cash game value. The senior regularly plays 30+ minutes and produces across all stat categories despite not having a big offensive role for the Illini. He’s usually good for 15-20 DK points and should get there tonight in a fast-paced matchup. If you want cheap exposure to one of the highest totals on the slate, Frazier is a great pay-down option at just 5k on both sites.
Johnny JuzangUCLAASU440016.25  
The Chris Smith injury is a big one for UCLA and it should result in Juzang becoming a bigger part of the offense moving forward. The Kentucky transfer has now started the last four games for the Bruins and he saw a season-high 36 minutes on Saturday in the team’s first outing without Smith. UCLA plays a tight rotation already and the Smith absence should lock Juzang in to 30+ minutes on a more consistent basis. He’s now scored in double figures in four of his five games since returning from an early-season injury - and he’s still too cheap for what his upside can be with added offensive responsibility now.
Michael O'ConnellSTANWASH  43007.84
We have two major injuries to monitor with Stanford - and it could result in O’Connell being a chalky value on the FD slate. Daejon Davis has missed the last three games with an ankle injury and Bryce Wills left Monday’s game early with a leg injury. It’s possible one or both of them are out tonight, and O’Connell should step into more playing time as a result. The freshman played a season-high 30 minutes last game after Wills got hurt and he was heavily involved with a stat-stuffing line of 12 points, eight assists and seven rebounds - good for 34 FD points. He’s way too cheap if Davis and Wills are out, so lock him into FD cash lineups if that’s the case.
Jarred HyderCALWSU410013.06  
Cal’s best player, Matt Bradley, rolled his ankle on Saturday and could be out tonight. If that’s the case, then look for Jarred Hyder to step into a much bigger offensive role for the Golden Bears. The Fresno State transfer sat out the first part of the season until he was granted immediate eligibility in mid-December. After Bradley got hurt last game, Hyder had his best performance of the year with 12 points scored, 21 DK points and a team-high 34% usage rate. He’s been seeing high usage off the bench before the Bradle injury - and we could easily see Hyder enter the starting lineup or at least get 20-25 minutes in a super-sub role. He’s simply way too affordable on DK if Bradley sits.

Other Guards to Consider

  • Aaron Wiggins - Maryland ($7,900 DK / $6,800 FD)

  • Remy Martin - Arizona State ($6,600 DK Only)

  • Andre Curbelo - Illinois ($6,200 DK / $6,100 FD)

  • Jules Bernard - UCLA ($5,700 DK Only)

  • Isaiah White - USC ($5,000 DK / $4,000 FD)

  • CJ Fredrick - Iowa ($4,900 DK / $5,300 FD)

  • Connor Harding - BYU ($4,800 DK / $4,400 FD)

 

Top Forwards
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Luka GarzaIOWAMD980046.64940044.05
Anytime Iowa is on the slate, the decision always comes down to how much you are willing to pay to get Luka Garza into your cash lineups. Even though he’s the most expensive player in action, Garza is below 10k on DK for the first time since early December. That’s because he’s “only” put up 29 and 35 DK points over the last two games. Garza’s DFS ceiling, though, is somewhere in the 50-60 DK point range and he could easily return to that level in a fast-paced, high-scoring battle with Maryland. The Terps have an undersized frontcourt that should be no issue for Garza to dominate in the post. In the last two games, Maryland has allowed big games to two other Big Ten big men in Indiana’s Trayce Jackson-Davis and Michigan’s Hunter Dickinson - and Garza should make it three in a row. He might go lower-owned than he should because of Gonzaga’s stud forwards, but fade at your own risk.
Trayce Jackson-DavisIUWISC900037.5820035.37
One of the best centers in the country is yet again a top play tonight. Jackson-Davis is Indiana’s top offensive option with team-leading 30% usage and shot rates during conference play - and his high involvement will only go up if Armaan Franklin is unable to play. He’s coming off a dominant performance vs. Maryland when he dropped 22 points, 15 boards and 47 DK points. That’s his ceiling, though, and the Wisconsin defense could give him issues. Because of the risk he doesn’t live up to his expensive salaries, keep exposure to Jackson-Davis to GPP’s.
Kofi CockburnILNW830032.39760029.89
Illinois’ stud big man is on a hot streak with double-doubles in four of the last five games and consistent 30 DK point value with those performances. It’s Cockburn and Ayo Dosunmu being the top offensive options for this team and that shouldn’t change moving forward. The 7-footer should have no issues with the smaller Northwestern frontcourt that’s one of the worst rebounding teams in the Big Ten. In the last two games, Michigan’s Hunter Dickinson and Iowa’s Luka Garza combined to average 18.5 points vs. Northwestern - and Cockburn should do the same with more rebounding upside. He’s great for GPP’s for those wanting to get off the Garza or Gonzaga lineup builds.
Corey KispertGONZBYU810033.22700031.00
Gonzaga is finally back on the main slate and that means we can fire up the Zags’ frontcourt stud duo of Corey Kispert and Drew Timme. Both are firmly in play for all formats and you can easily stack both in the same lineup to lock in 60 DK points or more. Kispert, though, is the better overall option as the team’s top scoring threat more often than not with the regular upside to score 25-30 points and 35-40 DK points. He’s shooting a whopping 50% from three-point range so far (31-for-61) and his KenPom offensive rating is 2nd-best in the whole country. Timme has more rebounding upside and could easily dominate BYU inside with his post game too. Kispert is likely more owned in cash games, but Timme has the GPP upside.
Value Forwards
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Ryan YoungNWIL510019.61550018.31
Looking for cheap options in a high-scoring game is always a good cash or GPP strategy - and Northwestern has a couple value plays. The best is Ryan Young, who leads the team in usage rate despite coming off the bench. At 6-foot-10 and 245 pounds, he’s the best rebounder and biggest body on the team - and that size will be needed more often tonight vs. Illinois center Kofi Cockburn. Even in limited minutes, Young will score and rebound enough to produce a solid 20 or so DK points - making him more safe for cash than you’d think.
Chevez GoodwinUSCAZ450016.59460015.91
This Arizona-USC could go overlooked but there’s some definite value on the Trojans’ side of things. Isaiah White continues to be a solid value as he starts in place of Ethan Anderson. Also in Anderson’s absence, Chevez Goodwin has emerged as USC’s top bench option with high usage, shot and rebounding rates when he’s on the floor. He’s now put up 20 DK points in four straight games with his steady stat production - and that shouldn’t change as long as Anderson remains out. Goodwin is good cash as long as he stays below 5k - and he's still too cheap to ignore.
Jaiden DelaireSTANWASH  500016.53
With Daejon Davis out and Bryce Wills leaving the last game early, we saw Delaire explode for 19 points, nine rebounds and 32 FD points in a season-high 28 minutes vs. Oregon State. Both Davis and Wills don’t seem likely to play tonight, which means Delaire should continue to play a bigger role in Stanford’s offense. He’s already started the last three games with Davis sidelined and his minutes have now increased in each of the last five outings since returning from injury. He’s way too cheap on FD and could be popular in cash against a bad rebounding team in Washington.
Caleb LohnerBYUGONZ460016.5450014.21
Getting as much exposure to this BYU-Gonzaga game could be key on this slate, and Lohner is a great cheap way to do it. The freshman is coming off the bench after starting earlier in the year, but he’s still playing 20 minutes per game and is BYU’s best rebounder when he’s on the court. Although he’s not involved much offensively, Lohner’s DFS floor is pretty safe with his rebounding. The Cougars will need his size against Gonzaga - and the rebound opportunities will be there with how fast the Zags play and how high-scoring this one should be.
Cody RileyUCLAASU450017.31  
The UCLA frontcourt duo of Jalen Hill and Cody Riley has a favorable matchup vs. a bad rebounding team in Arizona State. Both Hill and Riley are cheap enough to play in either format and they should have no problem providing a solid floor with upside in this rebounding advantage. Riley, though, is the starter and the better GPP option with a higher offensive usage rate that should help him get more scoring opportunities with Chris Smith out. Hill is the better cash play and his higher DK price tag indicates that.

Other Forwards to Consider

  • Oscar da Silva - Stanford ($8,400 FD Only)

  • Efe Abogidi - Washington State ($7,500 DK Only)

  • Joe Wieskamp - Iowa ($7,000 DK / $7,200 FD)

  • Andre Kelly - California ($5,400 DK Only)

  • Jalen Hill - UCLA ($5,300 DK Only)

  • Keegan Murray - Iowa ($5,200 DK / $4,600 FD)

  • Anton Watson - Gonzaga ($4,700 DK / $5,700 FD)

  • Richard Harward - BYU ($4,200 DK / $5,400 FD)

  • Tony Miller - Washington State ($4,000 DK Only)

Example Lineups

The Example Lineups are meant to offer a way to build Cash and GPP lineups based on players mentioned above. They are not meant to be plugged and played.

 

DK Cash FD Cash
Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
GJalen SuggsGONZBYU34$7,400 GJalen SuggsGONZBYU31.66$7,800
Pivot     $7,400Pivot     
GTyger CampbellUCLAASU27.92$7,100 GTrent FrazierILLNW17.29$5,000
Pivot     $7,100Pivot     
GJarred HyderCALWSU13.06$4,100 GEric AyalaMDIOWA22.24$6,300
Pivot     $4,100PivotAyo DosunmuILLNW38.17$8,500
FLuka GarzaIOWAMD46.64$9,800 GMichael O'ConnellSTANWASH7.84$4,300
PivotTrayce Jackson-DavisIUWISC37.5$9,000$9,000Pivot     
FChevez GoodwinUSCAZ16.6$4,500 FLuka GarzaIOWAMD44.04$9,400
Pivot     $4,500PivotKofi CockburnILLNW29.89$7,600
FCorey KispertGONZBYU33.22$8,100 FCorey KispertGONZBYU31$7,000
Pivot     $8,100Pivot     
UtilJohnny JuzangUCLAASU16.25$4,400 FChevez GoodwinUSCARIZ15.91$4,600
PivotRyan YoungNWIL19.61$5,100$5,100Pivot     
UtilCaleb LohnerBYUGONZ16.48$4,600 UtilRyan YoungNWILL18.31$5,500
Pivot     $4,600PivotJaiden DelaireSTANWASH16.53$5,000
    Total$50,000     Total$49,900
   Pivot Total$49,900    Pivot Total$49,800
             
DK GPP FD GPP
Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
GAyo DosunmuILNW41.2$9,300 GAlex BarcelloBYUGONZ28.87$7,400
PivotJoe WieskampIOWAMD28.14$7,000$7,000Pivot     
GAlex BarcelloBYUGONZ32.02$7,300 GRob PhiniseeINDWIS13.16$4,800
Pivot     $7,300Pivot     
GEric AyalaMDIOWA23.75$6,300 GIsaiah WhiteUSCARIZ14.56$4,000
Pivot     $6,300Pivot     
FDrew TimmeGONZBYU32.98$7,600 GCJ FredrickIOWAMD16.71$5,300
PivotKofi CockburnILNW32.39$8,300$8,300PivotAndrew NembhardGONZBYU22.01$6,400
FCody RileyUCLAASU17.31$4,500 FTrayce Jackson-DavisINDWIS35.37$8,200
Pivot     $4,500Pivot     
FKeegan MurrayIOWAMD17.41$5,200 FOscar da SilvaSTANWASH31.95$8,400
Pivot     $5,200PivotJoe WieskampIOWAMD26.16$7,200
UtilRob PhiniseeIUWISC14.25$5,100 FDrew TimmeGONZBYU31.26$7,300
Pivot     $5,100Pivot     
UtilAnton WatsonGONZBYU18.52$4,700 UtilCaleb LohnerBYUGONZ14.21$4,500
PivotAndre CurbeloILNW21.98$6,200$6,200Pivot     
    Total$50,000     Total$49,900
   Pivot Total$49,900    Pivot Total$49,800