THE SLATE

Games Ranked by O/U

Auburn at South Carolina- 12:00pm ESPN2 – 155 

NC State at UNC- 2:00pm ESPN – 146.5

OK St at #2 Baylor- 2:00pm CBS – 145 

Maryland at #17 Minnesota- 2:00pm BTN – 145

#9 Kansas at Oklahoma-12:00pm ESPN – 142.5

Duke at Louisville- 4:00pm ESPN – 141 *DK ONLY*

#16 Virginia Tech at Syracuse- 12:00pm RSN – 140.5

Providence at #3 Villanova- 2:30pm Fox- 140 *FD ONLY*

#25 UConn at #11 Creighton- 12:00pm Fox- 138.5

#20 Clemson at FSU- 3:00pm ABC – 136.5

#15 Ohio St at #10 Wisconsin- 4:00pm CBS – 134 *DK ONLY*

 

 

Top Guards
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Marcus CarrMINNMD830036.25800033.89
If Marcus Carr is on the slate and playing at The Barn you can bet that he will be on my top guard list. He's fantastic wherever he plays but he's even better when he is at home averaginng 23.3 ppg, 6 apg, 3.9 rpg and 1,2 spg. Plus Maryland isn't great defensively, rated 99th in KenPom defensive efficiency, so get Carr in your lineps.
Jared ButlerBUOKST870034.81790031.75
Actually think Butler is a smidge overpriced this weekend but a 30 point game, on 7/9 from deep, against Kansas will do that. I've written about Butler all year and how his diverse skill set makes him a very good fantasy and that still stands in this matchup. Consider this Butler is averaging an absurd 3.5 spg on the road this season. So while Butler is in play still you may get better bang for your buck with paydown options of Davion Mitchell ($6500 DK/$6100 FD) and MaCio Teague ($6300 DK/$5600 FD).
Cade CunninghamOKSTBU800034.67780031.73
According to KenPom, Baylor is the best defense in the country and Ok St is ranked 52nd in offensive efficiency. So the matchup doesn't favor Ok St but they're at home and if they want to compete in this game Cade Cunningham has to have a monster game, and I think he will. Against ranked opponents this year Cunningham is averaging 21.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg and 3.25 apg. The Pokes are going to have to jump on Cunningham's back in this one.
Austin ReavesOUKU750031.30750029.05
Austin Reaves has been a fantasy darling this year due to his scoring and steady rebounding/assist numbers. Reaves averages 15.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg and 5.3 apg, which makes him a great play for GPP contests. In the first meeting against KU this season Reaves scored 20 points and his team only scored 59. Expect the Sooners to score more than that, even against a good KU defensem and Reaves to put up 20+ points and solid rebounding and assists.
        
Value Guards
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
RJ DavisUNCNCST470016.79460015.11
Freshman tend to start to play a lot better when you get into January and February and UNC freshman RJ Davis is starting to come alive for the Tar Heels. Davis has scored in double figures in each of his last three games, after scoring a total of 10 points in his three games prior to that. In the first meeting against UNC Davis went for 11 points in a loss, look for UNC to get revenge in this one and Davis could be agreat value play.
Jalen ConeVTSYR450016.45460014.60
Jalen Cone is really starting to emerge in Va Tech's backcourt, logging 20+ mins in three of his last four games. Cone was an absolute dud in his last game out vs Wake Forest, on registering a single assist and a turnover in the game. Before that though he was red hot, averaging 18.33 ppg in a three-game span. The reason why Cone (and RJ Davis for that matter) are so cheap is because he doesn't do a ton else except score. Still think he's worthy of a play especially in cash games.
Alyn BreedPCNOVA  30006.58
Last week I wrote about Alyn Breed as being a sleeper play, with him being inserted in the starting lineup due to the injury of starting guard Jared Bynum. In his first two games as starter he scored a combined 2 points. However the third time was a charm, as he was excellent in a road win over #11 Creighton. The freshman Breed scored 15 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists, yet he's still $3000 on FanDuel. Check the injury report on this one, if Bynum does go against Nova the situation becomes murkey but he can win you some cash with this bargain price.

 

Other Guards to Consider

David Duke- Providence- $8100 FD

Devon Daniels- NC St- $7300 DK/$6900 FD

Tyrese Martin- UConn- $7200 DK/$6800 FD

Collin Gillespie- Villanova- $6700 FD

Marcus Zegarowski- Creighton- $6900 DK/$6600 FD

AJ Lawson- South Carolina- $7600 DK/$6300 FD

Davion Mitchell- Baylor- $6500 DK/$6100 FD

Damien Jefferson- Creighton- $7200 DK (F)/$6000 FD

Scottie Barnes- FSU- $6100 DK/$5800 FD

Eric Ayala- Maryland- $5800 DK/$5700 FD

MaCio Teague- Baylor- $6300 DK/$5600 FD

 

Top Forwards
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Matthew HurtDUKEUL790035.78  
If Duke wasn't 5-4, sophomore Matthew Hurt would be getting way more recognition for his play. Hurt has been a beast this season averaging 18.9 ppg and 8.2 rpg. Louisville has actually been solid against bigs this season but still see Hurt getting his. In a DK slate that is a tad thin on forwards, Hurt may be the play.
Keve AlumaVTSYR780029.36720027.23
The biggest reason why #16 Virginia Tech has been one of the bigger surprises in college basketball this season is the play of Wofford transfer Keve Aluma. I'm a bit weary on how Aluma will play against Syracuse's patented 2-3 zone but he's gone for double digit points in all but two games this season.
Liam RobbinsMINNMD740030.62740028.99
Liam Robbins is another transfer from a mid-major school (Drake) that is having a great season in major confrence basketball. The 7-footer is averaging 13.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg and 2.6 bpg. Like his teammate Marcus Carr, Robbins has been even better on his home court. Robbins is averaging 15.5 ppg, 8 rpg and 2.9 bpg playing at The Barn this season.
Nate WatsonPCNOVA  730028.79
Nate Watson has been a beast in the paint all season long for the Friars but is coming off a career night. Watson dominated Creighton to the tune of a career high 29 points (12/19 fg) and added 6 rebounds for the Friars Villanova's Jeremiah Robinson-Earl is a great big in his own right but isn't great defensively. Keve Aluma ate him up for 20 points early in the year, expect a steady diet of Nate Watson on Saturday and think he is a must play in FD.
Isaiah WhaleyUCONNCRE730025.33590023.62
Isaiah Whaley is priced pretty high this week due to his matchup. Creighton got abused by Nate Watson in the paint and Whaley could be in for similar success against the Jays, In the first matchup Whaley battled foul trouble and only scored 7 points before fouling out, but he was 3/3 from the field. Creighton's bigs are tall but skinny and aren't good defensively. I'm sure coach Dan Hurley watched the tape of the PC Creighton game and expect him to get Whaley plenty of touches.
 
Value Forwards
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Alan GriffinSYRVT670028.7710029.18
Quincy Guerrier's pricetag is a bit too high for me but his teammate Alan Griffin presents great value. If you look at Griffin's game logs you will see he tends to have a dud game every third game. After scoring a combined 44 points against UNC and Pitt, Griffin only mustered 5 points against Miami in his last time out. Expect him to have a nice bounce back game in a home matchup vs the Hokies.
Donta ScottMDMINN660026.98670025.60
Donta Scott has a nice matchup against Minnesota because the Gophers don't have a guy at the 4 spot that can slow him down. In Big Ten play Scott has stepped up his play averaging 14.4 ppg and 6.9 rpg. At $6600 DK and $6700 FD Scott could be a very nice play.
Jalen WilsonKUOU650026.66580024.59
Jalen WIlson has cooled off a bit after being KU's best playe for the first 2+ months of the season. In his last three games Wilson has only scored a total of 17 points, far lower than his 13.1 ppg average this season. In the first meeting against the Sooners, Wilson only scored 9 points but added 11 rebounds. He's a must play in FD with only a $5800 pricetag.
Armando BacotUNCNCST740024.05560022.49
At $7400 in DK Bacot isn't really a value play but he certainly is in FD, only costing $5600. In the first meeting against NC State, Bacot went for 16 points and 6 rebounds, which isn't that surprising because the Wolfpack don't have guy to match his size in the post. Bacot is a good play on both platforms but is especially valuable in FD.

 

Other Forwards to Consider

Jalen Johnson- Duke- $7600 DK

Jeremiah Robinson-Earl- Villanova- $7000 FD

EJ Liddell- Ohio St- $6900 DK

Jae’Lyn Withers- Louisville- $6500 DK

Both Gach- Minnesota- $4300 DK/$4700 FD

Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua- Baylor- $4700 DK/$4500 FD

Adama Sanogo- UConn- $4000 DK/$4400 FD

Example Lineups

 

DK Cash
Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
GCade CunninghamOKSTBU34.67$8,000
????PivotMarcus ZegarowskiCRECONN29.21$6,900
GRJ DavisUNCNCST16.79$4,700
????Pivot     
GDavion MitchellBUOKST28.52$6,500
????Pivot     
FScottie BarnesFSUCLEM25$6,100
????Pivot     
FBoth GachMINNMD19.9$4,800
????Pivot     
FMatthew HurtDUKEUL35.78$7,900
????Pivot     
UtilJalen ConeVTSYR16.45$4,500
????Pivot     
UtilAustin ReavesOUKU31.31$7,500
????PivotMarcus CarrMINNMD36.25$8,300
    Total$50,000
   Pivot Total$49,700
      
DK GPP
Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
GEric AyalaMDMINN23.54$5,800
????PivotMarcus ZegarowskiCRECONN29.21$6,900
GTyrese MartinCONNCRE27.03$7,200
????PivotDevon DanielsNCSTUNC30.08$7,300
GAustin ReavesOUKU31.31$7,500
????PivotDavion MitchellBUOKST28.52$6,500
FChristian BraunKUOU24.02$5,700
????Pivot     
FBoth GachMINNMD22.23$4,800
????Pivot     
FJonathan Tchamwa TchatchouaBUOKST19.21$4,700
????Pivot     
UtilAlan GriffinSYRVT32.21$6,700
????Pivot     
UtilLiam RobbinsMINNMD30.62$7,400
????Pivot     
    Total$49,800
   Pivot Total$50,000
FD Cash
Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
GAlyn BreedPROVNOVA6.58$3,000
????Pivot     
GJalen ConeVTSYR14.60$4,600
????Pivot     
GMarcus CarrMINNMD33.89$8,000
????Pivot     
GTyrese MartinCONNCRE25.21$6,800
????PivotJared ButlerBUOKST31.75$7,900
FIsaiah WhaleyCONNCRE23.62$5,900
????Pivot     
FLiam RobbinsMINNMD28.99$7,400
????Pivot     
FKeve AlumaVTSYR27.23$7,200
????PivotArmando BacotUNCNCST22.49$5,600
UtilJeremiah Robinson-EarlNOVAPROV26.98$7,000
????PivotAustin ReavesOUKU29.05$7,500
    Total$49,900
   Pivot Total$49,900
      
FD GPP
Pos.PlayerTeamOppFPPGSalary
GCade CunninghamOKSTBU31.73$7,800
????Pivot     
GDamien JeffersonCRECONN24.54$6,000
????Pivot     
GDavion MitchellBUOKST25.80$6,100
????Pivot     
GDevon DanielsNCSTUNC27.65$6,900
????PivotCollin GillespieNOVAPROV26.17$6,700
FArmando BacotUNCNCST22.49$5,600
????Pivot     
FBoth GachMINNMD20.51$4,700
????Pivot     
FJalen WilsonKUOU24.59$5,800
????PivotNate WatsonPROVNOVA28.79$7,300
UtilAlan GriffinSYRVT29.18$7,100
????PivotScottie BarnesFSUCLEM23.52$5,800
    Total$50,000
   Pivot Total$50,000