We are back for yet another edition of the Fantasy Alarm NBA DFS Value Vault! Hopefully everyone is enjoying their Friday, getting ready to kick-off the weekend with this hefty 10-game slate we have on tap for today! There are already a few nice value spots on the board, so let’s explore those below.
DraftKings
1.) DeMar DeRozan ($7,400)- DDR is just too cheap once again tonight for the fantasy production that he has been producing as of late. He has topped 38 fantasy points in his last four home contests, while seeing at least 34 minutes or more in those four as well. He could also be once again without the services of LaMarcus Aldridge , in which will only make his usage rate go up even more. He gets a lovely match up tonight at home with the Kings, who just allowed a 55.5 fantasy point performance in Portland to CJ McCollum in their most recent game.
2.) Rajon Rondo ($5,300)- Rondo is fresh off a 32-minute, 48.8 fantasy point performance on the SECOND leg of a back-to-back against the Jazz in Utah. This was a season-high total in minutes, and they needed him for every minute of it. He has now seen 25 and then 32 minutes in a back-to-back, which was really encouraging for his production going forward. Tonight, the Lakers travel to Portland to take on the Blazers in the late-night hammer. It helps to note that the Trail Blazers are allowing the tenth most fantasy points to opposing point guards on the season as well.
3.) Trevor Ariza ($3,300)- Ariza played 35 minutes in his second game back after returning from a multi-game absence on Wednesday night against the Blazers. It was likely a result of a couple factors, one being that Bogdan Bogdanovic was out for the night, and number two, Richaun Holmes found himself with five fouls. Either way, this is very encouraging for Ariza after playing 35 minutes off the bench, and being the only bench player to see more than 15 minutes off the bench as well. This seems like one of those “too good to be true” spots, but DraftKings has been dropping the ball all season with their pricing, so I don’t believe this is the case. Best case scenario is that Bogdan sits again, and we could see another 25-30 minute outing for Ariza tonight against the Spurs in San Antonio.
FanDuel
1.) Jarrett Culver ($5,200)- Culver has nice value at this price over on FanDuel tonight in what is usually an ugly small forward list on FanDuel. Culver has seen at least 25 or more mins in his last four of five, while putting up very modest fantasy point totals of 37.6, 25.9, 23.9, and 30.5 in his last four contests. He gets a nice match up tonight on the road in a nice pace-up spot against the Thunder. OKC is allowing the most fantasy points to opposing small forwards over their last five games, and in the event that Wiggins doesn’t play, this could absolutely boost Culver’s usage, and overall fantasy production.
2.) Ish Smith ($4,300)- This is clearly a value play, as it seems that Isaiah Thomas could likely sit once again tonight as the Wiz play the second leg in a back-to-back set tonight in Miami. Ish got the starting nod last night, and played 34 minutes in route to 32.2 FanDuel points against the Sixers. It is likely that Bradley Beal will get the Jimmy Butler defensive treatment, so this should open some opportunities for Ish once again. He will likely be chalky, but if he starts again, going to be hard to pass up at the price.
3.) Jerami Grant ($3,800)- This is a total hunch play, but I think there is some decent value on Grant tonight. One big reason, the Nuggets are playing on the second night of a back-to-back, and they have some veterans on their team (looking at you, Paul Millsap ), that could likely see less time due to this fact. Either way, Grant has seen at least 21 or more minutes in his last four of five, while notching out at least 18 or more fantasy points in his last three of four as well. We saw a nice flash upside four games ago as well when he amassed 32.3 FanDuel points in 28-minute outing against the Wizards at home.