NBA DFS Position Coach: April 1, 2016

I find it really interesting how each position changes from slate to slate based on the schedule. John Wall is the most expensive player on DraftKings, but he would have been an afterthought on Thursday’s slate with guys like Russell Westbrook, Damian Lillard and James Harden dominating the discussion. Shooting guard always changes dramatically when Harden has the day off, and there are a lot more options for the best center of the day now that DeMarcus Cousins has gotten himself suspended again. I really like a stars-and-scrubs approach to Friday’s slate, and I suspect I will feel that way for the rest of the month. The nice thing about Friday’s slate is the stars aren’t super expensive for the most part, so you can fit one or two more into your lineups.

Point Guard

John Wall has double-digit assists in 11 consecutive games. He has 10 double-doubles and two triple-doubles over that span. No team has allowed more fantasy points to point guards than the Suns this season.

The Kings are right behind the Suns in fantasy points allowed to point guards, and Goran Dragic is right behind John Wall in my list of point guard targets. Dragic is averaging 17.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 7.5 assists since the All-Star break.

Jose Calderon left Wednesday’s game with a left knee contusion, and rookie Jerian Grant would likely start at point guard if Calderon cannot go. Grant is averaging 11.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 5.2 assists per 36 minutes this season, and the Nets are 21^st in fantasy points allowed to point guards.

Jerryd Bayless is doubtful for Friday’s game, and while Greivis and even Rashad Vaughn could see point guard minutes, Tyler Ennis should get the start and most of the court time at point guard. Ennis had nine points, four rebounds and 12 assists in 28 minutes against the Hornets Saturday, and he could see even more playing time Friday.

There isn’t anything in Kemba Walker’s recent play to suggest a huge game is coming, but we know he is capable of one. More importantly, he should be extremely safe against the terrible 76ers. If you cannot afford John Wall but want someone a bit safer than Goran Dragic, Kemba is your you.

Shooting Guard

I really like Dwyane Wade Friday, and as with Goran Dragic, there isn’t much over-analysis needed. The Kings are 28^th in fantasy points allowed to shooting guards, and Wade has scored at least 26 points in back-to-back games.

I don’t know if Courtney Lee is going to continue to play 35 minutes a game as he has in Charlotte’s last two games, but I know he is still cheap enough to make it worth finding out. The 76ers are allowing more fantasy points to shooting guards than anybody this season, and Lee had 15 points, six rebounds, three assists, a block and two steals against them Wednesday.

For an in-between play, Devin Booker is averaging 23.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 27.1 minutes over his last six games. The Wizards are 23^rd in fantasy points allowed to shooting guards.

Small Forward

Justin Anderson has averaged 9.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 24.8 minutes over the last four games. He may not have a high ceiling, but he is a solid producer at a cheap price so long as Deron Williams is out.

On the other hand, Carmelo Anthony has taken at least 22 shots in three consecutive games and he has made at least nine field goals in five straight. With Kristaps Porzingis and Jose Calderon questionable Friday, Anthony seems like a good bet to hit both of those thresholds yet again.

The last two small forwards are listed as shooting guards on DraftKings, which kind of complicates things. Needless to say I will probably fill my forward spot with a power forward on that site. That being said, Andrew Wiggins and Nicolas Batum should be good regardless of position. Wiggins’s price is down after he left Wednesday’s game with a sore neck, but he is probable Friday and should go right back to scoring consistently. As for Batum, he had a triple-double against the 76ers Wednesday and is averaging 19.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists over his last four games.

Power Forward

Derrick Williams had 15 points, eight rebounds and two assists in 35 minutes with Kristaps Porzingis out Wednesday. It appears likely Porzingis will sit out Friday as well, in which case Williams would be a solid play. Only three teams have allowed more fantasy points to opposing power forwards than the Nets this season.

Trey Lyles has scored in double figures in four of his last six games. Lyles played well down the stretch in January with Derrick Favors out, and he could shine again if Favors is unable to play Friday.  

Considering the Celtics have very good perimeter defenders and very poor interior defenders, it isn’t entire shocking Draymond Green had 24 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, five blocks and five steals in his only game against them this season. The Warriors host Boston on the second half of a back-to-back, and Draymond is your best bet if you want a Warrior in your lineup.

Zach Randolph only played seven games in March, but he averaged 19.1 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 34.0 minutes. His price is still pretty low for that kind of production, and it appears he made it out of Wednesday’s game healthy.

Speaking of old guys still getting it done, Dirk Nowitzki had 25 points and 10 rebounds against the Pistons three weeks ago, and it is doubtful Detroit has figured out how to defend Dirk since then. Dirk is more than a week removed from his last 20-point game, but I suspect he will get back on track Friday.

Center

For most of the season I have recommended Kosta Koufos when DeMarcus Cousins has missed games, and Friday is no different. Koufos is averaging 12.2 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 28.6 minutes when Cousins sits, and he had 10 points and seven rebounds in 32 minutes with Boogie out Monday. Koufos is a very safe, cheap play, especially on FantasyAces.

In three games against the Knicks this season, Brook Lopez has averaged 24.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.3 blocks. Lopez sat out Thursday’s game to rest, and he is averaging 23.8 points and 8.7 rebounds on two days rest this season.

Cody Zeller is averaging 8.8 points and 8.0 rebounds over his last five games, and 16.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in two games against the 76ers. Zeller is actually cheaper than Koufos on DraftKings, and he is awfully intriguing considering no team has allowed more fantasy points to centers than the 76ers this season.

Andre Drummond had 25 points and 17 rebounds against the Mavericks March 9, and I don’t see how Zaza Pachulia or any of Dallas’ other centers can slow him down. Drummond has at least 13 points and 14 rebounds in five consecutive games, and he might be the safest center on the slate.

John Henson is not nearly as safe, but he has scored in double-digits in four consecutive games. Orlando’s frontcourt is a bit more formidable with Nikola Vucevic back—more on him in a second—but Henson is still pretty cheap for a guy who has a great shot at double-digit points with a handful of rebounds and at least a couple of blocks.

As promised, Nikola Vucevic is an intriguing DFS play and a near must-play on DraftKings. Vucevic costs $1,000 less on DraftKings than before his 13-game absence, and he proved Thursday he is feeling just fine. Vucevic had 24 points and six rebounds in 25 minutes, and while I slightly prefer Drummond and Lopez on the other sites, I don’t know how you pass up that kind of value on DraftKings.