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In the introduction to last week’s picks, I discussed the merits of DraftEasy’s twist on RapidFire, RapidFire Max. In RapidFire Max you can win 10x your money, but you have to get all five picks correct instead of four-out-of-five. If you followed my picks last week, I hope you were more aggressive than I was, at least for the NBA contest. I wound up getting all five picks correct, in part thanks to Draymond Green getting ejected, but I only won 3x my money since I was not bold enough to enter RapidFire Max. I won’t complain about tripling my money, but it is a good lesson to keep in mind going forward.

The picks below are the ones I am actually playing in my own entries. Each player is listed along with his opponent, with my choice appearing in bold.

NBA Friday

Match-up 1

Devin Booker (@SAS) vs. Tyreke Evans (WAS)

Booker has been great since returning from his groin injury, but you would need an awfully good reason to play anyone against the Spurs. Kawhi Leonard will be playing on two days’ rest, and Booker could have an awfully hard time scoring if Leonard guards him. Evans has at least five assists in nine consecutive games and at least five rebounds in seven of his last eight. Evans has also scored at least 20 points in eight of his last 10 games.

Match-up 2

Nikola Jokic (UTA) vs. Kristaps Porzingis (@MIA)

Porzingis has scored fewer than 20 points in three of his last four games, and he admitted after Wednesday’s game he is feeling fatigued by having to carry the offensive load. Jokic’s scoring has not been much better of late, but he is averaging 9.3 rebounds and 5.5 assists over the last two weeks compared to 7.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists for Porzingis.

Match-up 3

Kyrie Irving (MIN) vs. DeMar DeRozan (@MIL)

Irving struggled in his last game and played fewer than 30 minutes for just the seventh time all season. Irving has done well bouncing back from low-scoring games all season, and he should be rested for this game. DeRozan scored 52 against these same Bucks on Monday, and he could certainly have another big game, but he is bound to go cold from the field at some point.

Match-up 4

Bradley Beal (@MEM) vs. Kyle Lowry (@MIL)

Beal has been much better than Lowry of late, but the matchups favor Lowry. Beal had 18 points, four rebounds and seven assists against Memphis last month, while Lowry had 26 points, six rebounds and six assists against Milwaukee on Monday. Even so, Lowry has topped 20 points just three times in his last 12 games, and his advantage over Beal in rebounds and assists isn’t great enough to make up for his inconsistent scoring.

Match-up 5

Kemba Walker (@LAL) vs. Marc Gasol (WAS)

The Lakers have been much better defensively with Lonzo Ball in the lineup, and Lonzo is expected to return Friday. Gasol has really struggled of late, averaging 14.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists over his last five games. Even so, Gasol’s rebounding and blocks give him a huge advantage over Walker, whose assist numbers have never really kept pace with his scoring.

NFL Saturday

Match-up 1

Alex Smith (TEN) vs. Jared Goff (ATL)

These quarterbacks appear to have the best matchups in the first round, as the Titans and Falcons rank 21st and 22nd in DVOA according to Football Outsiders. Goff has thrown at least two touchdowns in in five consecutive games, but he has failed to top 225 passing yards in four of his last six games. Even if the passing yards aren’t there, he just feels safer than Smith, who  threw for two or more touchdowns in just seven of his 15 games this season.

Match-up 2

Marcus Mariota (@KC) vs. Tyrod Taylor (@JAC)

Mariota has the far better matchup, and he is probably more likely to wind up in a negative game script where he has to throw. Jacksonville held Mariota to 134 passing yards, 60 rushing yards and one touchdown last week. I think they can hold Taylor to similar production this week, and if that is the case, Mariota should be the right call.

Match-up 3

Kareem Hunt (TEN) vs. Leonard Fournette (BUF)

Hunt has beaten up on poor run defenses all season long, including weeks 14-16 when he scored at least 20 fantasy points each week. Fournette may have the best possible matchup against the Bills, but he has topped 100 yards from scrimmage just three of his last seven games. Hunt should have the edge in the passing game, which is why he gets my pick this week. 

Match-up 4

Sammy Watkins (ATL) vs. Kelvin Benjamin (@JAC)

These players have been remarkably similar this season. Both have topped three receptions just once since Week 6. That being said, Watkins has eight touchdowns on the season, and while Benjamin should be an end zone target himself, the Bills are far less likely to get there than the Rams. If Watkins can find the end zone this week, he should win easily.

Match-up 5

Albert Wilson (TEN) vs. Eric Decker (@KC)

They have nearly identical fantasy point totals this season, but Wilson needed 10 receptions in a meaningless Week 17 game to get there. Decker has at least three catches in 13 games this season, and while it is troubling he only scored one touchdown this season, Wilson isn’t exactly a touchdown threat himself, with just three all year.

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