We often hear that baseball is a game of numbers. Well, all sports are. Basketball, like the others, is filled with statistics that are the building blocks used when forming trends. This is all very, very relevant to Daily Fantasy.

Any given player can break out on any given night, however, in attempting to string together consistency, trends are the most important thing to look at in doing so.

DvP, Defense vs. Position, is a vital statistic to observe constantly for Daily Fantasy, while affecting so many other categories that could reflect on an individual performance. It isn't exactly the easiest thing to keep track of, but luckily our guys at RotoBaller have put together an invaluable tool that calculates DvP daily, along with other extremely useful statistics that serve as an incredible aid when selecting DraftKings and FanDuel DFS lineups. Let's take a look at the tool's function, and what each category on the list entails.

Using DvP (Defense vs. Position) for DFS

As listed above, Defense vs. Position calculates how effective and ineffective teams defend each position. This category sorts through each player on the card for that day and ranks them using their opponent. This comes in handy particularly when picking sleepers, those who aren't necessarily a solid pick on a nightly basis. For example, Anderson Verajao and Timofey Mozgov are rarely reliable DFS options, but when facing the Los Angeles Lakers, the team ranked 30th (dead last) in guarding centers, their value increases quite a bit.

This feature also lets you narrow down a team's performance over the last 15 days, while giving you a look at their rankings from the prior season. Since injuries occur and teams often slump and streak, being able to observe a team's recent struggles allows you to hone in on an even more predictable outcome.

Average points allowed by a team vs. a specific position is also calculated here.

Using 'Projection/Value' for DFS

Who doesn't want an estimation of how many fantasy points a specific player could post? It's always comforting when experts are predicting which players they think will break out more than others. The projection category is RotoBaller's way of letting viewers and Daily Fantasy participants in on our top picks of the night.

Projection is paired with Value, calculated using a player's projection and comparing it to their price. This feature gives you a loud bang for your buck, considering it's another inside look at who we think is and isn't worth their price, while predicting which of the lower priced guys will reach or exceed projection.

'Usage Rate' for DFS Lineups

Usage Rate has been dubbed by RotoBaller as "DFS crack sauce." And for good reason, as it is the most important factor in placing in DFS tournaments. This column measures the percentage of a team's possession a player "uses" while on the floor. To put it in simpler terms, Usage Rate measures how involved a player is in their teams offense when on the court. Ceilings, Floors, and Upsides can all be predicted using a player's Usage Rate.

Injuries also play a big role in calculating Usage Rate. Does James Harden's rate increase with Dwight Howard on or off the court? How will the injury to Jimmy Butler affect how much Pau Gasol is now used? Has Chris Paul become the heaviest source of production in the absence of Blake Griffin? These are all questions that can be answered by observing the Usage Rate of each player. DeMarcus Cousins and Harden have two of the highest Usage Rate's, 33.06 and 32.2.

More Statistics for DFS Lineups

Trend

This simply measures whether a player is hot or cold. (An arrow pointed either up or down is the indication)

Fantasy Points Per Game

This, along with the next couple, is self-explanatory, but what should also be stressed is the time it would take in doing the math yourself. Most of the time we're not necessarily searching for the best, but for consistency. This category helps you do so.

Minutes Per Game

Everybody wants to select guys that see plenty of the floor each night. Minutes per Game can be pinned against Fantasy Points per Game to observe whether a player is worth drafting. A player that plays over 30 minutes a night doesn't always result in big fantasy points. Marcus Morris sees over 35 minutes a night and averages only 24.97 fantasy points. Lebron James plays around the same amount of time as Morris but averages 46.22 FPPG.

Fantasy Points Per Minute

This is another stat that helps in figuring out if a player who sees a bulk of minutes is worth starting. Each of the aforementioned categories can also be narrowed down further: Home/Away, DraftKings/FanDuel, Season/Last 15 Days/Last Season, and of course Position C, PF, SF, SG, G.

Granted, some of these stats can be found on DraftKings and FanDuel, but being able to access them all together is rare. Each stat builds and reflects on the next, aiding DFS participants in putting together the best possible lineup while scrutinizing every possible angle to success, examining so much more than just how often a player can put the ball in the hoop.

Try RotoBaller's Daily Fantasy Basketball Premium Tools

Our NBA Premium Subscription goes above and beyond standard DFS tools.

• DFS Cheat Sheet with Lineup Picks: Get access to 10 deeply researched picks per cheat sheet, complete with a slew of advanced stats that are key to unlocking NBA player value and DFS success. Cheat Sheets are released three days a week for full NBA slates: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
• DFS Value Picks Tool: This cutting edge tool will help you find, sort and filter the best value and sleeper picks for each day of NBA DFS action. With premium stats like "Usage Rate", "Trend" and "Value", you will have a serious leg up on the competition.
• Daily NBA Projections: Meticulously researched daily NBA DFS points projections for FanDuel and DraftKings scoring.

If you're already purchased your NBA DFS Premium Subscription, you can access it here.

Premium Tool Screenshots - Check It Out

Daily Projections, Trends & Value Picks



NBA DFS Lineup Picks & Cheat Sheet

Click here to see a full size version of the cheat sheet

Fantasy Basketball & NBA DFS Chat Room - Live Advice