Player values are constantly moving targets in daily leagues. A high profile player can put together a couple of big games and see his price tag skyrocket. Likewise, a couple of bad games can lead a player's stock to plummet. The correlation isn't always immediate, leading to some discrepancies in value. Savvy DFS players can take advantage of falling values and avoid inflated prices to find the best value on a given night in the hopes of increased success. In this article, I will identify players whose anticipated value relative to their current price is on the rise, making them desirable targets. I will also name players whose value is dipping below their cost, making them players to fade.
Note: I will only be selecting players who are owned in at least 75% of Yahoo! leagues. Graphs are taken from SportingCharts.com's NBA Daily Fantasy Value Tracker and are indicative of values on 12/19/16.
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FanDuel Value Risers - Week 9
Reggie Jackson (PG, DET) - Jackson has been back in action for two weeks, but only now is his value matching his price tag. It took some time for Jackson to get going, but in his last game he dished out 10 assists along with 19 points. He isn't necessarily the best value on this list, but he is no longer overpriced.
Danilo Gallinari (SF, DEN) - Always a risk for injury, Gallinari has been solid since his last week-long absence at the end of November. Since then, he is producing above his price tag fairly consistently. He is averaging 18 points and five boards over the last four games. There are many mouths to feed in Denver on a team with no superstar, but he is one of the top shooters they have. Surprisingly, he has also been one of the most consistent.
Andrew Wiggins (SF, MIN) - Wiggins has seen a relatively steep drop in salary over the last month, thanks to a mini-funk at the end of November. He is working his way back to fantasy relevance with 25 and 23 point games last week, before struggling at Houston the other day. Wiggins is averaging 17.6 FGA per game and will remain a huge part of Minnesota's offense each game. His value may not far exceed his price tag, but it is reasonable enough to consider him at the forward position.
Dwight Howard (C, ATL) - Howard has fit in just fine back at home in Atlanta, rebounding above his career average at 13 per game this season. His offensive output has been volatile to say the least and his shot-blocking isn't what it used to be, but Howard has settled in as a second-tier center with the potential for explosive games. His current salary is well below his fantasy value, making him a nice addition in daily leagues for the foreseeable future.
FanDuel Value Fallers - Week 9
Eric Bledsoe (PG, PHO) - Bledsoe is mired in a three-game shooting slump, going a combined 18-for-48 against the Knicks, Spurs, and Thunder. He's also dished out just nine assists over the last two games, both double-digit losses against playoff teams. He will surely bounce back by the time the holidays roll around, but you're better off waiting for his salary to drop before investing in him again.
John Wall (PG, WAS) - Wall's salary keeps rising, but the production doesn't necessarily justify it. He's actually played pretty well lately, averaging 25 points and 10 assists over the last five games. He is still one of the most talented point guards in the league, but at a price tag higher than Chris Paul and almost $2K more than Kyrie Irving he needs to deliver top production to be part of an optimal lineup. Hope for a regression so that his valuation evens out again.
Tyson Chandler (C, PHO) - Chandler's value has been all over the map this season, making him a risky play in daily leagues. His stock was rising after four straight games of double-digit rebounds, including back-to-back games over 20 boards. He took a big step down after those performances, mainly due to a big reduction in minutes. The 34 year-old will not be able to sustain anything close to 30 minutes per game, so look for lulls like this throughout the season as he tires out at times.
Nikola Jokic (C, DEN) - Jokic's price had been climbing the past two weeks since his successful return from a brief absence. The last two games have sunk his value, however, as he made five FG in each and totaled 13 rebounds against Portland and New York. Jokic has the ability to go for a double-double on any night, but he will face the Clippers twice over the next week. Wait until the schedule softens a bit before putting him back in your DFS lineups.