It’s difficult to identify risers and fallers just one week into the season, but DraftKings and FanDuel prices often change drastically with just one or two positive or negative performances. It’s important for DFS owners to notice these rapid changes in price, pounce on solid values and avoid temptation of guys with the hot hand and an inflated price tag.
Here are three players whose DFS salaries have dropped due to a slow start, and three others who have began the season on a high note and have had their prices jacked up as a result.
Let's take a look.
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DFS Value Risers - Week 2
Kyle Lowry (PG, TOR)
Lowry averaged a career-high 22.4 points per game last year, to go along with 7.0 assists, 4.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals and a 46.4 percent shooting percentage. So far in 2017, however, the 31-year-old point guard has totaled just 37 points and 17 assists across his first three games. As a result, his cost has already dropped pretty significantly — down to $7.3k in Draftkings — so he’s worth a flier just about every day until his price tag inevitably jumps back up over $8k. Lowry is still surrounded by talent in Toronto, and should have no trouble bouncing back to his usual form.
Draymond Green (PF/C, GS)
Green hasn’t shot the ball particularly well so far— 10-for-31 through four games — but he has, unsurprisingly, dominated all other stats. The 27-year-old is averaging 7.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 9.0 assists and 1.0 steals, including a near-triple double in the season opener against the Rockets. Even though he doesn’t shoot all that much, the shots he does take will begin to fall, and his value will only increase. Green is a no-brainer, particularly in cash games, as long as his price remains in the $7k range.
Dario Saric (PF/C, PHI)
As a rookie in 2016-’17, Saric impressed to the tune of 12.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, including 17.3 and 7.3 in the second half of the season. Through four games this season, the 6-foot-10 forward from Croatia has averaged just 7.0 points and 5.3 boards in 22.5 minutes, but if the playing time increases as it did over time last year, Saric should have no problem, at the very least, replicating his late-season numbers. Once that happens, his daily fantasy value will increase, and considering he is down to just $5k in Draftkings and $4.1k in FanDuel, DFS owners should take a chance on the rising star in tournament play.
DFS Value Fallers - Week 2
Victor Oladipo (PG/SG, IND)
It’s no surprise that Oladipo’s thriving in an increased role in Indiana, but even with his inflated numbers — 22.3 points per game, up from 15.9 last year — the 25-year-old is shooting just 40.4 percent. When star center Myles Turner returns to action, Oladipo’s shot totals are bound to come back down to earth— he took just 12 shots in the only game in which Turner has played this year. His DK salary is reasonable right now, but a $7.8k FanDuel price tag is going to be difficult for him to live up to going forward.
Tobias Harris (SF/PF, DET)
Harris got off to a hot start for the Pistons, managing 73 points on 29-for-52 shooting over his first three games, and his cost shot up in both formats as a result. However, he followed up that first week with a 5-for-16, 11-point dud against the 76ers on Monday, proving that he has still not shed his inconsistency issues. Harris is a talented player who should continue to produce throughout the year, but it’s hard to trust him to regularly hit value when his price tag is over $6k, at least in tournament play.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (SF/PF, BKN)
Hollis-Jefferson has always possessed the ability to stuff the stat sheet, compiling 28 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, three blocks and five steals across his first three games this year. However, he averaged just 8.7 points last season, and it’s hard to imagine he’ll take too much of an offensive leap this year. Hollis-Jefferson’s FanDuel cost already skyrocketed well above $6k, where it will be very difficult for a below average jump shooter to surpass value on a consistent basis.
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