RADIO
Dennis Clausen highlights the top FanDuel NBA DFS lineup picks for 2/26/20, and a couple of sleepers to consider while building daily rosters.
Nine games are on tap on Wednesday night as the week rolls on. Of course, we have some significant injuries to consider when setting our lineup(s), as Ben Simmons will be out for the foreseeable future with a back issue. He will be re-evaluated in a couple of weeks, but for now, look for guys like Furkan Korkmaz and Alec Burks to enjoy some additional run. Jimmy Butler, who has missed the previous two games due to a personal issue, is on the fence. If he is out once again, Kendrick Nunn will likely be another value play, primarily after combining for 80 fantasy points during Butler's absence. The Heat may also be forced to play without Bam Adebayo, who suffered a cut that required stitches during the overtime loss to the Cavaliers. He is a game-time call, but if he should suit up, he will likely be playing behind the protection of a mask, which could ultimately impact his vision. LaMarcus Aldridge will also sit due to shoulder soreness, and in his stead, Jakob Poeltl and Trey Lyles should get some extra love from fantasy managers. As of this writing, the remaining bunch on the injury list include Frank Ntilikina, Elfrid Payton, Devonte' Graham, Deandre Bembry, Dewayne Dedmon, De'Andre Hunter, Brandon Clarke, Jaren Jackson Jr., Justise Winslow, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Kemba Walker, who are either in danger of missing Wednesday night or have been ruled out already.
From a Vegas perspective, our target games include Brooklyn at Washington, which is expected to total 236 points. Expect the likes of Bradley Beal, Spencer Dinwiddie, and the surging Caris Levert to be owned more than usual--at least the should. Followed behind is the Clippers at Suns, with both teams anticipated to combine for 223 points. Lastly, keep in mind that the Celtics will be playing in the second of back-to-back outings, while the Sixers and Knicks will be playing the first of consecutive contests.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 2/26/20. These DFS lineup picks can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced players and value picks on FanDuel. You can also check out today's DraftKings lineup picks. Give me a follow on Twitter @DennisMClausen. Good luck.
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FanDuel DFS Guards
Bradley Beal - SG, vs. BKN ($9,400)
Beal became the first player since the late Kobe Bryant to score at least 50 points in consecutive games. He dropped 53 points against the Bulls on Sunday night, and more impressively, he scored 55 against the defensively sound Milwaukee Bucks on Monday. While Washington hasn't had the best season, the should-be All-Star shouldn't shoulder the blame. He had an efficient outing against Brooklyn at the beginning of the month, finishing with 34 points while also tossing in three blocks and three steals. Though past success doesn't necessarily mean that he will have a similar outing, the odds are in his favor, especially against a below-average Nets team.
Spencer Dinwiddie - PG, @ WAS ($7,100)
Dinwiddie is now officially the No. 1 ball-handler for Brooklyn after Kyrie Irving's season ended as a result of shoulder surgery. He has filled in well in the 36 games that Irving hasn't participated in, averaging 23 points and seven assists. Caris LeVert's recent return to form has thrown a wrench in Dinwiddie's production, but he has a great chance to surpass his value against the Wizards, a team that ranks last in the league in defensive rating while also allowing a fifth-worst 48.41 fantasy points per game to opposing point guards on the year.
Ish Smith - PG, vs. BKN ($5,300)
Do we see a trend here? Smith has been crushing it from a value perspective as of late and has hit at least 20.6 fantasy points in each of his last 11 games. If you are looking to deploy a "scrubs and studs" approach on Wednesday night, Smith can be had for a bargain price of only $5,300, which will leave you plenty of room to roster both James Harden and Luka Doncic. With the pace of this game, Smith will have additional opportunities to put up some adequate numbers on the offensive end.
FanDuel DFS Forwards
Tobias Harris - SF, @ CLE ($6,600)
Harris is priced at $6,600, which has been the going rate for him for a good chunk of the season. He should continue to play a hefty amount of minutes, even with the Sixers playing the first of a back-to-back. Without Ben Simmons in the mix, the 27-year-old will get a bump in both +/- differential and usage, so take advantage of this while you can, especially against the Cavaliers.
Robert Covington - PF, vs. MEM ($6,400)
Another guy who will play a substantial amount of minutes, Covington has been on a roll recently, accruing at least 34.4 fantasy points in each of his last four games. He is also averaging nearly four blocks during that span, and while he won't score a ton of points, he is always busy on the defensive end.
Al Horford - PF, @ CLE ($4,800)
Despite producing 26.1 fantasy points against his former team, the Atlanta Hawks, Horford's price has dropped. Just like in the case with Tobias Harris, the veteran will also benefit without Ben Simmons in the lineup. Brett Brown continues to flirt with the idea of bringing him in off the bench, but with the lack of depth in Philly, he should get enough minutes to at least make a dent on the fantasy end of things. He hasn't been active on the scoring, but he should make up for it on the glass.
FanDuel DFS Centers
Nikola Vucevic - C, @ ATL ($9,300)
While Joel Embiid will surely get a lot of attention, the risk of him sitting more than usual due to a potential blowout against Cleveland is not a risk I'm willing to take. Luckily, Vucevic has an enticing matchup against the Hawks, who are allowing a league-worst 58.32 fantasy points per game to opposing big men. In three meetings with Atlanta on the year, the 29-year-old is averaging 22.3 points, eight boards, and shooting 42.9 percent from deep, which is all I need to know.
