All throughout the 2014-15 NBA campaign, RotoBaller will be analyzing the top NBA DFS lineup picks and providing our expert advice for the best sleepers at the guard, forward and center positions. Below are our favorite FanDuel DFS picks for March 9th, 2015.
Keep in mind, fantasy basketball is a fickle game when it comes to injured players, so be sure to check all lineups prior to tip-off. If you want to chat about your roster picks, check out the DFS chat room at the bottom of this post.
Editors Note: If you have not tried out FanDuel 1-day fantasy basketball leagues, RotoBaller offers the best bonuses around. Signup and make a deposit for a new FanDuel account, and receive a 100% bonus on your deposit up to $200.
Worth the FanDuel Investment
Ricky Rubio (MIN, PG) - $8,400
The highly-touted NBA draft pick is finally showing that the draft day hype was real. Since coming back from injury, Rubio has been unstoppable. He has been a 40 FDP machine, and was just short of 50 FDP a week ago against the Los Angeles Clippers. Good news: He plays them again Monday. Rubio and Chris Paul will be fun to watch. With more healthy teammates on his side, I expect Rubio to win the PG battle.
Anthony Davis (NO, PF) - $11,200
The Brow has been a man on a mission in the past three games since coming off an injury. He posted a Russell Westbrook type game last Monday, scoring 78.6 FDP. It really doesn’t matter who Davis is playing these days, but the Milwaukee Bucks aren’t scaring anyone. After a bit of an off game Saturday (45 FDP just might be an off night for Davis), the block machine should come back strong with a big DFS game on Monday.
Safer DFS Bargains
These NBA players are on the cheaper side, but you can expect some solid DFS production from them with the potential for star-like numbers.
Isaiah Thomas (BOS, PG) - $7,000
After being traded from the Phoenix Suns to the Boston Celtics, Thomas has thrived in the sixth man role. He has been the controlling guard that Boston desperately needed. Thomas is right around 20 points every game with a handful of assists and a few rebounds. That kind of DFS production is much welcomed at this price. The best part is he can go off on any night, but his floor is remarkably high.
Kenneth Faried (DEN, PF) - $6,200
I made my first big mistake as a FanDuel writer last Wednesay when I recommended readers to avoid Faried. I’ve learned my lesson. What I failed to observe last week was that Denver’s firing of Coach Brian Shaw meant the end of Faried’s fluctuating minutes. With Melvin Hunt running the show, Faried has seen a much steadier run with a plethora of double-doubles. The New York Knicks are the only thing standing in the way of another good night for Faried. So yeah go ahead and put him in your FanDuel DFS lineup. His price will soon rise, so play him while you can.
High Risk, High Reward
These inexpensive DFS picks are more trained for the tournament players. If you need to stand out from a crowd, these guys have the potential to hit 30 FDP. On the other hand, don’t be surprised if they come up well short of that mark.
J.J. Redick (LAC, SG) - $4,800
Redick has been scoring well as of late, and he has been getting a larger volume of minutes with Jamal Crawford injured. In a fast-paced game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Redick should see a lot of shots. The risk part comes into play because, like all shooters, Redick is vulnerable to cold nights. Also, he can struggle in filling up stats other than points at times. With the higher volume of minutes however, I like Redick to get hot at some point in the night as well as contribute in other DFS categories due to the injuries currently plaguing the Clippers.
Nikola Mirotic (CHI, PF) - $5,500
With Taj Gibson out, Mirotic has been playing pretty hefty minutes for the Chicago Bulls. As a developing NBA player, it’s likely that Coach Tom Thibodeau wants to get him as many minutes as possible. Mirotic has shown his impressive ability to score, rebound, and get himself to the foul line. The only real risk here is if Gibson is able to play Monday. Mirotic might still play 30 minutes when Gibson comes back, but Thibodeau is anything but predictable. Keep an eye on Gibson’s availability on Monday night.
Avoid At All Costs
If it were up to me, these players would have a 0% usage.
Klay Thompson (GS, SG) - $7,100
I’ve found it difficult to find guys I really don’t like lately. So, here’s my somewhat risky pick for Monday. Thompson has been having some pretty games lately, but on the second night of a back-to-back in a game that could turn into a blowout, it’s very likely that Coach Steve Kerr will limit some starters minutes. Another aspect of Thompson’s game that makes me shy away is his lack of contribution in other categories. This means that if he has an off shooting night, Thompson’s DFS value is basically non-existent. Once again, I wouldn’t be surprised if Thompson ends up with a decent game on Monday night. But something tells me to stay away, and for $7,100 dollars I won’t be putting him in my FanDuel lineup.
Have a Twitter account? Want more lineup help for your FanDuel team? Follow me @BellRoto and mention me in a tweet. The first 5 mentions will receive my FanDuel lineup for Monday night. My lineup… for free! Find me on Twitter for more info.
NBA & DFS Chat Room
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