NBA playoffs, NHL playoffs, and MLB daily games. This is the time of year in which FanDuel and DFS players get as giddy as Augustus Gloop receiving a golden ticket to tour the Willy Wonka Chocolate factory. So many games and so many options are available that it can be hard to keep up at times. Don’t worry, Rotoballer is here to help you with your NBA playoffs picks so you don’t drown in a metaphorical chocolate river of DFS debt.
We have provided our daily picks throughout the year and we will continue to push hard during this second NBA season. Below are our favorite FanDuel DFS picks for Saturday April 18th, 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.
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We get a little bit of a larger slate on Wednesday with three games on tap. I’ve noticed that finding the highest-scoring game of the night is very advantageous when picking FanDuel players for a night. More points lead to better stats for the players involved. Finding the game to target on Wednesday is a little difficult, as they were pretty close in total scoring on Sunday. However, I tend to stay away from Eastern conference stacks, and the Memphis Grizzlies have played some stifling defense this year, so that leaves the San Antonio Spurs and the L.A. Clippers. That doesn’t mean I’m limiting myself to those two teams, but I will keep that strategy in mind when I’m deciding on two options for one spot.
Worth The FanDuel Investment
Joe Johnson (BKN, G) - $6,000
Maybe the most encouraging stat about Joe Johnson’s line on Sunday after Game 1 was that he missed all six of his three-point attempts. The sharp-shooter is almost guaranteed to turn that stat around during Game 2. The 42 minutes that Johnson played is also very encouraging, as it shows how valuable he is to the Nets. He will certainly be on the floor as much as possible. And lastly, Johnson’s price is a mere $6,000 dollars. He will certainly be able to reach 5x value with a 40-minute game. Chris Paul is a stud at the guard position, but for the price you’re paying, Johnson might be the guy to set your team apart on Wednesday night.
Honorable Mentions: Chris Paul (LAC, G), Damian Lillard (POR, G)
Blake Griffin (LAC, F) - $9,900
When Blake Griffin gets 43 minutes, all is right in the world. You can’t beat his price right now, either. At a shade under 10 grand, Griffin might be the best bargain on the board. The guy flies around the court whenever he plays. He does it all from the mid-range jumper to the chase-down block to the alley oop dunk. Griffin can easily put up 50 FDP in a very important Game 2. Expect a big double-double with a handful of assists, blocks, and steals to compliment it. Griffin will certainly be the focal point of my team Wednesday night.
Honorable Mention: LaMarcus Aldridge (POR, F),
Marc Gasol (MEM, C) - $8,100
For the price you’re paying, Marc Gasol jumps off the page at me as the best investment at the center position. Brook Lopez certainly has the potential to out-perform him, but Gasol has the better match-up. On top of that, the Grizzlies’ big man has the ability to put up good assists numbers on any given night. Throw that on top of his usual double-double, and you have yourself a huge game for a reasonable $8,000. If you try to stack Paul and Griffin in your guard and forward spots, you’ll need to go to the bargain bin for a center. However, if you pick one of the two, Gasol certainly acts as a great compliment to both of those studs.
Honorable Mention: Brook Lopez (BKN, C)
DFS Sleeper & Value Pick
Beno Udrih (MEM, G)
If you do choose to combo Griffin and Paul, you’re going to need some great value picks to keep you in the running for the cash. Beno Udrih can certainly turn out to be one of those picks. At a price just south of $4,000, Udrih only needs 20 points to hit that magical value point. His 24 minutes on Sunday were no fluke. Mike Conley is not exactly 100%, and Udrih has shown he is more than capable of acting as the Grizzlies’ sixth man. He is able to attack the rim, shoot the ball, and pile up assists in his short time on the court. Udrih can definitely provide that sneaky value you’ll need if you want to fit the stars into your lineup on Wednesday.
Honorable Mentions: Manu Ginobili (SA, G), Bojan Bogdanovic (BKN, F),
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