This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
Each week, RotoWire will provide value plays for your daily fantasy basketball lineups on FantasyDraft. Users have a salary cap of $100,000 to select a lineup comprised of eight players. Of these eight players, you must select three guards, three forwards/centers and two utility players. The scoring is as follows:
Points Scored – 1.0 point for each point scored
3-Point Basket – 0.5 bonus points for each three-pointer made
Assist – 1.5 points for each assist
Rebound – 1.25 points for each rebound
Steal – 2.0 points for each steal
Block – 2.0 points for each blocked shot
Turnover – minus 0.5 points for each turnover
Double-Double – 1.5 bonus points for double-double
Triple-Double – 3.0 bonus points triple-double
FantasyDraft is running contests in beta stage, but full capabilities for their users are available. There are 50/50s, guaranteed tournaments, and more available options in the lobby, so be sure to check it out.
The target for each player to reach value is 2.5x the player's salary. If a player costs $10,000 against the cap, expected value is 25 fantasy points.
Without further ado, here are Friday's value plays for daily fantasy basketball on FantasyDraft.
Value Plays
The Spurs play their second game of a back-to-back on Friday. The opponent on Friday night is the hapless Lakers. This could unlock some value, as Spurs coach Greg Popovich likes to rest some of his key players on back-to-backs. Normally, those who sit in a back-to-back are Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Tim Duncan.
If the Spurs rest players Friday night, the below options receive a boost in value:
When the Big Three site, Leonard leads the team in usage rate at an insane 45.3 percent. In addition, Leonard faces the Lakers, who have allowed among the most fantasy points as a team in the NBA. If Duncan, Ginobili and Parker sit, Leonard will be the primary source of offense for the Spurs.
Baynes is the cheap option to use if Duncan sits. In five games without Duncan, Baynes has averaged 13.6 points and nine rebounds in just under 30 minutes per game. Like Leonard, Baynes has an excellent matchup against the Lakers, who have allowed 51.7 fantasy points per game to opposing centers in the last three weeks.
Should Parker sit, Joseph becomes a value play at guard. He has averaged 13 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game this season when Parker sits out. In addition, Joseph has a usage rate of 24.2 percent when the Spurs' three stars sit this season, which is a high number for a facilitating point guard. Patty Mills would also see a nice spike in value with Parker out.
Other value plays for tonight include:
Brandon Bass, Boston, $6,400
Bass will play a larger role with Kelly Olynyk (ankle) sidelined for at least few games. Bass is priced just $400 over the minimum and only needs 16 fantasy points to reach value. He faces the Nuggets, who have given up over 101 fantasy points per game to opposing big men (power forwards and centers combined) in the last three weeks. Bass started Thursday night, and he will likely stick in the starting five and play close to 30 minutes again Friday. Given his price point, solid matchup and expected playing time, Bass has a high probability to reach value.
Langston Galloway, New York Knicks $8,100
Galloway has been a value machine of late, exceeding value in the last two games by over 10 fantasy points. He has scored over 30 fantasy points in both games, and he has taken 25 shots in those two contests. Even with Carmelo Anthony in the rotation Wednesday, Galloway was still able to shoot the ball 11 times, which makes him a nice value play tonight despite a tough matchup against the Magic. Galloway's usage rate is currently 21.7 percent, which has gone up in his games as a starter, so feel free to deploy him in cash games and GPP contests tonight on FantasyDraft.
Wesley Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers $8,400
With Kobe Bryant (rotator cuff) likely out for an extended perios, the Lakers will have a lot of offense to make up. Johnson is the primary beneficiary without Bryant, as he is averaging 13 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game in games where Bryant has not played. At his price, value can be reached with just over 20 fantasy points, which is less than Johnson's average in the Lakers current situation. Wayne Ellington and Nick Young will also see a boost in value in Bryant's absence.
Notable Injuries
Kobe Bryant (rotator cuff) – OUT
Kelly Olynyk (ankle) – OUT
Joakim Noah (ankle) – Highly questionable
Jrue Holiday (ankle) - OUT
More injury information can be found here.
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