This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
The main FanDuel roster begins at 6:00 p.m. EST with a three-game offering. Of course, the small player pool limits the size of this article, but we’ve got all the bases covered for you with our top recommendations.
SLATE OVERVIEW
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The Clippers-Cavs are behind the rest in the projected totals, so we didn’t give the game much love. Memphis and Indiana appear to be top destinations for fantasy values tonight.
INJURIES
Visit RotoWire’s for the latest updates NBA Injury News Page and our comprehensive NBA Injury Report. Below are some of the recent and most relevant injuries on today’s list. Note that this is not an exhaustive list. Use your best judgment for long-term and sustained injury scenarios.
memes Desmond Bane (knee) – DOUBT
memes Steven Adams (knee) – OUT
Brandon Clarke ($6,000) continues to be the best pivot for Adams. watch Buddy Held ($7,100) for increased production with Bane out.
CLE Donovan Mitchell (Bar) – QUESTIONABLE
Caris LeVert ($5,500) would expect a spike in production if Mitchell can’t leave.
ELITE PLAYER
Due to the slate size, we will categorize elite players differently to include players worth $7,000+.
The Pacers are still without Tyrese Haliburton. And while that’s not the only reason to like Yes Morant ($10,000), the Grizzlies should come out on top and the star put up 43 FDFP against them two weeks ago. That’s below what we need to justify a salary of 10,000, but the projected total of 239 gives me a little more confidence. Since the Grizzlies are still without Adams, Myles Turner ($7,900) should have the upper hand inside for Indiana.
Another guard worth considering is Jrue holiday ($8,000). He had immense success against the Pelicans this season, including a 40-point loss in mid-December. The pelicans have finally Brandon Ingram ($7,400) the back. While it would have been nice to see a lower salary to capitalize on his return, he’s at a pretty reasonable number in his first two games despite some inefficiencies. The team is in a back-to-back, so check Ingram’s status before heading that direction.
Also consider: PaulGeorgeLAC ($8,700) @ CLE
EXPECTED CHALK AND VALUE GAMES
Chris MiddletonMIL ($6,200) vs NOR
Middleton hasn’t logged more than 15 minutes since his return but may get a little more time after a rest day if he comes off the bench against New Orleans. The team will still be without Bobby Portis so they could use a good dose of Middleton, especially with potential restrictions from Giannis Antetokounmpo as he is on the injury report but likely to play.
Benedict MathurinIND ($6,200) @ MEM
Mathurun has averaged a 32.3 FDFP in his last five games and the Pacers should enjoy the extra production again on Sunday. The rookie has emerged during Haliburton’s absence and is in good position to improve on the previous number, although his first clash with the Grizzlies didn’t go as well as expected.
Ivica ZubacLAC ($5,700) @ CLE
Zubac appears to be heading back in the right direction after some underperforming efforts that produced 39 FDFP against the Hawks in his last appearance. And despite being on a four-game losing streak, he came very close to a double-double against the Cavs earlier in the season.
Naji MarshallNOR ($5,300) @ MIL
Although Ingram is back, there’s still a lot to produce. Marshall missed three games but still gets imaginative minutes on his return. While he may not be looking at the same numbers he showed when the Pelicans were undermanned, a number above 25 FDFP is all we need to make him viable.
Dillon BrooksMEM ($5,200) vs. IND
Brooks is in quite a crisis, but his salary is too low to ignore. He didn’t play in the recent neck-and-neck with the Pacers and will pose an additional problem for Indiana’s defense. Brooks can take over a game quickly and on his low salary doesn’t have to do much to beat the value.
The author(s) of this article may enter Daily Fantasy competitions including, but not limited to, games that they have recommended or advised on in this article. While playing these games with their personal accounts, it is possible that they use players in their lineups or other strategies that deviate from the recommendations given above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire.