Today is one of those days where your head may be spinning. I am not referring to all the alcohol you may have had last night partying from the money you won, but rather am referring to the slate on our hands tonight. At first glance you may be looking and think Kris Dunn is the must play tonight. The issue I have here is how my lineup looks around him. Kris Dunn is normally a standard cash game play and automatic, but tonight I am thinking the opposite. I think Dunn is a GPP play tonight and you need him in lineups when building for tournaments just based on his upside, but with lack of depth at the forward position has me questioning Dunn in cash games. While we are on the subject of Dunn, I want to explain that players like him are not always a must play. Every night paints a different picture based on the entire layout of players. Instead of focusing on one part of the frame and building around it, look at the entire picture and see what looks the best. Tonight has far better value in the middle of the pack then going with the stars and scrubs approach. I’m not discounting Dunn as he very well could hit value and even exceed it, I will just be going elsewhere tonight.
Fantasy CBB Plays 2-18-15
Top High-Priced Plays
Jahlil Okafor -Forward Duke. Price 9500.
I often love taking the best player on a team in the highest total of the night. This scenario is no different especially since UNC is nothing to look at inside. Okafor will got a lot of easy baskets and with the pace of the game could pick up a very high rebound total. He is my top play tonight as the forward position is thin in that mid-low price area.
Le’Bryan Nash -Forward Oklahoma State. Price 8000
Nash has a good shot tonight to have one of his better games of the year. He will love the pace of this game and expect him to fill it up on the box score. He has been on a nice scoring tear recently and his rebound numbers should be high tonight. expect him to squeeze a few blocks or steals tonight as well as this is the norm for him.
Rakeem Christmas -Forward Syracuse. Price 9700
Are you seeing a theme here? Pay for forwards tonight. There is too much value to go around at guard, and not near as much at forward. Christmas is sensational at home and is usage is sky high. Montrezl Harrell may rack up blocks and steals on the regular, but this does not translate to him being a good defensive player. If they try to single him with Harrell Christmas will go off tonight. I expect a double team to be there at Christmas tonight in the post, but he is too talented and relied on too heavily to not run him out there. His block upside is also tremendous as well.
Mid Tier Plays
Tyus Jones -Guard Duke. Price 7600
Jones’s price is a bit high but I think in this price range he is the best play. He will rack up easy assists tonight in a very fast paced game, and get very good looks at the basket. He plays virtually the entire game and with so many possessions expected, Jones can really have a big game tonight.
Andre Hollins -Guard Minnesota. Price 7800
Talk about a safe player. Hollins has shined brightly his last few games and draws a good match-up tonight at home vs Northwestern. Hollins has scored no less than 29 fantasy points his last four games and is scoring at will these days. The issue is his upside, which is probably about 35 maximum. While still good, when you pay this high for a player you would like to think a 40 point game could happen. Since he is primarily a scorer, his upside beyond value is limited, but a great cash game play.
Billy Garrett Jr. -Guard DePaul. Price 6500
You want a good contrarian play at guard tonight. Here it is. Garrett is coming off two bad games, but at home he is great. At home Garrett tends to be more aggressive and the books have this as a close game for DePaul. Someone will be doing work for them tonight, and my money is on Garrett because he dishes out assists and rebounds pretty well for a guard along with his scoring.
Low-Tier Plays
Jeff Newberry -Guard Oklahoma State. Price 5400
It will be easy to get lost with all the value roaming around at guard, but I like Newberry tonight at this price. Great match-up and he is good for the minutes along with usage. Coming off a bad game people will be off, but not me. Newberry can poke holes everywhere on the box score, and can hit value tonight if he stays aggressive as he’s been.
Tra Holder -Guard Arizona State. Price 5000
Many people will be on Blakes tonight based on recent performances, but I’ll ride with Holder. Holder has a similar scoring upside with a much better assist rate. And oh ya he is $800 cheaper. I understand people who will go Blakes instead, but for the price reduction with similar upside I’ll be rolling out Holder.
Joey King -Forward Minnesota. Price 4500
This is by no means a sexy pick, but King is a minimum priced forward getting 30+ minutes. King can very well hit value tonight, especially if his shot is dropping. Expect him to grab some boards tonight seeing as he’s normally good for a few and had zero his last time out. If you need a 4500 forward to complete your lineup King would be your guy.
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