Another Wednesday, another $50,000 prize pool. The Big Wednesday makes another appearance, with $10,000 reserved for first place and thousands more for the other top 10 spots. If you haven’t won your way in through a qualifier or used points to buy a voucher, it will cost you $22 per entry. As I write, the contest is less than half full, so take advantage of the best value in daily fantasy that I know of and register. If you don’t have a DraftStreet account, you can sign up using this link.
There were no less than three overtime games last night in a schedule of five, resulting in abnormally high DraftStreet scores. The depleted Cavaliers couldn’t stop LeBron James/MIA, but kept the game close to the end. Tonight find a full plate of ten games and plenty of players to choose from to fill out your DraftStreet lineups. Here is today’s Fantasy Spin.
What’s Happening at DraftStreet
Salary Cap: Big Wednesday $22/$50,000 (room for 2,500), $2/$5,000, $215/$10,000, three others.
150K satellites (for March 26 main event): four, ranging from $1 to $11 buy in.
Pick’em: $11/$2,000, $2/$2,000, $5/$500.
Remember to register at least 10 minutes before the roster deadlines. Wednesday’s contests start at 7 PM EDT.
My Lineup at DraftStreet
The following is my recommended lineup, subject to change, for the $22/$50,000 standard payout GPP aka Big Wednesday 50K at DraftStreet (closing at 7:00 pm EDT). You are required to have three guards, three forwards, one center and one wildcard/utility player for a legal eight-player lineup in DraftStreet NBA contests:
F-Anthony Davis/NOP-$23,869, F-Kenneth Faried/DEN-$15,634, F-Josh Smith/DET-$14,508, G-Deron Williams/BKN-$14,003, G-D.J.Augustin/CHI-$9,535, C-Tiago Splitter/SAS-$8,624, G-Aaron Brooks/DEN-$7,886, C-Gorgui Dieng/MIN-$5,218.
Desperate Mavs and Wolves Meet
Chicago Bulls at Philadelphia 76ers (7:00 pm EDT); over/under 195; Bulls -13. . INJURIES: CHI: none ; PHI: James Anderson (Q).
Normally, the opposing center would be a superb value play, but I wonder how many minutes Joakim Noah/CHI will get in a blowout scenario.
Miami Heat* at Boston Celtics (7:30 pm EDT); over/under 199; Heat -7.5. . INJURIES: MIA: Dwayne Wade (P); BOS: Rajon Rondo (Q) .
LeBron James/MIA is going to revert to the means from last night’s brilliance, particularly if Wade plays as expected. I mark both down as fair value. On the Celtics’ side, I am tipping two possible sleeper plays: Kris Humphries/BOS and Jeff Green/BOS.
Charlotte Bobcats at Brooklyn Nets (7:30 pm EDT); over/under 193.5; Nets -6.5. . INJURIES: CHA: none ; BKN: Andrei Kirilenko (Q), Kevin Garnett (OUT).
Miles Plumlee/BKN and Andray Blatche/BKN will feature prominently, as they try to blunt the Bobcats’ main offensive weapon (Al Jefferson/CHA). Deron Williams/BKN has been the model of efficient production and is a solid choice for you DraftStreet lineups.
Indiana Pacers at New York Knicks (8:00 pm EDT); over/under 194.5; Pacers -3. . INJURIES: IND: Andrew Bynum (OUT), C.J. Watson (OUT) ; NYK: Tyson Chandler (P), Andrea Bargnani (OUT)
Toronto Raptors* at New Orleans Pelicans (8:00 pm EDT); over/under 197; Raptors -1.5. . INJURIES: TOR: Jonas Valanciunas (Q), Patrick Patterson (OUT) ; NOP: none.
The Raptors suffered another overtime loss last night and have to face the Anthony Davis/NOP freight train. Though expensive, it is crucial you find room for Davis in your lineup tonight, as the Pelicans have figured out how to get him the ball going to the hoop.
Utah Jazz at Memphis Grizzlies (8:00 pm EDT); over/under 187; Grizzlies -11.5. . INJURIES: UTA: none ; MEM: none.
Memphis is a tough matchup for most teams and we can write off all the Jazz as far as out lineups are concerned, with the exception of the underpriced Derrick Favors/DEN. Marc Gasol/MEM is a safe bet, but his upside is limited.
Minnesota Timberwolves at Dallas Mavericks (8:30 pm EDT); over/under 211.5; Mavericks -6. . INJURIES: MIN: Ronny Turiaf (OUT), Nikola Pekovic (OUT) ; DAL: none.
Presumably, Gorgui Dieng/MIN will start again and is a low-risk/high-upside bargain play. Kevin Love/MEM is not much more than fair value, while Jose Calderon/DAL is on the rise and a decent value play.
Detroit Pistons at Denver Nuggets (9:00 pm EDT); over/under 220; Nuggets -6. . INJURIES: DET: Josh Harrellson (OUT), Andre Drummond (OUT); DEN: Ty Lawson (Q), Wilson Chandler (OUT).
This one will be a shootout with plenty of value among the Nuggets players. The Pistons haven’t had to play without Drummond/DET often, but that should provide a boost for Josh Smith/DET and Greg Monroe/DET. Denver’s bigs have surged, led by Kenneth Faried/DEN and J.J. Hickson/DEN. Ty Lawson/DEN is questionable with a groin issue, propelling Aaron Brooks/DEN into strong bargain territory. Chandler’s/DEN perimeter shots will go to someone else, perhaps Randy Foye/DEN or Evan Fournier/DEN.
Orlando Magic* at Phoenix Suns (10:00 pm EDT); over/under 210; Suns -11.5. . INJURIES: ORL: none ; PNX: Leandro Barbosa (OUT).
San Antonio Spurs at Los Angeles Lakers (10:30 pm EDT); over/under 222; Spurs -13.5. . INJURIES: SAS: none ; LAL: Nick Young (OUT), Jordan Farmar (OUT)
The last time these teams met, the Spurs blew the doors open and consequently none of the starters played major minutes and put up fat fantasy lines. This one should be a bit closer, so there are plenty of cheap Spurs to choose from.
Yesterday’s News
TOP GUNS:
LeBron James/MIA. When Dwayne Wade/MIA sits, you can expect LeBron to shoulder extra responsibility.
Jeff Teague/ATL. Coupled with the return of Paul Millsap/ATL, Teague’s improved play has Hawks fans optimistic about the playoffs.
Isaiah Thomas/SAC, Paul Millsap/ATL, DeMar DeRozan/TOR, Nicolas Batum/POR.
SLEEPERS:
Zaza Pachulia/MIL
Steve Blake/GSW. He could become one of the key trade acquisitions of the season, bolstering the Warriors bench.
Marreese Speights/GSW, Ramon Sessions/MIL, Drew Gooden/WAS.
LET DOWNS:
Arron Afflalo/ORL.
Damian Lillard/POR. Among the most inconsistent elite fantasy players in the NBA.
John Henson/MIL, Giannis Antetokounmpo/MIL.
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