NBA DFS Picks For Fanduel 8/3/2020

Yesterday, 10/15 of the featured players I listed hit their desired value. This stat wouldn't be overly impressive if it wasn't for the fact that I managed to play 4/5 of the players who didn't hit the 5x mark. Bjelica and Clarke were huge misses, and Melton rivaled Houdini for the best disappearing act of all-time. However, the core I wrote about was very solid, led by a monster performance from Thomas Bryant. Anyways, I am not pleased with myself for putting out losing lineups 2 days in a row, but I can rejoice in the fact that my lineups in the first 2 days of the restart finished in the top 5-10%. I don't plan on starting a losing streak now, so let's go back to our start of the bubble ways.

Injury News:

- Malcolm Brogdon is a GTD. His status is not clear as of now.

- Jamal Murray is said to be "very questionable." Don't expect him to play.

- Goran Dragic is listed as probable, so he should suit up. (Update: will play)

- Victor Oladipo is doubtful and is not expected to play in the Pacers' second bubble game.

- LeBron James/Anthony Davis/Kyle Kuzma still have the GTD mark on FD, but should play as they have been.

- Bam Adebayo is listed on the injury report with a bruised quad, but is expected to play. (Update: will play)

- Royce O'Neale is probable to play with a sore right foot.

Point Guard:

Ben Simmons - $8,100:

Ben Simmons draws a good match-up today against the Spurs. The Spurs are not a terrible defensive team, but most of their good play comes from their guards with the absence of LaMarcus Aldridge. His price tag is not cheap, but he averaged over 40 FD points per game before the restart, right around where you'd want him today. He nearly managed to get 40 last game, and that was with a 4 assist game which you wouldn't expect to happen again.

Ja Morant - $7,500:

I really like Ja Morant on this slate. He has gone for over 45 FD points in both of Memphis' games since the hiatus, and he probably has a better match-up today than he did in the previous two. New Orleans has struggled so far, and both of these teams love to play at a fast-pace. This should be the highest scoring game on the slate, and the implied total for both teams suggests that.

Dejounte Murray - $5,700:

Dejounte Murray is going to be high-owned on today's slate. The 76ers defense is no joke, and Murray may have a somewhat difficult match-up with their size, but $5,700 is just too cheap for him right now. He is the Spurs clear number 2 scorer, and will get a ton of usage.

Other great plays: Derrick White - $5,900, Kendrick Nunn - $4,200, Monte Morris - $4,000

Shooting Guard:

Jrue Holiday - $7,600:

As mentioned, the Memphis-New Orleans affair today should be a high-scoring one. If you played Jrue last game, then you probably won't today since he burned owners with a 14 FD point game, but that was because the Clippers blew them out and he hardly saw the court in the second half. Their game today should be much closer, and Jrue Holiday will push the tempo, making a great play for fantasy.

Donovan Mitchell - $6,800:

Similar to Holiday, Donovan Mitchell disappointed fantasy owners in his last game. I don't particularly love his match-up today, but Mitchell has a habit of playing better in the big games. At $6,800, his price tag will likely be too cheap for me to pass on.

Dillon Brooks - $5,100:

Dillon Brooks has quietly been one of the more consistent fantasy options throughout this NBA season, including prior to the pandemic. He is not a player who will likely explode for 40 points, but he is safe to get you around his value every game. Brooks has already seen 70 minutes through 2 games, so play time is not a concern at all. He is a solid play for cash games, but I wouldn't recommend him for GPP.

Other great plays: Fred VanVleet - $6,600, Jordan Clarkson - $4,700, Josh Richardson - $4,400, J.J. Redick - $4,000

Small Forward:

Brandon Ingram - $7,400:

I probably sound like a broken record at this point, but I love players playing in this game today. Ingram has yet to reach value in the 2 games he has played so far, but I couldn't ignore him in this article. He has an excellent match-up, and I think he finally manages to hit the 5x mark. He is one of the few SF I would pay-up for with all the value at the position today.

Rudy Gay - $4,700:

Rudy Gay is a very solid value play on the slate. He has seen 54 minutes so far in the NBA restart across 2 games, and should see another 25+ minute game tonight. At his cost, you are happy if he puts up 25 points, and I think that is likely to happen.

Troy Brown - $4,500:

After a monster performance yesterday, Troy Brown actually saw a price decrease for the slate. That is because the prices are determined the day before the slate, but he is great value anyways. I don't expect him to finish anywhere close to where he did yesterday, but he needed to be talked about. The Wizards' bubble team is not good, so he will see a ton of usage again.

Other great plays: Pascal Siakam - $8,000, O.G. Anunoby - $4,600, Jae Crowder - $4,200, Kyle Anderson $3,900, Keldon Johnson - $3,600

Power Forward:

Anthony Davis - $9,600:

Anthony Davis at under 9k? The Brow may not have performed up to his standard in his previous two games, but he is a play that I cannot ignore at that price. He has the upside to break the slate on any given day, and I don't want to be on the bad end of when that happens. He is a near must play for me.

Paul Millsap - $4,800:

I am not really sure why Paul Millsap saw a decrease in his price for this slate. The Nuggets are riddled with injuries right now, and Millsap is someone who is going to consistently see 20+ minutes for the team, regardless of injuries. He is not a super flashy play, but you almost can't go wrong with his price and the current team situation.

Michael Porter Jr. - $4,100:

Michael Porter is another player that will benefit from the absence of some of the key Jazz players. When on the court, he has great fantasy production, but the question will always be how much time he sees. Last game, he played 24 minutes, so I expect him to be around that mark again with a similar team situation.

Other great plays: Jaren Jackson Jr. - $6,400 (watch out for foul trouble today), Brandon Clarke - $5,000, Jerami Grant - $4,100

Center:

Joel Embiid - $9,700:

Anyone who played Embiid on Saturday most likely finished in the money. He had a crazy 41 point - 21 rebound game, which was good for 80 FD points. Embiid has another good match-up today against a Spurs team who don't have much of a big man presence, so he should dominate again.

Nikola Jokic - $8,900:

Jokic is another great pay-up play at center today. Last game, he put up 32 FD points in the first half, but disappointed with only 7 in the second. He will be the focal point for the Nuggets, especially with Murray likely sitting out again, so I expect him to to have a more consistent showing today.

Derrick Favors - $5,100:

Derrick Favors is an excellent cash play for anyone who will not be paying for a top tier center. He managed to reach value last game against the Clippers, even with them getting blown-out. I do like paying for the position today, but Favors has great value.

Other great plays: Steven Adams - $6,400, Thomas Bryant - $6,300, Marc Gasol - $4,300, Drew Eubanks - $3,500

Core/Example Lineup:

My core 3 today are Dejounte Murray, Anthony Davis, and Nikola Jokic. Embiid is a great swap for Jokic if you have the available cap though. VanVleet/Clarke are a good swap for Mitchell/Millsap if you prefer that.

PG - Ja Morant - $7,500 PG - Dejounte Murray - $5,700

SG - Jrue Holiday - $7,600

SG - Donovan Mitchell - $6,800

SF - O.G. Anunoby - $4,600

SF - Troy Brown - $4,500

PF - Anthony Davis - $9,600

PF - Paul Millsap - $4,800

C - Nikola Jokic - $8,900