NBA Play-In DFS Picks For Fanduel 5/19/21

In terms of DFS, we are not off to the best of starts for the play-in games. Yesterday, LaMelo Ball performed miserably which gave me nearly no shot of cashing after the first game. Aside from that, three of my top plays from the article in Bridges, Sabonis, and Thompson played pretty well. For today, I plan on bouncing back on the slate that has the SA-MEM and GS-LAL play-in games. Like yesterday, since there are only two games, my article will be formatted differently with my top play listed at each position. Just because the player is listed doesn't mean I will 100% be playing them due to how pricing works, but it means that they are my top option at the position. As I say everyday, the top plays and my lineup core can change with injury or rest news, so make sure to stay up to date. Let's dive into the breakdown of the NBA main slate on Fanduel today!

Reminder: If you would like the lineup that I will be using, RT the article post on twitter for at @SportsVerseHQ, DM @Excyphir, and follow them both. Since my lineups usually change with injury news, be sure to check DMs before lock in case of a change. I usually send my lineups out around 30 minutes to an hour prior to lock, so as long as you have followed the steps and DMed me, you will receive it.

Point Guard:

Steph Curry - $10,400:

The league's scoring leader for the regular season finds himself in a must-watch play-in game against the defending champ Lakers. Curry has been on a mission to conclude the NBA season with a run of high-scoring showings to elevate his stock in the MVP race, although that award should still lie with Nikola Jokic. Curry has managed to score over 52 FD points in six of his last nine games, with only scoring under 40 in one of those games. I do like all three of the superstars on this slate (Curry, LeBron, AD), but Curry is the safest in my eyes. Other point guard plays I like are Ja Morant and Dennis Schroder.

Picture Attribution: Noah Salzman (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stephen_Curry_close_up.jpg), „Stephen Curry close up“, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode

Shooting Guard:

DeMar DeRozan - $7,500:

Coming in at $7,500, DeMar DeRozan is by far my favorite shooting guard play of the slate. Andrew Wiggins is not a bad play either, but I trust DeRozan significantly more at a discounted price. Aside from those two, the only other shooting guard priced over $4,500 is Dillon Brooks, and he is too expensive for my liking at $6,800. The Grizzlies frontcourt is not the strongest defensively, so DeRozan should be able to play at a decent pace and rack up the points across big minutes tonight. I like the idea of pairing DeRozan with a punt play at the position.

Small Forward:

Kyle Kuzma - $4,000:

I am not the biggest fan of Kyle Kuzma in terms of real life play nor fantasy, but it is hard to argue against his $4,000 price tag. Kuzma has managed to play over 30 minutes in six of his last eight games, and even though LeBron James will play tonight, I still think he sees quality minutes. There are more solid options at small forward than some other positions with decent plays in LeBron, Anderson, Bazemore, and Keldon Johnson, so I wouldn't classify Kyle Kuzma as a core play, but he is an excellent pay-down option.

Power Forward:

Jaren Jackson Jr. - $6,600:

Jaren Jackson Jr. has been restricted in nearly every game since returning from injury, but I imagine that they will take the leash off and let him go at it tonight in a must-win game. Even with restricted minutes, Jackson Jr. has managed to put up some pretty impressive stats, which includes 33+ FD points in three of his last four games. Taking into account that he should see more minutes tonight, $6,600 is a terrific price to pay for him, especially against a team that is average at defending big men. AD, Draymond Green, and Rudy Gay would be the other considerable options.

Center:

Kevon Looney - $3,900:

There is a decent chance that I don't play Looney tonight, but it is difficult to argue against him being the best center play in regards to return on value. At his price, 5x value would equate to around 19 FD points, which isn't difficult to exceed given the minutes he plays. However, Looney offers very little upside as he has not been particularly productive in the minutes he plays. In his last seven games, Looney has scored between 19 and 23 FD points six times. There is great consistency there, but normally you like to play players with a higher ceiling. If Looney fits your lineup in regards to salary, then play him, and if he doesn't, then don't. Valanciunas and Poeltl are more risky plays, but offer significantly more upside.

Single Game Advice:

Most of the same logic that applies to the main slate also applies to the single game slates. For the SA-MEM game, it is easy to play four of the top options with one of the cheaper guys such as Bane, Melton, Mills, or Allen (if he plays). My top overall players to target in that single game are DeRozan, Morant, and Jackson Jr. For the GS-LAL game, it is possible to stack Curry, LeBron, and AD with two value plays, although you don't have to go that route. They would be my top targets for that single game, and I would be sure to at least play two of them.

If you would like the lineup that I will be using, RT the article post on twitter for at @SportsVerseHQ, DM @Excyphir, and follow them both. Since my lineups usually change with injury news, be sure to check DMs before lock in case of a change. Likewise, if you enjoy these articles, please follow @SportsVerseHQ and @Excyphir on twitter! Stay up to date there in case of potential news or changes. Good luck!