Which players should you build around, and which players should you fade in DFS as we tip off Wednesday night's NBA action? Our experts have the answers.
Today's panel includes ESPN Fantasy's Kyle Soppe, Jim McCormick and Joe Kaiser.
Players to build around
Jim McCormick -- Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
Third in the NBA with 22.1 rebounding chances per game in the past 10 games, Gobert's uniquely high floor proves inviting against a Kings team that has ceded the third-most fantasy points (just over 60 per game) to centers in the past five games on FanDuel's scoring model. Gobert is peaking down the stretch, with at least 42 fantasy points in each of his past six starts, while his floor is incomparably high among his positional and pricing peers. For a more modestly priced player I appreciate tonight, the Bucks' Greg Monroe has at least 20 fantasy points in 14 of his last 15 games and could easily exceed value against a soft Boston frontcourt.
Joe Kaiser -- Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
Gobert leads the NBA in blocks over the last month, and by a wide margin. His 4.8 blocks per game in the last five games certainly has helped his average, and remarkably, the 7-foot-1 Jazz center has also averaged 22 points, 15 rebounds and 1.6 assists in the same span. Tonight's matchup against the rebuilding Kings presents a terrific opportunity for Gobert to continue his streak of monster games; in three games against them this season, he has put up 16.7 points, 17.3 rebounds and 4 blocks per game. He's a terrific value tonight in the $8,600-$9,100 range.
Kyle Soppe -- Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans
Looking for a star who could be faded? Davis has the opportunity to qualify as he is an expensive option against a stagnant Mavericks team that ranks 29th in pace of play. Fear not! Dallas grades out as the worst rebounding team in the NBA, and Davis has been on a rebounding tear of late, pulling down more than 14 rebounds per game in his last nine (including 48 boards in his last three contests). The spike in rebounding has made points easier to come by as he made at least 11 free throws in five separate games this season (he had four such games from December through February). I'll take those two trends to the bank, even if DeMarcus Cousins (questionable, ankle) returns from a two-game absence. And if Boogie sits (the Pelicans have been a better team without him and really are no longer in playoff contention), Davis' stock only increases.
Players to fade
Jim McCormick -- Jrue Holiday, New Orleans Pelicans
Posting four games with fewer than 26 fantasy points in his past 11 games, due in part to more variant opportunity rates with Cousins in the mix, Holiday bears avoidable risk in facing a Dallas team that has yielded the fewest fantasy points to point guards this season. With such sluggish Vegas ingredients in place against a slow-paced foe, I'd rather pivot to Dennis Schroder or even Derrick Rose than invest in Holiday on this rich Wednesday slate.
Joe Kaiser -- Willie Cauley-Stein, Sacramento Kings
Cauley-Stein is in for quite a challenge as he matches up against the game's top shot-blocker, Gobert. Utah's 24-year-old big man, has recorded at least four blocks in four of his last five games and leads the league with 2.64 blocks per game this season. He also ranks fourth in rebounding, hauling in 12.9 rebounds per game. Not only will that make things difficult on the offensive end for Cauley-Stein, it will also mean fewer rebounding opportunities for Sacramento's second-year center. Cauley-Stein is a lot cheaper tonight on DraftKings than on FanDuel, but he's not worth considering on either site.
Kyle Soppe -- Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks
By definition, this is a daily article, but I'll go ahead and say it: Assume that I am fading Melo, unless otherwise noted, for the remainder of the season. Why would you use him? Playing on a bad team, where he sees multiple defenders thrown his way, caps his upside and the rumored minutes restriction lowers his floor. Heck, even when he has been on the court (three missed games), he has appeared tentative, attempting a season-low 0.43 shots per minute in March. If he isn't hoisting up jumpers, then where do you plan on getting value? During the last nine weeks, he has just two double-digit rebound performances and only a single game with more than five dimes. The price has come down a bit, but you are still paying a premium for name value. Until "name value" counts for DFS points, I'll gladly pass on Anthony for the Knicks' final eight games of the season.
