Which players should you build around and which players should you fade in DFS as we tip off Monday's NBA action? Our experts have the answers.
Today's panel includes ESPN Fantasy's Eric Karabell, Kyle Soppe, plus DFS expert Renee Miller.
Players to build around
Eric Karabell -- Mike James, Phoenix Suns
His minutes were down last game because he came off the bench, and there's no official word if that will continue, but James managed to continue his recent theme of shooting well, and he is clearly better than Tyler Ulis. Oh, and while Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball is coming off a triple-double, his defensive work remains a large problem. James remains cost-effective and many points will be scored in this Suns-Lakers game.
Renee Miller -- Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors
Stephen Curry is a game-time decision tonight, but even if Curry suits up, I love Thompson tonight. This game should be fast-paced, and both teams rank near the top in offensive efficiency (Golden State is No. 1). Orlando is hurting in the backcourt and ranks as a top-10 fantasy matchup for opposing shooting guards. The absence of Curry would spike Thompson's usage and give him even more upside than he already possesses any given night, but locking Thompson into lineups for less than $7K secures a high-floor, high-ceiling play at a position with no superstars.
Kyle Soppe -- Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz
I expect plenty of people to go with Ricky Rubio in a #NarrativeStreet spot, but, as much as I love him, he is a player with his limitations, and which team is going to force him to his weaknesses better than his former squad? They may be able contain Rubio, but the fourth-least efficient defense in the league can slow down only so many players, and I don't think they can keep the increasingly confident Mitchell in check. The rookie ranks 21st in usage rate this season -- he's quietly averaging 17.8 shots per game in November -- and has an analytics-friendly game, as nearly 75 percent of his shots this season are coming from either inside of eight feet or outside of 24 feet. Look for the Jazz to get creative tonight with their usage of Rubio, something that could well put the playmaking duties more in the lap of Mitchell, a role that suits him well at this price point.
Players to fade
Eric Karabell -- Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks
It's nice the Bucks were able to acquire Eric Bledsoe for little cost, but it's not going to help Middleton continue to average 18 PPG or 5 APG. In fact, in the two games with Bledsoe, we've seen Middleton get fewer shots and, well, fewer of most everything. We need to see how this plays out, but at this point, neither Middleton nor Bledsoe are players to either build around or seek value from in DFS.
Renee Miller -- Kristaps Porzingis, New York Knicks
The regrets might be real tomorrow morning, but right now I'm rostering Anthony Davis over Porzingis. Porzingis did well against the Cavaliers two weeks ago in Cleveland despite their ranking near the bottom of the league in fantasy points allowed to power forwards, and he has clearly elevated all aspects of his game this season. His salary reflects that. On a night with many top forwards, centers and point guards to choose from, Porzingis is the guy I think finishes with around 4X value. Put another way, I think I can find 40-50 fantasy points for substantially less tonight.
Kyle Soppe -- Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Yes, he's this good. In annual leagues, you're not trading him in an effort to capitalize on an unsustainable hot streak or anything like that. But for DFS, why tempt fate by allocating such a high percentage of your budget in an awful matchup? The slow-paced Grizzlies (29th in pace) are what they seemingly always are: a top-five defense that limits paint production (fifth-fewest paint points allowed). No surprise there, so why roll the dice on a player in Antetokounmpo who relies heavily on producing near the rim (58.7 percent of his field goal attempts come inside of eight feet, and he is converting such shots at a 76.2 percent rate). I don't think he's bad tonight, but there is no shortage of star power on this slate and many of them are in a better spot to reach value than the Greek Freak.
