Which players should you build around and which players should you fade in DFS as we tip off Thursday's NBA action? Our experts have the answers.
Players to build around
Kyle Soppe -- Tyreke Evans, Memphis Grizzlies
Evans seems to find his way onto my roster more often than not, so I'm very comfortable in investing in him against a Suns team that ranks as the second-worst defense and operates at the second-fastest pace. Evans is an analysts' dream, as 89.6 percent of his field goal attempts either come inside of eight feet or outside of 24, and with his health not a question mark, the increased price point isn't scaring me. Phoenix's last game was a loss to the struggling Clippers: a game in which they allowed 108 points to a team that relied on Austin Rivers and Lou Williams to take nearly 40 percent of their shots. Nothing against those two, but if the Clips can produce reasonable fantasy numbers with them leading the way, how do you not like Evans' well rounded game?
Renee Miller -- Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers
Building around Love tonight is the perfect start to a balanced lineup. This game has the second-highest point total of the night, and the Cavs are big favorites at home. Love has had a terrific season, particularly this month, where he's averaging about 20 points and over 10 rebounds per game. He ranks 13th overall in player efficiency this season. Add in the fact that Chicago struggles vs. big men (allowing the seventh-most fantasy points to centers) and you have an almost guaranteed 40-plus fantasy points tonight.
André Snellings -- Dario Saric, Philadelphia 76ers
Saric has made a strong move into the lineup for the 76ers in the past month, averaging 16.3 points with 8.7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.7 3-pointers and 0.7 steals in 33.9 minutes over his past 12 games. While he's playing well overall, Saric gets more run when Joel Embiid sits out. Embiid has missed the last two games, and reports are that he could likely miss the next two as well. If Embiid does sit, Saric is a legitimate 20-10 threat on Thursday that should get the minutes to produce.
Players to avoid
Kyle Soppe -- Dwyane Wade, Cleveland Cavaliers
It seems like every night that the Cavs are on the slate, Wade is rostered in too many lineups, something I assume happens for name recognition at his price. Obviously, it's a good matchup against a bad Bulls team, but the 35-year-old Wade is going to want to keep as much gas in the tank as possible during the middle of this season and I simply don't like his ceiling in this spot. We are talking about a double-digit favorite Cavaliers team that next plays the Warriors on Christmas day ... you tell me which game they choose to prioritize. There is no real revenge narrative to buy into here, as this game is in Cleveland and Wade went to Chicago earlier this month, so I'm not risking his low floor in an effort to chase a marginal ceiling.
Renee Miller -- Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers
One reason I won't be targeting Simmons tonight is his salary; this isn't a stars and bargains kind of slate to me. I prefer a more middle-of-the-road approach, even in tournaments, where players with solid floors have additional upside. The other reason to fade Simmons is that he's facing a Raptors team that is increasingly good on the defensive side of the ball, not only ranking sixth in overall defensive efficiency, but limiting opposing point guards and forwards to almost the fewest fantasy points per game. Finally, Embiid has been upgraded to questionable tonight, which is great for the 76ers, but may have a small impact on Simmons' usage if he does play. At his salary, I'm looking for no negatives. Vegas has this as the highest scoring game of the night, but I think you should take advantage of it with guys like Saric, Robert Covington, Jonas Valanciunas, and OG Anunoby or Pascal Siakam.
André Snellings -- Nikola Mirotic, Chicago Bulls
Mirotic has electrified the Bulls of late, averaging 22.4 points and 9.6 rebounds in his last five games. However, for most of those games Mirotic was starting with Lauri Markkanen injured. Markkanen is back now, and has moved back into the starting lineup with Mirotic back on the bench. Mirotic produced a 15 and 10 double-double in only 22 minutes on Wednesday, but the odds say he just can't produce at the level of the price that he has reached in DFS if he's going to continue to get similarly limited minutes. He's playing great, but for that much money I need someone playing starter minutes.
