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.
Today's panel includes ESPN Fantasy's André Snellings and Kyle Soppe, and DFS expert Renee Miller.
Players to build around
Renee Miller -- PJ Tucker, Houston Rockets
Tucker may be an unconventional building block, but he'll be finding his way into all of my lineups tonight. Houston is set to be without Trevor Ariza and Gerald Green, both suspended for the altercations that took place in LA. That leaves them thin on the wing with James Harden on a minutes limit. Tucker is nearly minimum priced and should be asked to do a bit more with 25-30 minutes on the floor tonight than usual. If you're looking to fit a top center, Jimmy Butler or LeBron James, and a decent point guard or two, Tucker could be the key to finding the salary to get it done.​
André Snellings -- LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs have been getting a lot of bad press of late due to their struggles, and James seems to be taking it personally with back-to-back monster games. He faces an Orlando Magic team with a weak defense that likes to play at a fast pace, at home, needing the win. I also think that Isaiah Thomas will have his best game in a Cavaliers uniform on Thursday, but James is the safest option.
Kyle Soppe -- Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
On a four-game slate, you're likely paying up for a star and Towns is my focal point tonight. The floor is a high one, as KAT has double-doubled in every game this month and is shooting 56.8 percent from the field, and there is upside worth chasing when you consider that the Rockets are allowing the third-most paint points per game this season. Anthony Davis is getting a lot of love for his recent run, but did you know that Towns has the same true shooting percentage this season with a far superior rebound rate? When you account for price tag, matchup and production, Towns is the top high-priced player on the board tonight against a short-handed Rockets team that could get caught looking ahead to a showdown with the Warriors on Saturday.
Players to fade
Renee Miller -- James Harden, Houston Rockets
Back tonight and on a minutes limit, Harden will face off with Jimmy Butler and the Timberwolves. This is a great game to draw from on tonight's short slate, given that both teams rank in the top three in offensive efficiency, but I'm avoiding Harden. It's possible Harden feels great and pushes to play over his limit, but Minnesota's wing defense is more than respectable, making it a risk I'm not willing to take for $10,500.
André Snellings -- Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers
Simmons is coming off back-to-back pedestrian efforts, including a so-so 16 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists against these same Boston Celtics last week. Simmons has been getting by with defense, with five straight games of at least four combined blocks and steals, but has struggled on offense with only one game of more than four assists in his past four outings. The Celtics are the top defense in the NBA, and they have long wings that can move their feet enough to play him for the jumper, then keep him off the glass.
Kyle Soppe -- Kyrie Irving, Boston Celtics
Irving missed practice yesterday with shoulder soreness, and while that probably doesn't cost him this game, it's enough for me to look elsewhere at the point guard position. In terms of efficiency, no team is better defensively against the fast break than the Sixers, something that I believe lowers Irving's ceiling given that he uses the occasional transition opportunity to produce on an offense that, overall, operates at a below-average pace. Ben Simmons could well draw the defensive assignment and I don't think he's getting enough love for his work on that end of the floor, as his size is a problem and has resulted in him ranking fourth at the position in Defensive Real Plus-Minus (DRPM). Irving isn't exactly in great form (shooting 35.4 percent from the field in January with 11 turnovers in his past two games) and I'd rather take my chances on cheaper point guards like Jeff Teague or either starting point guard in the Magic-Cavaliers game.
