Which players should you build around and which players should you fade in DFS as we tip off tonight's NBA action? Our experts have the answers.
Today's panel includes ESPN Fantasy's Jim McCormick and Kyle Soppe as well as DFS expert Renee Miller.
Players to build around
Jim McCormick -- DeAndre Jordan, LA Clippers
Jordan isn't just a force on the glass, he's also produced multiple assists in seven of the past eight games. Then again, it mostly is about the boards with Jordan; he's second only to Andre Drummond in both rebounding chances and actual rebounds this season. Jordan tallied 15 points and 20 rebounds with a positive net rating in a win over the Rockets back in December. With less competition for available rebounds sans Blake Griffin and in a game sure to claim a lofty projected point total, another significant double-double is likely.
Renee Miller -- Andrew Harrison, Memphis Grizzlies
Aside from an anomalous bad game vs. Cleveland last Friday, a game in which Tyreke Evans played well in, Harrison has been playing around 30 minutes per game and averaging over a fantasy point per minute since just before the All-Star break. With Evans already ruled out again tonight, slotting in Harrison is a no-brainer. The Grizzlies play at home vs. the Phoenix Suns, a massive pace bump for them as well as a dream matchup for guards. Through double-digit scoring, and improved rebounding and assist totals lately, Harrison should find little resistance to another 30-plus fantasy point night. His salary has crept up, but there is plenty of room for it in either a cash game or tournament lineup given some of the deeper bargain risk/reward players out there tonight.
Kyle Soppe -- Steven Adams, Oklahoma City Thunder
There are some days that require jumping through statistical hoops to justify a building block, but this isn't one of those days. The Mavericks rank dead last in rebounding rate this season and I'll give you one guess who leads the NBA in offensive rebounding rate. Adams is converting a silly 63.1 percent of his shots this season, so I very much like his chances of turning his rebounds into points tonight and a double double would basically pay off his salary. Add in that he's averaging career highs in both free throw attempts and steals and you've got yourself a bargain worth building around.
Players to fade
Jim McCormick -- Eric Gordon, Houston Rockets
During the past 10 games, Gordon claims a modest usage rate of 20.1 percent and has averaged just 13 PPG. In the 41 preceding games, he enjoyed a rich usage percentage of 26.2 while averaging 20 PPG. Gordon's assist rate has also suffered by nearly 50 percent between these splits. He's still an elite shooter, but I think the presence of Gerald Green (7.2 3PA per game) and the return of Chris Paul has simply lessened Gordon's workload, subsequently lowering his fantasy floor. On a busy slate with some good values available at the wing, it's best to fade Gordon.
Renee Miller -- Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans
Fading the Brow after he's had two 95-plus fantasy point games in his last three is almost enough to keep me inside on this weirdly warm and sunny day in New York, lest the fantasy basketball gods find me and strike me down. The issue is partly salary, of course, as he's now $12,500 on FanDuel and almost $12K on DraftKings, but that's not all of it. He's been exceeding value at an astronomical salary level, after all. He's also on a back-to-back tonight, in San Antonio, and averages about five fewer fantasy points in away games this season. Plus, even without Kawhi Leonard, the Spurs have maintained a phenomenal defensive ranking; they're No. 2 in the league in defensive efficiency. They've allowed an average number of fantasy points to opposing PFs and Cs relative to the rest of the league, and Davis managed (by his standards) a meager 51 fantasy points against them the first time they played. What really has me excluding Davis tonight though, is his counterpart across the court. LaMarcus Aldridge is sitting there for $3-4K less than Davis, at home and with the second-best PF matchup in the league for fantasy. I just can't pass on Aldridge, given how much better I can do at guard with him over Davis in my lineups tonight.
Kyle Soppe -- LaMarcus Aldridge, San Antonio Spurs
You may have heard: Anthony Davis is cookin' these days. Not only can he leap tall buildings in a single bound and save kittens from trees, he can also get opposing front courts in foul trouble, and that's a major concern with Aldridge grading out as the 58th best defender in the league...at the power forward position (behind Dirk Nowitzki). An opposing big has committed at least five fouls in all three games over the past week against the Pelicans and I simply don't think that's a mistake given Davis' aggression. Although Aldridge has produced two strong performances coming out of the All Star Break and has had the past two days off, his salary clearly reflects that with him being priced well above both Blake Griffin and Draymond Green. The threat of foul trouble is enough for me to fade him and his mere 11 rebounds over his last 73 minutes only further confirms that decision for me.
