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, André Snellings and Kyle Soppe, as well as DFS expert Renee Miller.
Players to build around
Jim McCormick -- Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
Gobert has tallied at least 42 fantasy points (on DraftKings) in all but one game in March. Led by his prolific rim protection, the Jazz are leading the NBA in defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions) by nearly eight full points this month. I dig that Gobert has visited the stripe 34 times during the past four games, driving some really nice scoring results. This matchup also aligns well with his skill set -- the Hawks are 29th in defensive rating in March and 26th in rebounding percentage for the season. Found at a steep discount on DraftKings, Gobert is a key building block for this six-game slate.
Renee Miller -- Blake Griffin, Detroit Pistons
You can break the bank on Anthony Davis or James Harden tonight, but I'm definitely locking Griffin in. His reduced salary and premier matchup with the Suns -- a team he put up 29 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, a block and a steal against earlier in the season -- combine to make him a must-play for me. It also helps that he's generally playing very well right now, especially vs. weaker opponents. The pace bump Phoenix provides as well as their sloppy "defense" (rated 30th in the league in defensive efficiency) make Griffin and his teammates very appealing. However, his is the floor/ceiling combination I'm most into, because I don't love much about the PF position on this slate overall.
André Snellings -- Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves and LA Clippers both have their backs to the wall, as they currently sit in eighth and ninth in the Western Conference, with only a one-loss difference between them. As such, both should be razor sharp. DeAndre Jordan has had good success against Towns in the past with his physical style, so he was in consideration here as well. Ultimately, Towns got the call because he's become such a huge offensive presence with Jimmy Butler out. In his past four games, Towns has averaged 27.8 points, 13.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.8 3-pointers and 1.8 combined blocks/steals per game.
Kyle Soppe -- Reggie Bullock, Detroit Pistons
With plenty of star power on the docket tonight, you're going to want to identify a few cheap options that you can rely on in an effort to maximize your exposure to the game-breaking talents. Given his sweet stroke and consistent playing time, Bullock fits that profile. His playing time has increased with each passing month this season and the spike in minutes has resulted in him establishing a nice rhythm (three 3PM in each of his past six contests). I'll take that to the bank against a Suns team that not only ranks dead last in defensive efficiency, but also operates at the second fastest pace, thus maximizing the number of opportunities for Bullock in this spot. He doesn't have to smash value, he just has to pay off his price tag and free up enough cap space for you to chase the All-NBA players on this slate.
Players to fade
Jim McCormick -- Jusuf Nurkic, Portland Trail Blazers
I fear Nurkic's numbers could suffer in this matchup with Houston; he played just 20 minutes in a competitive loss to the Rockets back in January and recently has hovered around 20 minutes against the likes of Cleveland and Golden State, rosters that also trend small and seek to space the floor with shooters. This type of matchup doesn't bode well for Nurkic given a lack of spacing from him on offense and an absence of "switchability" on defense. I'd much rather roster Clint Capela or even take a discount with Alex Len or Taj Gibson instead of paying the premium for Nurkic amid a subpar setup.
Renee Miller -- Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
There are so many good guards tonight! Although there are only seven games, the number of weak defenses, pace mismatches, and high point totals point to a high scoring night. I don't think Westbrook has to be a part of it, however. His previous game vs. Boston was worth a weak, by his standards, 45 fantasy points and the Celtics continue to shut down opposing guards (e.g. Jrue Holiday this past weekend). Boston is the best defensive team in the league and is playing at home tonight. Westbrook's salary is actually fair, but I'd rather spend top dollar on Davis or Harden, not to mention one of the fantastic center options we have.
André Snellings -- Dennis Schroder, Atlanta Hawks
The Utah Jazz have been a defensive buzzsaw for the last month-plus, so I'm really fading the whole Atlanta Hawks team tonight. Schroder stands out the most however, as the Jazz have allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing point guards this season and the second-fewest over the last five games.
Kyle Soppe -- Al Horford, Boston Celtics
I just haven't liked what I've seen from Horford since his return from a two-game hiatus due to an illness, and with the C's essentially locked into the two-seed, I don't feel great about rostering him in this spot. The Thunder are the second-best rebounding team in the league, and that plays a large part in why they have been an elite defense all season long in terms of preventing front-court fantasy production. With that in mind, I'm having a hard time seeing Horford (a total of 21 points on 31 percent shooting in his past two games) finding his form in this matchup. If I'm building a lineup tonight, I'd much rather pay down for a player like Nikola Mirotic and use the savings to build an elite backcourt.
