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 Joe Kaiser, Jim McCormick, André Snellings and Kyle Soppe, as well as DFS expert Renee Miller.
Players to build around
Joe Kasier -- DeAndre Jordan, LA Clippers
Just last week, Jordan went off for 25 points, 22 rebounds and 4 assists against this same Milwaukee team, and that game came on the road! Tonight, Jordan and the Clips are at home and he is priced to buy on both DraftKings and FanDuel. As far as I'm concerned, Jordan is the best value on Tuesday's slate.
Jim McCormick -- Chris Paul and Gerald Green, Houston Rockets
With James Harden getting the night off against the Chicago Bulls, Paul and Green become key building blocks for Tuesday's slate. Even with the threat of a blowout in place, I'm intrigued by Paul's team-high surge in usage (nearly six percentage points) with Harden off the floor this season. As for Green, fresh off a 25-point opus this past Sunday, he's due for a sizable increase in shooting volume. This proves enticing given Green has lofted 26 3-pointers across his past three outings.
Renee Miller -- Eric Gordon/Gerald Green, Houston Rockets
The news that James Harden and Clint Capela would rest tonight came out early enough for sites to adjust salaries accordingly, which DraftKings did. It's hard to justify Gordon there, as he's just $200 less than C.J. McCollum for example, and not nearly far enough below Chris Paul. FanDuel however has Gordon at $5,600, a very palatable salary. Green is $4,700 on DraftKings and $3,700 (SF eligible too) on FanDuel. Guards abound tonight, but getting some value with one of the Houston wings is a great place to start. The matchups with Chicago are great, the point total is high, and even though Vegas appears concerned about a blowout, with two key starters out of the rotation, there should be plenty of minutes for Gordon and Green.
André Snellings -- Jrue Holiday, New Orleans Pelicans
Holiday has been strong against Portland all season, averaging 18.7 points (48.8 FG%, 100 FT%), 6.7 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.0 3-pointers in three games. On Tuesday, the Pelicans need the game more than the Trail Blazers, they're playing at home, and their third/fourth options of Rajon Rondo (wrist) and Nikola Mirotic (hip) are both questionable to play after having missed their last game. Holiday could be in a position to have to up his game, with more responsibility, against a team that he just plays well against in general. Bonus, but with both Hassan Whiteside and Bam Adebayo ruled out on Tuesday, Kelly Olynyk also looks like a definite building block against Kevin Love and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Kyle Soppe -- Kosta Koufos, Sacramento Kings
It's a weird time on the NBA calendar, but here we are in a world where Koufos profiles as a potential tournament difference maker. The Mavericks are the worst team in the NBA in terms of percentage of rebounds corralled, leaving the door wide open for Koufos (18.3 rebounds per 48 minutes in March) to provide nice value at this price point tonight. We saw him dominate a bottom five rebounding team in the Hawks on Thursday (14 points, 11 rebounds, four blocks, and four steals) and while I don't think we can expect that type of well-rounded production again, you should still get a nice return on your investment from an aggressive rebounder that plays within himself on the offensive end (shooting 58.5 percent from the field this month).
Players to fade
Joe Kaiser -- Austin Rivers, LA Clippers
Rivers joined his teammate Jordan in last week's game against the Bucks and came through with 22 points. The problem with Rivers however is that so much of his daily fantasy value is wrapped up in his scoring, and those big scoring nights haven't been happening very frequently lately. In fact, he didn't score more than 11 points in any of his three other games last week. He's too risky for me at his mid-tier price point tonight.
Jim McCormick -- De'Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings
It's often tempting to pursue affordable shares of young playmakers on lottery-bound teams. Late-season statistical swells are somewhat common among this player population, but that hasn't been the case for Fox, who simply isn't getting the minutes and shots required to facilitate such a breakout. Backcourt peer Frank Mason III is far cheaper and similarly productive from a fantasy perspective, thus I'm fading Fox.
Renee Miller -- Markieff Morris, Washington Wizards
These teams just played last week and it was a predictable snooze-fest, 98-90 in San Antonio's favor. Morris went for five points and three rebounds, a total of just 13 fantasy points in 25 minutes. Not only is this a slow-paced and low total game, the Spurs rank second in the league in overall defensive efficiency and allow the third fewest fantasy points to opposing to power forwards...it's not just Morris that sucks against them. Roll with either James Johnson or Al-Farouq Aminu in a similar salary range for both a higher floor and higher ceiling fantasy line tonight.
André Snellings -- Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards
Beal and the Wizards have had some difficulties of late, as they seem to really be missing John Wall (knee). Beal hasn't been bad, but his averages of 19.5 points, 3.5 assists, 2.3 rebounds, 2.5 3-pointers and 1.0 steals during his last four games are far enough below his standard to be noteworthy. This could suggest that he's due for a bounce-back, but he'll be facing a tough San Antonio Spurs defense that has allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing shooting guards in the NBA this season.
Kyle Soppe -- Chris Paul, Houston Rockets
The expectation is that CP3 suits up tonight, but what motivation do the Rockets have to put him in a fantasy friendly spot? Their championship window is as open as it's ever been given Golden State's litany of injuries, so why would they put one of their stars (who has missed three straight games) in harm's way for a contest that has a 17.5-point spread and means nothing in the greater scheme of things? While I believe the coaching staff when they say that they expect Paul to suit up, his price tag reflects the great season he has had rather than the limited playing time upside he has in this spot. I have no problem paying up for a point guard (Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday, or Eric Bledsoe), but there isn't a world in which I am trusting Paul tonight.
