DraftKings Preview: Best Value Plays 12/2

Nine games are set to tip off tonight, leaving you plenty of opportunities to select a winning squad. We all obviously want to build a team with top-tier players like Stephen Curry, James Harden and Anthony Davis, but in order to do so, you’ll also need to draft some of the cheaper players in DraftKings.

Each Wednesday, we’re helping you pick out some of the best value plays that should have good outings given their upcoming matchup. The key to winning cash on DraftKings is having a couple of these cheaper options play well for your team. We’ll shine the spotlight on six players to keep an eye on tonight, all of whom will cost less than $6,000.

If you haven’t done so already, be sure to enter our DraftKings league tonight (which is free for new users and has $300,000 in prizes, including a $20,000 first-place prize). Here are six cheap plays to keep an eye on tonight:

PG: Jerryd Bayless, Milwaukee Bucks – $5,300

Bayless has a favorable matchup tonight against a San Antonio Spurs team that ranks 20th against opposing point guards. Of course, another option for you here tonight is Tony Parker. For those that took our advice last week (in the utility slot), Parker came through with 37.5 fantasy points.

We’re going with Bayless tonight as he has the better matchup of the two. Bucks head coach Jason Kidd recently made a change in the starting lineup and has opted to go with Bayless over Michael Carter-Williams at point guard in the past two games. Bayless is riding a bit of a hot streak over his past five outings as he’s averaging 28.8 fantasy points during that stretch. Considering his relatively low price, he should provide solid value for your team tonight.

Honorable Mention: Tony Parker, $5,400

Last week’s pick: Deron Williams – 35.3 fantasy points

SG: Jordan Clarkson, Los Angeles Lakers – $5,600

Clarkson has been riding a hot streak over his last three outings as well and is a player you should strongly consider tonight. The Kobe Bryant Farewell Tour makes its next stop tonight in the nation’s capital against a Wizards team that ranks 27th against opposing shooting guards.

When you factor in Clarkson’s matchup and his recent strong play, he should be a solid selection tonight. Clarkson is averaging nearly 38 fantasy points per game over his last three outings. He’s seeing a ton of minutes as of late, which should make for plenty of opportunities to help your fantasy squad.

Honorable Mention: J.J. Redick – $4,400

Last week’s pick: J.R. Smith – 29 fantasy points

SF: Jerami Grant, Philadelphia 76ers – $5,000

As we mentioned last week, it’s okay to pick players on a bad team. The negative criticism against players who put up big numbers on a bad team really doesn’t apply in fantasy sports. So, don’t laugh at us for going with Jerami Grant here. He’s put in arguably his best stretch of basketball over his last three outings and really seems to be playing great.

He’s coming off of his best fantasy performance of the season last night against the Lakers after putting up 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists, four blocks and a steal. DraftKings hands out two points per block, which helped Grant reach his high season-high 38.8 fantasy points last night. He’s averaging 1.8 blocks per game this season, which ranks first among all small forwards and 11th overall in the league. He should be worth consideration with so few top-tier options at small forward tonight.

Honorable Mention: C.J. Miles – $5,600

Last week’s pick: Trevor Ariza – 29 fantasy points

PF: Nikola Mirotic, Chicago Bulls – $5,700

Mirotic has been one of the more productive power forwards over the past couple of weeks or so. His stats over this time won’t jump off of the page, but his fantasy numbers have been solid. Mirotic has been one of the most productive players in his price range, as players like (last week’s pick) Nerlens Noel, Markieff Morris and Marvin Williams have been hit or miss lately.

Mirotic is averaging nearly 30 fantasy points per game over his last five outings, including two performances with at least 38.8 fantasy points. He faces a Denver Nuggets team that ranks 20th against power forwards, so we’re confident Mirotic will be a good play tonight.

Honorable Mention: Luis Scola – $5,300

Last week’s pick: Nerlens Noel – 17.5 fantasy points

C: Clint Capela, Houston Rockets – $5,500

It looks like Capela has solidified his place in the Rockets’ starting lineup. Over his past three games since becoming a starter, he’s averaging 32.2 fantasy points per contest. DraftKings rewards extra points for double-doubles and Capela has recorded two double-doubles since becoming a starter. Additionally, the Rockets face a great matchup tonight as the New Orleans Pelicans rank 24th against opposing centers. Capela next to Dwight Howard in the lineup has worked extremely well for the Rockets, so he should be a good play considering his relatively low price tag.

Capela should provide for a better option than our pick last week, Zaza Pachulia. Last Wednesday’s performance was Pachulia’s worst outing of the season, after being held to just 3.5 fantasy points. He responded by putting up 41 and 27.5 fantasy points in the Mavericks’ next two games following that poor showing, so it’s safe to say that was a one-time off game for Pachulia.

Honorable Mention: Ian Mahinmi – $4,700

Last week’s pick: Zaza Pachulia – 3.5 points

UTIL: DeMarre Carroll, Toronto Raptors – $5,900

Carroll is coming off of his best fantasy performance of the season after recording 38.8 fantasy points on Monday against the Phoenix Suns. He had 20 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals in that outing and went 3-of-6 from three-point range. DraftKings gives extra points for three-pointers, which makes Carroll a good option tonight at your utility spot or at small forward.

Last week’s pick: Tony Parker – 37.5 fantasy points

Let me know how your team did by reaching out to me on Twitter, @CodyTaylorNBA.

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We encourage you to give these players a look as you build your starting lineups for tonight. Here are three contests you can enter now:

$300K Sharpshooter: This league is only $3 to enter (or FREE for new users) and it features a $300,000 prize pool, including a $20,000 first-place prize.

Massive $5 Double Up: In this league, anyone who finishes in the top half of the field doubles their $5 entry fee, winning $10. You won’t have a shot at an enormous pay day, but this is a good way to win some cash and the prizes at up over time.

$300K Shootaround: This league is $20 to enter and features a $30,000 first-place prize. Because only the top 3,500 teams win cash, the prizes are much bigger than in the $300K Sharpshooter contest.