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It's fine to play DFS on a small Thursday night slate, but you should probably know what you're getting into. With just three games out there to choose from tonight, your options are more limited than ever.
Most nights, it's not hard to find four or five players you want to choose from at every position, and you can kind of mix and match different combinations for both cash games and tournaments, but it's a lot harder tonight. Take power forward, which is usually the deepest position to choose from every night besides maybe point guard. Thursday gives you solid stars like Blake Griffin, Kevin Love, Draymond Green and Chris Bosh, but there really isn't anything beyond them.
The backups aren't great. Tristan Thompson plays a big role for the Cavs, but his production comes in fits and starts, with a double-double one night followed by an ineffectual six-point, five-rebound stinker. The Heat, Warriors and Clippers hardly use their backup power forwards, and the Kings and Bucks don't really have power forwards worth writing him about.
So, what do you do? Pay up at PF and punt point guard, where Stephen Curry might just be the best player of the night? Or fade LeBron James at SF, the other contender for best player? None of these options are ideal.
That is what Thursday DFS is about in the NBA; making the best of non-ideal situations. I can't really feel confident enough in any lineup combination to play cash games, so tonight is all about setting a few tournament lineups out there and seeing what happens.
Thursday Slate
Kings at Heat
Fantasy Points Allowed: 392.36
The key here will be if Demarcus Cousins' attempt to take Al Horford's head off with an elbow Wednesday night will lead to a suspension -- given his history, it wouldn't be a surprise. If he doesn't play, Hassan Whiteside has a tremendous opportunity, because there won't be nearly as much competition for rebounds.
Warriors at Clippers
Fantasy Points Allowed: 390.67
With Chris Paul and J.J. Redick unlikely to play tonight, you have some great value opportunities in this one. Jamal Crawford and Austin Rivers are going to play big minutes, with Crawford obviously a more viable option given his big scoring ability.
Bucks at Cavaliers
Fantasy Points Allowed: 389.12
I've been wrong on LeBron James pretty much every time I have played him -- when I have preferred other stars' tasty matchups, he has gone off. He has a pretty good matchup tonight against a Bucks team that all0ws the seventh-most Fantasy points to opposing small forwards, so I'm going to go with him tonight.
Wednesday Rankings
PG
1. Austin Rivers $3,800 LAC vs. GS
2. Stephen Curry $11,000 GS @ LAC
3. Rajon Rondo $7,600 SAC @ MIA
4. Jerryd Bayless $4,400 MIL @ CLE
5. Goran Dragic $5,700 MIA vs. SAC
SG
1. Jamal Crawford $4,400 LAC vs. GS
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo $6,900 MIL @ CLE
3. Dwyane Wade $6,700 MIA vs. SAC
4. Klay Thompson $6,400 GS @ LAC
5. Marco Belinelli $3,800 SAC @ MIA
SF
1. LeBron James $10,100 CLE vs. MIL
2. Justise Winslow $3,700 MIA vs. SAC
3. Harrison Barnes $5,100 GS @ LAC
4. Omri Casspi $4,200 SAC @ MIA
5. Khris Middleton $5,600 MIL @ CLE
PF
1. Blake Griffin $9,700 LAC vs. GS
2. Kevin Love $7,800 CLE vs. MIL
3. Draymond Green $7,900 GS @ LAC
4. Chris Bosh $7,900 MIA vs. SAC
5. Tristan Thompson $5,200 CLE vs. MIL
C
1. Hassan Whiteside $8,600 MIA vs. SAC
2. DeMarcus Cousins $10,700 SAC @ MIA
3. Greg Monroe $7,800 MIL @ CLE
4. Timofey Mozgov $4,300 CLE vs. MIL
5. DeAndre Jordan $7,600 LAC vs. GS
FanDuel Tournament Lineup
PG Stephen Curry $11,000 GS @ LAC
PG Austin Rivers $3,800 LAC vs. GS
SG Dwyane Wade $6,700 MIA vs. SAC
SG Jamal Crawford $4,400 LAC vs. GS
SF LeBron James $10,100 CLE vs. MIL
SF Justise Winslow $3,700 MIA vs. SAC
PF Kevin Love $7,800 CLE vs. MIL
PF Josh Smith $3,900 LAC vs. GS
C Hassan Whiteside $8,600 MIA vs. SAC
