Tastefully curated M-F by LineStar fantasy experts.

Football is over, major focus returns to Basketball, Hockey, and Golf. Over the weekend we added NBA Usage Matrix to Android along with some minor upgrades, we'll be adding it soon to iOS. If you've got any feature requests hit us up on Twitter, we love to hear from fans! We've got some great things planned for you this coming Spring! 

Guards

Damian Lillard, POR [@DET] (DK: $9k, FD: $8.1k)

After the trade a week ago, Detroit seems to still be figuring out how to work as a team to get their defensive game in order. They allowed Goran Dragic to go off for 52 fantasy points and Andrew Harrison for 37 fantasy points following the trade, both significantly over their averages. This game is slated at 210.5 total points and a close 2 point spread in favor of Detroit, so Lillard is going to have to push the pace if they want to win.

Ricky Rubio, UTA [@NO] (DK: $6.5k, FD: $7k)

Rubio has decided to eat his wheaties lately, scoring 40+ fantasy points in 3 straight games, making him impossible to ignore. His salary has also increased which makes him a bit less attractive to chase; seeing as he's scoring 41 fppg over the last 5 games but only 30 fppg over the last 20, and is likely to regress. However if Donovan Mitchell is somehow out again with illness, then Rubio will have to handle more of the offense once again. The Pelicans rank 25th against starting point guards and we all know Rondo is one of the worst defenders in the league.

Bogdan Bogdanovic, SAC [vs CHI] (DK: $4.7k, FD: $5.5k)

The Bulls have been bleeding points to guards all season and currently rank dead last against starting shooting guards allowing 37 fantasy points a game. Bogdanovic put up 30 fantasy points in 30 minutes against them in December and there is no reason he couldn't do it again in this game with 210.5 total points and a close 3 point spread in favor of the Bulls. Bogdanovic's worst 2 games were without Willie Cauley-Stein who he works well with, and WCS should be ready to ball tonight.

Forwards

Nikola Mirotic, NO [vs UTA] (DK: $5.8k, FD: $7.5k)

No DeMarcus Cousins, no problem. Mirotic went off for 48 fantasy points in his first game as a New Orleans Pelican in 35 minutes played. The Bulls had a log jam at the power forward position and Mirotic was still getting solid work done. Now that he's essentially replacing the role of DeMarcus Cousins for this team, there is no reason he can't continue to have performances like his first game. He's still a huge bargain on DraftKings at $5.8k which will rise to $7k+ in the next few games to match FanDuel who was quicker to raise his salary.

Derrick Favors, UTA [@NO] (DK: $5.6k, FD: $5.4k)

The Pelicans are ranked 28th against starting power forwards allowing 35 fantasy points, and more while they're on the road. Favors has has averaged 36 fantasy points over 2 games versus the Pelicans this season. Vegas has this as one of the higher scoring games tonight at 213.5 total points and only a 2 point spread in favor of the Pelicans. Favors has scored 30+ fantasy points in 5 of the last 10 games and looks to make that 6 of 11 tonight.

Stanley Johnson, DET [vs POR] (DK: $4.8k, FD: $5.7k)

Johnson has logged 34+ minutes in each of the last 3 games following the trade, and 32 minutes per game over the last 5. Following this trade, it looks like he's going to be playing heavy minutes regularly now. His salary is too low, especially on DraftKings for a guy playing this many minutes, and taking this many shots. All it will take is a couple extra shots for him to easily break 30 fantasy points tonight. Portland is ranked 12th versus starting small forwards but have been worse while on the road.

Centers

Anthony Davis, NO [vs UTA] (DK: $11.2k, FD: $11.7k)

While Mirotic looked good filling in for Cousins, and makes for a solid play at his current salary levels, he still doesn't completely fill the void left from losing Cousins. Anthony Davis has taken 34 and 30 shots over the last 2 games. All it will take will be a couple extra rebounds and other stats to fall his way and he's in line for a monster day. Having a competent veteran player like Mirotic is only going to help AD so teams can't tee up on Davis.

DeAndre Jordan, LAC [vs DAL] (DK: $7.6k, FD: $7.9k)

DeAndre Jordan has gotten 16+ rebounds in each of the last 3 games, but not much of anything else. Tonight he has another great rebounding matchup facing old man Dirk Nowitzki and Dwight Powell who have less combined rebounds than Jordan does alone. Jordan hasn't been taking many shots, but if he sees those monster rebound totals and matches it with a couple extra shots tonight he would have a chance for a big game.

Robin Lopez, CHI [@SAC] (DK: $4.6k, FD: $4.4k)

Lopez has played 28 and 36 minutes in the last 2 games without Lauri Markkanen on the court, which is around 5 minutes more than he was seeing previously. The Kings are ranked 21st against starting centers allowing 33 fantasy points a game. This game has a fairly high point total at 210 point with only a 2 point spread in favor of Chicago. At his low salary, having 5 minutes extra on the court in a close game could make a big difference for Lopez and give him a chance to hit 30 fantasy points again tonight.

Injuries 🤕

NEW INJURIES (1-2 games)

• GTD: (IND, SG) Victor Oladipo ($8.4k) [Upgrades: Darren Collison]

• PROB: (MIA, C) Hassan Whiteside ($8.1k) [Upgrades: Kelly Olynyk + Bam Adebayo]

• PROB: (UTA, PG/SG) Donovan Mitchell ($7.1k) [Upgrades: Alec Burks + Royce O'Neale]

• GTD: (DAL, SF/PF) Harrison Barnes ($6.4k) [Upgrades: Maxi Kleber + Dwight Powell]

• GTD: (IND, C) Myles Turner ($5.8k) [Upgrades: Domantas Sabonis + Al Jefferson]

• GTD: (IND, PG) Darren Collison ($5.6k) [Upgrades: Victor Oladipo + Cory Joseph]

• PROB: (UTA, SG/SF) Rodney Hood ($4.9k) [Upgrades: Joe Ingles + Joe Johnson]

• GTD: (POR, PG/SG) Shabazz Napier ($4.4k) [Upgrades: Evan Turner + Pat Connaughton]

• GTD: (WAS, PF) Mike Scott ($3.7k) [Upgrades: Markieff Morris + Kelly Oubre Jr]

• GTD: (DET, SG/SF) Luke Kennard ($3.6k) [Upgrades: Stanley Johnson + Anthony Tolliver]

• OUT: (DET, PG) Dwight Buycks ($3.4k) [Upgrades: Ish Smith + Langston Galloway]

ONGOING INJURIES (3-6 games)

• OUT: (WAS, PG) John Wall ($8.0k) [Upgrades: Tomas Satoransky + Tim Frazier]

• OUT: (ORL, SF/PF) Aaron Gordon ($7.8k) [Upgrades: Marreese Speights + Mario Hezonja]

• OUT: (CHI, PF) Lauri Markkanen ($6.8k) [Upgrades: Bobby Portis + Paul Zipser]

• OUT: (SAC, PF/C) Skal Labissiere ($4.8k) [Upgrades: Zach Randolph + Jakarr Sampson + Kosta Koufos]

• OUT: (DEN, PF/C) Mason Plumlee ($4.7k) [Upgrades: Trey Lyles + Wilson Chandler]

• OUT: (CHA, SF/PF) Marvin Williams ($4.2k) [Upgrades: Nicolas Batum + Treveon Graham + Frank Kaminsky]

• GTD: (LAC, SG/SF) C.J. Williams ($3.8k) [Upgrades: Milos Teodosic + Wesley Johnson + Tyrone Wallace]

• GTD: (CHI, PG/SG) Jameer Nelson ($3.0k) [Upgrades: Justin Holiday + David Nwaba]

• OUT: (NO, PF/C) DeMarcus Cousins ($3.0k) [Upgrades: Nikola Mirotic + Dante Cunningham]

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