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We’ve reached the stage of the postseason where we’re mixing different rounds of the playoffs, with the Celtics and Raptors playing Game 2 of their series, while the Jazz and Nuggets battle it out in a Game 7. Here are some plays that jump out on DraftKings on this two-game slate.
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Point Guard
Worth Paying Up For: Jamal Murray, DEN vs. UTA ($9,700)
Is Murray insanely overpriced? Yes, he began the series at $6,200. But it’s a two-game slate, and we know Murray’s going to look to go big to get this Game 7 win. Utah knows it’s coming, but just hasn’t been able to stop it — Murray has scored 50, 42 and 50 points his last three games, averaging 72.5 DKFP during that span. We know the stars will play even bigger minutes in a Game 7, and Murray’s going to be a huge factor. Long way of saying he’s wroth the ripoff price.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Brad Wanamaker, BOS vs. TOR ($3,500)
Game 7 means some shortened rotations from coaches and maybe a slower paced tight game from the players. The stars generally need to show up, and value is tough to come by. Going by that theory, we need to find value in the other game. The problem is there isn’t much at PG. Wanamaker played 28 minutes in Game 1 and scored 17.5 DKFP. That’s a decent fallback plan for savings on this slate. We’ll probably see the whistles go Toronto’s way this game, which could also lead to more minutes for Wanamaker if someone gets in foul trouble.
Lineup Strategy
Pretty much everyone is going to want to stack Murray and Donovan Mitchell ($9,900), so just keep that in mind when trying to differentiate yourself.
Shooting Guard
Worth Paying Up For: Donovan Mitchell, UTA vs. DEN ($9,900)
Like Murray, Mitchell has three 60-plus DKFP in the series, one of them for 80-plus. I really don’t have a good reason to justify fading Mitchell other than to be different. He could even be a nice pivot off of Murray, although if I’m picking between the two, Murray will be my play.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Norman Powell, TOR vs. BOS ($4,900)
There isn’t a trustworthy SG value, further complicating this slate. Again, I’ll go to the less important game of the two for value, where Powell is in a potential bounce-back spot. He played 27 minutes in Game 1, but shot just 4-12 from the field. We’ve seen Powell top 37 DKFP twice in the playoffs thus far, though. The upside is there.
Lineup Strategy
With pretty poor value here, it may just be easier to play value at PG and roster your choice of Murray or Mitchell at SG. Unless you’re stacking the duo, then you’ll really need to lock into value the rest of the way.
Small Forward
Worth Paying Up For: Jaylen Brown, BOS vs. TOR ($7,300)
I think Jayson Tatum ($9,200) will be the more popular Boston swingman, but I’m not convinced he’s the better play. Despite the team’s success against Toronto, Tatum averages just 36.4 DKFP in this matchup this season, shooting 40% overall. Tatum picked up three first quarter fouls in a game against the 76ers, and this could be a similar one in terms of which direction the whistles go. Meanwhile, you save almost $2,000 on Brown, who has been better against the Raptors this season — 36.6 DKFP per game.
Best Bang For Your Buck: OG Anunoby, TOR vs. BOS ($4,800)
OG should be a pretty popular value on this slate, playing 33 or more minutes in four of his five playoff games so far. He’s just a very safe play, scoring 20-plus DKFP in each of those postseason outings, giving you production on both ends of the floor. This is a safe salary saver for cash or a tournament.
Lineup Strategy
There’s no forward option to really pay up for in the Game 7, so that leaves BOS/TOR. Brown would be my Celtic to roster on this slate, but I’ll likely avoid paying up and just take the value on OG. We can be different elsewhere.
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Power Forward
Worth Paying Up For: Pascal Siakam, TOR vs. BOS ($8,000)
Siakam was awful in Game 1, picking up three quick fouls and finishing with 22.75 DKFP. He shot just 5-16 from the field and had five total rebounds and assists combined. He was a complete non-factor. While the Celtics have played him very well this season, this is a spot to consider a very contrarian GPP play. With all the plays to pay up for in the other game, and Tatum standing out as the top play in this game, I expect very low ownership here.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Jerami Grant, DEN vs. UTA ($5,100)
Grant is a rare value that I really like in this game. Since being inserted into the starting lineup, Grant is averaging 37.3 minutes per game, which is just too much playing time to pass on at this salary in the playoffs. Grant is well-rounded and shot very well from downtown in Game 6 (4-of-7).
Lineup Strategy
I’ll likely just take the value here with Grant, much like Anunoby. The issue becomes that we have to play three forwards. Playing a dicey value play versus paying up becomes a very tough call.
Center
Worth Paying Up For: Nikola Jokic, DEN vs. UTA ($9,500)
We know Joker is going to see a ton of minutes, and has scored at least 47 DKFP in five of the games in this series. While Rudy Gobert ($7,900) has been a huge difference maker in the series, the fantasy production just hasn’t come with it. The call to pay up for Jokic is an easy one for me, but might not be all that popular with lineups wanting to stack the two guards.
Best Bang For Your Buck: Robert Williams, BOS vs. TOR ($3,300)
The Celtics turned to Williams as the backup center in this series, with Enes Kanter ($3,400) getting a DNP in Game 1. Time Lord was terrific for the C’s, finishing with 24.5 DKFP in 19 minutes. He’s extremely efficient when given changes, shooting 5-for-5 in Game 1 for 10 points, five boards, two assists, two blocks and a steal.
Lineup Strategy
It’s going to be a two center slate, the big question is if you pay up for one or not. Daniel Theis ($5,200), who is PF eligible, and Marc Gasol ($4,100) are other great center values to consider.
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Injury Report
OUT (Opt-out players not included)
Gordon Hayward (ankle)
QUESTIONABLE
None
DOUBTFUL
None
PROBABLE
None
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is jedlow) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
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