The injury-riddled Philadelphia 76ers head to South Beach to face Miami with the Heat as 13.5-point favorites. Draft Kings’ featured Showdown, the 7:30 Eastern game, will award a $10,000 first-place finish. The injury report lists Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Andrew Wiggins, Justin Edwards, Alec Burks Haywood Highsmith, and Kyle Lowry as questionable, with Kelly Oubre Jr, Guerschon Yabusele, and Nikola Jovic as Out. Let’s evaluate Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em for this matchup to help your username claim the number one spot.
Miami Heat vs. Philadelphia 76ers DFS Start ‘Ems
Tyler Herro (DK: $10,000, FD: $9,200)
Herro is in a lovely position and could be even more optimal if Adebayo sits. At 1.23 fantasy points per minute (FPPM), he should play between 32 and 38 minutes with or without a blowout. Over the last three games, in which the Heat won by 15+, he played 38, 33, and 32 minutes.
Fantasy Point Goal: 50, Total Apex Projection: 48 – 52
Haywood Highsmith (DK: $3,200 FD: $4,400)
A questionable tag and more potential minutes make Highsmith a leverage play. At $3,800, he’s an easy value that many DFS players may overlook due to three straight games of middling play. His ownership will land between 10 – 20%, but he averages 22 fantasy points when he plays over 30 minutes. If Adebayo sits, his minutes should break that threshold.
Heat vs. 76ers Sit ‘Ems
Justin Edwards (DK: $5,800)
The Miami Heat give up the 7th least fantasy points to opposing small forwards and the 11th least for power forwards in the season. Add that challenge with the Q tag, thanks to a rib injury, and it makes sense to tread lightly with Edwards. This price implies he needs 30+, and he has failed to do that in four of his last five games.
Quentin Grimes (DK: $9,800)
Grimes went on a tear once acquired by the 76ers, including a 76.8 fantasy point outing against the defensively capable Rockets. The Rockets are not the Heat, though both Philly and Miami rank in the bottom six in terms of pace per game. The pace means few possessions for Grimes and will cap his fantasy capabilities.
Total Apex Lock of the Game
Adam Bona (DK: $5,300 FD: $6,100)
Bona is a strong option because the 76ers barely have enough bodies to field a team. We project 30 – 40% ownership, which was almost too high for Bona to be a consideration. Over the last five games, he averaged 29 minutes. These minutes allow ceiling outcome probability while giving us salary flexibility to get creative at other positions.
Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Conclusion
This injury report is loaded. Keep a close eye on the report closer to game time to make sure the information here is still relevant. Let Herro lead an offensive onslaught with Highsmith and let Bona take charge in the paint.
