Madison Square Garden becomes a colosseum of hoops when the Suns travel to the Big Apple to play the Knicks. Draft Kings has no showdown slate available for this game, so Fanduel will be the focus. FD’s Showdown differs because players do not cost different amounts with multipliers. If a player is $10,000, they are at the same price as MVP (2x multiplier), Star (1.5x), or Pro (1.2x). The largest field for this slate is 330, which allows us to focus more on strategy and less on lottery-type lineups. Today’s Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em will be a testament to whether our process is working.
Knicks vs. Suns DFS Start ‘Em
Devin Booker (FD: $15,000 DK: NA)
Booker reminded us how fantasy-dominant he can be as the featured player by dropping 50 Fan Duel points without Kevin Durant on Friday night. He played 39 minutes in a 20-point blowout against one of the league’s better defenses, Boston. His usage should bump up to around 35-40%, giving him multiple avenues to increase scoring.
Fantasy Point Goal: 45. Total Apex Projection: 50.
Karl-Anthony Towns (FD: $16,000, DK: NA)
We can start our highest-priced studs due to a pricing mishap for the New York Knicks starting point guard. KAT is a beneficiary. The Suns are abysmal at defending opposing centers, allowing an average of 56.03 points per game. With KAT’s ability to work inside and out offensively, he’s in a prime spot to smash.
Fantasy Point Goal: 51. Total Apex Projection: 53.
Knicks vs. Suns DFS Sit ‘Em
On the flip side, here are a few players we will sit out in this one. While it does say to sit, remember that fading a player entirely is not recommended. When we sit a player, it means underweight on their ownership compared to the field.
Landry Shamet (DK: $8,000, FD: NA)
The Knicks get Jalen Brunson back, suppressing the fantasy output of the other point guards on the Knicks. Shamet offers little on the defensive end and has not at least tripled his salary in points except once over the last 25 games. He would be in consideration if he were the stone minimum of $6,000, but at $7,000, he leaves much to be desired.
Fantasy Point Goal: 35. Total Apex Projection: 15.
Delon Wright (FD: $10,500, DK: NA)
Wright played well while filling in for the Knicks as the other point guards healed. He should return to the bench now that Brunson is back in the groove. The only way Wright sees much action is if Miles McBride sits. Even then, it won’t suffice his ridiculous $10,500 price tag.
Fantasy Point Goal: 45. Total Apex Projection: 8.
Total Apex Lock of the Game
Jalen Brunson (FD: $6,000, DK: NA)
This pricing makes a simple analysis: Fanduel messed up, and it’s time to exploit this mistake. Brunson averages 41.64 Fanduel points in the season. The Knick starters play more than any other team in the league because of Coach Thibodeau’s rotations. At 1.23 fantasy points per minute, I’m smashing him at 100% MVP unless news breaks that he gets 28 minutes or less.
Fantasy Point Goal: 30. Total Apex Projection: 41.
Total Apex Fade of the Game
Miles McBride (FD: $6,000, DK: NA)
Today’s fade correlates with Brunson’s return. McBride’s less-than-stellar health and reduced role scream from the rooftops: FADE! McBride plays best when he starts, or the Knicks are short at PG. With the starter and backup guards healthy, I’m out due to his lack of minutes/usage upside.
Fantasy Point Goal: 30. Total Apex Projection: 12.
Conclusion for Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em
Smaller tournaments can be fun because you do not have to hit the nuts (perfect lineup) to take a tournament down. The smaller prizes also deter the regular sharks from swimming in the water. Use the Brunson misprice, Booker’s usage increase with no KD, and other analyses in this article to improve your lineup.
