The 38-40 Sacramento Kings march into Little Caesars Arena to take on the 43 – 35 Detroit Pistons. Injury watch includes Keegan Murray, Jake LaRavia, Jalen Duren, and Tobias Harris. Each player carries implications that will benefit teammates if they do or do not play. Here is today’s Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em.
Pistons vs. Kings DFS Start ‘Em
Malik Beasley (DK: $6,000, FD: NA)
Beasley gets minutes. He’s played 31+ in the last six games. His FPPM is .92, creating an expectation of his salary at 29. With a 230-game over/under, scoring should come in bunches. The Kings’ defense is the second worst in the NBA, defending the three, allowing 14.7 made per game. Beasley can use this to get hot beyond the arc.
Fantasy Point Goal: 30, Total Apex Projection: 33
Ausar Thompson (DK: $7,200, FD: NA)
Many of the points we made about Beasley also apply to Thompson. The Kings let offenses do whatever they want, and the Pistons’ 10th overall pace metric suggests Detroit will do the same. Thompson’s salary has increased over the last five games, but it should justifiably be without Harris. If Harris sits, Thompson could scoop up a 40+ fantasy point night.
Fantasy Point Goal: 36, Total Apex Projection: 38
Pistons vs. Kings DFS Sit ‘Em
Dennis Schroder (DK: $6,600, FD: NA)
The journeyman’s price leaves much to desire for a showdown slate. While he plays for a lot of minutes, he does not maximize his fantasy potential. At this price, it takes 33 DK points to hit the value. He only surpassed this threshold three times over his last 15 games. Other Piston players make more sense in this game.
Fantasy Point Goal: 33, Total Apex Projection: 24
Malik Monk (DK: $7,600, FD: NA)
Monk is a sit target while he works out of a slump. Over the last four games, he has averaged 23 fantasy points per game while also getting a bump down in minutes. He’s played over 29 minutes only once in the previous five games. Coming off a hard-fought win in Cleveland yesterday, reliable minutes may be hard to come by.
Fantasy Point Goal: 38, Total Apex Projection: 30
Total Apex Lock of the Game
Trey Lyles (DK: $3,200, FD: NA)
Trey Lyles shines when Keegan Murray sits. He racked up 23 DK points playing 40 minutes against Cleveland yesterday, and these numbers look right for his role tonight. The $200 pricing adjustment is fair but not impactful enough for him not to get his marks. Let’s keep riding this train if Murray is out.
Fantasy Point Goal: 16, Total Apex Projection: 26
Total Apex Fade of the Game
Markelle Fultz (DK: $1,000, FD: NA)
The former number-one overall pick’s resurgence back to the league is a feel-good story. Unfortunately, that narrative is not a feel-good story for our DFS lineups. While $1,000 is a tempting price, he is unplayable due to his lack of minutes, averaging 8.6 minutes and 6.6 fantasy points on the season.
Fantasy Point Goal: 5, Total Apex Projection: 5
Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Conclusion
Due to the King’s lack of defense, Detriot has the opportunity to score. If Beasley gets hot from beyond the arc, Thompson fills up the stat sheet, and Lyles jumps in for Murray, a lineup with these players will be formidable. Use the value and take down tonight’s Showdown on either DraftKings or Fanduel.
