It's Friday night, so how about we get the weekend started with an exclusive FanDuel tournament for Raptors HQ and other SB Nation readers and writers?
If you've been around the last few weeks, you know the drill by now. Here are the key steps:
- Click here to join tonight's tournament.
- If you haven't signed up for FanDuel yet, click here and you'll get a 100 percent first time matching deposit bonus ($200 max), exclusive to Raptors HQ and SB Nation readers (Use the promo code: SBNRAPTORS).
- If you want to discuss the tournament with me and other players via Twitter as you play, be sure to use the hashtag #FanDuelSBN so we can all follow along with you.
- If you're still not clear on exactly how FanDuel works, you can check out our introductory post about the partnership and learn how to play.
- Jump in the comment section throughout the day to discuss lineups and their construction.
Raptors FanDuel Plays for Tonight vs. the Pacers
Top play: Kyle Lowry ($9,800) has averaged 45.2 fantasy points (combined and weighted points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, and turnovers) per game in six contests without DeMar DeRozan in the lineup, with his lowest output being 34.1. Averages of 24.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 10.3 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.3 blocks, and 2.3 turnovers per contest over that span make him a safe and almost must-start point guard option to build your team around. It also doesn't hurt that Indiana is giving up the 3rd-most fantasy points to opposing point guards on the season (via RotoGrinders). Game on.
Mid-range play: Jonas Valanciunas ($6,200) has averaged 13.6 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in a healthy 30.3 minutes per contest - good for 27.6 fantasy points per game - over his last nine. He still has the occasional dud, but those are becoming fewer and farther between as he logs bigger minutes more consistently. He's averaged a huge 18.0 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks over his last two games and might be in for more of the same tonight with Roy Hibbert playing fewer minutes these days (just 12 against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday and 24 against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday). There's always risk with playing JV, but there's no shame in riding the hot hand.
Bargain play: Lou Williams ($4,900), Greivis Vasquez ($4,800), Amir Johnson ($4,800), Terrence Ross ($4,700), Patrick Patterson ($4,700), and James Johnson ($4,000) have all traded off big games since DeRozan's injury freed up some more shots and minutes to go around, but all six have lacked the consistency that would make them easy to recommend. If you want to throw a dart tonight, keep on eye on GV's status and see if he re-enters the starting five in place of Landry Fields. Otherwise, Patterson has been the hottest hand with 15.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, and 0.5 turnovers over his last two for 27.4 fantasy points per game.
All right, time to make a lineup time! Jump into the comment section and let's have at it.
Note: Even though this is a sponsored post with affiliate links, all of the opinions in this post are my own. And as an FYI, FanDuel gave me some cash to play its daily fantasy games.