There is one certainty when it comes to winning money with FanDuel Basketball and that is you must have a lineup comprised of as much top-tier talent as you can afford. Of course by buying high on many of the game’s best players it leaves little cash left to fill out a balanced lineup. To this end, one must find value plays that are coming into underpriced on the night and who are poised to outperform their assigned price tag. The small forward spots are two roster holes that demand value. Typically this roster position offers the least amount of bang for your fantasy dollar as the production here is considerably lower than similarly priced players at other spots. Case in point would be that a $8000 small forward will not give the same production or averages that a $8000 point guard would give. Bottom line; this is the least valuable roster spot to fill with high-priced talent and finding value at this position is a must.
In advance of any set pricing coming out from FanDuel on the upcoming NBA season, we will take a look at players from each position and from each conference who are poised to contribute nicely in those secondary roles. While none of these guys are going to carry your lineup night in and night out, they will give you that value play that could just make the difference between winning and losing money.
Top 5 Fantasy Value Plays for Small Forwards - Eastern Conference
Giannis Antetokounmpo Milwaukee Bucks
There is no question that one of the most anticipated players coming into this season is the ‘Greek Freek’ in Giannis Antetokounmpo. After an impressive rookie campaign that saw many an opponent shaking their head in wonder, opposing coaches heaping praise on and highlight reel plays on a nightly basis; the expectations are high entering this young-man’s second season. He will certainly be a player to watch on the upstart Bucks as his value could start off low and climb steadily or it may start off over-inflated due to the hype and not ever meet up with the on court production.
Nicolas Batum Charlotte Hornets
Batum was the Hornets big offseason acquisition as he was traded away from the Portland Trailblazers. Batum never really seemed to fit well with the Blazers and seemed to be an easy target for criticism there. With a fresh start in Charlotte and a much more prominent role offensively, Batum should see a nice resurgence here. Batum has been a regular starter for three consecutive seasons and is capable of contributing in all offensive categories. He is still only 26-years old, despite having seven seasons in the Association under his belt. It will be interesting to see how he and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist share minutes here particularly considering the financial commitment the Hornets just made to MKG recently.
Mario Hezonja Orlando Magic
This one will be interesting to watch as many draft pundits believed that Hezonja was years away from being an impact player in the NBA. It remains to be seen just what kind of minutes Hezonja can carve out for himself; however, one thing is undeniable and that is his talent and confidence. The Orlando Magic know that they aren’t competing for a title or even a Division Championship here and they are committed to stockpiling talent in the draft. Even so, the temptation to see what this kid can do against world-class talent will be there and expect the Magic to get a real sense of what they have here before season’s end.
Robert Covington Philadelphia 76ers
Not many folks saw the undrafted, D-League project making such an impact in the Association. In what was his second season with Philly, after playing seven games the year before, Covington showed that not only could he play at this level, but that he could be an effective player. He finished the season by averaging 13.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in 70 games for the 76ers. Covington figures to fit into the 76ers plans as they didn’t do anything this offseason that would really take away from his minutes this season.
Otto Porter Washington Wizards
Porter saw some decent minutes last season as the Wizards backup/occasional starter. Problem for Otto was that he averaged a measly 19 minutes a game and he was never able to really establish a rhythm. Porter did show his potential; however, in the playoffs for the Wizards as he saw an increase in minutes to 30-plus a night and he came through by averaging close to 10 points and eight rebounds. Porter might get pushed a bit by newcomer Kelly Oubre; however, all signs point to Porter getting the nod as the starter this season.