Today’s NBA daily fix features a couple players at each position that I highly recommend for today’s 11-game NBA slate. In addition to the two player breakdowns per position, I’ll add a few cheap risk options and tell you which ballers I am fading (not using) tonight. At the end I will list the top-5 players I’ll be using at each position in cash games tonight. Remember that this is written up in advance of any starting lineup or most inactive updates. Be sure to keep your eyes on Twitter and/or Rotoworld for updates that could change things in a big way. Good luck to you all and let’s get money tonight!

Point Guards:

Russell Westbrook ($10,500) – Anytime that Russ drops below $11k you have to take additional notice. He matches up well and always shows up against the Warriors. With most of the top-tier PG crew being within a few hundred dollars of Russ, it makes him that much more appealing. The only other big money PG I’ll be using tonight is Damian Lillard ($10,400) who also has a good matchup.

Trey Burke ($6300) – Anytime you roll with Burke you know that there is risk involved because as quick as he can ball out for over 50 DK points he can also go 2/19 from the field like he did against the Hawks on Friday. This matchup versus the Pacers (with George Hill and likely C.J. Watson both out) sets up really well for Trey to takeover offensively. One thing for sure is that he’ll get a ton of playing time and have the ball a lot, which rarely ends terribly. Even the 2/19 game he managed 25 DK points, which as a floor for a $6300 guy, isn’t too bad. I see a big night ahead for Burke.

Cheap risk plays: Like I mentioned above, George Hill and C.J. Watson will both likely be out for tonight and that opens the door again for Donald Sloan ($4600) who has averaged 35 DK points the past two games where he also started. Be sure that Watson is definitely out before you lock Sloan into a G spot. Kyrie Irving and LeBron James are out tonight, that leaves Matthew Dellavedova ($4300) with a lot of playing time and opportunity. The upside isn’t that high but at his price, a solid 25-30 DK points would be suffice.

PGs I’m fading tonight: Kyrie Irving (OUT) and all of the other big money PGs not named Westbrook or Lillard.

Shooting Guards:

Bradley Beal ($6500) – I really like this price point for Beal who also faces the Pelicans who are 28th against opposing shooting guards. Also, Tyreke Evans will likely be out while Eric Gordon makes his return to the court. These are Beal’s DK point outputs the past five games 21 – 46 – 21 – 44 – 21 – you know what comes next! OK, it may not be that simple but it shapes up to keep that pattern going no doubt and I’ll put my chips in on the roulette Beal tonight.

Dion Waiters ($5600) – When there’s no Kyrie, no LeBron and nobody to stop Dion from shooting, you want to be at the table Waiters is serving up DK points to. Waiters is a bit inconsistent but he’ll get so many looks tonight that he should have a very statistically healthy night. With this lenient price, I’ll have him in most of my lineups and be looking for around 40 DK points.

Cheap risk plays: Tim Hardaway Jr. ($4900) should see plenty of minutes again and has a reasonable shot at 25-30 DK points. Avery Bradley ($4600) has a good matchup against the Hornets and with his 30 minutes of playing time could get you near 25 DK points. If you have to go real cheap and take a huge risk then look at Wayne Ellington ($3200) who may get a few extra minutes with Wesley Johnson sidelined but his upside is likely 20 DK points.

SGs I’m fading: James Harden, Kobe Bryant and Tyreke Evans (likely out with an illness).

Small Forwards:

Gordon Hayward ($8000) – The last time Hayward faced the Pacers he racked up 49.5 DK points and things are still as they were for Indy. With Enes Kanter, Alec Burks and Rodney Hood sidelined it leaves tons of usage on the plate of Hayward and that should equal a really big night for him. I’d be shocked if he didn’t go for 40+ DK points with his favorable situation tonight.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist ($5700) – If you choose to go a cheaper route at SF tonight, there’s a few good options one being MKG. Since Al Jefferson has been out MKG has went for 31, 25 and 39 DK points as he’s getting the ball more on offense and crashing the boards more frequently. Look for him to get his third straight double-double against a mild Boston lineup.

Cheap risk plays: C.J. Miles ($4500) has been sizzling hot lately with the Pacers beaten down team scoring more than 19 points (actual points not DK) in each of the last three games and should do so again tonight. Wanting a real cheap play that consistently delivers 18-20 DK points, look no further than Tony Allen ($3700). Another cheap option with a good matchup and room for upside due to team injuries is Shawn Marion ($3800) but don’t expect over 30 from the vet even if he has a good game.

SFs I’m fading: I’m just not ready to pay up $11,500 for Kevin Durant yet and note that both LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony are OUT tonight.

Power Forwards:

Pau Gasol ($9600) – As much as I like Kevin Love tonight with a depleted team around him and against an awful 76ers team, I can’t get myself to recommend him over Pau Gasol when he costs $1k more. Pau has been awesome lately and there’s no reason for a slow down here against the Rockets. The Bulls should work their offense through Pau once again.

Robert Covington ($5700) – If you want to go with safe value at PF tonight Covington should provide his usual 30 DK points taking on the Cavs. With Cleveland nagged by injuries the Sixers should be able to stay in this one for Rob to rack up minutes and stats. There’s upside here but you can feel sure to get his normal production at minimum.

Cheap risk plays: Trevor Booker ($4300) should see over 20 minutes again with Kanter once again out. There’s definite risk there but 20-25 DK points would be no surprise. Dumpster diving for a F tonight? Jason Maxiell ($3000) has played more since the Jefferson injury and has put up more than 15 DK points in back-to-back games, at the minimum price you could do a lot worse.

PFs I’m fading: There’s a lot of really good options at all price levels for PFs tonight so I’m not paying up for Anthony Davis this go around.

Centers:

Rudy Gobert ($5900) – Predictable for me to use Gobert at any chance I get, I know, but with Kanter out again tonight Rudy should grab down a lot of boards and pick up a handful of blocks. Gobert has played more than 24 minutes in six of the Jazz last 10 games and in those games here’s his DK points: 36 – 33 – 25 – 32 – 29 – 43. I’ll take that consistency and upside at $5900 every chance I get bias or not. On a night where most of the upper-tier centers have tough matchups or are involved in potential blowout/late game benching situations, I like Rudy even more.

Cheap risk plays: Jusuf Nurkic ($4600) has been really good lately posting over 30 DK points in three straight and going against the T-Wolves tonight makes me believe he should put up another good effort. Omer Asik ($4300) and Chris Kaman ($4200) are risky plays but definite options if you go cheap at C tonight. Kaman has more upside with Robin Lopez and Joel Freeland sidelined but Portland hasn’t handled that as we’ve expected of late.

Cs I’m fading: Marc Gasol only due to a blowout 4th-quarter benching risk. Dwight Howard just costs too much for me to use taking on Noah.

Cash game positional rankings: (These are in the order that I’ll be using them based on situation + price, NOT who I think will score the most)

PG:
1) Russell Westbrook
2) Damian Lillard
3) Trey Burke
4) Donald Sloan
5) Matthew Dellavedova

SG:
1) Dion Waiters
2) Bradley Beal
3) Monta Ellis
4) Jimmy Butler
5) Tim Hardaway Jr.
6) Avery Bradley
7) Klay Thompson

SF:
1) Gordon Hayward
2) Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
3) CJ Miles
4) Draymond Green
5) Wilson Chandler

PF:
1) Pau Gasol
2) Robert Covington
3) Kevin Love
4) Blake Griffin
5) Kenneth Faried
6) Thomas Robinson

C:
1) Rudy Gobert
2) Jusuf Nurkic
3) Chris Kaman
4) Joakim Noah
5) Cole Aldrich
6) Omer Asik

For more fantasy hoops analysis and to have any questions you may have answered, follow Zack on Twitter @BigZack44