Today’s daily fix is a special Big Zack birthday edition! Which only means that if you win you should chip me off a percentage of your winnings and if you lose you have to be kind because I get a birthday pass. Joking aside, today features a couple players at each position that I highly recommend for today’s 10-game NBA slate. In addition to the two player breakdowns per position, I’ll add a few cheap risk options and tell 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:

Kemba Walker ($8600) – I like most of the top PGs tonight, but when I can save almost $2k and go with a guy I’m confident in like Kemba against the 76ers with no Lance Stephenson around, I’m taking him and the extra cash. Sure, he may score 15-20 less than Westbrook or CP3, but I hope to use the extra spending money to more than make up for that.

Damian Lillard ($8500) – This is my top point guard choice of the night. Much like Kemba, Lillard saves you money but the difference is Dame also has all the potential to score huge right up with the top dogs. Lillard also played this same Spurs team (albeit at home) this week and went off for 49.5 DK points. I would be shocked to not see a 45-60 DK point night out of Dame tonight.

Cheap risk plays: Phil Pressey ($3000) will have a nice opportunity to play well above his cost with Rajon Rondo gone and Marcus Smart nursing an injury. Aaron Brooks ($3300) has shown when Derrick Rose (questionable) misses time he’s capable of putting up impressive (for his price) numbers. Cory Joseph ($4700) doesn’t have a ton of upside but at this price he’s a decent cheap filler who can get you around 20-25 DK points.

PGs I’m fading tonight: Russell Westbrook, John Wall, Chris Paul and Kyle Lowry only because I feel I can get similar production and save money to strengthen my overall team. I feel they will all have quality stud nights so no issues if you use one.

Shooting Guards:

Dwyane Wade ($8400) – I listed Wade in my top-5 of SGs on Wednesday but boy did I ever underestimate the guy due to him being on the second half of a back-to-back. The bottom line here is whenever Chris Bosh is out, the Heat rely on Wade for everything and his usage is insane. It’s definitely a tougher matchup tonight versus the Wizards, but in the always difficult to predict shooting guard slot, I don’t ever mind paying up for a seemingly sure 40+ points.

Victor Oladipo ($6500) – This is a gut feeling here. Even though Vic hasn’t been great the past two games, he matches up well against the Jazz, especially starting at the point. At this fair price and in Orlando, I like building a team around home Dipo (It’s my Birthday, you have no choice but to give me a sympathy chuckle for my corny zingers). I’m feeling a 20 point scoring night with some nice assists and a couple steals adding up to a 35-ish DK point performance.

Cheap risk plays: Landry Fields ($3000) doesn’t have a high ceiling but he has been starting for the Raptors and if you go with two upper tier priced players or just need to throw a cheap dart, throw it at Fields and hope for 20 DK points. Gary Neal ($3700) has gone for 34, 12, 21, 22 DP points in his last four games which isn’t special but for a super cheap play he’s reasonably “safe.”

SGs I’m fading: Kobe Bryant who has a really high usage and will shoot a ton but on a 10-game slate I’m not spending $9400 on him.

Small Forwards:

Gordon Hayward ($7600) – I like this pricing for Hayward and while he battled early foul trouble a couple weeks ago versus Orlando, I feel he’s going to have a big scoring night this time around. Look for the offense to run through him as it did Wednesday in Miami and with that will come a 40 DK point night.

Tobias Harris ($7200) – Yes, I know, another Magic player but I swear it’s not my homer (to)bias. Harris is just so damn consistent that I almost always use the guy. He’s always priced for use and he has only scored less than 30 DK points once in the past 10 games. Take advantage of this safety net.

Cheap risk plays: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist ($3900) is back in the starting lineup and has a great matchup against the Sixers. Temper expectations here but I feel DK 20-25 points is very possible. I’ll be mixing in plenty of Danilo Gallinari ($3000) in my lineups with him somehow at minimum price. He’s coming off a pretty good return game where he scored 16 points in 26 minutes. There’s downside here but at this price he’s well worth the gamble for me.

SFs I’m fading: Kevin Durant after his ankle tweak last night and Josh Smith who has big upside but way too much downside for that price, I just can’t.

Power Forwards:

Blake Griffin ($10,500) – Here’s a spot that I am willing to pay up for a stud. Blake is coming off a huge game against the Pacers and now gets another cushy opponent in the Nuggets. Blake is one to really take advantage of poor matchups, so I expect lots of points and boards plus a handful of assists from the highlight reel beast.

Pau Gasol ($8800) – Memphis is a top-tier team this season but Zach Randolph isn’t slowing down legit PFs whatsoever. Pau should play big minutes (the Thibbs way) and rack up stats including a handful of blocks. Marc may win the game but his brother will have the best line of the night. Shots fired, pau! pau!

Cheap risk plays: Thomas Robinson ($3000) had a big night starting for Portland on Wednesday and if he draws another start he could repeat that. Even if he comes off of the bench he should see a good amount of court time and be able to shred his cost. Nene Hilario ($4500) is only getting minutes in the low 20s right now but he’s managed between 19-25 DK points in his last four games. Taking on a Bosh-less Heat team should allow him to own the paint when he’s out there.

PFs I’m fading: Tim Duncan due to his 48 minutes played on Wednesday night and Popovich could limit or sit him because of it. Zach Randolph against Pau just doesn’t tempt me with the other options available.

Centers:

Al Jefferson ($8900) – Who in Philly is going to slow down big Al? The only concern is if he sits late but Charlotte hasn’t been playing well enough to blow anyone out and Vegas only has them favored by fiev. Al should do work down low and be a top scoring center on the night.

Marcin Gortat ($7100) – There were so many centers I wanted to write up here, but I had to go with “we are not the same I am a Marcin.” With Bosh almost assuredly out, nobody in Miami will be able to control Gortat in the post. I also like that while Gortat does have a pretty high ceiling, he also has a pretty steady floor of around 30 DK points. You’re hoping for 40+ if you use him but at this price he’s not a major risk.

Cheap risk plays: I don’t like any of the super cheap options but of the under $5k risk guys I believe Kelly Olynyk ($4900) is a good target to get you around 25 DK points. Much riskier but in a decent position to play extended minutes if Duncan sits is Tiago Splitter ($4100) who could do enough to get you 20+ at a cheap tag.

Cs I’m fading: Joakim Noah who is just getting back to playing and doesn’t have an ideal matchup.

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) Damian Lillard
2) Kemba Walker
3) Michael Carter-Williams
4) Phil Pressey
5) Deron Williams

SG:
1) Dwyane Wade
2) Victor Oladipo
3) Jimmy Butler
4) Danny Green
5) Bradley Beal
6) Gary Neal

SF:
1) Gordon Hayward
2) Tobias Harris
3) LeBron James
4) Danilo Gallinari
5) Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

PF:
1) Blake Griffin
2) Pau Gasol
3) LaMarcus Aldridge
4) Thomas Robinson
5) Derrick Favors
6) Nerlens Noel

C:
1) Marcin Gortat
2) Al Jefferson
3) DeAndre Jordan
4) Mason Plumlee
5) Nikola Vucevic
6) Chris Kaman

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