Today’s NBA daily fix features a couple players at each position that I highly recommend for today’s 12-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:

Damian Lillard ($9500) – With LaMarcus Aldridge sidelines the Blazers will have to rely heavily on Lillard to run the show on offense and he’s up for that task. In four games this season with Aldridge out, Lillard has went for 44, 43, 44 and 57 DK points. Here he gets a good matchup also against the Suns who rank 25th against against opposing PGs this season. I’m feeling a 50 burger for Dame in this one.

Jarrett Jack ($6300) – There are several good mid-tier point guard options tonight but my favorite is Jack taking on the Kings. Sacramento is bottom five in the league against point guards and Brooklyn has really let Jack control their offense with Deron Williams out. In his previous two games both versus a solid defensive Wizards team, Jack put up 38 and 40 DK points. Look for Jack to hit value with another 40-ish DK point showing.

Cheap risk plays: If Jrue Holiday (questionable) is out once again, you really have no choice but to highly consider using Brian Roberts ($4300) who has done well passing the rock but his teammates haven’t been converting his assists at a good rate the past two games. Despite that he still went for 26 DK points in their last game and I think his 20 DK point floor and 35 ceiling is a good value play. Greivis Vasquez ($3700) is now starting at shooting guard for the Raptors and getting 30 minutes a night. He’s a streaky shooter but at this price his upside is a gamble I’ll take part in a good bit tonight. Langston Galloway ($3600) is a big risk as he’s shown over his last four games going for 31, 16, 12 and 32 DK points. The Knicks do take on the Sixers in this one so that is about as good a matchup as you could ask for here.

PGs I’m fading tonight: Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry and Kyle Lowry

Shooting Guards:

Dwyane Wade ($8300) – If Wade plays the second half of this back-to-back tonight, I think he’s a tremendous value tonight at just over $8k. Wade has been great when he’s played this season and he has a solid matchup against the Hornets and he’ll feel extra motivation to dominate against former Pacer rival, Lance Stephenson. If Wade plays, he’s my top SG option tonight.

Victor Oladipo ($6900) – I’m not counting on Tobias Harris returning for this game because the Magic aren’t in a need to win mode by any means and if he’s still iffy, why play him? That is good news for Oladipo who has put up 30+ DK points in all five games Harris has missed this month including two eruptions for 40 and 50 DK points. Dipo is still at a good price and I feel despite there being some other nice matchups for similar level SGs, Dipo is the safest.

Cheap risk plays: Eric Gordon ($5400) has delivered 25+ DK points in five straight games for the Pelicans and is still a nice value play especially if Jrue is out again. JR Smith ($4900) isn’t a guy I like to recommend but if you want a cheap GPP risk play, he’s a good one. Just be warned that while he’s went for over 22 DK points in three straight, he’s just as capable to put up a 10 point night as he is a 40. There’s no predicting which JR will show up night-to-night. Courtney Lee ($4000) has no upside but he’s cheap and gets 20-25 DK points basically every night thanks to him playing 30 minutes every night for his defensive abilities. Lee also can hit open shots which he gets frequently with so many good offensive weapons around him.

SGs I’m fading: Eric Bledsoe, Kobe Bryant and Klay Thompson

Small Forwards:

Kevin Durant ($10,700) – KD gets to return to his hometown to take on a tough Wizards team and you better believe he’ll be looking to post a huge line, well he does that every night, so a HUGER line! (Yeah, I said huger.) DO I really need to expand on why Durant is worth spending nearly $11k on? Generally I like to go with a value play at SF but tonight it looks very sketchy and I’m going with the top option in most lineups.

Rudy Gay ($7700) – If I don’t roll out the big dough for Durant, I’m going to cash in my 30+ DK points from Rudy at a fair $7.7k. Rudy has been really consistent this season with way more good nights than bad. He’s a safe bet to hit above value and went off for 47 DK points earlier this season against this same Nets team.

Cheap risk plays: As I said above, not liking many of the value plays tonight but there’s two that at least are worth a mention. P.J. Tucker ($4100) who you need to hope he continues to get multiple steals to hit in the low 20s and Hollis Thompson ($3200) who is no sure bet of course but if you need a near minimum play he’s been going for 15-20 DK points and faces a cruddy Knicks team.

SFs I’m fading: Gordon Hayward, Draymond Green (unless you want to go very contrarion for a GPP play) and Luol Deng

Power Forwards:

Zach Randolph ($7700) – Z-Bo is averaging 42 DK points in his six games since returning from injury and has shown no signs of slowing down. He’s looked every bit of 100% and has really fresh legs out there and it’s showing in his rebounding and jumpers. Ride with Z-Bo tonight and take all of your opponent’s gold chains on the way to a pay day.

Markieff Morris ($6600) – Most will focus on who steps up for the Blazers with Aldridge out but I like to look at who should benefit on the opposing team due to his absence and that’s Markieff. This is a bit riskier than I usually like to go with one of my featured players but this matchup is just too good to pass up. Despite being a really underrated PF in the league, the better Morris twin’s game doesn’t always translate very well in DFS. Tonight I feel will be one of his better overall games landing him in the 40 DK point vicinity.

Cheap risk plays: Amir Johnson ($4600) seems like a really good value even against Memphis tonight. Amir has averaged 28 DK points over the past ten Raptor games and they’ll need him to man up in the paint tonight so look for him to hit right around that average. I am not a Thomas Robinson ($3000) fan at all as anytime I think he’ll step up he no shows and when I ignore him he balls out. This go around the Blazers don’t have much a choice with Robin Lopez, LaMarcus Aldridge and Joel Freeland out tonight, Robinson is going to have to play big minutes and at the minimum it’s going to be near impossible to not have him in all your lineups.

PFs I’m fading: Anthony Davis, Kevin Love, Paul Millsap and Serge Ibaka

Centers:

Andre Drummond ($8400) – In two games against the Magic this season Drummond has averaged 14.5 points, 16 boards, one steal and three blocks for 45 DK points per game. Drum appears to like going up against Vucevic and will look to pad his stat log for a third time this season against him. The better news is Andre has avoided foul trouble against the Magic’s 7-footer which is usually Drums only deterrent from nice fantasy days.

Tyson Chandler ($6300) – Not sure why Tyson is still so cheap on DK but I’m not complaining. Not sure any player could continuously put up 30+ DK points annd still remain under $7k but Chandler floats under the radar possibly because he’s not heavily owned due to his lack of upside. Upside is a nice thing to shoot for but there’s no shame at all in taking a guy you know is going to get you 30 DK points and at a real nice price at that. Tyson has put up 30+ DK points in seven of the Mavs last eight games and he should do that again against Dieng and the Wolves tonight.

Cheap risk plays: Alex Len ($4800) has played just 22 minutes the past two games but I’d like to think that rises closer to 28 tonight taking on a depleted Blazers team. Len should have a ball owning Kaman and Meyers Leonard tonight. Look for a good amount of boards and a few blocks for the young big fella. The aforementioned Meyers Leonard ($3200) should be get a grip of minutes tonight along with Robinson and Kaman and at his near minimum price he’s a decent risk play. When Leonard gets over 20 minutes he typically gives 20+ DK points and tonight he should see minutes in the mid-high 20s.
Cs I’m fading:  Nikola Vucevic, Dwight Howard, Al Jefferson and Mason Plumlee

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) Jarrett Jack
3) Michael Carter-Williams
4) Kyrie Irving
5) Brian Roberts (if Jrue is out)
6) Trey Burke
7) Mo Williams
8) Langston Galloway

SG:
1) Dwyane Wade
2) Victor Oladipo
3) James Harden
4) Eric Gordon
5) Wesley Matthews
6) J.R. Smith
7) Courtney Lee

SF:
1) Kevin Durant
2) Rudy Gay
3) LeBron James
4) P.J. Tucker
5) Jeff Green
6) Hollis Thompson

PF:
1) Zach Randolph
2) Thomas Robinson
3) Markieff Morris
4) Amir Johnson
5) Derrick Favors
6) Donatas Motiejunas
7) Greg Monroe

C:
1) Tyson Chandler
2) Andre Drummond
3) Alex Len
4) Meyers Leonard
5) Chris Kaman
6) Chris Bosh
7) Rudy Gobert

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