Skip to content

Squad Up Daily NBA Fantasy Dose: Hawks will own the glass in Horford's return

Dale Zanine / USA TODAY Sports

Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.

Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NBA fantasy picture for Friday, Jan. 13:

Dynamic Duos

  • PF Paul Millsap (78K) & C Dwight Howard (70K), Hawks (vs. Celtics): It's Al Horford's first game back in the city he once called home - and his Celtics are in for a long night on the glass. Boston has the second-worst rebounding rate (47.5%) in the league; Millsap and Howard combine for 21.6 rebounds per night, among their many other contributions.
  • PG Kyle Lowry (84K) & C Jonas Valanciunas (50K), Raptors (vs. Nets): Lowry and Valanciunas have combined for 20 double-doubles this season. The Lowry-JV pick-and-roll game is mutually beneficial from a fantasy standpoint. With an average cap hit of just 67K, these two should be able to both hit 50-50 returns against a talent-deficient Nets team.
  • PG Kemba Walker (82K) & SG Marco Belinelli (40K), Hornets (at 76ers): Jeremy Lamb is out, and Nicolas Batum will make his first appearance since hyperextending his knee. Expect Walker to shoulder even more of the offensive workload, with Belinelli looking for his third straight game with double-digit shot attempts.

Bargain Plays

  • PF Channing Frye (30K), Cavaliers (at Kings): Frye's playing time (and salary) have been on the wane, but the Kings are a great matchup for the lanky sharpshooter. Sacramento has the third-highest 3-point percentage against in the league (38.0).
  • C Montrezl Harrell (47K), Rockets (vs. Grizzlies): The last time these teams met, Harrell had the best game of his career to that point - 16 points on 7-for-11 shooting with eight rebounds and an assist. He has the right combination of athleticism and skill to give Memphis' aging frontcourt plenty of trouble.
  • SG Joe Ingles (25K), Jazz (vs. Pistons): Ingles is the definition of safe. He's averaged 24.3 MPG over his last seven games and consistently gets his five or six shots. He rebounds, passes, shoots from the behind the arc and uses his length to force turnovers. At worst, he's salary ballast; at his best, he can easily exceed his minimum price point.

Top Fades

  • SG James Harden (116K), Rockets (at Grizzlies): Harden's price necessitates a 30-point triple-double in order to return cash-game value. This matchup pits the team with the third-best offensive efficiency (Houston, 112.3) against the roster with the third-best defensive efficiency (Memphis, 101.5). Harden did record a 16-7-17 line against the Grizzlies earlier this season but also had nine turnovers.
  • PF DeMarcus Cousins (98K), Kings (vs. Cavaliers): Cousins is the most expensive big man on the slate and will struggle to return value. The Cavs have lost two straight, including an embarrassing 16-point loss to the Trail Blazers. Look for LeBron and Co. to pour it on early. If Cousin can't keep pace, he could be riding pine down the stretch in a blowout.
  • C Andre Drummond (69K), Pistons (at Jazz): Detroit's franchise center had a quiet night against the Warriors on Thursday, making five of six shots and grabbing 10 rebounds. His price has taken a haircut but it's difficult to see him having a major impact as a scorer or on the glass against the Rudy Gobert-anchored Jazz defense.

Contrarian Options

  • C Joel Embiid (76K), 76ers (vs. Hornets): The 76ers have remained patient with Embiid, resting him to avoid back-to-back games. He's dealing with a minor ankle injury, which could result in a reduced workload - or a benching altogether. If he does play, the Hornets' frontcourt will be ill-equipped to handle his explosiveness around the hoop.
  • PG Malcolm Brogdon (47K), Bucks (vs. Heat): Miami, despite all their injury woes, has maintained a top-10 defensive efficiency this season. Brogdon is looking like found money for the Bucks; the second-round rookie has averaged 14.1 points, 6.4 assists and five rebounds since entering the starting lineup seven games ago.
  • SF Stanley Johnson (27K), Pistons (at Jazz): Johnson logged 37 minutes on Thursday night and now faces the team with the league's top defensive efficiency rating. The reason Johnson played so many minutes is because Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hurt his shoulder, so he might have to play big minutes again. At his price, it wouldn't take much for Johnson to return value but he's still a risk.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox