This article is part of our DFS College Basketball series.
A six-pack of games headlines the DraftKings slate Thursday, with $2k up for grabs in the Big Jam.
Top Players
Kenneth Lofton Jr., F, Louisiana Tech ($8,300 DK)
Marshall has the worst defense on today's slate, per KenPom's adjusted efficiency ratings, so it's probably a good idea to select a bulldog or two. At the top of my list is Kenneth Lofton Jr., the go-to player for Louisana Tech. Lofton leads the team in usage rate by a wide margin and also has tremendous rebounding skills. Lofton also currently has the tenth-highest offensive efficiency rating in the country among players that use at least 28 percent of their team's possessions when on the court. Lofton's success is hardly new, as last year in his freshman season, he ranked top-four in terms of both offensive and defensive rebounding rates among Conference USA players during conference season. Given last year's productivity, it comes as no surprise that Lofton is a double-double machine this year, having achieved that mark in 6-of-11 games this season. Lofton has also scored 30-plus points on two occasions this season, flashing an incredibly high ceiling. Lofton might be a little pricey, but his upside can't be ignored, especially when he's going against the softest defense on the slate.
Branden Carlson, F, Utah ($7,100 DK)
Oregon State currently has the worst defense in the Pac-12 by a mile, and the second-worst overall defense on today's slate. Oregon State is particularly soft on the frontcourt, allowing opponents to make 53 percent of two-point attempts, ranking in the bottom 20 percent of the country. Given this matchup, it's hard to ask for a better opponent for Branden Carlson, who's expected to make his return to the lineup after missing the last couple of games due to Covid protocols. Carlson is making nearly 60 percent of his two-point shots while having taken the most attempts on the team, so he will likely challenge Oregon State's interior defense, and based on the numbers, it seems Carlson should win that battle more often than not. Carlson also leads the team in usage rate and offensive efficiency rating, a potent combination for fantasy scoring. All in all, Carlson offers significant upside against a favorable opponent.
Middle Tier
Dashawn Davis, G, Oregon State ($6,200 DK)
The Beavers are pretty bad, currently sitting at 2-10, but let's not hold that against freshman point guard Dashawn Davis. Like most freshmen, Davis started off the season with highs and lows, but he's really taken off since the calendar flipped to December. In the past five games this month, Davis has played 30-plus minutes in every one while averaging almost 11 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists and nearly 2 steals per game. The Beavers might not win today's contest, but we can almost be sure that Davis will put up numbers as he makes his best effort to keep his team in the game and pull off the upset. Showing no signs of slowing down, Davis offers a solid floor at a reasonable salary.
KJ Buffen, F, UAB ($6,100 DK)
Currently projected to put up the second-most points on today's slate, UAB is another team that needs DFS consideration. If you're looking for a mid-tier option, KJ Buffen offers decent upside, as he's been playing his best basketball during the month of December. In six games this month, Buffen is averaging over 13 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. He recorded a double-double in three of those games, and based on today's matchup, it's fair to say Buffen has a legitimate shot at posting his fourth double-double of the month. Not bad for someone with a modest salary.
Value Plays
Darius George, G/F, Marshall ($5,000 DK)
The Thundering Herd play at the second-fastest adjusted tempo in the country, per KenPom, so they're always a threat to put up a ton of points. A potentially sneaky pick is Darius George, a starter who currently boasts the highest-offensive efficiency rating on the team. George is also making two-point baskets at the highest rate on a team, 70 percent currently, which is relevant because Louisiana Tech appears to be somewhat vulnerable in the paint, having allowed opponents to make 52.1 percent of their two-point field goals, which ranks in the bottom third of the country. George carries some risk considering his sporadic playing time, although he has scored in double figures several times this season while also collecting the third-most rebounds and second-most steals on the team along the way. He might not take as many shots as other starters on the team, but he should still be able to provide some value in what figures to be the highest-scoring game of the day.
Paxson Wojcik, G, Brown ($4,300 DK)
Previously a role player for Loyola Chicago in his first two seasons, Paxson Wojcik transferred to Brown this season and has secured a spot in the starting lineup. Wojcik has scored in double figures in 7-of-12 games against Division I opponents this season, and in the process, he's put up the second-most points on the team. Wojcik has been heating up lately, averaging over 12 points per game in his last five contests. In the same span of time, Wojcik is also averaging nearly five combined rebounds and assists per game, in addition to one steal per game. Add everything up, and it's easy to see that Wojcik shouldn't have too much trouble generating value at today's salary, barring any surprises of course.
