We are into the second weekend of action in the NCAA Tournament, and just 16 teams remain in the hunt for the National Championship.
Consequently, we are down to the last of our DFS offerings before next season. We’re maintaining our tournament coverage, offering insights from our projections on how to get the most out of your rosters.
Be sure to check out some of our features, like our Lineup Optimizer allows you to create 300 lineups in seconds. You can also create an abundance of lineup-building rules to suit your playing style for the slates you’re playing.
Got your own CBB projections? No problem. You can even upload your own projections to use with our optimizer. Not only that, but you can create a custom set of blended projections in our models.
The Lineup Builder on FantasyLabs allows you to hand-build custom lineups on the same screen as our player projections. You can hand-build your entire team or simply select a few players you like and let the optimizer take care of the rest.
Now, let’s get into the slate!
March Madness CBB Guard Picks
Top Play: Jamie Jaquez Jr. ($10,000)
The UCLA Bruins swingman has been an integral part of the Bruins’ success all season and has reserved his best work for tournament time. We’re expecting him to deliver another exceptional performance against the Gonzaga Bulldogs.
Based on the FantasyLabs algorithm, the senior has a unique distinction of ranking as the leader in projected fantasy points and Points/Salary. Considering his recent efforts, he should live up to those lofty standards.
Jaquez Jr. continues to set the bar higher, eclipsing his previous fantasy point total in each of the last five games. Most recently, the Califonia native dropped 24 points, eight rebounds, and four assists against the Northwestern Wildcats for 38.6 fantasy points. That was the second straight game in which he had shot at least 57.1% from the field, a benchmark he should maintain against the
This contest has the highest total on the board, and the Bruins are modest -1.5 chalk. Jaquez benefits the total and side, and he should emerge as one of the top-performing guards on the slate.
Top Value: A.J. Hoggard ($7,800)
Tom Izzo is turning back the clock with this iteration of the Michigan State Spartans. Sparty knocked off the Marquette Golden Eagles in Round 2, and A.J. Hoggard will be ready to build off his 13-point effort from last time out.
Hoggard has been an undervalued player throughout the season. The junior guard ranks third on the team in scoring, with respectable three-point and free-throw shooting percentages. Moreover, he’s got solid complementary stats, leading the team in assists and ranking fifth in rebounds.
Still, Hoggard comes into the Sweet Sixteen with a reasonable $7,800 salary. Hoggard’s shooting percentage is creeping up, with the Spartans’ guard exceeding his season-long benchmark in both tournament games. He should be able to maintain that trend against the Kansas State Wildcats, who allow an opponent’s shooting percentage of 45.5% away from home this season.
Foul trouble and turnovers have been Hoggard’s undoing. Nevertheless, he should be able to play a clean game against the systematic Wildcats, setting him up to shoulder a heavy workload and reach his fantasy ceiling on Thursday night.
Be sure to check out all the pick’ems on PrizePicks for the NCAA tourney.
March Madness CBB Forward Picks
Top Play: Drew Timme ($8,900)
Offense is synonymous with the Bulldogs, and Drew Timme is the poster boy of their success. The senior leads the team in scoring, rebounding, and assists, adding fantasy value on the defensive end of the court. Don’t think twice about rostering the big man on the four-game docket.
Timme has been even better in tournament play. The Bulldogs’ big man is above his season average in scoring, recording 49 points through the first two rounds of the tourney. Additionally, he’s maintained his rebound and assists, averaging 7.0 and 3.0, respectively. Factoring in a few blocks, it’s no surprise that Timme has totaled 78.7 fantasy points over his last two outings.
UCLA had a hard time containing Northwestern center Matthew Nicholson in the Round of 32. Nicholson dropped 17 points and nine rebounds on the Bruis, easily surpassing his previous high of 13 points this season. Now, they’ll have to contend with an even bigger presence in the interior with Timme. We like him to reach his full potential, giving the Bulldogs the best chance of pulling off the upset.
Top Value: Alex Karaban ($6,000)
This is a true shot in the dark with an underperforming forward, but we can’t look past the value Alex Karaban bring in tournament formats on the Thursday slate.
The Connecticut Huskies’ forward has put up two sub-optimal efforts through the opening rounds of the big dance. Across the modest two-game sample, Karaban has nine points and eight rebounds on 3-for-10 shooting. Nevertheless, he’s sustained his elite usage, playing at least 31 minutes in each contest, and should see his field goal percentage improve over the coming games.
The Arkansas Razorbacks have employed a looser defensive standard to end the season, allowing shooting percentages of at least 48.0% in three of their previous five games. Further, starting forwards combined for 34 of the Kansas Jayhawks’ 71 points on Saturday, giving Karaban an edge in the Sweet Sixteen to live up to his fantasy potential.
At $6,000, he’s worth a flyer as an x-factor in any DFS format.
March Madness CBB Flag Plant
Johnell Davis ($7,600)
As a point of pride, we’ve been looking for well-rounded candidates in determining which player is worthy of the “Flag Plant” status. Look no further than Florida Atlantic Owls guard Johnell Davis on Thursday night.
The sophomore guard leads the team in usage, adding value on both ends of the court. The Indiana native is the Owls’ top scorer, ranking in the top five in rebounds, assists, and steals. Not unexpectedly, Davis is a marksman from range, nailing 38.8% of his shots from beyond the arc and contributing to his above-average 50.0% shooting percentage.
Although he may not be able to match the 29 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, and five steals he had in Round 2, Davis is an underappreciated baller who should exceed the implied value of his modest salary against the Tennessee Volunteers.
