Thursday brings only four games in the NBA, which doesn’t leave us with the busiest of DFS slates. Still, injuries have created several value plays to consider.
Read MoreNBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Recommendations for January 7 2020
We don’t have the busiest of nights in the NBA on Tuesday with just six games on the schedule. There will be a lot of bad teams in action, as well, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be a fun night in DFS.
Read MoreNBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Recommendations for January 1 2020
As we ring in the New Year, we have a light four-game schedule in the NBA on Wednesday. Both sites are handling things a little differently with DraftKings including all four games in their main slate while FanDuel only has the three later games in theirs.
Read MoreNBA FanDuel / Draftkings Lineup For Tonight
*Cory Hanley*
T: @Hanley_Cory
NBA FanDuel / Draftkings Lineup For Tonight
Thursday brings us a smaller slate of six games in the NBA, leaving you with the right options if you know what you’re looking for in your DFS entry. Consider using some of the players below and plugging them into our NBA Lineup Optimizer to round out your lineups. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and find the value players that are low-owned on FanDuel and DraftKings.
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Point Guard
Ricky Rubio, vs. Mavericks (FD: $7,400, DK: $7,100)
Projected Points: FD: 33.66, DK: 34.15
The Jazz are currently battling over the eighth playoff spot in the West versus the Nuggets and Clippers. This leaves Rubio to leave it all on the court night after night, which he continues to prove to do so. Averaging an insanely impressive plus/minus of +21.3 over the last 617 minutes, he has turned into the superstar of his team.
Dennis Schroder, vs. Kings (FD: $6,200, DK: $6,500)
Projected Points: FD: 35.61, DK: 37.03
Schroder didn’t get the memo that the Hawks are out of contention for a playoff spot. Tuesday night, in an unlikely win over the Jazz he managed a career-high 41 points. Thursday night he’ll go up against a mediocre Sacramento defense that is currently giving up 22.4 points per game and 8.27 assists to point guards, two categories that Schroder has been excelling in lately.
Shooting Guard
James Harden, vs. Pistons (FD: $11,600, DK: $11,600)
Projected Points: FD: 53.49, DK: 55.01
In USA Today, Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said it quite well when he stated, “That’s the best offensive player I’ve ever seen. They were running guys to him, and he just steps a little further back and hits a three. You know, the way he can pass and see the floor, get fouls, layups, floaters, maybe a lob, maybe out to the corner, he has so many weapons, and now he’s shooting those stepback threes, it’s impossible to guard him. It’s impossible.” Look for him to put on another show at home tonight versus the Pistons.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, vs. Pelicans (FD: $5,500, DK: $6,200)
Projected Points: FD: 32.6, DK: 32.72
The Lakers rank first in pace of play, while the Pelicans check in at third, making this Thursday’s fastest-paced matchup. It’s entirely possible that if you blink, you might miss a possession. Caldwell-Pope will receive plenty of opportunities at the shooting guard position, as the Pelicans are on the second game of a back-to-back. I like him best for FanDuel cash games, as his salary there seems perfectly priced. You should see him hit his expected floor of around 32 points.
Small Forward
Joe Ingles, vs. Mavericks (FD: $6,600, DK: $6,400)
Projected Points: FD: 27.01, DK: 28.16
If you’re looking for a hot hand on one of the hottest teams in the NBA, look no further than Ingles. The Jazz, having won 9 out of their last 10, are on a heater at the right time of the season. Each member of the team is stepping up like never before. The price is most certainly right for Ingles, as in his last 10 games he has averaged 14.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Don’t be surprised when you look up on the stat sheet and find him having a 6x-6.5x value game against the Mavs Thursday night.
E’Twaun Moore, vs. Lakers (FD: $4,500, DK: $4,300)
Projected Points: FD: 21.16, DK: 21.64
Even though I’ve already given you a relatively inexpensive option for small forward, I have one more, Moore. In what promises to be the fastest-paced game of the night, Moore will have more than ample opportunities to shoot the ball, which is perfect timing as he appears to be at the beginning of a heater. The Lakers are giving up 30.2 fantasy points to small forward starters, and it shows as last time out versus the Lakers, he scored 29.5 DraftKings/FanDuel points.
Power Forward
Anthony Davis, vs. Lakers (FD: $12,500, DK: $11,700)
Projected Points: FD: 61.82, DK: 61.33
In the middle of the Pelicans’ charge to the playoffs, no team has proved itself capable of stopping Davis. As a result, the Pelicans are leaning hard on him towards the end of the season. In his last ten games, he has managed to average a double-double grabbing 11.3 rebounds and 28.3 points per game. If you can afford the hefty price tag, there is undoubtedly an opportunity for him to go off against the Lakers. In their last two meetings against each other this season he has 71.25 DK points and 72.7 FanDuel points.
Aaron Gordon, vs. 76ers (FD: $7,500, DK: $7,300)
Projected Points: FD: 34.84, DK: 35.01
With Coach Frank Vogel giving Gordon 34 minutes of playing time in Tuesday nights game, you can rest assured Gordon is back and ready to play some ball. Historically, he has done quite well versus the 76ers this season, averaging 18 points, eight rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.5 blocks per game. If you can’t afford the sizable salary of Anthony Davis in your lineup, you can pivot toward Gordon. Being the hero of what is left of the Magic, he is unlikely to let you down.
Center
Rudy Gobert, vs. Mavericks (FD: $9,500, DK: $8,300)
Projected Points: FD: 39.81, DK: 39.72
With a price of only $8,300 on Draftkings, I don’t see why you shouldn’t lock Gobert in all of your DK lineups for Thursday night. Gobert has been an unstoppable force as no player has been better than him value-wise for March. He has managed to rack up 18.9 points, 13.9 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and has been getting the minutes, averaging 36.1 per game. The FanDuel price seems right, but take advantage of the low salary play on DraftKings while you have the chance.
Dewayne Dedmon, vs. Kings (FD: $5,300, DK: $5,600)
Projected Points: FD: 29.58, DK: 29.37
Dedmon has been on the receiving end of some extra minutes in place of John Collins, who has been dealing with an ankle injury. Tuesday night he went off, most impressively against one of the top defenses in the league, managing to hit 15 points, 15 rebounds, two steals, four assists and a block in 29 minutes of action on the court. He could easily crush value tonight on both websites, as last time out versus the Kings he scored 55 FanDuel points and 56 DraftKings points in only 24 minutes of play. Just imagine what he will accomplish with those few extra precious minutes.
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks 1/5/18
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks 1/5/18
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POINT GUARDS:
Chris Paul ($10,100 FD/$10,000 DK) –
With the absence of James Harden, it is up to Chris Paul to run the Rockets rapid offense. In his first two games since Harden’s injury, Paul posted an average of 41.9 FanDuel PPG between both contests. Although the Pistons defend the position fairly well, it shouldn’t affect Paul too much as somebody will need to be a primary source of offense. He may be a bit pricey considering the superstars he shares the slate with, but if you are paying up at point guard Chris Paul is definitely your guy.
Darren Collison ($6,100 FD/$5,900 DK) –
Collison is a cheap, reliable option in this slate with a great match-up. He opposes the Chicago Bulls, who rank dead last in the NBA in defending point guards. He versed them just a week ago as well and posted 44.1 FanDuel points with a 30 point breakout game. His teammate, Victor Oladipo, is listed questionable for the contest and if ruled out Collison is in for an expanded role and usage. Regardless of Oladipo’s status, Collison is a great play and has potential to be even greater of a play.
SHOOTING GUARDS:
Eric Gordon ($8,000 FD/$6,800 DK) –
Alongside Chris Paul, Eric Gordon has benefited severely with Harden being sidelined. Gordon has been getting the starting bid in his place and has been doing more than the Rockets probably expected. In his two starts so far he has collected an average of 44.6 FanDuel PPG including a massive 55.1 point performance against the Golden State Warriors the other night. His price is steadily rising as he continues to thrive in filling the starting rotation void as he is now listed at $6,800/$8,000 on both platforms. His production should stay on track, although consistent 50 point outings seem unlikely.
Justin Holiday ($5,800 FD/$5,300 DK) –
The SG options are a bit thin Saturday night with Harden out and Oladipo questionable. Justin Holiday is another cheap and reliable option. The Indiana Pacers rank in the bottom half of the league in defending SG’s and Holiday posted 30.4 FanDuel point against them just a week ago. He has also posted 30 or more FanDuel points in three of his last four games, giving him great value at a very cheap price tag. He has also seen 30 or more minutes in six straight games. If that continues Saturday night, he has great potential.
SMALL FORWARDS:
LeBron James ($11,700 FD/$11,600 DK) –
Who other than the King leads the SF position just about every night? He may be worth the high price tag in this one in his match-up with the Orlando Magic, who rank poorly against SF’s. The only concern as per most nights is if the Magic can keep this game close to assure James gets his regular minutes which may be difficult without Center Nikola Vucevic. James is insanely consistent in fantasy value as he has posted 50 or more FanDuel points in 12 of his last 14 contests. His teammate Kevin Love is a GTD with an ankle injury he suffered last game, which could mean extended use of the King if he were to be sidelined.
Gerald Green ($5,700 FD/$5,100 DK) –
Gerald Green has been a great asset for fantasy as of late, seeing a minutes increase due to James Harden as mentioned a couple times. He has posted around 35 FanDuel points in both games without him and has seen his minutes increase with his salary. He remains extremely affordable and a great plug-in play to help afford the superstars in this slate. A benefit to paying for Green is the possibility of a blowout generating more minutes for him, as the Pistons lost by over 30 to the Sixers just last night.
POWER FORWARDS:
Anthony Davis ($11,200 FD/$9,900 DK) –
Davis is the lone stud on today’s PF selection automatically making him a popular option. The big man has posted an average of 55.4 FanDuel PPG over his last five games. He’s accompanied these fantasy points with 29 or more points in four straight games. He will be squaring up with the Timberwolves, who rank 21st in the league in defensive rating and are playing the second game of a back-to-back venture. ‘
Aaron Gordon ($7,900 FD/$8,000 DK) –
Gordon is in a great match-up Saturday night against the defensively poor Cleveland Cavaliers. The Magic currently sit at 9.5 point underdogs, so they will definitely need Gordon to put on a show if they want to keep up. The Cavs don’t play at the fastest tempo, but they do rank 13th to accompany the Magic’s pace which ranks 7th. A slight boost in tempo could definitely benefit Gordon and increase his ceiling. His price appears to be a bargain that needs to be taken advantage of.
CENTERS:
Bismack Biyombo ($6,200 FD/$5,700 DK) –
Biyombo has been his best impression of Nikola Vucevic in his starts filling his void. When seeing 28 or more minutes he is averaging 34.7 FanDuel PPG over this current span of starts. Just like Gordon, Biyombo has a match-up that could help him exceed value in this slate. He only saw 18 minutes in his last start, but should see his usual workload since starting for Vucevic.
Mason Plumlee ($5,300 FD/$4,300 DK) –
A bit of a risky play, but Mason Plumlee could be your secret weapon Saturday night. Sitting at just $5,300 on FanDuel and only $4,300 on DraftKings he plays the Kings who rank 22nd in defending centers. On top of that, Plumlee has been pretty consistent of late as he has scored 20 or more FanDuel points in four of his last five games. He is seeing minutes in the lower 20’s about every night as he’s only played less than 20 minutes once since December 8th.
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/24/17
*Mike Barner*
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/24/17
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POINT GUARDS
Dennis Schroder, ATL vs. NY
FanDuel = $7,400
DraftKings = $6,600
There are only five players in the NBA averaging at least 19 points and seven assists per game. They are James Harden, Russell Westbrook, LeBron James, John Wall and Schroder. That’s some pretty elite company that Schroder is running with. The Hawks have very little talent on their roster, leaving Schroder to produce the 14th best usage rate (29.4%) in the NBA. The Knicks really struggle to defend opposing point guards, so Schroder could be in line for a huge performance Friday.
Antonio Blakeney, CHI at GS
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,000
As I’ve noted many times, you have to take risks if you want to win in tournament play. The Bulls continue to struggle to score, so they have turned to Blakeney to provide some scoring punch off the bench of late. Over the last five games, he is averaging 10.2 points and 1.0 three-pointer in 20 minutes per contest. The Warriors play at the fifth-fastest pace (104.4) in the NBA and could make this one a laugher earlier, leading to a lot of garbage time. He will only cost you the minimum on both sites, so he could provide value.
SHOOTING GUARDS
Tim Hardaway Jr., NY at ATL
FanDuel = $6,600
DraftKings = $6,600
Hardaway has not disappointed in what was expected to be his breakout campaign as he is averaging career-highs pretty much across the board. The Knicks are off to a surprising 10-7 start and a lot of that is because Hardaway and his 18.4 points per game have provided a great compliment to superstar Kristaps Porzingis. The Hawks are not a good defensive team as they are tied for the sixth-most points allowed per game (108.2) this season. This has the potential to be another great scoring night for Hardaway.
Dion Waiters, MIA at MIN
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $5,600
The Heat don’t have a ton of offensive firepower as they have scored the sixth-fewest points per game (100.5) in the league. Waiters has been one of their few bright spots, averaging 15.9 points per game. His 26.3% usage rate ranks 36th in the NBA, ahead of players including Paul George, C.J. McCollum, and Kevin Love. The Timberwolves have not played well defensively and have several excellent options offensively that the Heat will need to keep pace with, so Waiters could provide value at this price.
SMALL FORWARDS
LeBron James, CLE vs. CHA
FanDuel = $11,900
DraftKings = $11,200
James continues to get plenty of opportunities to produce as he is tied for the second-most minutes (37.7) per game this season. This has the potential to be an up-tempo contest as both the Cavaliers and the Hornets are in the top-12 in the NBA in terms of pace of play. It’s going to cost a pretty penny to get him into your entry, but his workload and rare skillset should make him worth it.
Courtney Lee, NY at ATL
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $4,600
Lee continues to see significant playing time as he is averaging 32 minutes per game in his second consecutive season with the Knicks. Not known as a potent offensive weapon, he is averaging 11.2 points per game, which is the fourth best on the team. He is also averaging career-highs in rebounds (4.1), assists (3.1), steals (1.5), and three-pointers (1.6) per game. With the Hawks defensive struggles already outlined earlier, Lee has the potential to outproduce his pricepoint Friday.
POWER FORWARDS
Anthony Davis, NO at PHO
FanDuel = $11,300
DraftKings = $10,700
Davis and DeMarcus Cousins have thrived together in New Orleans as they are the only teammates in the league to average at least 25 points and 11 rebounds per game this season. Despite playing a bigger lineup than most teams, the Pelicans actually play at the seventh-fastest pace (102.3) in the NBA. The only concern you should really ever have with playing Davis in DFS is his injury history as you can’t afford to lose a player early in a game at this price. With how horrible the Suns are on defense, get Davis in your lineup and just cross your fingers that he stays healthy.
Bobby Portis, CHI at GS
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $5,200
Portis came back from suspension and was hot to start the season, averaging 19.3 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.0 three-pointers over his first three games. He has cooled off considerably since, averaging 9.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 0.8 three-pointers in his last five games. Even with his recent slump, I like him Friday as the Warriors play a lot of small lineups. I wouldn’t be surprised if Portis plays close to, if not more, minutes than Robin Lopez. At the pace the Warriors play, Portis could be in for a big performance considering his reasonable price.
CENTERS
Hassan Whiteside, MIA at MIN
FanDuel = $8,800
DraftKings = $8,500
Let’s take a look at the last three performances by centers against the Timberwolves. Andre Drummond had 20 points, 16 rebounds, and two blocks Sunday, Dwight Howard had 25 points, 20 rebounds, and four blocks Monday, and Nikola Vucevic had 11 points, 14 rebounds, and one block Wednesday. While Karl-Anthony Towns is one of the best offensive centers in the game, he clearly still has a lot of improving to do on the defensive end of the floor. Expect Whiteside to demolish the Timberwolves in this game.
Steven Adams, OKC vs. DET
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $5,200
The Thunder have one of the weakest benches in the league as their starting five is averaging 79.9 points per game while their second unit is only averaging 23.6 points per game. They are especially thin at center, which has forced Adams to average a career-high 31 minutes per contest. With Friday bringing a matchup against Andre Drummond, Adams is going to be needed to log heavy minutes again in this game. If you want to save money at center, look no further.
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/9/17
*Mike Barner*
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/9/17
Use Code “LLNBA17” at checkout for 10% off Seasonal PackagePOINT GUARDS
Kyle Lowry, TOR vs. NO
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $7,000
Lowry is off to a poor start this season, averaging 12.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 0.6 steals and 1.9 three-pointers per game. He’s been ice cold from the field, shooting only 39.5% after shooting 46.4% last season. He’s showing signs of coming out of his slump, posting double-doubles in three of his last six games. One of the games where he didn’t was one where he was ejected in the second quarter. He has the ability to provide great overall stat lines when he’s on and the Raptors are going to need their guards to step up in this game while their frontcourt struggles with Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins. This could be a breakout game for Lowry.
Lonzo Ball, LAL at WAS
FanDuel = $6,500
Draft Kings = $6,000
If you play season-long fantasy basketball, Ball has hurt your squad as he’s shooting only 29.5% from the field and 53.8% on free-throws. However, you don’t have to worry about that in DFS. His counting stats have still been solid as he is averaging 8.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.9 blocks per game. He had a quality stat line against the Wizards earlier this season when he scored six points to go along with eight rebounds, 10 assists, one steal and one block. If his shot is falling, he could provide tremendous value Thursday. Even if it’s not, he is still worth playing at this price based on his overall production.
SHOOTING GUARDS
James Harden, HOU vs. CLE
FanDuel = $11,200
DraftKings = $10,700
Harden has seen his numbers regress some this season even with Chris Paul out with an injury, but he’s still averaging a superb 29.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 9.7 assists, 1.5 steals and 4.2 three-pointers per game. He has improved his percentages though as he is shooting 46.4% from the field and 40.4% from behind the arc. Thursday brings a great matchup against a Cavaliers team that has really struggled defensively. You are going to have to pay up to get him, but he should be well worth the price.
Jordan Clarkson, LAL at WAS
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $4,400
When the Lakers drafted Lonzo Ball, it meant Clarkson would see a reduced role. His playing time has been limited to 21 minutes per game, eight fewer minutes per game than last season. However, his production has actually increased as he is averaging 15.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.2 three-pointers per game. He’s played even better lately as he is averaging 17.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals over his last three games. Look for him to provide excellent value at this price Thursday.
SMALL FORWARDS
LeBron James, CLE at HOU
FanDuel = $11,800
DraftKings = $10,800
With Kyrie Irving in Boston and Isaiah Thomas still injured, James has been required to carry more of the load offensively this season. Of course, he has not disappointed, averaging 28.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 9.1 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.2 blocks and 1.5 three-pointers per game. The Cavaliers really struggle on defense, which is not good considering they are taking on the high scoring Rockets. James is going to need to provide plenty of scoring in this game, so get ready for some big numbers.
Brandon Ingram, LAL at WAS
FanDuel =$6,200
DraftKings = $5,900
Ingram struggled throughout his rookie season, but there were signs towards the end of the year that indicated he would improve in his second campaign. He has done just that, averaging 15.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.4 steals per game. He shot only 40.2% from the field last year but has rebounded to shoot 47.1% this season. Although he hasn’t expanded his range to behind the three-point line yet, his improved play gives him value at this price against the Wizards.
POWER FORWARDS
Anthony Davis, NO at TOR
FanDuel = $11,900
DraftKings = $11,000
Davis is healthy and is off to the best start of his career as he is currently averaging career highs in points (28.4), rebounds (12.8), assists (2.6) and three-pointers (1.2) per game. Add that to his normal stellar defensive stats and you get an elite DFS contributor. He has been relatively healthy and seems to have gelled well with Cousins as they have teamed to be the best power forward/center combo in the league. While you’ll have to pay up for his services, he usually doesn’t disappoint when healthy.
Julius Randle, LAL at WAS
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $4,800
Randle has been relegated to the bench this season and is only averaging 19 minutes per game, the lowest since his rookie season. Although he has seen a decrease in playing time, he’s still averaging a respectable 11.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game. He hasn’t seen an increase in playing time with Larry Nance Jr. out with an injury, but he has averaged 12.6 points and 8.7 rebounds in three games with Nance sidelined. If you need to save money at power forward, Randle is a viable option even with his limited role.
CENTERS
Joel Embiid, PHI at SAC
FanDuel = $9,600
DraftKings = $8,000
Embiid hasn’t played since Friday as he sat out the Sixers’ last game Tuesday against the Utah Jazz. When he takes the floor, Embiid has provided elite stats as he’s averaging 20.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks in only 28 minutes per game. Really the only issue you can have with Embiid is that he’s averaging a whopping 4.4 turnovers per game. You’ll want to get him in your lineup Thursday against the Kings because while they have depth up front, they really struggle to defend opposing centers.
Mason Plumlee, DEN vs. OKC
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $3,700
Plumlee has the unenviable position of being stuck behind one of the best centers in the league in Nikola Jokic. As a result, he’s averaging a career-low 16 minutes per game. Despite the limited minutes, he’s been able to average 6.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.9 blocks per game. If you are looking to load up your entry with elite talent, Plumlee is a cheap play you may want to consider to make that possible. If the game happens to get out of hand, he may even get a chance to play a few extra minutes. Considering the Thunder’s lack of depth up front, Plumlee has value in tournament play.
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 10/28/17
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 10/28/17
Point Guard
Damian Lillard
FD$9,300 DK $8,800
If you’re ever going to play Damian Lillard, this is the spot. I’m not sure there is a single better situation he could be in right now. With Eric Bledsoe out, this fast-paced Suns team is working with Mike James and Tyler Ulis at the point. Both have been pitiful and it’s a big reason why the Suns have allowed the 4th most FP to PG’s on the season. Lillard has played well to start the year, but we haven’t seen the breakout contest we all know is right on the horizon. He’s also at home in the Moda Center, where most of those games happen. Lillard is my favorite guard on the slate and it isn’t very close. He will be in 100% of my cash games and tournaments. While I don’t think he’s THAT big of a must, that’s my personal stand. PG as a whole is pretty weak and Lillard gives you a 45 fantasy point floor with the upside for 65.
Dennis Smith Jr.
FD $6,500 DK $6,000
Dennis Smith Jr. has been as advertised. It’s always tough trusting preseason numbers, but it looks like they were correct here. Dennis Smith Jr. is a very good point guard and it looks to me like he has quite the future in this league. As for his role on this team, it’s consistent. He is getting the ball in his hands for 28-30 minutes and creating whenever possible. He then gets another 5-10 mins at SG, where he’s averaged just over 1 FP per minute. He’s bounced back quickly from the injury and is looking like a guy we will be targeting all season long. Tonight, he faces off with the 76ers. The 6’ers play a lot faster than the Mavs and the PG is always the one to benefit most in pace-up affairs. Smith is still affordable on both sites and makes an excellent play in all formats. He’s locked into the minutes and at least 30 fantasy points in this cupcake match-up.
Shooting Guard
Devin Booker
FD $7,000 DK $7,400
With shooting guard one of the ugliest spots on the board, we’ll return to the Moda Center and take a look at the Suns side of the ball. With Eric Bledsoe all but ruled out forever, this is Booker’s team to lose. He is going to get the ball in his hands and shoot as much as he possibly can. He’s been over 20 shots in each game without Bledsoe and this pace-up affair with the Blazers should be no different. He’ll match-up with a good defender in C.J. McCollum, but it doesn’t matter. He isn’t a Tony Allen or Pat Bev type, but more of just a hard-nosed defender. Booker has put up 40 real-life points on guys much better. When his shots are falling, it doesn’t matter who is playing defense. This game is currently sitting with the highest over/under of the night and I’ll be looking to get as much ownership as possible to it. Booker gives you the top Suns piece in a way too affordable tag. Look for Booker to be closer to $9k before too long. You can target McCollum on the other side as well, but I like the Lillard side of things more.
Rodney Hood
FD $5,300 DK $5,100
Rodney Hood is quite the stressful DFS asset. Opposed from having some type of injury tag EVERY DAY, he produces. However, for the first time in what seems like years, Rodney Hood has no O or Q next to his name. Crazy, I know. So, that means we can assume a healthy Rodney Hood against the Lakers. We know the Lakers don’t play much defense and they ranked 3rd worst against SG’s in 2016. That could change with KCP there now, but it hasn’t yet. Hood has played well through his nicks, intestinal issues, and whatever else may hinder a guy with no pain tolerance. He’s gone for well over 1 FP per minute, while shooting under his career average. Hood is way too cheap on both sites for this match-up and he should hit value easily and early. Shooting guard isn’t a very attractive spot, so Hood will be my main focus after Booker. At most positions, I spread my exposure to 4 or 5 guys in total. At shooting guard, there’s a good chance it stays at 3 tonight.
Small Forward
LeBron James
FD $11,300 DK $10,700
We haven’t touched on anyone super expensive, so you can fit LeBron if you want him on this slate. I definitely don’t think it’s a must, so keep that in mind. James is playing great basketball and has been over 60 fantasy points in each of the last 2 games. He now sees a favorable match-up against the Pelicans, who have no SF. They also don’t have anyone that is remotely Lebron James body type. I know not many are, but most teams have some 6’8 fighter than can go and duel with LBJ. For the Pelicans, I guess that’s Dante Cunningham or Quincy Pondexter. LOL. Lebron is going to run this floor and do whatever he wants. The Pelicans should also be without Anthony Davis, which widens the floor and the paint. Cousins is fine down low, but he’s not much of a shot contender. As long as this game stays remotely close, you can pencil in James for 50. His upside is always 70+ if the game stays close down to the final buzzer. Pairing James and Cousins is something I’ll look to do a lot of in tournaments. You have the value on this slate to do it with Lillard still in your lineup.
Harrison Barnes
FD $6,400 DK $5,700
There could be a bias here, as Harrison Barnes is a guy I love to roster. I’m not sure why. I despised him on the Warriors and said many times that he was my least favorite player on the planet. THen he moves to Dallas and after watching him play, was a fan. Now, I roster him what seems like every day. It works quite well for the intended purpose. Now, Barnes can be played in tournaments, but it’s not his thing. He’ll have a few random big games this year, but it won’t be often. Barnes is a guy who lives on consistency. He’s been over 25 FP in each game and now sees one against the shot-happy 76ers. This is one of the games with a bunch of points and a close spread, so you’re going to almost need some exposure. Barnes and Covington will be an interesting match-up to watch as they both play solid defense. Barns is the guy who this offense runs through and at this price, he’s as safe as can be against a run and gun 6ers squad. Don’t hesitate on Barnes if you need to pay down to the mid-range.
Power Forward
Kelly Olynyk
FD $5,500 DK $5,400
I could have gone James Johnson here as well, but he’s been priced up like crazy. Instead, with Hassan Whiteside out, we’ll look for revenge in Kelly Olynyk. Olynyk expressed to the media that this isn’t much of a revenge game as all the Celtics are gone. Still, he admitted there will be some extra juice there. It’s undeniable. He could also be lying and have a lot of vengeance towards this organization. They stuck him on the bench over guys like Amir Johnson for 4 seasons. None of it matters if he doesn’t get the minutes. Fortunately, this Celtics match-up fits his style perfectly and we should see no less than 30 minutes out of him. He has been at 2.32 FP/min on the season and is looking like a guy who has a lot of fantasy relevance at the price. The match-up with the Celtics is a speed-up game for the Heat, who play at a league-ranked 28th pace. Olynyk will come off the bench, but should be in there down the stretch. Expect 28-32 solid minutes.
Lauri Markkanen
FD $6,700 DK $6,300
Lauri Markkanen is a bit more expensive than Olynyk, but it makes sense why. Markkanen has been pretty consistent as a rookie, going for 25+ fantasy points in each of his first 4 games. Coming out of Arizona, he was supposed to be ready for the NBA, but this is still a surprise. He now sees his best match-up yet against a fast-paced Thunder team who doesn’t love defense. They have a lot of strong individual defenders (George, Roberson, Adams), but lack as a team because of the pace they play at. It gives teams extra possessions and even if the possessions aren’t super efficient, it’s better than Facing the Miami Heat and having far less of them. Markkanen is getting the ball a ton and we’ll see a solid 40 FP breakout a lot sooner than later. I’m hesitant to call it here, but I love him as a cash gameplay that you don’t have to worry all that much about.
Center
DeMarcus Cousins
FD $12,000 DK $11,900
Let’s assume Anthony Davis is playing. DeMarcus Cousins is interesting, but nowhere near a must. He would get a solid match-up against Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson, but will see a dramatically smaller usage %. Personally, if Anthony Davis plays, I’ll just try to get more LeBron James in hope it stays close. Now if Davis is out, this is once again a spot for Cousins to wild out. Because Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson don’t have much of a chance on a guy like Boogie, I’d bet LeBron covers him on the outside in the 4th quarter. He will still get bullied inside by Boogie, though, so it’ll be tough. It’s never easy when the 340 pound 7-foot behemoth can shoot it like a butterfly and then talk about your mother as he runs down the court. Cousins is a match-up nightmare for any team in this league, but one that sports Kevin Love at the 5 is in greater need than most. If Davis is out, play COusins in cash games and tournaments. You won’t be alone, but neither were the people who jumped on last game. I’m sure they weren’t upset about too many people on the train with them.
Jusuf Nurkic
FD $7,000 DK $6,400
To start the year, it’s been Jusuf Nurkic and Tim Hardaway Jr. that are giving me mini heart attacks. At least for Hardaway, he’s on the floor and able to do damage. For Nurkic, the dude just fouls every single second he’s out there. It’s literally tough for me to write this without any expletives towards the guy. I lost a huge H2H by 4 points with a 10 from him, so forgive me. You’re probably now wondering why the hell I would want to play him against Tyson Chandler and Alex Len. Well, for one, variance. Nurkic hasn’t had these foul issues in the past and they will once again fall by the wayside in the near future. We’re (I) am just getting screwed over in the process. Secondly, there aren’t many fouls to be had against the Suns. With Bledsoe going, the main scorer is a jump shooter. Booker doesn’t enter the lane often and when he does, it’s a floater. This is the fastest game on the board and Nurkic is a lock for 1 FP/min. As long as he can stay out of foul trouble, a 45 FP performance is no big deal at all.
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 10/24/17
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 10/24/17
Point Guard
D’Angelo Russell
FD $7,800 DK $7,800
We expected D’Angelo to play like he has, but the absence of Jeremy Lin has only helped. He now has the ball in his hands for every minute he’s on the court and is already showing his per minute effectiveness. The Nets and Magic will face off for the 2nd time in a week, after these 2 teams combined for 247 points on the 20th. Russell ended up with 34 fantasy points in just 25 minutes of work. He should be back up to the 35-ish minute total here and see a similar FP per min, putting him well over 40. The Magic are without Elfrid Payton, who’s a pretty good defender. Especially compared to D.J. Augustin and Evan Fournier, who will take turns on Russell. Point guard may be pretty deep, but Russell is both safe and has upside in a match-up featuring a 229 over/under. You’ll need exposure to this game and Russell is the safest way to do it on the Nets.
Jrue Holiday
FD $6,900 DK $6,500
With Rajon Rondo out for the first few weeks, Jrue Holiday will step back into his PG role for the time being. He’s been a point guard his entire career, so it’s not much of a change. The switch to SG might take a few weeks, but there’s nothing to worry about with him at the 1. He’s been consistent to start the season, but hasn’t exploded yet. Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins are getting all the shots, and rightfully so. Holiday does have an excellent match-up with Damian Lillard, however, so he should try to get it going on offense a bit. This affair between the Blazers and Pelicans should be close, high-scoring and full of fantasy goodness. Don’t shy away from the guards or big men.
Shooting Guard
C.J. McCollum
FD $7,800 DK $7,100
We’ll stay in Portland and take a look at the backcourt mate of Damian Lillard. McCollum missed the first game of the year, but returned with no hiccup. He’s been over 26 real-life points in each of the first 2 contests and has contributed plenty of peripherals. This match-up with the Pelicans is prime and I’m not sure who plans on covering him. E’Twaun Moore is starting at SG, but he’s just nowhere near good enough to cover McCollum. The Pelicans allowed the 4th most FP’s to guards in 2016 and have similar guys manning the spots. McCollum is going to shoot at least 15-20 times and if he’s hot, value is no problem. His price is fair across the industry and with SG being pretty weak, he should be popular. He’s a fair play in both cash games and tournaments.
Tim Hardaway Jr.
FD $4,700 DK $5,000
Looking at the box scores, you probably don’t have interest in Tim Hardaway Jr. If you’re looking at what you should be, you probably love him. He shot 16 times last game and dropped just 4 buckets. He shot closer to 50% in 2016 and is a very good shooter in general. His numbers will certainly go up and I don’t think the general public will be on him. The Boston Celtics play fast and don’t love defense. They don’t guard the paint and are extremely susceptible to SG’s (If Marcus Smart is out). Hardaway is way too cheap on both sites and if he has a typical game, it will be around 25 fantasy points. If he gets hot, it can get to 40. He hit 40 fantasy points 3 times in the last month of 2016. Don’t be short-sighted and ignore him because of a couple rough shooting nights.
Small Forward
Jimmy Butler
FD $8,300 DK $7,000
On DraftKings, go ahead and plug Jimmy Butler into your cash games. I know he hasn’t been amazing, but that is going to 1000% change. He is getting used to playing with these guys and will be putting up 50 burgers in no time. Thibs is giving him the 38 minutes a game we expected and I’m willing to put my head on the line that production is coming soon. The Pacers are the 3rd fastest team in the last 2 years and it’s why a slow team like the Wolves is in a 217 over/under. Butler has had 3 tough match-ups so far and now sees a Pacers team who has no true SF. Lance Stephenson and Bojan Bogdanovich will see the 48 minutes there and neither can guard Jimmy. Wiggins also has a pretty tough match-up with Oladipo, so the ball should get funneled towards Butler on the perimeter. He’s the safest option in SF for his price and he’ll be locked into my cash games.
Evan Fournier
FD $7,000 DK $6,1oo
Fournier has exceeded expectations so far, which has led to his price going up just a little bit. On FanDuel, you don’t have to get exposure outside of tournaments. He can still smash value, but there are some better values. On DK, however, $6,100 is perfect. Fournier has been phenomenal to start the season and without Elfrid Payton on the court, he is doing whatever he wants. He now sees the same Nets team that he put 44 fantasy points up on less than a week ago. He also saw just 25 minutes last game, so he’s fully rested and ready to go once again. With a 229 over/under and some injuries to take advantage of, this is a game I want a lot of cash game exposure to. Fournier gives you a 30 point floor with a 50 point ceiling, as long as Payton remains out.
Power Forward
Anthony Davis
FD $12,200 DK $10,900
Alright, this is getting fun. Watching Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins play next to each other is fun. There is no other team I can put my eye on when they are playing. Tonight, the Pelicans take on the Blazers and their non-existent interior. I guess the only guy you can give some credence to is Jusuf Nurkic, who at least has some size. He’ll be on DeMarcus Cousins, so that leaves Aminu and Swanigan to cover Anthony Davis. Nope. No shot. Good luck. This, in my opinion, turns into a shootout between Lillard/McCollum and Cousins/Davis. If you’re looking for a game to stack, this is as good of a candidate as any. Because they all are so expensive, Cousins is the 1 of the 4 I would fade. There are plenty of other options at center. Anthony Davis is my favorite superstar of the night and I’m not sure how close it is. The Blazers allowed over 60 FP per game to Davis in 2016 and he looks like he’s turned the leaf that will hand him the MVP trophy this season. As for tonight, I’ll do whatever I can to get the Brow in 100% of my lineups.
Kristaps Porzingis
FD $9,300 DK $8,500
Talking about turning over a leaf, here’s Kristaps Porzingis. I don’t know if Porzingis is much better or if it’s because Melo is gone, but Porzingis is playing phenomenal. He has 46 and 47 fantasy points in each of the first 2 games and sees his best match-up yet against the Celtics. The Celtics are tossing Jaylen Tatum at PF, who has quite the disadvantage against Kristaps. They also have Horford at C, who’s a pitiful rebounder and worse defender. His price is yet to get too high and I want to take advantage against one of the best match-ups possible. Power Forward is pretty deep, so let’s take a look at another guy a bit cheaper.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
FD $6,200 DK $5,200
It was either Trevor Booker or Rondae Hollis-Jefferson here. With Aaron Gordon looking like he will return, I expect the Nets to match his athleticism with that of Hollis-Jefferson. RHJ has been damn good to start the year when given opportunity and he’s actually taking initiative on a Nets team that needs some. I’ve said it enough, but this game is sitting at a 229 total, so we’ll be all over it. RHJ is a concrete solid value play that will let you pay up for guys like Davis while still holding some upside. He’s a lot better priced on DraftKings, so I may just find a way to pay up completely on FanDuel if no value emerges. All in all, power forward is a spot where you may need to hit the nuts in tournaments.
Center
Nikola Vucevic
FD $9,800 DK $8,300
We’ve looked this game up and down, so let’s top it off with the whipped cream, cherry, and fudge. Vucevic has been disgusting this year and it looks like this is finally a team he’s locked down as his. He gets a touch on almost every possession and sees the best match-up possible. The Nets don’t really have a center, but they throw Timofey Mozgov and Jarrett Allen there for the bulk of the game. If you were able to watch Vucevic face these guys a couple of days ago, you’ve already plugged him into your lineup. It was utter domination on every possession and the game had a total 15 fewer than tonight. There are a lot of solid high-priced options tonight, so it’ll be tough to choose who you want to lead your squad. However, if you go with Vuc, there’s a good shot you’ll be in the mix. He, like a few other guys, see a much friendlier tag on DraftKings. He’ll be tough to fade there.
Jusuf Nurkic
FD $7,900 DK $6,800
Both of the centers in this game are in play, but Nurkic is cheaper and we already looked at Vuc on top. Nurkic finally got things going last game with 41 fantasy points in 31 minutes. That’s what we expect. He should see closer to 40 minutes tonight to match the Pelicans size and he should put up at least 30 with a 70 ceiling. Ya, I know that sounds crazy, but he did it twice last year and didn’t look like he was having a fluke game either. Cousins is not a good defender and the Pelicans ranked 8th worst against centers in 2016. Lillard and McCollum should take most of the responsibility here, but they have no chance of winning unless Nurkic has a big game. He’s very fairly priced on both sites and you can play him in all formats. There are 2 big games we like to target tonight and as long as they stay close, things should turn out. Good luck!!!