Christopher Day 
After a day off yesterday, we’re back for today’s 10-game NBA slate and plenty of Gems to identify!
Before running to the DraftKings, FanDuel, or Yahoo lobby to construct your NBA DFS lineup after reading this article, please make sure to utilize the abundance of tools we have at Win Daily:
Point Guards
Steph Curry ($9,700 FD / $10,000 DK)
After finally coming back down to Earth last game, Steph Curry is primed to get back to his previous form on tonight’s NBA slate. Having averaged 37 PPG in his last five before last game’s dud, Curry’s 33.5% usage rate has resulted in no game with less than 17 FGA. The volume, combined with the fact that he needs to carry his team every night, makes him a potential slate-breaker every time he takes the court.
John Wall ($8,500 FD / $8,000 DK)
Having missed so much time in prior seasons due to severe injuries, John Wall is silencing the doubters early this NBA season. Carrying a 30% usage rate, Wall is proving to be a key component of the Rockets offense alongside James Harden and Christian wood to the tune of a 23/5/5.5 scoring line across 36 MPG. With the Magic having lost Markelle Fultz for the remainder of the season due to injury, Wall will be facing rookie Cole Anthony for the majority of this one and will draw less coverage than James Harden.
Kyle Lowry ($7,700 FD / $7,900 DK)
With the Raptors disappointing in the early going of the 2021 NBA season, Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, and Pascal Siakam will have to rally thte troops quickly to make a run for the postseason. In a get-right spot versus a depleted Sacramento team, expect Lowry’s 22% usage rate to be much higher in this one, coming off his first 20-point performance of the new year, where he scored 24/9/6 on 60% shooting in 38 minutes.
Elfrid Payton ($5,500 FD / $6,500 DK)
Sporting a 24.8% usage rate this season, Payton is flying under the radar for these Knicks considering the breakout campaigns of Julius Randle and RJ Barrett, in addition to the improved play of Mitch Robinson. However, Payton is quietly averaging an efficient 14.6/4/5 across 29.1 MPG. The primary concern with Payton always was his volume on the offensive side of the ball, but with 50 FGA in his last three, fire up Payton with confidence tonight, especially on FD where he is simply too cheap.
Also Consider:
- LaMelo Ball ($6,900 FD / $6,500 DK)
Shooting Guards
Bradley Beal ($10,100 FD / $9,700 DK)
I wrote him last article, and man did his low ownership and price tag pay off. Having barely increased from his 9k price from just a few nights ago, where he dropped 62 points on 57.1% shooting, Bradley Beal may be without Russell Westbrook tonight in a game where he will dominate the offense even more. Should Westbrook play, I still have interest in one of the best ‘2’ guards in the NBA, where his 36.3% usage rate shows that this is still his team despite the big offseason acquisition.
Paul George ($8,800 FD / $9,100 DK)
My interest in the Clippers star duo quickly diminishes should Steph Curry miss this one, but if he’s ruled in as anticipated, Paul George will look to continue his early season success versus a terrible Warriors defensive unit. His 30.4% usage rate and combination of offensive and defensive contributions make him an ideal candidate in a mini-game stack with Curry at low ownership.
Zach Lavine ($8,100 FD / $8,600 DK)
A better play on FD due to his elevated price tag on DK, Lavine will be counted on in every single game the Bulls play in this season. With inconsistent performances from their frontcourt, it will be up to the backcourt tandem of Lavine and White to take on LeBron and AD on the second half of a back-to-back for the defending NBA Champions. Having only one game where he played less than 35 minutes since December 27, Lavine’s 45.9% shooting will need to catapult the Bulls offense yet again.
Jaylen Brown ($8,000 FD / $8,700 DK)
Both JB and Jayson Tatum have been quite impressive for the Celtics this season, with the former having a breakout campaign in the absence of Kemba Walker. With a 29.2% usage rate, JB is the clear #2 option on this Celtics offense behind Tatum, but carries the team as a #1 in production in quite a few games; he’s currently averaging a career-high 26.2 PPG and finds himself in a game environment versus the fast-paced Wizards who play no defense. If his 54.7% shooting percentage is any indication, JB is in for quite the night.
Caris LeVert ($6,800 FD / $7,400 DK)
With Kyrie Irving already ruled out for tonight’s game versus Memphis, we can go right back to Caris LeVert, who will be tasked once again with running Brooklyn’s offense. Having a player in the NBA, let alone in this price range, who carries a near 40% usage rate is something we need to focus on getting into our lineups no matter what his ownership will be – and that’s exactly what LeVert provides us; with KD, Dinwiddie, and Kyrie off the floor, this is now LeVert offense having come off a near triple-double last night in the same situation, scoring 22/7/10 in a mere 32 minutes.
Also Consider:
- James Harden ($11,400 FD / $11,000 DK)
- Fred VanVleet ($7,800 FD / $8,100 DK)
- Devin Booker ($7,600 FD / $8,200 DK)
- Terrence Ross ($5,700 FD / $6,100 DK)
Small Forwards
Kawhi Leonard ($9,600 FD / $9,300 DK)
While he did not have a monster output against Golden State just a few days ago, it was not because of his efficiency: Kawhi shot 7 for 12 from the field (58.3%) en route to a 21/4/4 scoring line in 35 minutes. With that being the first back-to-back he has played in over three years, his volume will return to normal in this game versus a depleted defensive unit.
Jayson Tatum ($9,400 FD / $9,200 DK)
Despite averaging less volume than fellow teammate Jaylen Brown, Tatum is the core to this Boston team on both ends of the floor. Posting 26.3 PPG in 34.6 MPG thus far, the former Blue Devil is in a great spot versus a Washington frontcourt that has allowed over 55 FPPG to opposing bigs and represents a key piece to a 1-2 Beal-Boston mini-stack on this NBA slate.
RJ Barrett ($6,500 FD / $6,900 DK)
Despite the low 22.4% usage rate for the Canadian this season, RJ Barrett is having a breakout campaign in Thibs new system for the Knicks alongside Julius Randle. Playing a whopping 38.1 MPG, should Barrett improve on his 38.1% shooting percentage, he can instantly become an NBA DFS commodity.
Also consider:
- Brandon Ingram ($8,800 FD / $8,500 DK)
- Khris Middleton ($7,400 FD / $8,000 DK)
- Harrison Barnes ($6,100 FD / $6,000 DK)
Power Forwards
Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,200 FD / $10,900 DK)
These Bucks have been tough to gauge this season, but in a matchup that Utah should be able to keep close, Giannis is finally in play as an elite target. Sure, he’s viable on any given NBA slate considering his ceiling is virtually unmatched, but with concerns surrounding his minutes, a tight game is exactly what we needed for the back-to-back NBA MVP to showcase his 33.7% usage rate and 26.1/10.9/5.4 scoring line.
Julius Randle ($9,400 FD / $9,800 DK)
What can be said about Julius Randle and these Knicks early in the NBA season? Playing at an All-NBA level, Randle has been thriving under Thibs to the tune of a 23.1/12/7.4 scoring line across 38.6 MPG. We know Thibs loves to run his starters for 36+, and with nobody to match up on Randle tonight, he’ll be in for another big night.
Aaron Gordon ($7,000 FD / $6,600 DK)
Touching 28 minutes in three straight games, it’s safe to say that the minutes restriction Aaron Gordon was on to begin the NBA season has now been lifted, if not been removed altogether. Averaging 18/9/3 during that same stretch, Gordon has also shot 51.28% from the field and will be counted on with the loss of Markelle Fultz. OUT
Also Consider:
- Anthony Davis ($10,400 FD / $10,100 DK)
- Pascal Siakam ($8,000 FD / $7,700 DK)
- Zion Williamson ($7,800 FD / $7,900 DK)
Centers
Primary Options:
- Nikola Vucevic ($8,800 FD / $9,000 DK)
- Deandre Ayton ($7,200 FD / $7,600 DK)
- Jarrett Allen ($7,000 FD / $6,800 DK)
- Thomas Bryant ($6,400 FD / $7,000 DK)
Others to Consider:
- Mitchell Robison ($5,800 FD / $5,700 DK)
Value Gems: Check the projection model here.
I will continue to stress the importance of having both the projection model and cheat sheet open when building lineups for a further player pool and to ease a decision between two players, in addition to finding additional value plays.
You can find me on Twitter @DFS_Ghost
