A six-game slate awaits, and the 11/4 NBA DFS Game Previews and Prop Bets will get your week started on the right foot.
Pistons at a Glance: 18th in scoring (108.3), 20th in scoring defense (112), 16th in offensive rating (106.8), 25th in defensive rating (110.5), 17th in pace (101.4)
No Blake Griffin nor Reggie Jackson, the Pistons may also be without PG/SG Derrick Rose ($5800 DK). C Andre Drummond ($10,800 DK) is the only player on this roster that is Fantasy-viable, although PG/SG Luke Kennard ($5000 DK) is averaging 19.5 points in his last two games. I’d be open to rolling the dice on PG/SG Bruce Brown ($3200 DK), whose salary is a major steal and is also assured of getting strong usage, especially if Rose is out. He’s a lock if playing Showdown, but I’d add him in a lineup or two tonight because I think there’s a pleasant surprise here.
Stud — Drummond. Dud — SF/PF Markeiff Brown ($4000 DK). Sleeper — Brown.
Wizards at a Glance — 7th in scoring (117.2), 28th in scoring defense (121.4), 6th in offensive rating (109.5), 27th in defensive rating (113.4), 3rd in pace (107.1).
Washington is going to dial up the pace. They’re dead in the water if they fall into playing a Pistons-like pace. SG Bradley Beal ($9400 DK) is a sniper off to a solid start. You’re not going to get much beyond his scoring, so you’re screwed if he’s not bringing the offense. I like rookie PF Rui Hachimura ($5700 DK), although he faced reality against the Timberwolves on Saturday when he managed all of six DKP. PF/C Thomas Bryant ($7400 DK) also had a rough go on Saturday and will have to contend with Drummond tonight. I’d politely pass on him. PG Isaiah Thomas ($4900 DK) is pace-dependent in that he’ll give you solid DKP off the bench when the Wizards run and gun. However, he’s a major liability if it becomes a half-court game.
Stud — Beal. Dud — PG/SF Isaac Bonga ($3400 DK). Sleeper — PF/C Mortiz Wagner ($3400 DK).
Pelicans at a Glance: 4th in scoring (118.3), 29th in scoring defense (122.5), 5th in offensive rating (110), 28th in defensive rating (113.9), 7th in pace (105.7)
You’ll want a piece of the action in this game. If this doesn’t go over 240 total points, my Monday will be sad. SF Brandon Ingram ($8900 FD) passed concussion protocol and will be in the lineup tonight. He has a 28.6 Usage rate and I’m betting he could do more with a 32-34 UR. You have to like how PG Lonzo Ball ($7400 FD) is progressing, yet I’m not sure if I’d play him knowing he’ll have to deal with Kyrie Irving ($9700 FD). His PER (Player Efficiency Rating) is climbed to where you can see Ball as at least a league-average starter. Active or not, I’d stay away from C Derrick Favors ($5900 FD). SG Jrue Holiday ($8300) has been more of a distributor in his two games back from a sore knee. The Pels run a fast enough pace to where both Ball and Holiday can get 5-7 assists per night.
Stud — Ingram. Dud — Favors. Sleeper — PF Jaxson Hayes ($3800 FD)
Nets at a Glance — 3rd in scoring (118.7), 26th in scoring defense (119.5), 10th in offensive rating (108.6), 20th in defensive rating (109.3), 8th in pace (105.6)
Irving is going at a 35.8 Usage rate. I’ll bet he hits 40 at some point this season. He’s probably the PG you’ll want in the lineup tonight since both teams will run at a breakneck speed. Some days, SG Caris LeVert ($6500) looks like the second scoring option, then there are days like Saturday when he can’t manage 22 FDP. C Jarrett Allen ($5200 FD) continues to play like someone who should be getting more minutes from De’Andre Jordan ($5900 FD). SF Taurean Prince ($4800 FD) had the massive effort against the Rockets on Friday but is more like the complimentary type he showed on Saturday.
Stud — Irving. Dud — Jordan. Sleeper — Allen.
Rockets at a Glance — 1st in scoring (121.3), 30th in scoring defense (127), 3rd in offensive rating (111.4), 29th in defensive rating (116.6), 1st in pace (108.9).
PG Russell Westbrook ($9800 DK) will sit, so I think we may see some vintage James Harden ($10,800 DK) tonight. This will look more like the Rockets of last season, so expect Harden to be more at ease offensively. Like almost everyone in a Houston uniform, C Clint Capela ($6200 DK) didn’t show up in Miami on Sunday night, but Capela will also see a rebound in production tonight. No Westbrook means more opportunity for SF/PF Danuel House ($4500 DK), who I think will become a solid DFS option once P.J. Tucker ($5000) comes down to earth.
Stud — Harden. Dud — SG/SF Eric Gordon ($4000 DK) Sleeper — House.
Grizzlies at a Glance — 19th in scoring (106.6), 25th in scoring defense (119.4), 29th in offensive rating (97.7), 21st in defensive rating (109.4), 4th in pace (106.9)
The scoring hasn’t translated into success, but this is not your daddy’s Grizzlies. These kids run and it makes all the sense the world to get a piece of the action out of them tonight. The Rockets are playing defense as if they’ve just learned the definition of the word, so that means I’d invest in PG Ja Morant ($6600 DK) and PF/C Brandon Clarke ($4800 DK). Clarke will see a bump in minutes since its questionable that PF/C Jaren Jackson Jr. ($5900 DK) will sit tonight. C Jonas Valanciunas ($6000 DK) is a solid option, especially if the Rockets are just going to shoot 3s and offer extra rebouding chances.
Stud — Morant. Dud — SG/SF Dillion Brooks ($4800 DK) Sleeper — Clarke
Bucks at a Glance — 2nd in scoring (119.2), 19th in scoring (111.2), 4th in offensive rating (111.3), 12th in defensive rating (103.7), 9th in pace (105.4)
The Timberwolves are without C Karl-Anthony Towns ($10,300 FD), who is serving a suspension from his brawl with Joel Embiid last week. That will mean a heavy dosage of interior assaults from SF Giannis Anetetokounmpo ($12,000 FD). This could be a monster night from him if he decides to take advantage of the hole in the T’Wolves interior. I’m starting to like PG Eric Bledsoe ($6300 FD) now that he’s put together a pair of solid outings for DFS users. On the flip side, SG Khris Middleton ($7300 FD) has been a DFS dog for two straight games and I’m not sure the fleas are all gone. Stay far, far away from C Brook Lopez ($5200 FD), even with Towns out.
Stud — Antetokounmpo. Dud — Lopez. Sleeper — Bledsoe
Timberwolves at a Glance — 5th in scoring (118), 21st in scoring defense (112), 14th in offensive rating (107.5), 9th in defensive rating (102), 2nd in pace (107.6)
Whatever they’ll miss from Towns defensively will be made up offensively. Look for PF Robert Covington ($5700 FD) to benefit from Towns’ absence with a jolt in his usage rate. SG Andrew Wiggins ($6900 FD) gets about 4-7 extra field goal attempts and I’m sure you’ll see PG Jeff Teague ($6200 FD) become more aggressive with his shot as well. C Gorgui Dieng ($4000 FD) showed he still has game with 42.1 FDP against the Wizards on Saturday and should be a good low-end option as he will be able to get rebounds and a blocked shot or two.
Stud — Covington. Dud — Wiggins. Sleeper — Dieng
76ers at a Glance — 10th in scoring (115), 10th in scoring defense (106), 12th in offensive rating (108), 5th in defensive rating (99.5), 5th in pace (106.5)
They’ll do fine without Joel Embiid tonight. The Suns will want to run and gun, so that translates into extra opportunities for PG/SF Ben Simmons ($8500 DK) and SF/PF Tobias Harris ($7000 DK). PF/C Al Horford ($6900 DK) will get the bulk of the touches Embiid usually gets. I do like the upside of SG/SF Josh Richardson ($4600 DK) tonight, so plug him into a lineup or two.
Stud — Simmons. Dud — SG/SF Mattise Thybulle ($3400 DK). Sleeper — Richardson.
Suns at a Glance — 9th in scoring (115.2), 9th in scoring defense (106), 8th in offensive rating (109.1), 7th in defensive rating (100.4), 12th in pace (103.8)
PG/SG Devin Booker ($7900 DK) is warming up just SF/PF Kelly Oubre Jr. ($6300 DK) is beginning to cool off. C Aron Baynes ($5100 DK) has been a revelation since coming into the lineup and could be able to exploit the defensive void of the Sixers not having Embiid. PG Ricky Rubio ($6500 DK) had three steals on Saturday and is one of the reasons why the Suns are playing surprisingly good defense. SF/PF Dario Saric ($4700 DK) is boom-bust. Play at your own risk.
Stud — Booker. Dud — Oubre. Sleeper — Baynes.
Trail Blazers at a Glance — 11th in scoring (113.8), 24th in scoring defense (113.3), 9th in offensive rating (108.7), 17th in defensive rating (108.2), 10th in pace (104.7)
I’m not paying $10,300 for Damian Lillard (FD), at least not tonight. There’s too much concern this becomes a blowout and Lillard spends much of the fourth on the bench. I will pay the $6700 (FD) for C.J. McCollum, though. C Hassan Whiteside ($7500 FD) is a gametime decision. Don’t risk it. SF Rodney Hood ($4300 FD) is questionable with a knee injury. PF Skal Labissiere ($3900 FD) could get extended minutes if Whiteside is still sidelined.
Stud — Lillard. Dud — Whiteside. Sleeper — Labissiere
Warriors at a Glance — 16th in scoring (109.2), 27th in scoring defense (120.8), 18th in offensive rating (108), 30th in defensive rating (117.3), 14th in pace (103).
At the very least, there are some potential bargains to be had in Golden State. I like what I have seen from PF Eric Paschall ($5800 FD) and will plug him into a lineup or two. SF Glenn Robinson III ($5300 FD) has always had upside and is getting the minutes to prove it. SG D’Angelo Russell ($9400 FD) is questionable, opening up more minutes for the likes of PG Ky Bowman ($4400 FD). SG Damion Lee ($3900 FD) will get quality minutes off the bench.
Stud — Paschall. Dud. Lee. Sleeper — Bowman.
Over/Under Player Predictions
I think Harris hits the glass enough to produce a double-double in what should be a fun, high-scoring affair. If points are coming hot and heavy on both ends of the court, then Rubio should exceed 6.5 assists easily. Go over on both.
The 11/1 NBA DFS schedule is built around eight games on the main slate, giving DFSers an abundance of options in a star-filled evening.
The Cavaliers don’t offer much offensively, averaging 106 points per game (22nd overall). They are a respectable 13th in scoring defense (108.3). At 26th in pace (100.1), they should have some DFS opportunity against a Pacers team that is 28th in pace (98.7).
Tristan Thompson ($7800 FD) is either playing over his head or the Cavs have finally decided to let him become an offensive option (27.90 PER). The answer is somewhere in between, but he’s a good play tonight, especially since the Pacers won’t have Myles Turner available. Kevin Love ($8800 FD) has only a 20.9 usage rate, but he’s grabbing 16.8 boards and five assists. If he’s scoring 15-17 per game, that’s a stat stuffer worth having in your lineup. Collin Sexton ($4800 FD) is averaging 17.5 points but if you’re not getting assists from your point guard, well…
Best Play — Thompson. Dud — Sexton. Sleeper — Larry Nance ($6000, FD)
The Pacers are doing some damn good underachieving thus far. The offense is 24th in scoring (105.3), which offsets its 12th-ranked scoring defense (108.3). As mentioned, they’re running at a very slow pace with a middle-of-the-pack offensive rating of 106.7 (16th).
One could only imagine how worse things would be for the Pacers if Malcolm Brogdon ($9200 FD) wasn’t playing at an elite level. Brogdon has increased his usage rate by a third, going from a modest 20 last season to his current 30. The question will be whether he can maintain that pace as the focal point of the offense. Domantas Sabonis ($8800 FD) is playing like his numbers suggested he could: as a 20-10 player. He’s only playing at a 24.9 usage rate, and I’m betting it goes up as long as Turner is out. T.J. Warren ($6300 FD) is playing at a very disappointing level. I would have never expected he’d be playing at a PER below 10. Jeremy Lamb ($6400 FD) has been decent, but barely moves the DFS needle.
Stud — Brogdon. Dud — Warren. Sleeper — Justin Holiday ($3800 FD)
The Rockets are first in offensive rating and 29th in defensive rating. They will not bore you. They are also a gateway to big DFS money tonight because they’re not going to take their foot off the gas and will dare the Nets to play at track meet-level.
This has become Russell Westbrook’s team. No kidding. James Harden ($11,000 DK) is playing as if he’s the sidekick to Westbrook ($9800 DK) instead of the other way around. Harden is blowing off the doors with a 40.8 usage but is playing below expectations. I’m not paying for him tonight. I will, however, pay for Westbrook, who already has a pair of triple-doubles. Consider pairing Westbrook with Clint Capela ($7400 DK), who puts up solid numbers nightly despite a usage rate under 20. P.J. Tucker ($4700 DK) is fun to watch as an undersized four. This could be a game to add him to a few lineups.
Stud — Westbrook. Dud — Eric Gordon ($4000 DK). Sleeper — Tucker
This will be a great game for some stacking, as the Nets are 10th in offensive rating and are also 10th in pace. Brooklyn will be more than willing to trade shots with Houston, so buckle up.
Obviously, it begins with Kyrie Irving ($9000 DK), who is playing One Man Gang-like DFS. His 37.4 Usage rate is high, but most of us would have imagined a higher total. He’ll get his 50+ DKP tonight, and the only way that happens is if he’s injured or in foul trouble. As mentioned before, I love Jarrett Allen ($5000 DK), and it’s beginning to look like the Nets are willing to give him more minutes. He’d be a good sidekick for Irving. Caris LeVert ($6000 DK) makes for an interesting play.
Stud — Irving. Dud — Taurean Prince ($4900 DK). Sleeper — Allen.
The Bucks run the third-highest pace in the league and sport an offensive rating ranked eighth overall. Defensively, their rating is 15th, so there’s some room for improvement.
Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,800 FD) is obviously the engine of the Bucks and is among the most expensive players on the slate. He’s a double-double lock who’s also adding eight assists and a steal per night. Khris Middleton ($7300 FD) becomes more valuable now that he’s grabbing nearly seven boards per night. Brook Lopez ($5600 FD) is a bonus with blocked shots, but you can’t trust a center who can’t give you boards. Eric Bledsoe ($6300 FD) has a PER under 10. You may not buy into PER as much as I do, but a starter below 10 PER isn’t going to carry you to DFS glory.
Stud — Antetokounmpo. Dud — Bledsoe. Sleeper — Middleton.
Only two teams are averaging fewer than 100 points per game. The Magic happen to be one of them. They also happen to be the worst scoring offense in the league at 95.8 points per game. Needless to say, there’s not a lot of DFS gold to be found here.
You can count on the double-double from Nikola Vucevic ($8700 FD), and he’s a good bet to hit his 35 FDP. Beyond that, the only other Magic player to be excited about is Jonathan Isaac ($6600 FD), who has an embarrassingly low 15.5 Usage rate. On a team as bad as Orlando, Issac needs to be at least in the mid-20s in UR. Since he’s not, that means players like Aaron Gordon ($6700 FD), Evan Fournier ($5000 FD) and D.J. Augustin ($4100 FD) are hoarding usage while producing at poor levels. That has to change.
Stud — Vucevic. Dud — Gordon. Sleeper — Isaac.
For all the flashes of potential, the Knicks are 28th in scoring and 26th in offensive rating. They’re 25th in pace. In short: little has changed with the Knicks.
You still have to strongly consider RJ Barrett ($6600 DK), whose PER doesn’t quite match up to his impressive DFS numbers. He’s a rookie who’s playing over expectation, yet this clash against the Celtics will give us an indication of whether he’s a legit DFS option or if he thrives off lesser competition. Mitchell Robinson ($5200 DK) can’t be trusted until his ankles get healthy. He’s not going to get off the court, so just play him at your own risk. Julius Randle ($7600 DK) is up and down. He was up on Wednesday, but I see more down tonight. Bobby Portis ($5400 DK) could surprise off the bench.
Stud — Barrett. Dud — Robinson. Sleeper — Portis.
Boston sits in the middle ground when it comes to pace but they are ninth in defensive rating, which makes this a challenge if you’re considering to play a Knicks player or two.
This is Jayson Tatum’s team. Tatum ($7000 DK) is second to Kemba Walker ($8400 DK) in scoring, but he’s adding a pair of steals on the defensive end to go along with what he does on offense. Walker is adding a surprising five boards a night but is getting less than four assists per night. Jaylen Brown ($5600 DK) is questionable tonight, which is disappointing since I thought he was the sleeper in this lineup. Gordon Hayward ($6100 DK) is getting heavy minutes thus far, a very good sign he’s beyond his near career-ending injury two years ago.
Stud — Tatum. Dud — Marcus Smart ($4900 DK). Sleeper — Hayward.
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Don’t count on this game being a run and gun affair. The Pistons are 21st in pace, just above the Bulls, who are ranked 23rd. Detroit is a surprising 15th in offensive rating but sit at 24th in defensive rating.
You know what you’ll get from Andre Drummond ($10,100 FD). You have to ask yourself if his 50.97 FDP is worth it. Derrick Rose ($5700 FD) is looking like the Derrick Rose we all wished he could have been, but he’s dealing with a bad hammy and may sit out tonight. Reggie Jackson ($4600 FD) is also out, which means the Pistons are going to need a little more production from Luke Kennard ($4900 FD). The Pistons have four players who have started at least three games with PERs lower than 10, which doesn’t bode well for DFS users.
Stud — Drummond. Dud — Markeiff Morris ($4400 FD). Sleeper — Kennard.
The Bulls sit in the bottom third in most categories, but if they were pick up the pace, you could begin to feel good about the young cornerstones of the lineup.
Bad thumb or not, Wendell Carter Jr. ($6600) has made marked improvement and could be a reliable DFS option if he can get his Usage rate beyond 19. I do like the pairing of him and Lauri Markkanen ($7300 FD), who has a 26.9 Usage rate and the caliber of game that could see him really thrive if he hits above 30 in UR. Zach LaVine ($7600 FD) tops the team at 28.8 UR and his strong start is a good sign that he’s becoming a good DFS option on most nights. Otto Porter ($5500 FD) is stealing money right now. Don’t let him steal yours’ by putting him in your lineup.
Stud — LaVine. Dud — Porter. Sleeper — Carter
The addition of Anthony Davis ($10,600 DK) has made Showtime more like Slowtime, as the Lakers are 22nd in pace. However, they are seventh in offensive rating, which shouldn’t be a shock considering they have a pair of transcendent players in AD and LeBron James ($9900 DK).
What Davis has done is made the Lakers more defensive. LA is seventh in defensive rating, helped by the fact Davis averages three blocked shots per game and role player Dwight Howard ($4700 DK) is rejecting 2.3 shots per night. The Lakers are also getting 8.5 steals per game, which have enhanced the DFS potential of Davis and James. In the end, though, Danny Green ($4300 DK) is the only other Lakers player that can offer value outside of a Showdown format, that is at least until Kyle Kuzma ($6000 DK) makes his season debut tonight.
Stud — Davis. Dud — JaVale McGee ($4000 DK). Sleeper — Green.
Dallas is sitting third in offensive rating but 20th in defensive rating. The Mavs are middle of the road when it comes to pace, but I sense they may like to run a faster pace tonight with their host of younger legs seeking to wear down the Lakers.
Luka Doncic ($9700 DK) hasn’t found his shot over the past two games, hitting just 11 of 34 from the field. He might be wise to reduce his 3-point shooting, as he’s now under 30 percent from beyond the arc. That part of his game is why I’m reluctant to go all-in on him. In the case of Kristaps Porzingis ($8000 DK), I think he’ll rise to the challenge of having Davis guarding him. That should be a game within a game. The Mavs’ offensive success has also been sparked by Delon Wright ($5200), who has been a pleasant surprise as a part-time starter. I am interested to see how much we get from Dwight Powell tonight. I’m not suggesting Powell ($3800 DK), but he’s worth a look for the long haul.
Stud — Porzingis. Dud — Maxi Kleber ($4000 DK). Sleeper — Wright.
To the shock of no one, the Jazz rank near the bottom in pace, sitting 27th overall. Who cares, really, when you lead the league in defensive rating? However, they are 25th in offensive rating, so the pickings are rather slim here.
Donovan Mitchell ($8300 FD) is scoring 24 points per game, but his FDP continues to dip. Rudy Gobert has had one big game surrounded by three bad outings, as at $8,300 (FD), he’s a bit too much to risk on, even against a thin Kings front court. Mike Conley ($6900 FD) comes off his best game to date as his assists totals begin a stead climb up. Bojan Bagdanovic ($5100 FD) has sleeper potential, especially if this game gets out of hand. Joe Ingles ($5100 FD) has produced three decent games of DFS totals after opening the season with just 9.6 FDP.
Stud — Mitchell. Dud — Conley. Sleeper — Bagdanovic
The Kings are last in offensive rating, while their pace is 20th overall. A defensive rating ranked 27th in the league is going to leave them wide open for exploitation.
There just isn’t a lot to be encouraged about. Marvin Bagley III ($7900 FD) is out until the end of the month. Buddy Hield ($6500 FD) couldn’t hit water on a consistent basis even if you pushed him to the edge of the Pacific Ocean. De’Aaron Fox ($8500 FD) is starting to put it together, but this is a matchup I wouldn’t play him in. This game feels like like it will be in the mid-to-high 90s, and I get the sense Fox’s recent upswing is going to hit a Utah-sized speed bump. I’ve always been a fan of Nemanja Bjelica ($4800 FD). Can someone tell me where I can find Harrison Barnes ($5400 FD). Right now, the only Kings player to rely on is Richaun Holmes ($6500 FD). That’s saying a lot.
Stud — Holmes. Dud — Hield. Sleeper — Bjelica.
Pay attention to how the Spurs play this. Chances are good someone (we see you, LaMarcus Aldridge) will sit since the Spurs are playing back-to-back games. This matchup against the Warriors certainly lacks the star power and “Oooh, let me make sure I’m watching” appeal that it once did.
The Spurs are 11th in offensive rating and 13th in defensive rating. They’re also ninth in pace, which blends well with the Warriors, who are fifth. At $7100 (DK), Aldridge is a nice play, provided he does suit up. I am all over Dejounte Murray, who is becoming one of my favorite players to watch. I’m putting Murray ($6400 DK) in a host of my lineups tonight because he’s going to exploit a Warriors backcourt that won’t have Stephen Curry in it. Pairing him and DeMar DeRozan ($7200 DK) is also an option worth considering.
Stud — Murray. Dud — Jakob Poeltl ($3300 FD). Sleeper — Derrick White ($5200).
Curry ($9600 DK) and Kevon Looney ($4900 DK) are both out. That means opportunity abounds for a host of young faces who are going to have to carry the shell of the now-departed dynasty. The Warriors have had pride in their defense. Not so much these days, as their 118.1 defensive rating is last in the league.
Obviously, this is Draymond Green ($7700 DK) leading the way. He’s going to have some huge usage with Curry out. D’Angelo Russell ($8900 DK) is also going to become a usage monster over the next few weeks. I like the upside of Eric Paschall ($4700 DK), who has massive sleeper potential. The same can be said for Glenn Robinson III ($4000 DK) and Marquese Chriss ($3200 DK), both of who will see more minutes. I wouldn’t be surprised if Willie Cauley-Stein ($4500 DK) gets the start tonight.
Stud — Green. Dud — Chriss. Sleeper — Paschall.
Jayson Tatum — Averages 41.1 Fantasy points per game at DraftKings.
Mitchell Robinson — Underachieving a bit at 26.8 FP at DraftKings, but is due for a breakout performance.
RJ Barrett — The rookie has been a revelation thus far, putting up 33.7 FP at DraftKings.
Verdict — I’ll put my neck out there and go with Barrett.
Every team will have a game in the books after tonight’s three-game slate. The 10/24 NBA DFS Game Previews get you ready to build your lineups.
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The Hawks go as PG Trae Young ($8,300, DraftKings) goes. Young averaged 37.7 Fantasy points per game last season at DK and has the potential to become a consistent 40-45 FPPG player. He’ll make for a more affordable alternative to James Harden, Russell Westbrook and Steph Curry. C John Collins ($7,300, DK) averaged 36.9 FPPG and should be strongly considered for NBA DFS if you want in for this game. SF De’Andre Hunter ($4,000, DK) makes his NBA debut; not one to consider here, but worth watching to see how he flows into things.
Andre Drummond ($8,300, DK) opened with 32 points and 23 boards on Wednesday and is a strong option at C. You’ll pay for the rebounds and blocks. The scoring will be there as the Pistons go without Blake Griffin. PG/SG Derrick Rose ($5,400, DK) had 29.3 FP off the bench on Wednesday, but it will be hard to invest in a repeat effort. PG/SG Reggie Jackson ($5,300, DK) played just 20 minutes on Wednesday, so give Rose the edge here. Luke Kennard ($4,700, DK) scored 30 in the opener and is a value play considering the Hawks had one of the Association’s worst defenses.
Reigning league MVP and NBA DFS star Giannis Antetokounmpo ($12,200, FanDuel) will be the anchor in the bulk of formats. SG Khris Middleton ($7,600, FD) offers premium scoring and should be able to hit his 33 FPPG rate of 2018-19. This might be one matchup that won’t fit C Brook Lopez ($5,800, FD), as he will be shadowed by Rockets C Clint Capela ($8,400, FD). PG Eric Bledsoe ($7,000, FD) is a game time decision (ribs), but I’d put good money that he’ll be in the starting lineup. He was seventh in steals (1.48) last season, yet this is one game where he’ll be overshadowed in that category.
The Rockets’ Great Experiment begins with PG Russell Westbrook ($10,000, FD) joins SG James Harden ($11,400, FD). The two combined for over 113 Fantasy points per game last season, and while there will be nights they’ll achieve this, tonight isn’t the night to stack them together. Give Harden the edge as the Bucks were 28th in stopping opposing SGs last season. Capela will still get enough trash baskets to merit starting him. He averaged 39.09 FPPG at FD last season and should be the best play outside of Drummond at C. Streaky SF Eric Gordon ($4,900, FD) is perhaps the only other Rockets player worth considering.
No shock here: SF Kawhi Leonard ($9,800, FD) is the best option on the Clippers, having scored 47.7 FD points on Tuesday. The Warriors are thin up front, making PF/C Montrezl Harrell ($7,000, FD) something of a bargain as he amassed 34.4 FD in the win over the Lakers. SG Lou Williams ($6,900, FD) could exceed the 38.5 FP he scored on Tuesday as he won’t have to worry about Klay Thompson blanketing him. He’s a good pairing with Westbrook in the backcourt. SF Moe Harkless ($4,900, FD) surprised with 32.79 FP on Tuesday coming off the bench.
NBA DFS King PG Steph Curry ($10,300, FD) will have the green light to attempt 25-30 shots. This could be a 50-55 FP night for him as the Warriors look to discover who else can offer offense outside of him and PF Draymond Green ($8,000, FD), who should be a good option up front. SG D’Angelo Russell ($8,200, FD) makes his Golden State debut. His style should fit well with the Warriors’ game pace. C Kevon Looney ($6,400, FD) has value now that he will see extended minutes as a starter. Those who love a deep toss of a gamble will like PF Marquese Chriss ($3,800, FD), whose athleticism and upside might have finally found a home after spending last season as a bench player with the Rockets and Cavaliers.
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Stephen Curry — Fifth in scoring last season, Curry will have a chance to compete for a scoring title as he takes the bulk of a Warriors offense without injured Klay Thompson and the departed Kevin Durant.
Kawhi Leonard — He was right behind Curry among last year’s top scorers. He was 10-for-19 from the field (1-for-5 beyond the arc) and 9-for-10 from the free throw line in his Clippers debut on Tuesday night.
My Pick — Curry has no Plan B around him, so don’t be shocked if he attempts 25-plus shots. Leonard will be the top scoring option in the Clips’ starting five, but elite sixth man SG Lou Williams has the potential to lead the team in scoring each night. It may not do wonders for Curry’s field goal percentage, but I’ll take him at the Over, with Leonard just scraping the under.
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