The first Friday of the NBA season rolls in with nine games, so the 10/25 NBA DFS Game Previews are off and running to get you ready to make the long green.
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Toronto at Boston, 7:00 PM Eastern
SF Pascal Siakam ($8,900, FanDuel) was money well spent Opening Night, scoring 62.09 FanDuel points. PG Kyle Lowry ($7,600, FD) remains dependable and a good option considering the higher-salaried PGs available. SF OG Anunoby ($4,700, FD) has intriguing value, especially if this game develops into a faster pace. Of course, this a Fred VanVleet ($6,600, FD) world, especially after he blew up with 54.5 FanDuel points in the win over the Pelicans.
Celtics PG Kemba Walker ($8,200, FD) scored just 14.39 FP on Wednesday. He’s much better than that but he may need a few games to adjust to the Boston system. Add with caution. PF Jayson Tatum ($7,600, FD) is the Celt to grab as comes off 38 FP against the Sixers on Wednesday. SF Gordon Hayward ($6,800, FD) had 30 FP in the opener. There’s more ceiling there now that he’s a year further from his devastating leg injury.
Minnesota at Charlotte, 7:00 PM Eastern
You will pay for C Karl-Anthony Towns ($10,800, DraftKings) and love. KAT opened the season with 50.4 Fantasy points and has a chance to be tonight’s high scorer going agains the Hornets’ thin front court. SG/SF Andrew Wiggins ($6,000, DK) pulled down eight rebounds on Wednesday to bolster his 31.1 FP night. Um, I don’t see Wiggins repeating that act on the glass. PG Jeff Teague ($5,600, DK) is a nice alternative that will be overshadowed by some of the bigger-named at point. SF/PF Robert Covington ($5,600, DK) scored 34 FP without hitting a three or recording an assist, two things he tends to do well. If you don’t go Towns, look to Covington for consideration.
Let’s not get too giddy on Hornets PF P.J. Washington ($6,400, DK), who scored 27 points and knocked down seven threes in Wednesday win over the Bulls. He’s going to be overused tonight, and I’d suggest not following the crowd. I will buy into SF/PF Miles Bridges ($5,900, DK), who scored 36.3 FanDuel points on Wednesday and should be the most consistent Fantasy option as the Hornets find their way. PG Terry Rozier ($6,600, DK) opened with just 15.3 FanDuel points. He’s best left on the NBA DFS bench.
New York at Brooklyn, 7:30 PM Eastern
PF Julius Randle ($8,800, FanDuel) took the mantle and delivered 55.2 FanDuel points in the loss to the Spurs on Wednesday. His chances of a repeat hinges on whether C Mitchell Robinson ($7,000, FD) is a go (ankle). SF Marcus Morris ($5,500, FD) pulled a 40.29 FDP performance, and with the Knicks still trying to find a lead dog offensively, Morris will have every chance to duplicate the effort. PG Elfrid Payton ($5,700, FD) scored 40.1 FDP on Wednesday and has the track record to suggest he can do so consistently if the minutes are afforded to him. If Robinson can’t go, PF Bobby Portis ($5,200) is always an intriguing option.
Nets PG Kyrie Irving ($9,700, FD) had an insane 73.09 FDP in Wednesday’s opener. He’s worthy of starting since the Nets don’t have much to offer beyond him offensively and he’ll be involved in scoring whether he’s scoring the ball or assisting. PF Jarrett Allen ($6,800, FD) had five blocks in the opener. If you don’t want Irving but want to use a Nets player, turn to SF Taurean Prince ($5,600, FD), who tallied 40.1 FDP on Wednesday. He had a strong preseason and is making a strong impression to be the second scoring option behind Irving.
Washington at Oklahoma City, 8:00 PM Eastern
SG Bradley Beal had a so-so 29.3 Fantasy points in the loss at the Mavericks on Wednesday. Beal ($8,600, DraftKings) is way better than that and should bounce back well tonight. C Thomas Bryant ($6,600, DK) tallied 24.3 DKP on Wednesday and is an under the radar contributor at the position. PG Isaiah Thomas ($4,000, DK) will need more than 23 minutes to justify adding him on the roster. Beyond those three, it’s best to skate away from the Wizards.
Regardless of uniform and location, PG Chris Paul ($7,200, DK) is going to deliver, as he put up 51.1 DKP on Wednesday. As long as he’s in OKC, Paul is going to be the top NBA DFS option on the Thunder. Danilo Gallinari ($7,100, DK) can be a 42 DKP per night scorer in this system. Of course, it’s about his health. I’d consider him tonight in what should be a fast-paced game. Foul trouble slowed down Steven Adams ($6,800, DK) in Wednesday’s opener. He still put up 24 DKP but this isn’t the matchup to run with him. PF/C Mike Muscala ($3,200, DK) surprised with 27.3 DKP. I’d wait and see if his minutes and usage are legit. If so, Muscala is going to be a good punt option.
Chicago at Memphis, 8:00 PM Eastern
The 60.4 FDP that Lauri Markkanen ($8,200, FanDuel) scored on Wednesday was a reminder of what he can do when healthy and given a high usage rate. I’d like him a little more if they were facing a more fast-paced team than the Grizzlies. SG Zach LaVine ($8,000, FD) racked up 37.7 FDP and is a good option if you’re looking for a 2 that can stat stuff. PG Kris Dunn ($5,200, FD) appears to be the option at the 1 for right now, a decision I can roll with. I think C Wendell Carter ($6,500, FD) steps up to deliver more than the 24.79 FDP he scored on Wednesday. Colby White ($4,700, FD) came out of nowhere with 30.7 FDP on Wednesday, but I still think Dunn’s the better option at PG.
SF Josh Jackson ($3,500, FD) is an interesting punt play. He scored 23.01 FDP on Wednesday, and there is room available for him to produce more. PF Jaren Jackson ($7,400, FD) had a team-best 26.6 FDP in the opener, and the Grizzlies will do all they can to build this team around him. I won’t be shocked if Jackson put up 40-45 FP tonight. Rookie PG Ja Morant ($7,100, FD) had 24.79 FDP in his debut, but six turnovers are both expected and a turn-off.
Dallas at New Orleans, 8:00 PM Eastern
SG Luka Doncic ($9,200, DraftKings) is my SG of the night. He opened the season with 67 DKP in Wednesday’s win over the Wizards and pairs well with PF/C Kristaps Porzingis ($7,600, DK), who scored 23 points in 29 minutes in his Dallas debut. PG Delon Wright ($4,800, DK) is a strong value play that comes off a 53.8 DKP night on Wednesday. The Mavs want to run, and Wright — who had 11 assists in the opener — is a good fit for their plans.
PG/SG Jrue Holiday ($8,500, DK) had just 26.8 DKP in the opening loss to the Raptors. Against lesser competition, Holiday should see his numbers get close to the 43.6 FP he averaged last season. SF/PF Brandon Ingram ($7,100, DK) tallied 34.8 DKP on Tuesday and looks to be the stat stuffer I envisioned he’d become in New Orleans. On the other hand, PF/C Derrick Favors ($5,700, DK) underachieved on Tuesday, but, like Holiday, sounds like a bounce back candidate against a suspect Mavs defense. Be encouraged to consider PG Lonzo Ball ($6,000, DK), who put up 31.8 DKP on Tuesday. Now that he’s out of the clown show in LA, Ball may finally start living up to the hype.
Phoenix at Denver, 9:00 PM Eastern
There’s a ton of Fantasy points waiting to be picked up in the wake of Suns C Deandre Ayton’s 25-game suspension for violating the league’s drug policy. This is an opportunity for SF Kelly Oubre ($6,400, FanDuel) to really step his game up after opening with 40.29 FDP on Wednesday. SG Devin Booker ($8,800, FD) will also see a hike in his Fantasy scoring, but I feel Dario Saric ($4,600, FD) or SF Mikal Bridges ($4,200, FD) can see significant improvement. For tonight, though, I’d play Booker but love Oubre due to the value and upside. PG Ricky Rubio ($7,000, FD) is a solid play in what should be a high-scoring affair.
Even with foul trouble, Nikola Jokic ($10,800, FD) was productive, although the 34.59 FDP he scored on Wednesday felt somewhat disappointing. Without Ayton to contend with, I’d strongly consider anchoring an NBA DFS lineup tonight around him. PG Jamaal Murray ($7,100, FD) also gives the impression of a better evening even though he put up 30 FDP on Wednesday. SF Will Barton ($5,400, FD) is a good play and a must if going with a Nuggets stack. Like Jokic, PF Paul Millsap ($6,300, FD) should thrive inside without the presence of Ayton looming in the interior. If you’re feeling like this could be a Denver blowout, SG Torrey Craig ($3,800, FD) is a fun punt in a Denver stack.
Portland at Sacramento, 10:00 PM Eastern
PG Damian Lillard ($8,800, DraftKings) shook off a slow start and finished with 52.5 DKP in Wednesday’s loss to the Nuggets. He’ll be a popular choice at the point along with Kyrie Irving. SG C.J. McCollum ($6,200, DK) knocked down five treys on his way to 47.5 DKP. Though expensive, stacking this backcourt should net solid returns tonight. C Hassan Whiteside ($7,200, DK) had nine boards and four blocks to anchor the 37.8 FDP he amassed in his Portland debut. For now, those are the only three Trail Blazers worth considering.
The Kings lost SF/PF Marvin Bagley III with a fractured thumb for the next 4-6 weeks, leaving a void in the lineup. PG D’Aaron Fox struggled in the opening loss to the Suns, yet Fox ($7,900, DK) is worth a second look, especially now that his usage rate will go up with Bagley sidelined. Buddy Hield ($6,700, DK) is questionable with an ankle injury. Richaun Holmes ($3,400, DK) might be a player who benefits from the absence of Bagley. He played 17 minutes in the opener and grabbed five rebounds, but also drew three fouls and score just one point. Watch how the rotation without Bagley looks tonight to get a feel for how to approach the Kings.
Utah at LA Lakers, 10:30 PM Eastern
SG Donovan Mitchell ($8,500, FanDuel) carried the Fantasy load for the Jazz on Wednesday, putting up 52.5 FDP in the win over the Thunder. C Rudy Gobert ($8,800, FD) grossly disappointed his DFS users with a mere 22.79 FDP. Look for a much better outing tonight, as it’s not often the Stifle Tower delivers consecutive slag games. There’s plenty of room for improvement from PG Michael Conley ($7,300, FD), who had just 13.5 FDP in his Jazz debut. PG Emmanuel Mudiay ($3,700, FD) racked up 24.89 FDP off the bench but won’t offer enough to merit serious consideration.
Raise your hand if you had SF Danny Green ($4,800, FD) outscoring LeBron James? The answer is none of you. Stay away from him since that was more fluke than reality. James ($11,200, FD) scored 43 FDP, two less than Green. There’s a 50-60 FDP night coming this evening. PF Anthony Davis ($12,000) scored 49.29 FDP in his Lakers debut. Creatives can find ways to pair Davis and James yet will have to be deadly accurate on filling the rest of the roster with bargain-level talent surrounding them.
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Scoring Champ
Devin Booker — He scored 22 in the opening win over the Kings but will have the chance at more touches with C Deandre Ayton suspended.
Nikola Jokic — Jokic put up 20 during Wednesday’s win over the Trail Blazers. He’s a good bet but the Nuggets have 5-6 players capable of leading the team in scoring on a given night.
Kelly Oubre — With Ayton suspended, Oubre has the best chance to see his scoring numbers improve.
Verdict — A somewhat easy call here by rolling with Booker.
