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NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/10/17

*Mike Barner*

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/10/17

Use Code "LLNBA17" at checkout for 10% off Seasonal PackageUse Code “LLNBA17” at checkout for 10% off Seasonal Package
 

POINT GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks
Damian Lillard, POR vs. BKN
FanDuel = $10,000
DraftKings = $9,400

Lillard has been stuffing the stat sheet on a nightly basis as he is averaging 25.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.3 three-pointers per game. His scoring has been off the charts of late as he has scored at least 32 points in four of his last five games. He is averaging 19 shot attempts and 8 free-throw attempts in 36 minutes per game on the season overall, giving him plenty of opportunities to continue to produce. The Nets are allowing the most points in the NBA, making this a juicy for Lillard.

Mike James, PHO vs. ORL
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $5,100

James has played well since taking over for Eric Bledsoe, averaging 12.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.3 three-pointers in nine starts. With Bledsoe now a member of the Milwaukee Bucks and the team preferring to bring Tyler Ulis off the bench, James’ role is pretty set going forward barring another trade. If you are looking for a cost effective point guard Friday, James is your man.

SHOOTING GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks
C.J. McCollum, POR vs. BKN
FanDuel = $7,300
DraftKings = $7,400

Although Jusuf Nurkic has been a valuable addition for Portland, they are only going to go as far as Lillard and McCollum can carry then. Like Lillard, McCollum has also excelled to start the season by averaging 23.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 3.3 three-pointers per game. He hasn’t really had an off night as he has scored at least 16 points in every game so far. I already detailed the struggles the Nets have on defense, making McCollum an excellent play Friday as well.

Lou Williams, LAC at OKC
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $5,200

The Clippers are dealing with several injuries Friday as both Patrick Beverley and Danilo Gallinari have already been ruled out while Austin Rivers is listed as questionable. That’s three key players in the Clippers rotation. Williams should take on a more prominent role as a result, giving him a great opportunity to provide a lot of value at this cheap price. He’s already averaging 14.8 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.6 three-pointers in only 23 minutes per game, so the extra minutes can really make him move the fantasy needle.

SMALL FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks
Evan Fournier, ORL at PHO
FanDuel = $6,800
Draft Kings = $7,200

The Magic are off to a surprising 7-4 start and Fournier is a big reason for their success as he’s averaging career highs in points (20.5), rebounds (4.5), assists (3.6), steals (1.5) and three-pointers (2.7) per game.  He has only scored less than 20 points in a game twice this season and is averaging 34 minutes per game, giving him a pretty high floor. The Suns are allowing 115.8 points per game, so look for Fournier to stay hot in this game.

Denzel Valentine, CHI vs. IND
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $4,300

The Bulls can’t seem to settle on a starting small forward as Valentine, Paul Zipser and David Nwaba have all started at the position this season. Zipser and Nwaba have logged the majority of the starts though as Valentine has only been a member of the first unit in one of their nine games. Nwaba is out with an injury and Zipser has not played well at all, so Valentine might be in for a larger role going forward. He has played at least 23 minute in each of the last three games, averaging 13.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 3.0 three-pointers per game. That’s great production for a player at this price, making him a strong value play against the Pacers.

POWER FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks
Blake Griffin, LAC at OKC
FanDuel = $8,400
DraftKings = $8,600

As I already mentioned, the Clippers will be limited in the players they will have available for this game. Griffin has been stellar even with the team at full strength as he is averaging 22.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.0 steal and 2.1 three-pointers per game. The increase in three-pointers is impressive as he had never averaged more than 0.6 per game heading into this season. The Thunder are struggling right now, losing four games in a row. They are extremely thin up front, so they really don’t have anyone capable of guarding Griffin. Get him in your lineup and enjoy the ride.

Luke Babbitt, ATL at DET
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $3,700

The Hawks are in full rebuild mode, leaving them with a roster with limited talent and depth. Add that to injuries to both Ersan Ilyasova and Mike Muscala and you get Babbitt playing at least 25 minutes in four straight games. He has taken advantage of the extended playing time by averaging 13.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.0 three-pointers per game over that stretch. You won’t have to pay much for his services against the Pistons, making him a viable value play for your entry.

CENTERS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks
Andre Drummond, DET vs. ATL
FanDuel = $10,200
DraftKings = $8,800

The Hawks don’t have much size up front, which is a recipe for disaster against Drummond. Drummond has grabbed at least 12 rebounds in every game this season and has failed to log a double-double only three times. Not known as much of a passer, he has surprisingly dished out at least four assists in a game six times already this season. With the type of production he provides and the lack of resistance, he should see from the Hawks centers, pay up for Drummond.

Aron Baynes, BOS vs. CHA
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $4,300

Al Horford missed the Celtics last game against the Los Angeles Lakers due to a concussion, resulting in Baynes taking over as the starting center. While he only played 23 minutes, he was highly efficient as he scored 21 points to go along with eight rebounds and three assists. Horford will be out again Friday, leaving Baynes with another start. He may be needed to log even more minutes against Dwight Howard, making him a great cheap option at center.

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 PackageUse Code “LLNBA17” at checkout for 10% off Seasonal Package
 

POINT GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

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

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks
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

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks
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

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

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

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks
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 11/8/17

*Mike Barner*

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/8/17

Use Code "LLNBA17" at checkout for 10% off Seasonal PackageUse Code “LLNBA17” at checkout for 10% off Seasonal Package
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

POINT GUARDS

Stephen Curry, GS vs. MIN
FanDuel = $9,500
DraftKings = $9,300

Curry has picked up right where he left off last season as he is averaging 25.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.8 steals and 3.8 three-pointers per game. He is still productive even when he doesn’t get a ton of playing time due to a lopsided score as he has scored at least 20 points in all three games where he played less than 30 minutes this season. Wednesday brings a favorable matchup against a Timberwolves team that has allowed the fourth most points (24.0) and third most assists (10.0) per game to opposing point guards.

Frank Ntilikina, NY at ORL
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $3,800

You often have to take risks to cash in big in tournament play. Ntilikina provides an interesting opportunity Wednesday based on how little he costs on both sites. After missing the start of the season due to injury, Ntilikina is finding his groove and has played at least 25 minutes in three of the last four games. While he doesn’t provide much offense, he dished out at least seven assists in all three of those games where he saw increased playing time.  If you want to take a chance on a very cheap play at point guard, Ntilikina is a viable option.

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

SHOOTING GUARDS

Avery Bradley, DET vs. IND
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $5,500

Bradley has seen an increase in playing time of late as he has logged at least 33 minutes in each of the last four games. It’s no coincidence that his numbers were stellar as a result as he averaged 19.5 points, 2.0 steals and 2.8 three-pointers over that stretch. His rebounding is down this season, but the 6.1 rebounds per game he averaged last season were highly unsustainable as his previous career high for a season was 3.8. He will still provide enough value Wednesday and I especially like using him on DraftKings based on his price.

Tim Hardaway Jr., NY at ORL
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $6,100

Hardaway has the green light to shoot on the Knicks as he is averaging career highs in shot attempts (14.2) and three-point attempts (8.2) per game. Outside of Kristaps Porzingis, Hardaway is the best offensive talent they have on the team. Hardaway is averaging 21.0 points, 3.3 three-pointers and 1.8 steals over his last six games, making him a strong play again Wednesday against the Magic.

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

SMALL FORWARDS

Kevin Durant, GS vs. MIN
FanDuel = $10,400
DraftKings = $9,700

I really don’t have to make much of an argument to justify using Durant on any given night. He has been providing his usual stellar stats as he is averaging 24.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 2.5 blocks and 2.9 three-pointers per game. This is a promising match up though against the Timberwolves as they have allowed the second most points per game (109.8) in the Western Conference this season.

Bojan Bogdanovic, IND at DET
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $4,800

Bogdanovic has seen increased playing time on a rebuilding Pacers team that is lacking depth as he is averaging a career-high 29 minutes per game. Increased playing time has led to increased production as he is averaging 13.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.6 three-pointers per game. He has been even better offensively of late, averaging 15.4 points and 2.4 three-pointers over his last five games. If you are looking to save money at small forward, look no further.

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

POWER FORWARDS

Kristaps Porzingis, NY at ORL
FanDuel = $9,800
DraftKings = $9,500

Porzingis has been one of the more entertaining players to watch so far this season. His unique set of size and athleticism have lead to some crazy plays on both ends of the floor. His first season without Carmelo Anthony has gone swimmingly as he is averaging career highs in points (30.0), rebounds (7.5), blocks (2.3) and three-pointers (1.9) per game. Although he will cost you a lot Wednesday, the volume he gets is worth the price.

James Johnson, MIA at PHO
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $6,400

Johnson may be one of the more underrated players in the NBA, but you shouldn’t look past him for your lineup Wednesday. He has the ability to provide excellent all-around production, evident by his averages of 13.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.1 blocks and 1.0 three-pointer per game this season. With that type of talent, it provides for a high floor on a nightly basis in terms of DFS production. Expect much of the same from him against a bad Suns defense in this game.

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

CENTERS

Hassan Whiteside, MIA at PHO
FanDuel = $9,000
DraftKings = $7,400

Whiteside threw up a clunker in his last game against the Golden State Warriors and was benched in the second half for a lack of effort. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said this shouldn’t carry over into tonight’s game, so expect Whiteside to return to his normal allotment of minutes. He has scored at least 21 points and grabbed at least 14 rebounds in three of the fives games he has played this season, providing tremendous value. Look for him to respond with a strong performance tonight, making him an especially good play based on his price on DraftKings.

Enes Kanter, NY at ORL
FanDuel = $6,800
DraftKings = $6,200

Kanter has thrived as the starting center for the Knicks as he is averaging a double-double (13.6 points and 10.8 rebounds per game) for the first time in his career. What makes his production even more impressive is the fact that he is only averaging 25 minutes per game. The Magic have depth up front with Nikola Vucevic and Bismack Biyombo, so the Knicks will be counting on Kanter to provide valuable minutes again Wednesday. If you can’t spend the money on Whiteside, Kanter is a solid mid-tier priced option.






NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/7/17

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/7/17

Point Guard

Kemba Walker
FD $7,400 DK $7,300

After a measly 3-gamer on Monday, the NBA bounces back with a solid 10 game slate packed full of value and superstars. There’s plenty of things to consider across the board, so let’s get into some of the top plays at each position. We’ll start it off with Kemba Walker, who’s been dominating in Madison Square Garden since college. He now sees one of the worst teams he’s ever faced there, at least against point guards. Jarrett Jack is not at all a good defender and Kemba should be able to get to the rim or shoot on the perimeter at will. Dwight Howard is also questionable, so a lot of the offense may funnel even more of the offense towards Kemba. He already has one of the highest usage rates in the league, so 25-30 shots are more than possible in what should be a close game. Kemba is fairly priced on both sites and I’m not sure it’s necessary to pay for anyone more expensive.

T.J. McConnell
FD $5,500 DK $4,800

Let’s take a look at T.J. McConnell, who I think is an easy play. While the Jazz are a tough match-up for any position, McConnell has proven his ability to produce when given the minutes. With Markelle Fultz out for a while and Jerryd Bayless ruled out, you can count him in for 35-40 minutes. Jacob Pullen is the only other PG on the roster and he hasn’t seen a minute all season. McConnell has seen a slight price increase over the last week or two, but it’s not to the point where you need to worry. He is a lock for 20-25 fantasy points against Ricky Rubio and has 40-50 FP upside. It doesn’t seem like it, but this is a guy who had a triple-double last year. It’s not a possibility against the Jazz, but I’m trying to get the point across that he’s a pretty decent player. I’ll have him in my cash games and will be one of the guys I worry about least.

Shooting Guard

Victor Oladipo
FD $7,300 DK $8,000

Wow, Victor Oladipo has been amazing. If you’ve tuned in to the last few games, you’ve probably stopped reading already and have ‘Dipo plugged in. He is the CLEAR number 1 option on this Pacers offense and he’s looking a lot like the guy he learned from last year in Russell Westbrook. He’s also using a lot of his similar moves, like putting the ball on the back of the rim on layups and using his short burst speed to separate from the defense when nobody is expecting it. He gets a match-up here against the Pelicans where it may be tough to get inside, but they have no perimeter defenders to stop him from getting there. His price is still fair, at least on FD, and he makes for a very safe cash game play. His tournament upside is well noted already, but I think DeRozan or Russell have just as much and will be lesser owned.

Gary Harris
FD $5,700 DK $5,200

We saw a very disappointing game last night between the Suns and Nets that went way under the projected total. Hopefully, it keeps a lot of people away here, because some of these Nuggets are phenomenal plays. Gary Harris is the first. He isn’t a focal point of the offense, but he’s a key role player. He’s averaging 34 minutes a game and has the 3rd highest usage % in the starting lineup. He doesn’t rely on scoring, seeing he averages about 10-15 in peripherals on a nightly basis. That’ll be no issue at all against a Nets team that plays faster than anyone since 2013. Harris only needs around 25 fantasy points to hit value in cash games and I don’t see that being an issue at all.

Small Forward

LeBron James
FD $11,300 DK $11,400

The first superstar we’ll touch on is LeBron James. You can definitely go with Giannis Antetokounmpo here if you want, but I’m personally leaning just a bit to the LBJ side. He’s having his best fantasy season in a while, putting up over 50 FP in 70% of his games and has hit a 95 FP ceiling. Just a little reminder out there for the people who forget who the best player on the planet is. His price has definitely risen, but he needs about 60 to get you there. In a match-up against Giannis Antetokounmpo, I think he goes for big numbers. Expect a dual between Giannis and LBJ that results in both of them having a big night. The Bucks plays faster than the Cavs and this will be a pace-up for LeBron and a pace-down for Giannis.

Harrison Barnes
FD $6,200 DK $5,800

If you need a guy in the mid/low range at SF, Harrison Barnes is a guy you can count on in both cash games and tournaments. He’s one of the more consistent players in the league for his price and this fast-paced game against the Wizards will help a ton. The Mavericks typically play slow, so fast-paced teams can make a huge impact on everyone, as they’re priced for a slow game. Barnes is the top option on this offense and he’ll see the average defense of Kelly Oubre and Otto Porter. Count on 25 fantasy points as the worst-case scenario and 50 as the best. He’s pretty similar to Gary Harris at SG.

Power Forward

Anthony Davis
FD $11,700 DK $11,200

Another superstar to consider comes in the form of a 7 foot 2 Pelican. Anthony Davis has been unguardable this season, putting up 50+ in every single game of the season. He now gets a fantastic match-up against the Indiana Pacers, who play super fast and have nobody to cover AD. Myles Turner is back in the lineup, so he’s the big body that will be on Cousins. I don’t think he’ll do much, but it will still give Davis the ball more to start. Thaddeus Young has 0 chance of staying with Davis and it’ll be a matter of time before the Pacers are scrambling to double both Boogie and Davis. It won’t work very well and 2 7 foot monsters aren’t easily guardable when running 20 MPH. The Pacers love to run as much as anyone and you can lock in 60 for AD.

Quincy Acy
FD $3,000 DK $3,000

Talk about a bottom barrel price. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was injured last night in a game that Quincy Acy saw 20 minutes. With Trevor Booker already out, Ac should be in line for 30+ minutes. It’s something that should never happen in 2017, but the Nets don’t have an option. Sad. The Nuggets are a fine team to face for Acy, who doesn’t score at all. If he does score, it’s on putbacks. Even though he’s not a great player at this point, he’s still probably a top 10 rebounder. I can’t imagine 10 humans getting a rebound 1-0n-1 against him, at least. He should have no problem getting to 25 fantasy points against the Nuggets and that will blow value out of the water. Make sure both Trevor Booker and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson are out before locking in Acy everywhere.

Center

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Nikola Jokic
FD $9,500 DK $8,500

We’re back on to the Nets with one of my favorite plays of the slate. Jokic wasn’t able to do much with the Warriors, but that’s fine. We knew it was a possibility going in that the Warriors would go small and force Jokic to sit, which is exactly what happened. The Nets don’t get the respect for that. Jokic will be in there for 25 minutes once again and I’d be surprised to see less than 50 fantasy points. He lives off of stuffing the stat sheet and we know the best possible match-up for them is the Nets. They play at an insane pace that hasn’t been seen in a long time. His price is fine on both sites and I’ll have exposure everywhere, but he’s a near-lock in cash games on DK at just $8.5k.

Cody Zeller
FD $4,000 DK $4,000

Dwight Howard is currently questionable, so make sure he ends up missing the game before plugging Zeller in. Dwight Howard takes up about 30-35 minutes a game, so at least 15-20 of those will have to go to Zeller. That puts him at around 30. Against the Knicks and Enes Kanter defense, yes, please. This won’t be the fastest game for either team, but that isn’t a big deal for a guy like Zeller that relies on points and rebounds strictly. While he isn’t a big part of the offense on most nights, they give him a 19% usage rate when he is in there. Zeller is super cheap and he’s another value play that will help you pay up elsewhere.

 






NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 4

*Mike Barner*

NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 4

One of the important aspects of playing in a head-to-head season-long NBA fantasy league is to know the ins and outs of the schedule. Unlike in rotisserie leagues, there may be times when it makes sense to bench one of your better players because they only play a limited amount of games. Let’s take a look at the Week 4 schedule and see what moves you should consider for your squad.

Teams With The Most Games – 4 Games Each
Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns

Only six teams play four games each this week, which is great news for owners who have Russell Westbrook, Kyrie Irving, Devin Booker and Hassan Whiteside. Your elite players get an added edge this week. You will also want to consider adding the players below to help gain the edge over your opponent.

NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 4
Mike James, Phoenix Suns

James has taken over the starting point guard position as the team looks to trade unhappy veteran Eric Bledsoe. He has been successful so far, averaging 11.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.1 three-pointers in seven starts. Although he is only shooting 37.3% from the field this season, those are significant counting stats for someone you can grab off waivers in 60% of Yahoo! leagues. Three of his four games this week come against poor defensive teams in the Nets, Magic and Timberwolves.

Tyler Johnson, Miami Heat

The Heat need Johnson to provide scoring off the bench and he has done just that this season, averaging 11.0 points and 1.2 three-pointers in 27 minutes per game. He has made at least three three-pointers in three of his last six games, so a four-game week with Johnson in your lineup could give you a big boost if you struggle in that category. Three of the four games the Heat play come against the Warriors, Suns and Pistons, three teams that tend to deploy small lineups. Still available in 65% of Yahoo! leagues, Johnson is someone you should consider adding if you need a guard.

Bojan Bogdanovic, Indiana Pacers

The Pacers are in full rebuild mode, leaving Bogdanovic to average a career-high 29 minutes per game this season. He has not disappointed as he is averaging 13.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.6 three-pointers per game. His performance has been even better of late as he has scored at least 15 points and hit at least two three-pointers in four of his last five games.  The Pacers get to face the Pelicans, Pistons, Bulls and Rockets this week, so Bogdanovic could be in for some big scoring numbers. He’s still available in 57% of Yahoo! leagues.

Teams With The Fewest Games – 2 Games Each
Charlotte Hornets, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers

With only four teams playing two games this week, it can be a crushing blow if you have players on these squads. While you may normally start the players below, consider putting them on your bench this week and using someone else with a more favorable schedule.

NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 4

Andrew Wiggins, Minnesota Timberwolves

The main reason you own Wiggins is for offense as he is averaging 19.9 points and 1.6 three-pointers per game. Outside of also averaging 4.6 rebounds per game, he doesn’t provide you with much else in terms of counting stats. With only two games this week, his ability to help your team offensively will be limited. One of those games comes against a bad Suns team, so there is concern he could see limited minutes in a blowout. Proceed with caution if you have Wiggins this week.

Jeremy Lamb, Charlotte Hornets

Lamb has been excellent while filling in for the injured Nicolas Batum, averaging 17.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.7 three-pointers per game. He is also shooting a career high 48.5% from the field, so everything has come up roses for his owners so far. This might be the week to put him on your bench though as he is only playing two games, one of which comes against a Celtics team that is only allowing an NBA low 93.2 points per game.

Dwight Howard, Charlotte Hornets

Howard’s move to Charlotte has done wonders for his value as he is averaging 14.6 points and 13.6 rebounds per game. While he is playing 31 minutes a game, he’s not the defender that he once was as he is only averaging 1.3 blocks per game. His free-throw shooting also continues to be awful at 40.4%. Outside of his rebounding numbers, it’s going to be hard for him to provide enough value this week with only two games.

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/6/17

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/6/17

Point Guard

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Kyrie Irving
FD $9,500 DK $8,800

Kyrie hasn’t been the same player he was in Cleveland. He’s been a lot more consistent and in tune with his game, compared to last season when he would constantly sit from 30-65 fantasy points. This season, you can count on 40 with the hopes of 50-60. Against Dennis Schroder, you have a pretty good chance. The Hawks have been in the bottom 5 since the start of 2016 and top 8 the year before. Non-coincidentally, last year is when Schroder got the starting gig. Vegas has this game at a 208 total and a close spread, so go ahead and target anyone you want from this game. With just 3 games on the slate, most are going to come from the Suns and Nets. However, if you do want to get a little crazy, game stacking here isn’t a horrible idea. If it does stay close, having 2 or 3 of the studs could pay off in tournaments. In cash games, Irving is one of the best 1-offs of the entire night. You will not find a cash game lineup of mine without him.

Mike James
FD $5,800 DK $5,300

There’s an old saying in DFS that minutes = production. It’s not a perfect science (Tony Snell), but we’re seeing a perfect example out of it here with Mike James. James isn’t special. Sorry to the Mike James fans, but he’s no different than a lot of different placeholder young backups PG’s. He’s just getting a lot of minutes in a fast-paced offense. We saw Tyler Ulis average over 30 FP in the same offense and now he’s on the bench. The truth is that Devin Booker is a big help as well, as he dictates the best defender and most attention. James gets an ideal match-up against a Nets team that loves to run and gun. James is a lock for 25 with the upside for 40 with minutes.

Shooting Guard

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Devin Booker
FD $8,200 DK $8,400

Now for my favorite play on the night. I know it’s a very obvious choice, but I’m not going to be crazy just to be crazy. Vegas currently has this game at a 237 total with just a -1 spread, so that should give you a good idea of what’s going on here. You will not see an O/U higher than that all year. These 2 teams are playing at the fastest in all of basketball and the Nets are playing faster than anyone has played since the 2013 76’ers. An average PACE is 100. The Suns are at 105 and the Nets are at 109. The two fastest in all of the league. Devin Booker is going to go insane and I will have him in every single lineup I create. With 0 exceptions. The Nets have nobody to cover him and I wouldn’t at all be surprised to see 40 real-life points with 60 FP. I guess you can fade Booker in hopes they only focus on shutting him down, but go ahead and grab my H2H’s if that’s your plan.

D’Angelo Russell
FD $8,000 DK $8,200

We’ll stay right in the same game and look at the best option on the Nets. Devin Booker, who we just talked about, is at a 30% rate since Bledsoe went out. That’s very high. However, we have D’Angelo Russell sitting here with a 33%. That’s just bonkers for a team who hasn’t even run into injury problems yet. The ball is touching his hand son every play and he’s touching it last or 2nd to last (assist) in nearly half. The Suns are one of the only teams that are willing to runs with the Nets, so he’ll have about 10 extra possessions tonight. That may not seem so valuable, but it’s worth as much as an at-bat in baseball would be for a superstar. I think this game turns out being a shootout between Booker and Russell. They’re my 2 highest owned plays on the entire slate and I’m not even comfortable recommending anyone else. This is not a normal high total game. I want to make that clear. 240 total points is CRAZY.

Small Forward

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Kevin Durant
FD $10,500 DK $10,100

Durant is the only guy over $10k tonight, and there is a good amount of value. Therefore, if you’re not playing Durant, you’re likely in the minority and going quite contrarian. I don’t hate the move necessarily, but I don’t think anyone besides Booker has similar upside. Durant is a lock for 45 fantasy points in this match-up and his upside is right around 65. We haven’t seen it yet this year, but he’ll do it more than a few times. The Heat doesn’t have anyone to throw on him, so it’ll be Josh Richardson and Wayne Ellington who will try their best. James Johnson has the best chance, but he’s going to need to be on Draymond. Durant is a mismatch for most teams, but especially the Heat. This game has a great chance of blowing out, but Durant should still get his in 3 quarters. There isn’t anywhere else to spend up, so if you have the funds, this is your guy.

Josh Richardson
FD $4,800 DK $4,800
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We’ll stay right here in Golden State and take a look at Josh Richardson. You definitely can play T.J. Warren here as well, but I think we’ve touched on the Suns enough. Richardson is another tremendous value option at just $4800 on both sites, where he needs you about 20-25 for value. Richardson is too good of a player to be at this price and 25 FP to him is not much of a challenge if he sees the minutes. Especially against a fast-paced Warriors team. He has typically just been a scorer, but his ability to stuff the stat sheet so far has been nothing short of impressive. Richardson is also likely blowout-proof, so you can count on the 28+ minutes either way. You can bump him up for a guaranteed 34+ if Waiters does sit again. I doubt it, though.

Power Forward

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Marcus Morris
FD $4,000 DK $4,000

Marcus Morris is still heavily limited, so I’ll be clear in saying this is a cash game play. I might have some exposure in tournaments just to help me pay up elsewhere, but there’s no upside here. Morris isn’t going to see over 25 minutes no matter what, so his FP cap is around 30. He’s returning from injury and while it may go slow, he saw 23 minutes last game, so he’s pretty healthy. The match-up with the Hawks bench is fantastic and he should have no problem doing damage for the short time he’s on the floor. He will see John Collins and Luke Babbitt on defense, so scoring shouldn’t be the issue. At just $4k, you don’t need much at all. Morris is a great value play that you can chalk in for 20-25 fantasy points at an atrocious position.

Rondae-Hollis Jefferson
FD $6,700 DK $5,900

We’ll get right back to the Nets with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. At a position without much depth, he gives you a locked in 20 fantasy points with legitimate upside at 40. He has been great on the season, stuffing the stat sheet over and over. This match-up with the Suns couldn’t be any better unless he got traded to the Suns and played against the Nets. RHJ relies on speed, so the Suns 2nd highest PACE in the NBA is important. He’s all over the court against teams like the Hawks, so I can’t imagine how active he’ll be where it’s encouraged form both sides to run. His price is way too cheap (especially DK) and value is close to a lock. He’s a mainstay in my cash games without much opportunity cost at the position.

Center

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Al Horford
FD $7,500 DK $7,200

Center is pretty ugly and Al Horford is clearly my favorite at the position. You obviously have plenty of upside there with Hassan Whiteside, but I’m not sure he’ll be able to keep up with the pace after just returning from injury a few games ago. Horford has a great match-up with the Hawks interior that includes Dewayne Dedmon and John Collins. Neither have a shot at stopping Al Horford. Especially Dedmon, who might just fall down if he has to go to the 3-point line. The Celtics have made it clear that Horford is the number 2 option and he’s been impressively consistent all year. Against his former team in the Hawks, expect at least 30 fantasy points with the potential for way more. If this game does stay close, it could be a nice one for fantasy. We’re paying a lot of attention to the Suns/Nets and rightfully so, but don’t ignore this one.

Tyson Chandler / Alex Len
FD $4,900 – $4,500 DK $4,100 – $4,600

Full disclosure, Al Horford is my guy. I have 4 other Suns, so Len and Chandler won’t fit for me. With that being said, I truly do like them as value options. The Nets are just atrocious at everything and these are both guys who do produce when on the floor. Especially against teams that don’t contest their rebounds. If you need the value, I say go with the guy who’s cheaper on your site. I think Len fits the style of game a bit better, but there’s no doubt that Chandler could put together a double-double in 20 or so minutes. The Nets stink, so just make sure you remember that when putting your lineup together.






NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/4/17

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/4/17

Just a little note before we get going. This is by far one of the ugliest slates you will see all season long, so don’t expect crazy scores like last night. I would say a solid cash game goal is 4-5x here. Let’s jump into the top plays at each position.

Point Guard


Stephen Curry
FD $9,200 DK $9,500

There’s 5 games on the slate, but 1 is at 3:30, so that cuts us down to 4 for the main slate. I’ll be the first to say I’m not a big fan of how the NBA is scheduling this season, but we have to deal with what we’re given. There’s still spots to strategize on slates like this and the edge is still present. It just takes a little more work to get to. Curry was on the last short slate and performed, putting up 44 fantasy points against the Spurs. It’s what he’s been doing all year long. With the shots being spread around a ton, Curry hasn’t been over 60 FP. However, he’s been a lot more consistent than last season and his price is still down. On a slate with just about 0 good PG’s, Stephen Curry is close to a must. The Nuggets don’t play much defense and while this will likely be a blowout, he’ll get more numbers in 3 quarters than any other PG.

Dennis Smith Jr.
FD $5,600 DK $5,100

The best thing working for Dennis Smith Jr. on most nights is that he’s a great player. The situation, however, is not. He’s the PG of one of the slowest teams in the WCF. Still, with just 4 games on the slate and PG being very thin, he’s in play here. When given the 25-30 minutes, you can almost guarantee 25-30 fantasy points will follow. The Timberwolves are worse against PG’s than any other position, allowing 48 FPPG (7th worst). Smith is still fairly priced on both sites and this game should remain relatively close. With some real studs on the T-Wolves defense, the offense may get tunneled toward Smith and Nowitzki (the two spots T-Wolves struggle against).

Shooting Guard

Klay Thompson
FD $6,900 DK $7,000

The only position more disappointing than PG is SG. Or maybe it’s SF. The point is they are all pretty horrible and it’s a bit tough to fish out plays. The only real clear option at SG is Klay Thompson, who like Stephen Curry, has been very consistent. He’s been under 27 fantasy points just 1 time all season long and typically sits around 35. The Nuggets are a stellar match-up as they love to run the floor and give up a ton of 3’s. Things could change this year, so take this lightly, but the Nuggets allowed the 2nd most 3’s per possession in 2016. If the Warriors splash brothers start hot, they could have some big nights. We know Klay will have 3 or 4 huge games this year, and this could certainly be one. He’ll probably be 80% owned, but we just deal with it on this slate.

Will Barton
FD $5,200 DK $5,500

If you have all the funds, sure, you can play both Wiggins and Thompson. The floor is nice, but you’re going to have to find value that isn’t there at other position. Instead, you can go down to Will Barton and get some exposure on the other side of this game. With the Warriors being such a high-scoring team, you have to figure the Nuggets will let Barton out there for 35+ minutes as he is a great scorer and can match the pace that the Warriors play at. He’s been around 30 fantasy points in the games he starts, but is still inconsistent as Will Barton will always be. Klay Thompson is a good defender, but the Warriors allow the 9th most FP to SG’s because of the PACE(103.7) they play at.  Against the Warriors, I have a hard time believing he doesn’t get to at least 25. On this slate, that’s perfect.

Small Forward

SHANGHAI, CHINA – OCTOBER 05: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves in action during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China at Mercedes-Benz Arena on October 8, 2017 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images)

Jimmy Butler
FD $8,300 DK $7,500

Yes, you can play Kevin Durant here. If you have the funds, he’s the top play. I just don’t need to keep telling you that about all of the Warriors. Let’s touch on the Timberwolves, instead. Jimmy Butler is better than Andrew Wiggins and he’s making it pretty clear. He hasn’t gone for the 70 he went for a couple times in Chicago, but he’s getting huge minutes and laying extremely well. The consistency we expected with Thibs is already here and Butler will soon be the leader of this franchise. His price is too low and I personally like Butler over Durant in terms of point per $. If you can afford both, great, but if not, you’re going to have to decide what position is worth more to you. For me, Butler is a guy I’ll have a lot of.

David Nwaba
FD $4,600 DK $3,900

Small forward is right up there with PG and SG as positions that have some pretty ugly value. The guys at SF you can lean on is David Nwaba. Nwaba was in our lives for a few games in L.A. last year, but never materialized into a real DFS asset. This year, the Bulls just keep churning out random 6’4 SG/SF. Kris Dunn, Nwaba, Holiday, Valentine, and LaVine are all young perimeter players that can be succefull. Nwaba is getting around 25-30 minutes per game and he should see the upper end against a Pelicans team they will play big against. Nwaba is actually a very versatile offensive player, so don’t expect a guy that will sit in the corner all game. Value is a lock on a slate that has none. All you need is about 20.

Power Forward

Anthony Davis
FD $11,800 DK $11,200

Supposedly, Alvin Gentry is one of the 30 best human beings at coaching basketball in this world. I think I can find 30 better in my town. My neighborhood, maybe. He’s the worst coach in basketball and it isn’t close. Opposed from having some of the best assistants in the league that carry him, Gentry does 0 things. His big contribution is minute distribution. And like the genius he is, he’s figured out a way to play Anthony Davis for 40 minutes a game after injuring his knee. He’s also figured out a way to let both he and Cousins be on the bench for 2-3 mins a game, even though they’re both close to 40 by the time it ends. It takes a real genius to let that happen. Whatever. Until he gets worn down and injured again, we have to keep playing Anthony Davis. This match-up against the Bulls is as good as ever, with Lauri Markkanen at PF. He will have his way once again and likely finish around the 50-60 fantasy point mark. If salary wasn’t a thing, Davis is the top play of the day.

Dirk Nowitzki
FD $5,100 DK $4,600

Dirk turns 63 years-old today, so let’s get a little celebratory DFS roster going. Its only possible because of how ugly this slate is and how friendly the price on Dirk happens to be. He’s having a better year than the past 2, at least in terms of consistency in both minutes and production. It looks like Dirk is super healthy at this point and playing out the end of his career like we all hoped. He’s been over 20 fantasy points in all but 2 of the 9 games, and were in touch match-ups. He sees the T-Wolves tonight, who are nothing to worry about against bigs. Nowitzki is a lock for another 20 tonight with a ceiling barely over 30.

Center

Nikola Jokic
FD $9,500 DK $8,500

For future reference, maybe there’s a bias here I am not aware of. As a Cowboys and Cubs fan, I think I can objectively say I have 0 bias. If anything, I roster guys against the Cubs way more than I should. Why the hell do you care? Because Nikola Jokic is my favorite player and I feel like I roster him on every slate (I do). However, he’s objectively the way to go at center in tournaments. Sure, Boogie Cousins and KAT are both safer. Their games are guaranteed to stay close and they will get minutes. With Jokic, however, I see this is a boom or bust game. If it happens to stay close, he could legitimately get to 80 FP. Sure, think I’m crazy, but he averaged 1.96 FP per minute against the Warriors in 2016. He loves the pace and is able to break down any defense with his league-best passing efficiency. Jokic is a guy I’ll be taking a stand on tonight, so if you find a lineup of mine without him, Oklahoma probably lost and the beer put me to sleep.

Robin Lopez
FD $6,100 DK $5,400

The only reason Robin Lopez is somewhat tolerable this year is because the Bulls have nobody to lean on. When they have 2 or 3 of these guys (Holiday, Dunn, LaVine, etc.) step up as solidified scorers, RoLo will go back to 15-20 FP in 35 minutes. For now, he’s getting a bunch of shots and is needed for size. Especially against this Pelicans team. You can count on 35-40 minutes out of Lopez as long as he doesn’t fall into early foul trouble. The price is fair and with a lot of different ways to pay up on the slate, you may need some value at center. Personally, Nikola Jokic is the only guy I’m owning, so that tells you where I’m at here.

 

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/3/17

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/3/17

Point Guard

John Wall
FD $9,900 DK $9,700

There’s an argument to be made for both John Wall and Russell Westbrook. On FanDuel, where Westbrook is barely more expensive, I’ll have plenty of exposure to both. On DraftKings, Wall is $2k cheaper and a better play in cash games. He hasn’t had one of his huge 60 fantasy point games yet, but it’s coming. He gets match-up tonight against the Cavs, who barely have a PG. Derrick Rose is back, but he may be one of the worst defenders at any position in basketball. I’d expect the Cavs to make a switch pretty soon after Wall burns him every play. It doesn’t help when Kevin Love is the guy on the help-side. The Cavs are allowing 46 FPPG to PG’s and I look for Wall to push that number up tonight. This is a game I’m all over and we’ll get to another couple guys later.

Lonzo Ball
FD $7,500 DK $7,300

He disappointed about 50% of DFS’ers yesterday, so maybe his ownership will stay down against the Nets. I highly doubt it. He only played 27 minutes, so he’s ready to go on the back to back. The match-up couldn’t be better, facing off against D’Angelo Russell and Spencer Dinwiddie. They are both pretty horrible defenders and Ball will be able to get inside on both. The Nets allow the most peripherals in the league and it feeds into Lonzo’s game perfectly. His price is still fair on both sites and as long as he keeps getting the minutes, he’ll put up 30-40 fantasy points in most games. This is a top 2 or 3 match-up possible.

Shooting Guard

D’Angelo Russell
FD $7,500 DK $7,900

D’Angelo Russell plays the Lakers for the first time tonight and the Nets players have already been quoted saying they expect him to “attack” and be “extremely aggressive”. While Russell is both of those on most nights, you have to be foolish to think it doesn’t make an impact tonight. he obviously has some problems with the Lakers organization and he is going to have a big game. Maybe if the Lakers had someone to slow him down I would get the fade, but they don’t. He can get to the hole or get open on every single one of these defenders, including Brandon Ingram. Which won’t happen unless Russell is at 40+ real-life points. His price is too low for the role he plays on the high-pace team and I’ll continue targeting him in match-ups much worse than this. If you don’t play Russ tonight, never play him.

Donovan Mitchell
FD $4,400 DK $3,800

Donovan Mitchell has played exceptionally well and his price is yet to react. Especially on DraftKings at just $3,800. Mitchell saw a season-high 34 minutes against the Blazers and responded with 37 fantasy points. There’s been the talk of him getting the start here, but even if not, he won’t see under 30 minutes. The Raptors fit his style of play well and he is a similar body style to DeMar DeRozan. They’ll likely match-up for a decent amount of this game until Joe Ingles is sent to lock him down in the 4th. The Raptors are nothing special on defense, allowing the 11th most FP’s to both PG’s and SG’s. Mitchell is an extremely safe value play tonight at a position without a whole lot of opportunity cost. Compared to other positions, at least.

Small Forward

LeBron James
FD $10,600 DK $10,600

LeBron is having a phenomenal start to the season. Even if the Cavs are “struggling” or whatever people want to portray after 7 games, it doesn’t matter AT ALL. It seems like people do the same thing every year and then laugh about how stupid they were when they thought the Cavs were bad. And then they do the same thing next year. As long as you’re getting this LeBron James, the Cavs will be the team facing the Warriors or Thunder in the championship. James has been over 50 fantasy points in 5 of the 7 games to start the season and sees his best match-up yet. The Wizards play fast (103.3 PACE) and love fastbreaks, which is where LBJ obviously excels. He averaged 62 FP against the Wizards in 2016 and I’d expect a similar number tonight. With these rumors out there as well, he will want to shut them up on national TV. LeBron is a guy I have in 100% of lineups and that will not change.

Brandon Ingram
FD $5,900 DK $6,100

Ingram is going to keep producing and until his price matches, we have to keep playing him. Hen ow sees the best possible match-up he can against the fast-paced Brooklyn Nets. We’ve already touched on D’Angelo Russell and Lonzo Ball from this game, so it’s one you’re going to want exposure to. Especially with the latest news on Larry Nance. Ingram will get about 35 minutes tonight and I think you pencil in a 30 fantasy point floor. That’s extremely difficult to find at $6k. The Nets will have enough on their hands with Ball and Lopez, but I’m sure will try to put RHJ on Ingram at some point. He’s a great defender, but Ingram will still get his peripherals. He’s a safe option that helps you pay up elsewhere.

Power Forward

Kyle Kuzma
FD $4,700 DK $4,700

This is probably the easiest play on the slate. Kyle Kuzma is already getting 25-30 minutes a game and now Larry Nance has broken his thumb. Go ahead and lock Kuzma in there for 30-35 minutes against a putrid Nets squad. That’s all that really needs to be said. They play at an incredibly fast-pace and this is a game we already have a lot of interest in. Do yourself a favor and lock Kuzma into your cash games. The only possible way he doesn’t hit value is an early injury or some crazy Drummond-esqe foul trouble. Assuming no other pivotal Lakers news breaks, Kyle Kuzma is the easiest guy to press the lock button on the entire slate.

Ben Simmons
FD $9,400 DK $9,100

We’ll touch on the two Sixers studs here. Starting with Ben Simmons, he’s been insane. I think most people were expecting a slow start that eventually led to this, but 50 FP a game from the start is quite telling of what his eventual upside is. He now sees a match-up against a Pacers squad that loves to run. Simmons will have no quarrels, as that’s where he makes his dough. He isn’t a big scorer, so is heavily dependant on how many possessions there are. The more possessions, the more boards/assists/steals etc. available. This bout between the 6’ers and Pacers is going to be one of the higher scoring games on the schedule and you’re going to need exposure. If you’re looking to stack, you can look at Oladpio on the Pacers side.

Center

Joel Embiid
FD $9,300 DK $8,300

I get that he’s expensive and won’t play over 34 minutes, but we have to accept that it truly doesn’t matter. He can literally put up 70 fantasy points in 30 minutes of court time. He gets a match-up against the Pacers where he will be an extreme mismatch. With Myles Turner doubtful, it’ll have to be Domantas Sabonis on Embiid. We all know how that will end up. We just touched on why Simmons is a great play and Embiid is the same blueprint. The Pacers like to run and it ups the possessions for these guys to accumulate numbers. There’s plenty of different ways to go at center, but Embiid is undoubtedly one of the best.

Marcin Gortat
FD $5,900 DK $5,900

The Cavs have been horrible against the pick and roll since Kevin Love joined the team. It’s not going to change tonight. The bread and butter of this offense is the John Wall/Marcin Gortat pick and roll with a backside off-ball screen for John Wall. It’s effective as any play in basketball and the Cavs have had plenty of trouble stopping it. Love is a great rebounder and scorer, but he can’t cover anyone in the paint. Expect another double-double out of the ever-consistent Marcin Gortat.

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/1/17

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/1/17

Point Guard

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

John Wall
FD $9,700 DK $9,500

The theme of the day is going to be the few games that have incredibly high over/unders. This affair between the Suns and Wizards leads the bunch at 226 with the Wizards favored by 10. Both the Wizards and Suns have played at a 103+ PACE, which would have made them the fastest team in the league in 2016. Those numbers should end up going down, but it doesn’t take away from how quickly both of these teams play. You also have Eric Bledsoe out indefinitely for the Suns, which leaves Mike James and Tyler Ulis to cover John Wall. Yeah, good luck with that Phoenix. Wall has yet to have a huge game, but this could very well be it. The Suns have allowed 58 FPPG to PG’s which is 4 higher than the 2nd worst team. Wall is easily my favorite play at PG and my 2nd favorite superstar on the slate. He is going to be in every single one of my lineups unless some news breaks that significantly changes things. He has a 45 fantasy point floor with an 80 ceiling.

Jarrett Jack
FD $5,200 DK $4,700

He’s still getting the start and the price is yet to rise too high, so let’s not jump off because he’s no longer the shiny new toy. If you can count Jarrett Jack in for 25-30 minutes against the Rockets, I’ll take it every time. For fantasy, Jack is great. He’s not only unafraid to shoot, but he gets involved on the boards and in the passing lanes. At his price, he gets to value without doing much scoring. When he ends up getting hot and going for 20 real-life points, we’ll see a solid upside game. For now, he’ll be a perfect cash game savings option at a position that isn’t as deep as usual. Unless some more PG news comes out that gives a cheaper option 30 minutes, Jack is the guy to own.

Shooting Guard

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Tim Hardaway Jr.
FD $5,200 DK $5,400

We’ll stay on the Knicks side of the court and look at Tim Hardaway Jr., who’s had quite a weird year. Opposed from having one of his coldest streaks ever, he went berserk against the Cavs with 55 fantasy points. He then followed it up with a more normal THJ game, at 30 fantasy points. You can expect him to be around there for the most part with an occasional 45+ explosion when he gets hot from behind the arc. The Knicks don’t really have anyone they need to feed besides Porzingis, so the shots go to Hardaway. He’s shot just 4 times less than Kristaps per game and 3 more than any other player. It looks like his cold streak is long gone, so don’t expect any 2-for-13 games out of Hardaway for at least 2 weeks. He’ll match-up with James Harden and Eric Gordon at the 2, who are a lot more worries about offense than Hardaway. Expect another 25-30 fantasy points with the upside for a lot more if the game stays close. This is another 210+ total with a close spread, so Vegas thinks it stays close and high-scoring.

Devin Booker
FD $7,200 DK $7,800

With Eric Bledsoe out indefinitely, it’ll take a lot more than $7,500 to make me fade Devin Booker in this match-up. While Bradley Beal can play defense, Devin Booker can play better offense. He can play the type of offense that is literally unstoppable. Think hot Damian Lillard or Kemba Walker. He’s put up 45 fantasy points in B2B games with one of them against an even better defender in C.J. McCollum. Booker gives you a 35 point floor with a ceiling we really don’t know of. The guy was 30 away from breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s record last year, so I’m a bit afraid to throw a ceiling on his fantasy points. If he gets hot, he may be a necessity to win a tournament. For me, this game is my top priority and Booker is an elite option. Playing devil’s advocate, the Suns played last night and Booker is a jump shooter. Maybe he goes out and stinks, giving the Wizards a large early lead. If you want to fade, I don’t hate it, but it’s not the side of the coin I’ll be on.

Small Forward

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

LeBron James
FD $10,400 DK $10,400

Small forward is going to be a spot I look to pay up at. LeBron James is right up there with John Wall and Anthony Davis as my favorite superstars of the night. The Cavs haven’t been playing well, and while we all know it’s the same thing that happens every year, Lebron has to prove it. Why? I don’t know. People are stupid. Anyways, this is certainly the match-up to do it. The Pacers don’t even really have an SF, so they’ll throw Bojan Bogdanovic and Lance Stephenson at LeBron. Opposed to blowing hot air into his ear, they won’t do much. LeBron has played 37+ minutes in all but 2 of 7 games so far, so the whole age thing isn’t what’s going on. He’s going to get 55 fantasy points tonight if the game stays remotely close. If it stays close down to the wire and LBJ is needed for the last 10 minutes, a 70 burger here wouldn’t surprise me. It’s nowhere near a guarantee, but this seems like a perfect recipe for a LeBron game.

Jimmy Butler
FD $7,900 DK $7,100

We’ve somehow ignored the game with the 2nd highest projected total on the slate. At 224 and the NO -3, Vegas expects the game to be just as high scoring at WAS/PHO, but a lot closer. There are plenty of options to choose from in this game and Butler is my favorite option on the T-Wolves. He originally got his “Jimmy Minutes” nickname from Thibs, which went to Jimmy Bucks after he was treated like a human with non-metal knees and elbows. He’s now back to seeing 40 minutes each game with the big doofus at the helm. It’s at least good for us, though, as you can guarantee production. This defense is nothing to be scared of and Butler will likely see E’Twaun Moore and Dante Cunningham for most of the game. Lock him in as one of the safest cash game plays on the board at under $8k.

Power Forward

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Anthony Davis
FD $11,800 DK $11,200

Our 3rd and final superstar of the night is the most expensive of the bunch. Some people have taken the stand that rostering AD at all is a bad idea because of his injury history. To those people, please keep depositing. You’re the reason people are still able to make money in DFS. For the rest of us logical beings, Anthony Davis has a phenomenal match-up with the Timberwolves. Karl-Anthony Towns and DeMarcus Cousins will be battling at the 5, which should leave Gorgui Dieng and Taj Gibson on Davis. I’m sure Davis and KAT will match-up at some point because they have a long history, but Davis has dominated him in the past anyway. He’s put up 61 fantasy points in B2B games and looks to be fully healthy. As long as he’s a full go, he’s on my radar as a 60 fantasy point monster. if you have the funds to spend at PF, don’t go looking to switch your lineup around because the guy gets hurt in 1% of the games he starts.

Otto Porter
FD $7,300 DK $7,100

We’re touching on this game between the Suns and Wizards a lot because it holds the slate’s highest expected total at 226. It’s also expected to stay relatively close, giving the starters a full allotment of minutes. Here we have Otto Porter, who’s played most of his career as a role player. He’s now a pivotal piece of a contending lineup. He is a close 3rd option and a guy that is no longer going to randomly play 20 minutes. You can lock him in for 30+ with Markieff Morris out and the Wizards needing a backup 4 as well as a starting 3. The match-up with the Suns couldn’t be any better, as they’ve allowed the most FP to PF’s on the season. Marquese Chriss is quite the shot blocker, but he isn’t strong and can’t contend with Porter on the outside. Porter has been one of the more consistent players this early in the season and while his price has risen, it’s rightful. This is the best match-up as a team the Wizards have had and I love the 3 stars in both cash games and tournaments.

If you’re searching for value, Olynyk and James Johnson have a lot of upside if Hassan Whiteside misses another game.

Center

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Kevin Love
FD $7,700 DK $7,500

You’ll rarely see a Cavs game with a 219 over/under. They’re on the slower side of things and have a relatively solid defense. However, the Pacers are on the absolute opposite side of that. They’re the 3rd fastest team in the NBA and don’t play much defense at all. Myles Turner has already been confirmed out, so that’ll leave Domantas Sabonis and Al Jefferson on Love. He should be able to shoot over both, as well as out-rebound. He has a huge individual mismatch, let alone the pace that these guys will be playing at. LeBron is looking for Love more than he ever has before and it’s turned in quite the consistency. Through 7 games, Love has 6 double-doubles. In that 1 “bad” game, he had 9 rebounds. Yep, Love is the real deal this year and you can count on him when healthy in all formats. His price is still too low for me and I’ll continue targeting him in these types of games.

Dewayne Dedmon
FD $5,100 DK $4,500

I know it’s scary, but if you need to pay down at center, you could do much worse. The 76ers and Joel Embiid require a lot of size, which will put Dedmon on the floor for at least 28-30 minutes. the only game he hasn’t seen big minutes in recently was against the Bucks, who don’t require any size to be dealt with. Dedmon has average just over 1 FP per minute, giving him a good shot at 25-30 here. You also have to add in that the Hawks are playing way pace-up and they stink against centers. Dedmon isn’t the sexiest option out there, but he’ll get you at least 20, which won’t kill you at this price. I prefer Kevin Love quite considerably, but the salary god does too.






NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 10/31/17

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 10/31/17

Point Guard

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

George Hill
FD $4,400 DK $4,300

Happy Halloween! We finish off October with a very interesting 4-game slate, packed full of options. We’ll start at PG, where we look to save. You could obviously go with Westbrook, and he can get you 70. I would just rather have Giannis and both prices are high. I don’t need to tell you that Russell Westbrook has upside and can single-handedly win you a tournament. If you look at your lineup and have the ability to move up to him at PG, don’t hesitate. I won’t either. However, on initial looks, PG is a spot to pay down. George Hill rested on Sunday against the Wizards and will right back in the starting lineup here against the Pacers, his old team. Hill has been over 30 minutes in most games, but still sits at a ridiculously low $4.3K. Hill is a very good PG that has been priced over $6K for many years at this point. He’s obviously struggled a bit to start the season, but he should get things going against a Pacers team that loves to run. Hill is simply way too cheap for the player he is and the minutes he’s getting. He only needs you about 25 in cash, so I’ll have 100% in all formats.

Spencer Dinwiddie
FD $5,300 DK $5,100

It’s pretty crazy that we’re actually going up in price here to Spencer Dinwiddie. D’Angelo Russell is back, but Dinwiddie proved himself enough to remain in the mix no matter what. He put up 42 fantasy points in just 29 minutes of work against the Nuggets, so he can play ball. You have Dinwiddie getting half of his minutes at PG and the other half at SG. It lets him get his assists and points up. Looking at his box score, he’s a guy who can fill the stat sheet well for a little guy. He’s obviously a lot better than the benchwarmer the Nets have treated him like since being on the team. He gives the Nets a huge spark when on the floor and they’ll need it in a fast-paced game with the Suns. It’s the best game to target on this slate and we start it off early with Dinwiddie. He has to see the minutes after last game and his price is still too cheap on both sites. Feel free to pay up at PG tonight, but I won’t be.

Shooting Guard

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Devin Booker
FD $7,200 DK $7,900

Eric Bledsoe has yet to get traded, but I still don’t think he ever sees the court again with the Phoenix Suns. He requested a trade on Twitter and the owner has already said he’s played his last game, so it’s just a matter of time at this point. That leaves Devin Booker as the clear-cut leader of the offense. He’s done quite a good job, putting up 30+ fantasy points in all but one game. He now gets his best match-up f the year against the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets are running just as much as last year and we know how much it impacted DFS. They ended up ranking bottom 5 against every single position, including 2nd to SG’s at 59.1 FPPG. Booker is typically risky, but with Bledsoe out, he’s going to at least hit a few. I’d consider him a lot safer than he was last year, and certainly has more upside (consistently. I know he scored around 80 real points last year). The Nets will toss D’Angelo Russell and Caris LeVert at Booker, who will both struggle. Booker is one of the best young players in the league and should average close to 30 points on a nightly basis. This match-up with the Nets is an elite one and I’m all over it.

Bogdan (not Bojan) Bogdanovic and Buddy Hield
FD $4,500 – $4,000 DK $4,300 – $4,400

Here are 2 solid punt options from the Kings. These 2 guys will split around 65 minutes, which is fine. At the price(s), you really don’t need much more than 25 fantasy points. Against a team that runs as much as anyone, it shouldn’t be tough for either of these guys to rack up the FP. Bogdanovic is a better player than Hield and he can be argued as a cash game play. He’s the focal point of the offense when out there and has no problem shooting 15+ times. He’s only a rookie, but at 25 years, old, not really. He looks like a real NBA talent that will stick around for some time. You then get Buddy Hield, who’s hit or miss. If his shot is on, count him for 30 FP. if his shot is off, you can see 10 without a surprise. He’s a great tournament option, but nothing more for me.

Small Forward

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Giannis Antetokounmpo
FD $12,600 DK $12,500

This is the guy I’ll be paying up for as much as I possibly can. First things first, small forward is horrible. If you make me pick 2 other guys and I have to leave Giannis sitting there, it’s hard for me to believe that’s optimal. We can always see a flukey bad game out of anyone, but it looks like Giannis may have taken the DFS LeBron role. That role is a match-up proof monster that will put up 50 points against any team. It’s also the guy who can turn it up for 80 when necessary. This match-up with the Thunder is going to be a very fun game to watch with Westbrook and Antetokounmpo battling back and forth. I’d assume Giannis will be covered by Paul George, who’s a good defender, but I don’t care. It’s pace up for the Bucks and nobody is better in the open court than ABC. I’ll have him everywhere tonight and am more than willing to sit on this limb.

T.J. Warren
FD $5,100 DK $5,200

T.J.Warren is going to be in the $7Ks before Christmas. I promise you that. Without Eric Bledsoe, he’ll be putting up 30+ fantasy points on a daily basis. The only problem is the minutes. Last season, he would see close to 38 per night. This year, he hasn’t been over 27 minutes since game 2. That is certainly worrisome. However, this is the best match-up the Suns have seen all season long and Warren has put up some nice numbers over the last 2 games. He’ll see a combo of Allen Crabbe and Caris LeVert on defense, who are both young and pretty average defenders. Warren is a lot better than them and I think he enforces his role as the number 2 option on the offense with Bledsoe in the permanent timeout chair. Warren is cheap and even if he does get less than 35 minutes, he can get to value rather easily. Small forward stinks and on the case Warren does see 35+ (very possible), he can get to 45 fantasy points without trouble.

Power Forward

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks
Tobias Harris
FD $6,400 DK $6,700

Tobias is getting a lot of hype around him for some reason, but he’s the same player as he was last year. He’s been a very good small forward since Orlando and has turned a corner in Detroit. He has a decent jump shot, but relies on the inside game to make it work. You’ll see him work the paint and elbows in the first quarter until Drummond and RJax are out. He’ll then start isolating and posting up against the backup PF. Stan Van Gundy does a good job of getting him minutes on the floor with guys that don’t need the ball. It allows Harris to do whatever he wants for about 10-12 of his 35 minutes. He also has a pretty phenomenal match-up with the Lakers, who’ve allowed the 7th most FPPG to PF’s since the start of 2016. Harris isn’t too expensive yet and I have no problem relying on him as a cash game or tournament option.

Skal Labissiere
FD $4,900 DK $4,600

This is contingent on Zach Randolph riding the pine. He’s currently questionable with a left foot injury and at his age, I don’t think he’ll get pushed back too fast. As long as he is ruled out, Skal Labissiere is going to be one of the top point per $ plays on the entire slate. He’s one of those guys that doesn’t always see big minutes but constantly produces when given opportunity. Think James Johnson or Cole Aldrich. The only difference with Skal is that he’s extremely young and going to be a very good player at some point. For now, he’s cheap and full of upside. The match-up against Thaddeus Young is nothing to worry about, so it just comes down to Zbo and whether he plays or not. If Randolph is confirmed out before final lock, Skal Labissiere will be in 100% of my lineups.

Center

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Andre Drummond
FD $9,200 DK $8,200

We ignored the Pistons guards simply because of better options, but we love the bigs. Andre Drummond is a monster. Just watch him play or look at his box scores. Either works quite well in proving my point. In past years, when he would get into foul trouble, it would be the end of tournament hopes for whoever owned him. Now, Van Gundy just throws him in there for 18 minutes in the 2nd half and lets him get 15 points and 15 rebounds with 0 issues. When Drummond stays out of foul trouble, he’s just a lock for 45 fantasy points. He is getting bigger minutes this season and is looking like a much smarter and more developed center. He’s actually using his brain this year instead f going off of whatever crazy instincts he had in there before. The fouls should come down considerably and they don’t worry me much about this game. Brook Lopez can draw fouls, but he’s going to try and hit from deep on an immobile Drummond. I don’t see any reason why a guy that can shoot 3’s will go bang in the paint with one of the largest and strongest people on earth. The price is still fair on Drummond and he should have 20 rebounds easily if he avoids foul trouble. That’s a crazy claim, I know, but have you ever seen Brook Lopez battle for more than 1 tough rebound a game? Probably not.

Willie Cauley-Stein
FD $5,300 DK $5,400

WCS is playing a lot different than last season. He was a boom or bust type of player that we would only unleash when key players were injured. Now, he’s a middle of the road center getting 26 solid minutes a night. Against the fast-paced Pacers, you have to love it. The upside on WCS is well-noted and will continue to be until he shrinks and isn’t able to dunk/jump over every single player on the court. The Pacers will likely be without Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis, so I’m not sure what they plan to do with Cauley-Stein. His price is yet to rise and as long as he’s sitting under $6k, I have no issues with him in cash games. He gets involved on both sides of the court and will very rarely bust. Especially in a match-up like this. If you’re unable to pay up for Drummond in a lot of spots (hand raised), WCS is an option I get behind 100%. We only have 4 games on the slate, so don’t worry about being slightly overweight on a game or two. Just hope it stays close and pray for overtime.