Hello Razzball, back again for some NBA DFS action. We have a nice 7 game slate and personally these mid-sized slates are my favorite. You have plenty of options on slates this size to make different builds, but you’re not overwhelmed by the variety of good plays.
My number one piece of advice for NBA DFS in general is to be on top of injury updates. Contests are won and lost on backups becoming starters and starters getting increased usage from injuries. There will be injury plays that open up with news tomorrow that we just don’t know yet.
That being said, with our current knowledge of injury news (Tuesday night) let’s get down to it. Pricing is always (Fanduel/DraftKings). I play tournaments and my picks will always bias towards volatility and upside.
Guards
Spend ups (9k and over)
Devin Booker ($10,400/$10,300)
Right now, Kevin Durant and Grayson Allen are listed as questionable for this contest and Beal is already out. Booker might be leading a skeleton crew in this game. If Durant is still out he’s a strong option, but if Durant is back, Booker is too expensive for my liking.
Middle-to-High (7k-8.9k)
Desmond Bane ($8,300/$8,500)
Bane is in a great matchup against the Jazz and has big upside. These teams played on 11/10 and Bane had 37/4/8 and 3 stocks.
Cade Cunningham ($8,100/$8,500)
Cade hasn’t taken the leap I expected this year, but with almost all of the Pistons’ offense running through him he has big upside if his 3 ball ever starts falling at a good rate. Not being a turnover machine would be helpful too. I’m not doing a great job selling you on him here, but his price is reasonable, and the upside is good. I like Bane more in this range if you can only play one.
Middle (5k-6.9k)
Reggie Jackson ($6,000/$6,300)
Reggie Jackson had the game of his career on Monday when he put up 35/5/13 with no Jokic, Murray and Gordon. Watch injury news here, but if Reggie is tasked to lead the offense again, he’s a solid play. I’d expect him to be chalky in this scenario, and fading him is an option to get different given how unlikely he is to repeat Monday’s performance. His price came up a bunch because of the injury uncertainty and huge output last game.
Jalen Suggs ($5,900/$6,000)
The Wizards are awful, and Suggs is at a good price.
Jaden Ivey ($5,800/$5,700)
Price is just too low for his role as a starter.
Keyonte George ($5,700/$6,100)
Lauri Markkanen is confirmed ruled out for this game, which shifts a bit more usage onto George. He’s a bit expensive on DK for me, but like the FD price.
Eric Gordon ($5,500/$5,900)
Playable if Durant and Grayson Allen are ruled out.
Value Town (Under 5k)
Jordan Goodwin ($4,700/$5,100)
Same thing as Gordon, would probably only go there on FD.
Forwards
Spend ups (9k and over)
LeBron James ($10,100/$9,900)
The Lakers are coming off an embarrassing blowout loss to the 76ers and are going to want to right the ship as quickly as possible. Luckily for them, they face the worst team in the league in the Detroit Pistons. LeBron is just too cheap here.
Middle-to-High (7k-8.9k)
Scottie Barnes ($8,800/$8,700)
Just a bit too cheap for his upside. He’s an option, but not a priority.
Paolo Banchero ($7,700/$8,200)
Banchero gets a great matchup against the horrendous Washington Wizards, who play fast and play zero defense. The risk here is blowout, but Banchero has massive upside if the game stays competitive enough. He’ll be a core play for me on FD at that price, but not on DK.
Franz Wagner ($7,500/$7,400)
Same deal as Paolo, great matchup and want pieces of the Magic. He’s priced up from where he usually is so he’s more of a tournament option and not a priority.
Middle (5k-6.9k)
Santi Aldama ($6,200/$6,400)
Aldama has been getting a ton of minutes and usage with the Grizzlies on life support. He’s the 3rd option on that roster right now in a good matchup.
Value Town (Under 5k)
Cam Reddish ($4,800/$4,700)
Cam Reddish should be back this game and as long as he isn’t on a minute’s restriction his floor is solid for this price. Limited upside though. Would not prioritize him, but he’s decent salary relief.
Simone Fontecchio ($4,200/$4,600)
With Lauri out Fontecchio has been starting. He’s a low usage 3 and D guy, but if he continues to play high 20s low 30s minutes he’s got a really solid floor at this price.
Centers
Spend ups (9k and over)
Nikola Jokic ($12,600/$12,800)
Jokic is questionable heading into this game. If he active he’s in play because he’s Jokic, but the price is very-very high. I’d need some good value to open up to spend this far up.
Joel Embiid ($12,300/$11,800)
With the way Embiid has been playing this year he’s an option even if his price is getting really up there. Embiid’s price just limits how many ways you can construct your lineup, but obviously the upside is massive.
Anthony Davis ($10,600/$9,800)
Jalen Duren has been awesome to start his sophomore campaign, but I expect AD to overwhelm a young and inexperienced Pistons frontcourt. He’s got big upside in this matchup and is underpriced in general. Priority target for me.
Middle-to-High (7k-8.9k)
Jaren Jackson Jr. ($7,800/$7,400)
Jackson’s stocks and efficiency have plummeted this season compared to last, but his usage is up with so many pieces out for the Grizzlies. His price is down from where we’re used to seeing it with the rough start. This is a game at home against Utah which is winnable for them and a great matchup. Jackson has big upside and he’s one of my favorite plays on this slate.
Jalen Duren ($7,000/$6,900)
Even in a tough matchup against AD he’s just too cheap here.
Middle (5k-6.9k)
Walker Kessler ($5,900/$5,900)
Kessler has been coming off the bench and has been on a minute restriction his past 2 games coming off of injury. Look for news here, but if he’s starting, I like the play. Even off the bench he’s been a decent play and his price is just low here.
Value Town (Under 5k)
DeAndre Jordan ($5,000/$4,400)
What year is it?!? Jordan went off on Monday for 21/13/5 with 3 stocks with no Jokic, Murray, and Gordon. If the Nuggets stars are all out again Jordan is definitely playable, but I would not expect Monday’s line to repeat itself and he’s too expensive on FD to be good salary relief. Possible play on DK.
Zeke Nnaji ($4,300/$4,700)
Only if Nuggets guys are out.
