Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) celebrates a basket against the Phoenix Suns during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
This is one of those stars and scrubs slates. We say that because every top-notch option seems to have a great matchup. Deciphering which ones to use will be the difference, and that's why we have a nice mix of cheap guys and expensive ones in this article. There's a lot to talk about, though, so let's go ahead and get into it!
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Opponent - NO
Proj Pts FD - 41.67 DK - 42.84
Ja has been slightly disappointing for fantasy this season, but it's just a matter of time before he sees a $1,000 price increase on both sites. We say that because he played at a $9,000 level to start the season, averaging 56 DraftKings points per game before getting injured in the second week. He's shown some flashes of that recently, averaging 32.4 fantasy points per game across his last 10 outings. That's plenty good from a $7K player, and we really want to hop on this train before it gets too fast. We expect improvement because there are so many injuries in Memphis, with De'Anthony Melton, Jaren Jackon, and Desmond Bane all sidelined. We're certainly not worried about him facing a 28th-ranked Pelicans defense, either.
Opponent - DEN
Proj Pts FD - 34.92 DK - 36.24
How often do we see a guy like this priced below $7,000? We're talking about a former All-Star who's posting a 28 percent usage rate for the season while seeing his role increase because of Marcus Smart's absence. That doesn't even consider that he's attempting 17 shots a game over his last six outings, making him hard to fade in the low $6K range. He's also coming off two of his best games of the season, averaging 37 fantasy points per game across his last two outings. That directly correlates with his minute's bump, and we're definitely not concerned about him facing a 21st-ranked Denver defense.
If you're looking for someone cheaper, Monte Morris could be playing 30 minutes for the shorthanded Nuggets.
Opponent - NO
Proj Pts FD - 29.56 DK - 30
We already discussed all of Memphis's injuries, and it's forced Brooks into a huge role. He's actually averaging 32 minutes a night and 17 shots over his last four games played, scoring at least 31 fantasy points in three of those outings. That's a massive total from a player in this price range, and he should continue to see a ton of usage with so many guys out. The matchup is simply the icing on the cake, with New Orleans surrendering the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing shooting guards this season.
Opponent - POR
Proj Pts FD - 23.42 DK - 24.18
Dort is another guy who's seen a major bump because of how full his team's training room is. The guy's missing in Oklahoma City include Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, George Hill, and Theo Maledon. That's pretty much all of the ball-handlers on this team, and it's allowed Dort to run the offense at times. That's huge for a guy who provides value through hustle and defense, averaging 37 minutes a night over his last four fixtures. That's led to a 28-point average over his last three games, and if you get that from a $5K player, you're way ahead of the pack. The matchup against Portland only adds to his value, with Dort having to play big minutes opposing Damian Lillard and the Blazers ranked 29th in defensive efficiency.
James Harden should be providing his usual 60 fantasy points with Kevin Durant not playing.
Opponent - MIN
Proj Pts FD - 51.82 DK - 53.81
If you're going to pay up for some studs, LeBron is a good place to start. We say that because the Lakers are now without Anthony Davis for the next two weeks. That adds value to a guy who already touches the ball on every possession, with James posting a 34 percent usage rate with AD off the floor while averaging 1.5 DK points per minute. That's a scary thought for a guy who's already cruising, averaging 27.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 8.9 assists over his last 11 games played. We haven't even mentioned that Minnesota ranks 24th in defensive efficiency and 26th in points allowed.
Opponent - BOS
Proj Pts FD - 35.69 DK - 35.34
Porter has been volatile, to say the least, but this is a chance for him to get out of the rut he's currently in. Before getting injured, MPJ averaged 37 fantasy points per game across his first four fixtures this season. That has definitely fallen off since his return, but this is a guy who had an even higher average in the bubble last year. The reason we think he'll get out of it here is the fact that Denver is missing half of their roster. That includes Paul Millsap, Will Barton, Gary Harris, and P.J. Dozier already being ruled out, with Monte Morris and Jamal Murray both entering this matchup with a questionable tag as well. That means 40 minutes and 20 shots could be in MPJ's future, which is all we can ask for from such a talented player at such an affordable price.
Kenrich Williams has been a pleasant surprise for the Thunder and remains too cheap.
Opponent - TOR
Proj Pts FD - 59.17 DK - 61.7
Out of all the great high-priced options out there, Giannis is probably the best play of the bunch. We say that because he's starting to recapture that MVP form we've become accustomed to, scoring at least 62 DraftKings points in eight of his last 11 games. His last three games have been even better, averaging 71 fantasy points per game in that span. If you can get 70, you have to use him no matter the price. What adds to his intrigue here is that Antetokounmpo has killed the Raptors throughout his career, averaging nearly 65 fantasy points per game against them since the beginning of last season.
Opponent - BOS
Proj Pts FD - 22.48 DK - 23.47
We already discussed all of Denver's injuries, and it's likely to force Green into a start and at least 30 minutes of action. That's big news for a dude who's already averaging 21 fantasy points per game in 20 minutes a night for the year. That means 30-40 fantasy points are well in play, and that's well above our projection anyway. If he does get to 30 DK points, that will equate to 7X value. It's not like Boston's frontcourt really scares us either, with the Celtics ranked 15th in total defense while throwing out small bigs like Daniel Theis and Tristan Thompson.
Zion Williamson has been rolling recently and is definitely in play.
Opponent - BOS
Proj Pts FD - 58.15 DK - 60.17
This is the final stud of the night, and he might end up being the best option on the board. We say that because he's leading the NBA with 60 DK points per game, which could be the floor in this matchup with so many Nuggets missing. That means a guy who's posting a 29 percent usage rate will likely be looking at a 40 percent rate while attempting 20-30 shots. That suggests a triple-double in a near guarantee, and we already discussed how weak this Boston frontcourt is anyway.
Opponent - POR
Proj Pts FD - 39.13 DK - 39.55
Horford has quietly had a really nice year for the Thunder, and he should continue to be their primary playmaker with Gilgeous-Alexander sidelined. In fact, he leads the team with a 27 percent usage rate with him off the floor while averaging 1.4 DK points per minute. He's been showing that recently, scoring at least 30 fantasy points in his nine games since returning from his child's birth. He's also got a 41-point average in that span, doing that damage in fewer than 30 minutes a night. It'd be scary to think what he'd do if he played 35-40 minutes, especially against one of the worst defenses in the NBA.
Deandre Ayton has been a rebounding monster the last three weeks and could be looking at a 15-15 line here against a dreadful Nets defense.
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