Basketball Picks Daily Fantasy Expert Advice
DFS NBA Picks for FanDuel and DraftKings - Monday 10/24
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Guards
Damian Lillard FD - $8800 DK - $9500
Opponent - DEN
Proj Pts FD - 45.04 DK - 47.54
It took Lillard a game to get in the groove and he is most definitely there shooting 54% on 50 shots over the last two games, including half of those shots coming from behind the arc(44% from 3pt range). Despite this being a back-to-back, I don't see the elite usage going away giving him a very high floor and it's also a pace-up game against the Nuggets who have also struggled defensively giving up 117 or more points in all three of their games. After back-to-back 50 fantasy point performances, the price has not gone up which has Lillard in my core in all formats.
Devin Vassell FD - $5800 DK - $5400
Opponent - MIN
Proj Pts FD - 27.58 DK - 28.11
Despite the Spurs' 2-1 start, they still have one of the league's weakest rosters and are expected to be in tank mode this season. That doesn't mean we can't target them for DFS and Devin Vassel has actually been a terrific PTS/$ option so far. He is second in usage behind Keldon Johnson and has taken 14 or more shots in all three games and has shot 55% over the last two while returning over 7x value on both sites. The matchup doesn't jump off the page but both this game has the highest total on the slate, both teams are running Top 10 pace, and the T-Wolves are playing on a back-to-back. Add it all up and Vassel is one of my favorite PTS/$ guards on Monday and in play in all formats.
Terrence Ross FD - $5000 DK - $5700
Opponent - NY
Proj Pts FD - 19.64 DK - 20.84
Cole Anthony FD - $6000 DK - $6200
Opponent - NY
Proj Pts FD - 33.73 DK - 35.16
The Magic lost Jalen Suggs to an ankle sprain on Friday night and are now very shot-handed at the guard position with both Markelle Fultz and Gary Harris already out. Both Cole Anthony and Terrance Ross picked up the slack on Saturday playing 32 and 35 minutes respectively and that should continue for the foreseeable future. If that is the case, they are both a bit underpriced and if looking for safety, I lean toward Anonthy who is a little less scoring dependent but Ross definitely flashed his upside dropping 29 real-life and 40 fantasy points on Saturday. This game has the second-lowest total on the slate but the minutes and shots are safe and I just can't pass up the PTS/$ value.
Also Consider: James Harden(PHI) who has dropped 48 or more fantasy points in all three games and is still just $9K on DraftKings or Derrick White(BOS) who was second on the team in shots on Saturday and has provided excellent PTS/$ in each of his last two games
Small Forward
Jayson Tatum FD - $10500 DK - $9900
Opponent - CHI
Proj Pts FD - 48.67 DK - 49.87
The price is finally starting to adjust on both sites after a monster start to the season for Tatum who is averaging 38 minutes, 34.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and over 55 fantasy points per game. What I like most about this Celtics situation is the fact such a high % of the usage comes from just two players and Tatum now has 20 or more shot attempts in all three games. This game doesn't project to be fast-paced but the Celtics are top five in implied team total and faces a Bulls team that has allowed an average of 112 points per game to start the season. It feels like the price still has room to grow so I will be locking Tatum into my lineups in all formats on Monday.
Josh Hart FD - $5900 DK - $5600
Opponent - DEN
Proj Pts FD - 33.53 DK - 34.26
While Hart cedes a lot of the usage to Lillard and Simons in the offense, he more than makes up for it with his secondary scoring which creates a sky-high floor for fantasy. He is coming off an insane 16-rebound game yesterday, has seven or more in all three games, and has added 13 assists and five steals on the season for an average of 34 fantasy points per game. As long as he keeps playing minutes in the mid to high 30's with a sub $6K price tag he will be a core play for me in all formats, especially tonight against the Nuggets who have given up 117 or more points in all three games and rank 25th in rebounding.
Power Forward/Center
Nikola Jokic FD - $11200 DK - $10900
Opponent - POR
Proj Pts FD - 58.16 DK - 62.23
We have two elite centers on the slate tonight with Embiid and Jokic but I lean towards the latter once again for a few reasons. First of all, the 76ers are double-digit favorites in a game that could turn into a blowout which could cut into the minutes of the stars. Then there is the fact that Jokic just provides such an elite floor/ceiling combination contributing in every fantasy category and is coming off back-to-back triple-doubles. He is currently 3rd in offensive efficiency among players averaging over 30 minutes a game and should probably be $12K on both sites. Take advantage of the discount early in the season and lock him into your lineup in all formats.
Kelly Olynyk FD - $4800 DK - $5200
Opponent - HOU
Proj Pts FD - 32.77 DK - 34.82
On his fourth team in three seasons, Kelly Olynyk seems to have found a fit and has looked great for the Jazz. He got into foul trouble early in their opener which limited him to 15 minutes but he has made up for over the past two games shooting 58% from the field on 26 shots while adding six rebounds, eight assists, and five steals. Our system absolutely loves him from a PTS/$ perspective once again at a price that is just coming too cheap for his role on the team. Lock and load in all formats.
Santi Aldama FD - $4400 DK - $5100
Opponent - BKN
Proj Pts FD - 30.54 DK - 32.42
Aldama is another player our system absolutely loves from a PTS/$ standpoint and it makes sense. Take out last game where he got into early foul trouble and he has been great with 30+ fantasy points in each of his first two games. The shooting is likely going to remain inconsistent but his best fantasy asset and road to a high floor is the rebounding and that is good news as tonight's opponents, the Nets, ranked 23rd in that category early in the season. Aldama is a terrific value and in play in all formats.
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image sources
- Damian Lillard, Raul Neto: (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)