RADIO
The NBA season has started with a bang after some ridiculous individual performances on yesterday's first large DFS slate. While today's slate is much more limited in terms of options, we still have three solid match-ups to build our lineups. All three games have point totals over 221, and no team is favored by more than two so we should be in for a treat from both a fan and DFS perspective.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 10/24/19. You can also check out today's FanDuel lineup picks. Remember to monitor injury news as the slate can completely change before line-up lock.
This slate will feature several expensive DFS stars making their 2019-2020 season debut. Although four teams are beginning the season on Thursday night, this will be the second time that we see the Detroit Pistons and Los Angeles Clippers. Depending on your risk tolerance and tournament selection, it might be useful to consider the rotations and minutes of the teams that we have already seen. While the one-game sample size is not ideal, we should consider all factors for such a small slate. Specifically, this should be beneficial for filling out your lineup if you plan to use a "stars and scrubs" approach.
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DraftKings DFS Guards
Patrick Beverley - PG/SG, @ GSW ($4600)
With the loss of significant scoring at the wing position, the Golden State Warriors will be riding former MVP guard Steph Curry and newly acquired guard D'Angelo Russell. The result should be opposing defenses prioritizing the guarding of the new, dynamic guard duo. Consequently, this sets up as a perfect Patrick Beverely game. Known for his on-ball defensive pressure and high energy, Beverley is not a player that we are frequently targeting in DFS. However, Beverley should play heavy minutes and provides much-needed salary relief on a slate full of studs.
Luke Kennard - SG/SF, @ vs ATL ($4,700)
The Detroit Pistons have been stuck in mediocrity primarily due to their absence of perimeter scoring. While this is primarily due to inferior talent on the perimeter, there is also something to be said for lack of opportunity. The offense of the Detroit Pistons has run through the all-star frontcourt of Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond, but Griffin is scheduled to miss time with injury. This opens up usage and shot attempts to shooters like shooting guard Luke Kennard. With limited scoring options, Kennard is a likely candidate to see an uptick in production while Griffin is out. Last night Kennard scored 30 points as the Pistons surrounded Drummond with as much shooting and spacing as possible. Derrick Rose is another solid option but check the news for anything related to minutes on a back-to-back.
DraftKings DFS Forwards
Giannis Antetokounmpo - SF/PF, @ HOU ($10,300)
If it was not evident by my salary relief plays at guard, my favorite spend up spot is for forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. I plan to have lineups where I spend up at guard on the Houston stars or Curry, but my preference is spending at other positions on players like the Greek Freak. Both the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets have revamped rosters with new co-stars. This brings excitement, but the unknowns are enough for me to prioritize Antetokounmpo in his prime. His ability to fill the stat sheet in every category is why he is the highest-priced player on the slate.
Draymond Green & Kevon Looney - PF/C, vs LAC ($7100, $5,100)
There are several appealing higher-priced options than the newly re-signed Kevon Looney. The 23-year-old big man out of UCLA is entering the season with completely different expectations than previous seasons. There are some serious question marks about the defense and depth of the injury-plagued Warriors, and Looney will be asked to play a much larger role on both ends of the floor. After being on a roster full of all-stars, the jury is still out on just how much he can do offensively. Personally, I am willing to take some shots on him as a low-owned play at a crowded C/PF position on DraftKings. If I see a lot of buzz about him around the industry, my stance on him could change as I try to gain leverage through ownership percentages.
I decided to write up Looney because I am hoping he flies under the radar with so many good options at forward and center, but Draymond Green is also a very strong play. We already know Green's triple-double capability, but he should get more shot attempts on this new Warriors team.
Looney is coming back from injury so be sure to monitor the news for any word on a minute restriction.
DraftKings DFS Centers
Andre Drummond - C, vs ATL ($8,300)
A night after exploding for 78.25 DK points, I am going right back to Andre Drummond at a reasonable price tag of $8,300. While a repeat performance of this magnitude is not likely, Drummond is still one of my favorite plays with power forward Blake Griffin out of the lineup. The combination of Griffin's absence and lack of proven depth at the position should result in heavy minutes and usage for Drummond barring foul trouble. The best thing about the Detroit star is his ability to hit value and stuff the stat sheet without having to rely on scoring. Just last season he averaged 15.6 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1.7 blocks making him one of the most well-rounded players in the league.
