Welcome to the first NBA Monday slate of the season, a day of the week that is near and dear in the hearts of many a DFS owner. The slates are seemingly always more unpredictable come Monday, and tonight should be no exception.
There are superstars all over the 11-game docket, with nine players checking in with a price tag of at least $9,000. It's going to a wild night with a majority of games likely to be hotly contested. Let's take a deeper look at where the value lies and parse out some early season noise.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 10/28/19. 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.
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DraftKings DFS Guards
Stephen Curry - PG/SG, GS @ NO ($9,500)
While the Houston Rockets backcourt duo will likely draw heavy consideration, no game on the slate has a higher over/under than Warriors/Pelicans and I’ll need in on some of that action on the DFS side. Curry has shot just 4-for-20 from three over his first two games in his role as the Warriors’ lone high-scoring star, but a matchup with the Pelicans could be just what he needs to right the ship. In the two full contests that Curry played against New Orleans last year, he buried a combined 16 three-pointers. Add in that Golden State’s offense is dependent on him in a multitude of ways and I’m confident deploying Curry at his price tag.
Bryn Forbes - PG/SG, SA v. POR ($4,100)
With so many high-priced stars out during an 11-game slate, value has to be found. And with injuries still relatively quiet, in addition to uncertain rotations across the league, where better to turn than the cheap play who racks up minutes? Barring a blowout, Forbes is nearly a lock to play at least in the 30-32-minute range. And facing Portland, San Antonio will figure to both be in a competitive game, as well as need their most-trusted assets on the floor. He may not produce much other than threes, but if Forbes catches fire, he should easily earn his value. His ceiling is never immensely high, but he’s quite valuable in cash slates Monday.
DraftKings DFS Forwards
Giannis Antetokounmpo - SF/PF, MIL v. CLE ($10,600)
It’s hard to imagine a night where Antetokounmpo isn’t a solid play across any contest, with Monday as no exception. But facing off against a Cleveland Cavaliers squad that doesn’t have a lockdown wing defender could truly open the floodgates for the reigning MVP. He has shown no signs of being slowed this season with monstrous performances in each of his first two games. He faced Cleveland twice last year and recorded triple-doubles in both appearances. While I’m more partial to Antetokounmpo in cash leagues than GPPs due to what could be the nature of Milwaukee’s victory, I would be confident in calling Antetokounmpo the most well-rounded play on the board across a crowded slate.
P.J. Tucker - SF/PF, HOU v. OKC ($4,600)
Houston appears content to run Tucker out at the power forward slot for a considerable portion of the game. While not exactly an offensive juggernaut, Tucker’s three-point shooting ability keeps him on fantasy radars. The veteran has scored 33 points over his first two games, which, while unlikely to last, is something to ponder when needing a lower-priced commodity Monday amidst a night of high-priced options. Minutes won’t be a concern for Tucker, whose production could vary wildly based on pace and his rebounding opportunities.
DraftKings DFS Centers
Andre Drummond - C, MIN vs. MIA ($9,300)
During a night chock-full of high-priced centers that could all make convincing arguments as to why they should be the guy that you invest in, Drummond stands above the rest. While there are usually multiple strategies and theorems as it pertains to investing in high-priced players, this one is quite simple: Last week, Drummond compiled 32 points and 23 rebounds against the Pacers. Without Blake Griffin in the mix, Detroit has relied on its center to both cleanup the glass, as well as lead the offense. So long as Drummond remains out of foul trouble, he’ll remain a major cog with a high floor for the evening.