Happy Tuesday, RotoBallers! Sometimes, the best DFS play can just come down to who is healthy and makes the lineup on any given night. Unfortunately, we are only two weeks into the season, but half the league carries a questionable tag into every game. Hopefully, this is just a short-term problem as players are still rounding into regular-season shape. However, it is crucial to keep an eye on lineup news in the final hour before tip-off.
Usually, we can infer a lot of information from the Vegas odds, but it feels like they are adjusting to the lack of free throws across the league and the downtick in scoring. All five games have an over/under set between 217.5 and 220.5 points, which doesn't help us. However, the Rockets and the Lakers contest features two of the league's fastest teams, yet they just played a 95-85 fantasy snooze fest on Sunday. To make a long story short: we are all still figuring some stuff out during the first few weeks of the season.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 11/2/21. You can also check out today's FanDuel lineup picks. Remember to monitor injury news as the slate can completely change before lineups lock.
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DraftKings Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Jalen Green - PG, HOU at LAL ($5,800)
Jalen Green's career isn't off to the flying start most Houston fans would've hoped for when the franchise drafted him as the No. 2 overall pick in this year's draft. However, he's flashed enough to show why he went that high. Plus, the Rockets aren't going anywhere anytime soon, and now is the time for him to get all of these mistakes out of his system. Fortunately, for DFS purposes, that means giving the rookie all the volume he can handle.
Over his previous four games, Green is averaging 14.5 field-goal attempts and 7.8 three-point attempts. He was limited in his last game against the Lakers because of foul trouble, but the volume is there for the taking. Tonight, he sees the Lakers for the second time in three nights, and the rookie has the ability and volume to punish the worst defense against point guards in the league.
Grayson Allen - SG/SF, MIL at DET ($4,800)
When the Milwaukee Bucks signed Grayson Allen over the summer, it largely went unnoticed. But now, he's started all seven games for the reigning NBA Champions and is in a prime spot for Tuesday's slate. Khris Middleton (health and safety protocols) and Jrue Holiday (ankle) will miss the game against Detroit. Therefore, Allen should be in line for at least 15 shots and possibly 20 for the first time this year. Over his last four games, the former-Duke standout averages nine three-point attempts per game and sinks 44.4 percent of them.
Others to consider: Luka Doncic ($11,100), Russell Westbrook ($9,900), Tyler Herro ($6,900), Jordan Clarkson ($5,600)
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DraftKings Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Harrison Barnes - SF/PF, SAC at UTA ($7,400)
Barnes is in fine form to kick off his tenth year in the league. The forward averaged 23.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, one steal, and 3.3 triples through six games. He's scoring 43.9 fantasy points per game for DFS managers, and he's returned five times his salary in five of those six matchups. Utah is giving up the fewest FPPG to small forwards (29.97 points) but the fourth-most FPPG to power forwards (51.55 points). So Barnes' night may come down to who's guarding him and where the Kings use him in their offense. Right now, his performance throughout the young campaign has earned my trust as a differential pick among the more popular forwards.
Herbert Jones - SF, NOP at PHX ($3,500)
As I mentioned in the intro, DFS can sometimes come down to who's healthy and who isn't. For Jones, it'll come down to Brandon Ingram's status. The Pelicans star is dealing with a hip issue, and he missed Sunday's game. As for Jones, he has started all six of the Pelican's games since opening night and seems to have the trust of the New Orleans coaches. On Sunday, with Ingram sidelined, Jones produced 12 points, five assists, three rebounds, and three steals in 36 minutes for 28.75 fantasy points. If Ingram sits again, I love Jones against a Suns defense giving up 50.12 FPPG to small forwards, the third-highest mark in the league.
Others to consider: LeBron James ($10,200), Anthony Davis ($9,700), Brandon Ingram ($8,200), Rodney Hood ($3,300)
DraftKings Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Bam Adebayo - C, MIA at DAL ($7,500)
The Heat's addition of Kyle Lowry has taken some shine off Adebayo in the early part of the 2021-22 season as his assist numbers have fallen from 5.4 assists last year to 1.6 this year. Still, the big man is seemingly making up for it in other ways as he has become a rebounding machine. He has at least nine boards in every game this season, but he's grabbed 13 or more in four of his five games. Adebayo (knee) was forced to miss Sunday's contest but logged a full practice on Monday and is expected to be a go for the game in Dallas.
That's great news for DFS managers, as Bam is coming off his best performance of the season against the Hornets. In 36 minutes, Adebayo posted 26 points, 19 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block for 57.75 fantasy points. The Mavericks defense is a sieve at the moment, allowing the third-most FPPG to centers through six games. If healthy, Bam should feast tonight and crack the 40-point mark for our DFS lineups.
Alperen Sengun - C, HOU at LAL ($4,300)
I must suffer from amnesia because I again recommend Alperen Sengun despite burning me in last week's picks. However, there are signs of progress for the Turkish big man in the Rockets system since he did that. In the two games since the letdown, Sengun cracked 20 minutes in both contests and averaged 9.5 shots per game. He's scored 25 fantasy points in three of his last four games, and while that's not winning contests, it does return excellent value on his current salary. The Lakers are pretty stingy against centers (11th-best defense in the league), but Sengun's role is already growing in Houston and is a not-even-on-the-radar pick for most DFS lineups.
Others to consider: Rudy Gobert ($8,100), Deandre Ayton ($6,800), Bobby Portis ($4,400)