Daily Fantasy Basketball is back, which means each day XN Sports will have a column detailing advised plays and lineups for the remainder of the NBA season. For those familiar with DraftKings, their daily fantasy basketball is formatted differently this season. There is no multi-position eligibility, which makes it a bit harder to set your lineup.
For those unfamiliar with DraftKings, you are given $50,000 in cap space to select a point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward, center, a guard, a forward, and a utility player. There are no points deducted for missed shots, which changes the strategy from other sites. To read the full scoring, click here. Keep in mind that a double-double awards a bonus, which can be the difference between cashing in and winning nothing.
Generally, the goal for value is at five times a players salary. That brings a lineup to 250 fantasy points, which will cash on most days.
Give DraftKings a shot, as there will be a few free roll opportunities each night in Daily Fantasy Basketball. Click here to play.
Without further ado, the value plays and lineups for October 30th:
Value Plays
Guard
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Shooting Guard, Detroit Pistons ($3,600)
Early in the NBA season is the easiest to find values in DFS, but you have to look closely to find them. Caldwell-Pope only costs $3,600 against your budget but is a value play at his price. He took 19 shots in the Pistons’ season opener and played 36 minutes. On DraftKings, you do not lose points for missed shots, which makes players that shoot often that much more valuable. Caldwell-Pope seems to be the secondary option on offense for the Pistons this season, and at his price of just $3,600 he is a steal for your lineup. Great value for KCP tonight is 18 fantasy points, and in the first game he reached that on just 3-19 shooting. The Pistons face the Timberwolves tonight, who allowed the Grizzlies to shoot 52% in the opener, so KCP should have an easier time making shots tonight.
Other values at guard: Devin Harris, DAL $4,600
Forward
Otto Porter Jr., Small Forward, Washington Wizards ($3,000)
Keep an eye on the Wizards’ injury list for tonight, as Porter’s value directly depends on the health of Glen Rice Jr., who is expected to see minutes when healthy. Last night, Porter played 24 minutes and took seven shots, making four of them. In addition, he contributed a steal and four rebounds. At his price, great value is attained with 15 fantasy points or more, and if Rice is absent from the Wizards lineup again, the sharp-shooting Porter will be an asset to your fantasy lineup at the minimum price on a short slate. Washingon will face the Orlando Magic tonight, who allowed the Pelicans to shoot 101 times two nights ago. If Porter plays 24 minutes or more as he did in the opener, that will give him ample opportunity to reach value.
Other values at forward: Aaron Gordon, ORL $3,400 (If Kyle O’Quinn is out, Gordon becomes a top value play), Shabazz Muhammad, MIN $3,000
Center
Steven Adams, Center, Oklahoma City Thunder ($3,500)
On a small slate, the center position is always thin, but luckily Adams’ price remains near the minimum. As always, finding value at center is a lot riskier than other positions, simply because the way that centers are used in the NBA is not the same as it was 25 years ago. Over the first two days in the season, only six true centers played over 30 minutes. That indicates that “spending” on center is advised, but Adams is the value play tonight for those who want to add some star guards or forwards to their lineup. At just $3,500, value for Adams can be reached at 17.5 fantasy points. Last night, Adams was able to accrue eight points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals in just 27 minutes of work. He is the starting center for Oklahoma City for the foreseeable future, and is a value play for a big man against the Clippers, who gave up the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing centers last season.
Other values at center: With a small slate, Adams is the only low-priced value play for tonight.
Lineup (Cash Games)
PG – Russell Westbrook $9,900
SG – Kentavious Caldwell-Pope $3,600
SF – **Otto Porter Jr. $3,000
PF – *Aaron Gordon $3,400
C – Tyson Chandler $5,600
G – Trey Burke $6,500
F – Josh Smith $7,500
UTIL – LeBron James $10,500
Lineup (GPP)
PG – Trey Burke $6,500
SG – Kentavious Caldwell-Pope $3,600
SF – Shabazz Muhammad $3,000
PF – Kevin Love $9,000
C – Steven Adams $3,500
G – J.J. Redick $4,600
F – Carmelo Anthony $9,300
UTIL – LeBron James $10,500
*Porter and Gordon are plays based on injuries. If O’Quinn is out for the Magic, Gordon is a play. If Rice Jr. is out for the Wizards, Porter Jr. is a play.
**If Rice does play, Shabazz Muhammad is a replacement at the same position and price for Porter Jr.
