NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Nov. 20
Bucks’ Damian Lillard has scored at least 42 DraftKings fantasy points in six of his last seven outings.
I can’t tell you how much I love the NBA. There’s something special about watching these 30 teams grind every day, and it’s fun for us to play DFS along the way. With that in mind, let’s dive into this Monday card.
Core Plays
Stephen Curry (PG/SG – GSW): $9,800 DraftKings, $9,000 FanDuel
Chef Curry is one of the leading scorers in the NBA, and Golden State needs him to keep rolling. Not only is Draymond Green suspended, but Chris Paul and Klay Thompson are struggling mightily. That’s led to Curry scoring at least 38 DraftKings points in all but one game this season. He’s also got a 50-point average to match that 38-point floor, and we want to ride him against Houston. He averaged 31 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 10 assists in his three matchups with the Rockets last year, scoring at least 52 DK points in five straight fixtures against them.
Damian Lillard (PG – MIL): $9,600 DraftKings, $9,200 FanDuel
Dame got off to a rough start in his first few games with Milwaukee, but he’s crushing it right now. The superstar point guard has scored at least 42 DraftKings points in six of his last seven outings, posting a 56-point average across his previous three outings. That absurd run will likely continue against Washington, with the Wizards ranked 26th in defensive efficiency and 28th in points allowed while surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing guards.
Bam Adebayo (C – MIA): $9,100 DraftKings, $9,600 FanDuel
More people need to take notice of what Bam is doing. The big man is turning into the focal point of this Miami offense, leading the team in usage in the absence of Tyler Herro. That boost has led to one of the best stretches of his career, scoring at least 38 DraftKings points in seven straight outings. Bam is also flirting with a 50-point average in that span and should have one of the highest floors with his stat-stuffing ways. The matchup with Chicago isn’t too shabby either, with Adebayo accruing 24 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists against them on Saturday.
Cash game considerations
Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $12,800 DraftKings, $12,800 FanDuel
Not much needs to be said when recommending a player like Jokic. The two-time MVP is simply the best player in DFS, averaging over 60 DraftKings points per game in three straight seasons. He’s been even better without Jamal Murray over the last two weeks, scoring at least 67 DraftKings points in seven consecutive outings. No player has done that all season, and it’s likely to continue with this boost in usage for the best stat-stuffer in the NBA. We don’t mind the matchup either, with Detroit surrendering the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing centers.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (PF/C – MIL): $11,000 DraftKings, $11,000 FanDuel
Giannis hasn’t been quite as reliable this season with Dame in town, but he’s still one of the best options in DFS. The former MVP is coming off a season-high 76 DraftKings points in his most recent outing, scoring at least 69 fantasy points in three of his last five outings. It’s scary when this guy gets going like this, and we don’t want to fade him against a woeful Washington defense. Giannis has scored at least 63 fantasy points in seven of his last eight matchups with the Wizards!
De’Aaron Fox (PG – SAC): $9,300 DraftKings, $9,900 FanDuel
Fox is playing some of the best basketball of his career right now. The speedy point guard has scored at least 50 DraftKings points in four of his last five outings, dropping a season-high 70 DK points in his most recent outing. That has his season average above 50 fantasy points per game, and another one of those gems should be in play against New Orleans. Fox had 44 DK points across just 30 minutes in a blowout win in his last matchup with the Pelicans.
GPP targets
James Harden (PG/SG – LAC): $7,800 DraftKings, $7,200 FanDuel
It was just a matter of time before Harden found some form with his new team, and we might’ve seen the start of it over the weekend. The Beard hit a game-winning shot against the Rockets, finishing that game with 24 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Many people might forget this, but Harden averaged more than that for seasons at a time. The price dropped way too far for someone of this guy’s ability, and he’s a great GPP option against a Spurs team that owns the second-worst defensive rating in the NBA.
Michael Porter Jr. (SF – DEN): $6,800 DraftKings, $7,200 FanDuel
The absence of Murray has really allowed MPJ to thrive in this offense. We’ve always known this sharpshooter can go off, scoring at least 34 DraftKings points in six of his last seven outings. That’s all you can ask for from a sub-$7K player, especially one who’s seeing a bump in usage and shot attempts for one of the most efficient offenses in the NBA. The matchup is the icing on the cake, with Detroit ranked 22nd in defensive efficiency ratings.
Andrew Wiggins (SF – GSW): $5,600 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel
It’s been a tough start to the season for Wiggins, but he’s a good GPP play with the price drop. What has us encouraged is that he’s coming off his best game of the season, dropping 42 DraftKings points. This guy is too good to play the way he was, and we want to use him at this diminished price before it inevitably rises. The bounce back game makes him an excellent option against Houston because Wig has 55, 43, and 34 DK points in his last three matchups with the Rockets.
Value plays
Dyson Daniels (PG/SG – NOP): $5,900 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel
Losing CJ McCollum to an injury was devastating, but it’s allowed the Pels to start Daniels at the point guard position, scoring at least 25 DraftKings points in all six starts he’s made. Daniels has also scored at least 28 DK points in five consecutive outings and is due for a price bump behind this production. The matchup is solid, too, because this is projected to be one of the highest-scoring games on the slate!
Duncan Robinson (SG/SF – MIA): $5,900 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
The sharpshooter has played at least 34 minutes in five of his last six outings, averaging 15 shots a game across his last five outings. That role has led to some of the best production of his career, averaging nearly 40 fantasy points per game across his last four fixtures. We didn’t even mention that Chicago is surrendering the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing small forwards.
Mitchell Robinson (C – NYK): $5,500 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel
Robinson rarely puts the ball in the basket, but his rebounding and defense make him a great DFS option. Since struggling in the opener, Robinson is averaging 12.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game. That means just a few buckets could make him an elite play, averaging over 30 DK points per game in that span. The minutes are one of the most impactful variables when evaluating Mitch-Rob’s value, and he should be looking at 35-40 minutes to cover Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert, and Naz Reid.
Advantageous pricing
- PJ Washington (PF/C – CHA): $6,800 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
- Marcus Sasser (PG/SG – DET): $5,500 DraftKings, $4,200 FanDuel
- Haywood Highsmith (SF/PF – MIA): $4,100 DraftKings, $5,000 FanDuel
- Rudy Gobert (C – MIN): $6,900 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel
