NBA DFS DraftKings.com & FanDuel.com Lineups & Picks for October 19, 2017
For the rest of the NBA DFS season, we’ll be writing up the guards, forwards, and centers we’re considering for our Cash and GPP lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel. As with any daily fantasy sport, the advice below is relevant for daily fantasy purposes. A player or team might be better or worse from a fantasy perspective than in real life due to matchup, price, and more. This is important when constructing a roster. And if you’re looking for a new ways to play NBA DFS, be sure and give DRAFT.com a try with our promo code!
When playing daily fantasy NBA, it’s important to consider the point spreads and totals in order to predict gameflow. Injuries play a huge role in the NBA on a nightly basis, and players can come out increasingly motivated for big games depending on other factors. And always, always check the starting lineups and injury news right before tipoff.
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10/19/17 NBA DFS TOURNAMENTS
DraftKings Thursday Starting Five Special: $5 buy-in, $500k guaranteed
DraftKings Triple Threat: $33 buy-in, $200k guaranteed
DraftKings Money Ball: $333 buy-in, $250k guaranteed
FanDuel Monster: $333 buy-in, $100k guaranteed
FanDuel Clutch Shot Encore: $4 buy-in, $500k guaranteed
FanDuel Slam: $33 buy-in, $150k guaranteed
PLAYERS RULED OUT
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (suspension)
Joakim Noah (suspension)
Zach LaVine (knee)
Nikola Mirotic (face)
Kris Dunn (finger)
INJURY NEWS TO MONITOR
Julius Randle (ribs)
Best NBA DFS Picks for October 19, 2017
Guards
Russell Westbrook vs. NYK ($11.0k DraftKings, $11.8k FanDuel)
Russell Westbrook seems to be seriously undervalued in both seasonal and daily leagues to open the season simply because the Thunder added two capable scorers in Carmelo Anthony and Paul George. Sure, those guys will subtract from Westbrook’s ridiculous usage rate of last season, but they’ll also improve his assist numbers and keep him fresh down the stretch, which was a huge issue for his shooting percentage in fourth quarters last year. Up first is a Knicks team that’s given up the seventh-most APG (9.06) to opposing PGs over the last two seasons and allowed Westbrook to post triple doubles in consecutive meetings last year, as well as a lightning-quick triple double on Christmas Day a few years ago when Kevin Durant was still playing alongside Russ.
Milos Teodosic @ LAL ($4.9k DraftKings, $5.3k FanDuel)
The post-Chris Paul era has begun for the Clippers, and Teodosic has already begun to win over fans with his flashy passing and great court vision. He couldn’t ask for a better matchup against a porous Lakers defense that’s allowed the second-most FPPG (50.22) and most APG (10.26) to opposing PGs over the last two seasons. Playing with Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan will make it easy for Teodosic to pile up assists, and he’s never backed down from a challenge throughout his storied international career.
Others to Consider: Kyle Lowry, Lonzo Ball, Jerian Grant, Patrick Beverley, Justin Holiday
Forwards
Kristaps Porzingis ($7.7k DraftKings, $8.2k FanDuel)
How perfect is this? Carmelo Anthony’s Thunder debut will come against the franchise that kicked him on the way out the door this offseason. While I would expect Melo to come out firing against the Knicks, the statiscal edge will likely still belong to Porzingis, who is a far superior rebounder and defender. If he matches up against Anthony or Paul George, the Zinger will be able to use his length down low, while he’s a bit too versatile for Steven Adams to handle on the perimeter.
Lauri Markkanen ($5.6k DraftKings, $6.5k FanDuel)
After Nikola Mirotic and Bobby Portis got into an altercation during practice, Markkanen will be forced into action sooner rather than later for what could be the worst team in the NBA this year. The rookie flashed an excellent touch from the outside, and he’s a big-bodied talent capable of posting a double double at a very modest price tag. Chicago needs someone to shoulder the scoring load with Kris Dunn and Zach LaVine (and now Mirotic) on the shelf to open the season, and Markkanen could be one of the next men up.
Others to Consider: Blake Griffin, Carmelo Anthony, Julius Randle, Denzel Valentine, Kyle Kuzma
Center
DeAndre Jordan ($7.7k DraftKings, $8.2k FanDuel)
Brook Lopez is a lot of things, but a plus defender is not one of them. With “BroLo” consistently hobbled by foot injuries and concentrating mostly on his offensive output the last two years, the Nets coughed up the third-most FPPG (53.62) and fifth-most PPG (22.74) to opposing centers. A far superior leaper to Lopez, DeAndre Jordan averaged 14 PPG and 18.5 RPG over two meetings with Brooklyn and 13.5 PPG and 13.5 RPG over four meetings with Lakers last season.
Others to Consider: Brook Lopez, Enes Kanter, Jonas Valanciunas, Ivica Zubac
