NBA DFS DraftKings.com & FanDuel.com Lineups & Picks for October 23, 2017
Today and 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 DFS 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 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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10/23/17 NBA DFS TOURNAMENTS
DraftKings Return to the Court: $33 buy-in, $600k guaranteed
DraftKings Four Point Play: $4 buy-in, $444k guaranteed
DraftKings Excellent 8’s: $8 buy-in, $80k guaranteed
FanDuel Monster: $333 buy-in, $300k guaranteed
FanDuel Clutch Shot: $4 buy-in, $400k guaranteed
FanDuel Slam: $33 buy-in, $250k guaranteed
PLAYERS RULED OUT
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (personal)
Chris Paul (knee)
Kawhi Leonard (quad)
Seth Curry (leg)
Cody Zeller (knee)
JaMychal Green (ankle)
INJURY NEWS TO MONITOR
Dennis Smith Jr. (knee)
Devin Harris (personal)
Hassan Whiteside (knee)
Dennis Schroder (ankle)
DeMar DeRozan (illness)
Jonas Valanciunas (ankle)
Markieff Morris (abdomen)
Best NBA DFS Plays for October 23, 2017
Guards
Steph Curry @ DAL ($8.7k DraftKings, $9.2k FanDuel)
A Curry eruption is akin to a volcano’s in that you can sense it coming. He started to really heat up as the Warriors entered comeback mode down the stretch in a loss at Memphis and finished with a game-high 37 points on 9-of-17 FG shooting (6-of-11 from 3PT range). That was enough for Steph to exceed value on DK in a second consecutive outing and he remains quite cheap ahead of a matchup against undersized guards J.J. Barea and Yogi Ferrell or a hobbled Dennis Smith Jr. (knee), making the former MVP well worth an investment.
Mike Conley @ HOU ($7.7k DraftKings, $7.9k FanDuel)
Losing Chris Paul (knee) over the first month of the season will effect the Rockets offense, but the implications are greater for their opponents. Now that Patrick Beverley is in a Clippers uniform, Houston’s soft perimeter defense is much more vulnerable and a capable PG like Conley should carve them up in a fast-paced contest. Houston ranks 29th in opponent’s 3PT shooting (.440%) and has given up the third-most APG (24) in the NBA thus far, so Conley will likely find shooters all evening while improving on his own scoring line after struggling with his shot in a win over Golden State on Saturday.
J.J. Barea vs. GSW ($5.0k DraftKings, $5.0k FanDuel)
It’s been a tough start for the Warriors to open the season and they don’t get much rest with their fourth game in six nights upcoming in Dallas. The Mavericks are banged up with Seth Curry (leg) out, while Dennis Smith Jr. (knee) and Devin Harris (personal) are questionable, leaving Barea and Yogi Ferrell to log the bulk of minutes in the backcourt. Ferrell is getting more run, but the veteran is far more trustworthy in a matchup against the defending champs since he’s so experienced and never backs down from a challenge. With 28 points, 13 dimes and 4 3PTM over 2 appearances since Smith Jr. suddenly went down with an injury, Barea’s become a very serviceable value.
Others to Consider: James Harden, Kyle Lowry, Bradley Beal, Reggie Jackson, Devin Booker, De’Aron Fox, Marco Belinelli
Forwards
Giannis Antetokounmpo vs. CHA ($10.9k DraftKings, $12.2k FanDuel)
It’s The Greek Freak’s world and we’re just living in it. Despite his lack of a consistent jump shot, Giannis is leading the NBA at 38.3 PPG and filling up the stat sheet as per usual with 29 boards, 15 assists and 8 steals (also a league best) through 3 games. He was clutch down the stretch in a win over Portland on Saturday and faces a Hornets team tonight that’s without it’s top defender in Nic Batum (elbow) and young wing Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (personal). Antetokounmpo averaged 20.3 PPG on 57.8% FG shooting over 3 meetings against Charlotte with Batum in the lineup last year and Charlotte’s struggling to defending opposing centers so far, indicating a lack of length that will make it tough to stop the rangy and versatile young stud.
Ben Simmons @ DET ($7.7k DraftKings, $8.0k FanDuel)
Like Giannis, Simmons comes at an elevated price tag on FanDuel for good reason, as he’s averaging 15.7 PPG, 10.3 RPG and 6 APG with plenty of potential for defensive stats with his 6-foot-10 frame and 7-foot wingspan. Unlike teammate Joel Embiid, Simmons is not playing while wrapped in caution tape and he profiles as a great cash game play with 33-plus minutes played in his first few career games. Tonight he draws a matchup against Detroit that’s not particularly intimidating and will look to get the Sixers on track alongside a well-rested Embiid.
Dillon Brooks @ HOU ($4.6k DraftKings, $4.4k FanDuel)
More than anything else, Brooks passes the eye test in terms of what you want to see from a young NBA player. He’s fearless attacking the rim, consistent defensively and willing to step up in big moments, which is why Grizzlies HC David Fizdale is giving him such steady run. He followed up his breakout game with a solid line (9 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, steal, block) and played 32 minutes against the Warriors despite battling foul trouble, so Fizdale should use his rookie a lot in a matchup against similarly fast-paced Houston.
Others to Consider: Kevin Durant, LaMarcus Aldridge, James Johnson, Otto Porter, Wesley Matthews, Kelly Oubre Jr.
Centers
Dwight Howard @ MIL ($6.7k DraftKings, $7.4k FanDuel)
He’s not just 2-for-2 on double doubles, Howard has grabbed a matching 15 boards in each of his first two appearances with Milwaukee and he’s on pace for a career-best 36.1% defensive rebounding rate during that span. The Bucks biggest weakness is down low, where they rotate unproven young bigs in John Henson and Thon Maker. Howard averaged 15.3 PPG and 11 RPG over 3 meetings with Milwaukee last season and Milwaukee ranks 22nd in rebounding so far this year.
Willie Cauley-Stein @ PHO ($6.0k DraftKings, $5.8k FanDuel)
The Suns have easily been the worst team in the NBA thus far with 42-point losses in 2 of 3 games and they’re giving up 128.7 PPG, second only to Brooklyn in defensive futility. While the Kings are young across the board, they’re far more talented, especially at the center position, where WCS will have a serious advantage over either hobbled Alex Len (ankle) or washed-up veteran Tyson Chandler. Phoenix has allowed the most FPPG (70.27) and PPG (38) to opposing PFs through 3 games and aside from a dud against a solid Denver frontcourt, Cauley-Stein’s looked quite impressive with 31 points, 21 boards and 4 blocks in matchups against Houston and Dallas this season.
Others to Consider: Nikola Jokic, Marc Gasol, Joel Embiid, Marcin Gortat, Alex Len, Jakob Poeltl
