NBA DFS DraftKings.com & FanDuel.com Lineups & Picks for November 17, 2017

For the NBA DFS slate tonight, and for the rest of the season, we’ll be writing up the guards, forwards, and centers we’re considering for our Cash and GPP lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel.

Please note 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 lots of other factors. This is important to consider when constructing a roster.

When playing daily fantasy NBA, it’s important to consider the point spreads and totals in trying to predict gameflow. Injuries play a huge role in the NBA on a nightly basis, and value plays can arise at a moment’s notice. Always, always check the starting lineups and injury news right before tipoff.

11/17/17 NBA DFS TOURNAMENTS

DraftKings Excellent 8’s: $8 buy-in, $450k guaranteed
DraftKings Triple Threat: $33 buy-in, $200k guaranteed
DraftKings Sharpshooter: $3 buy-in, $125k guaranteed
FanDuel Monster: $333 buy-in, $300k guaranteed
FanDuel Clutch Shot: $4 buy-in, $400k guaranteed
FanDuel Slam: $33 buy-in, $150k guaranteed

PLAYERS RULED OUT
Rudy Gobert (knee)
Kawhi Leonard (quad)
D’Angelo Russell (knee)
Al-Farouq Aminu (ankle)
Tony Parker (thigh)
Larry Nance Jr. (thumb)
Tristan Thompson (calf)
Zach LaVine (knee)

INJURY NEWS TO MONITOR
Steven Adams (calf)
Ricky Rubio (Achilles)
Danilo Gallinari (glute)
Patrick Beverley (knee)
Gary Harris (shoulder)
Derrick Rose (ankle)

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Best NBA DFS Picks for November 17, 2017

Guards

DeMar DeRozan vs. NYK ($7.9k DraftKings, $8.0k FanDuel)
While Kyle Lowry is finally heating up for Toronto, DeMar DeRozan continues to score with incredible consistency and serve as a fantastic Cash play. He’s dropped at least 24 points in 12 of his last 13 appearances and is home against a Knicks team that is 21st in defensive rating this season. DeRozan is averaging 32 points per game on 53.8 percent shooting over his last four meetings with the Knicks and faces an inexperienced, young defender in Tim Hardaway Jr.

Dennis Smith Jr. vs. MIN ($6.0k DraftKings, $6.9k FanDuel)
After dealing with a knee injury earlier this season, Dennis Smith Jr. is back on track with averages of 19.5 points and 3.9 assists per game over his last seven appearances, including a career-high 27-point performance against the solid Spurs defense on Wednesday night. Perhaps most encouraging is his increased usage, as Smith’s attempted at least 15 FGs in each of those contests. Now, he’ll face a Timberwolves team that gives up the sixth-most FPPG (48.97) and fourth-most APG (9.79) to opposing PGs this season. Smith Jr. should improve on the 18 points he dropped in Minnesota earlier this month as this game should remain closer down the stretch.

Jordan Clarkson vs. PHO ($5.1k DraftKings, $5.1k FanDuel)
Lonzo Ball’s horrendous shooting makes him a continuous liability and that’s led to a serious increase in playing time for Jordan Clarkson. The fourth-year man out of Missouri has scored 45 points with nine rebounds and eight assists, while logging 58 minutes, over his last two appearances. Tonight, he faces a Suns team that’s giving up the most PPG (115.1) and playing at the second-fastest pace in the NBA this year. Phoenix has been very generous in giving up the most FPPG (52.85) to opposing PGs as well.

Others to Consider: Kyle Lowry, Devin Booker, Donovan Mitchell, Tim Hardaway Jr., Spencer Dinwiddie, Rodney Hood, Mike James

Forwards

Blake Griffin @ CLE ($8.8k DraftKings, $8.6k FanDuel)
LeBron James obviously has a higher ceiling in this contest, and Kevin Love might be worthy of a GPP play given his recent boom-bust production, but Blake Griffin seems like the best per-dollar option at Quicken Loans Arena. The Clippers’ go-to guy is rocking a 29 percent usage rate with a stellar true shooting percentage (.554) this season. He’ll be facing a Cavs team that still ranks dead last in defensive rating despite their recent turnaround. Cleveland gives up the eighth-most PPG (23.2) to opposing PFs, and with Love playing the 5, Griffin should be able to grab plenty of boards in this matchup.

T.J. Warren @ LAL ($6.5k DraftKings, $7.5k FanDuel)
T.J. Warren’s production has been bankable, and his price tag remains relatively reasonable on DK despite the fact that he’s dropped 78 points and 106.25 DK points over his last three appearances. He draws a good matchup tonight against a fast-paced Lakers team that allows the most FGA (90.3) per game this season. Warren’s usage rate has skyrocketed to 26.3 percent this year (it was 19.2 last season), and he’s been much more productive on the glass as well, averaging 9.5 rebounds per game despite averaging just 29.1 minutes this season. His playing time has spiked considerably under Jay Triano.

Derrick Favors @ BKN ($5.9k DraftKings, $6.5k FanDuel)
With Rudy Gobert (knee) on the shelf, Derrick Favors is getting a chance to play more minutes for the Jazz and prove he can still produce when healthy. His usage rate rises to 21.1 percent with Gobert off the floor, and Utah has really needed him to rebound. He’s obliged with 32 boards over his last three appearances. The Nets give up the most FPPG (53.63), RPG (15.43), and BPG (2.36) to opposing PFs while playing at the fastest pace in the NBA this season. That’s why they give up the third-most RPG (49.5), so Favors is a decent bet for a double-double in this price range.

Others to Consider: LeBron James, Kristaps Porzingis, Harrison Barnes, Nic Batum, Kyle Kuzma, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, C.J. Miles

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Center

DeMarcus Cousins @ DEN ($10.9k DraftKings, $11.6k FanDuel)
We used prudence in recommending high-priced options at guard or forward tonight because DeMarcus Cousins represents such a jump from the other options at his position. With a floor of approximately 50 FPs, he’s been a dominant force in all formats and remains in play despite a tough matchup against Denver’s surging defense tonight. Cousins averaged 30.5 points, 10 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game over two meetings with Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets last season. He outweighs “The Joker” by a good 20 pounds, so he should continue to mix his brand of bully ball with an improved jumper to continue his torrid run of production. 

Hassan Whiteside @ WAS ($8.4k DraftKings, $8.8k FanDuel)
Since getting benched for apparent lack of effort in a trip to Oracle Arena last Monday, Hassan Whiteside has scored 65 points with 63 rebounds and 10 blocks over his last four appearances. He dominated Marcin Gortat and the Wizards on Wednesday, logging the most minutes (34) he’s played since banging his knee in Miami’s season opener. He should be ready to go in a rematch with the Wizards at Capital One Arena. He’s a very safe play on DK given his tendency to produce double-doubles quickly. Whiteside is averaging 19.8 points and 17.5 rebounds per 36 minutes this year.

Others to Consider: Andre Drummond, Kevin Love, DeAndre Jordan, Jonas Valanciunas, Alex Len