DraftKings NBA DFS Plays
For October 29th 2014
Well the first big slate of NBA games is upon us and a lot of NBA DFS players are going to be surprised that DraftKings has eliminated multi-position eligibility to start the season. The ability to fit in all of your favorite players will be greatly hampered, but it should actually help the average and beginner DFS player. Why would this help me? Because the better players who make a living playing this game fully understand just how thin each position is and where the best value to slot a player in would be.
My favorite plays tonight-
PG
Tony Wroten-Philadelphia 76ers- 4500-Wroten should be starting in the absence of Michael Carter-Williams and is a nice source for DFS points. He’ll be facing a depleted Indiana Pacers and should have most of the offense run through him. The lack of scorers and efficient shooters hurts his ceiling, but he should hit well above value.
Russell Westbrook– OKC Thunder- 10200- When you’re looking at playing a player with this type of price tag you have to look at their ability to hit value. The entire offense will run through Westbrook on the absence of Kevin Durant. Westbrook has the ability to put up a triple double even with Durant in the lineup and without him he should approach one every night. He may lose some easy assists without Durant there, but he will also pick up scoring and rebounds. Reggie Jackson is also sidelined tonight, so his breaks will be short.
Derrick Rose– Chicago Bulls- 7400- Rose makes his return in New York and will want to put on a show. With Jimmy Butler sidelined he could put up a very nice line with a decent discount. Keep an eye on him for the utility slot if you can’t fade Westbrook.
SG-
Eric Bledsoe-Phoenix Suns- 7000- Bledsoe can put up numbers in bunches and gets the Lakers on the back end of a back to back. I’m pretty sure we wouldn’t mind watching him fly by Jeremy Lin all night.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope-Detroit Pistons-3600- KCP had a big Summer League showing and looked like a solid play all preseason before he injured his knee. With him healthy enough to play he should get decent minutes, especially with Jodie Meeks sidelined. He will be the only outside shooter on the court for the Pistons.
SF- If you’re not going Melo at 9200 (which is a good buy) you have some nice punt options
CJ Miles- Indiana Pacers- 3800- Miles is starting at the shooting guard position and could also slide to the SF slot when Stuckey comes off the bench. Stuckey is on a minutes limit and the Pacers starting roster looks bad to open the season, especially with George Hill sidelined.
Otto Porter Jr. – Washington Wizards- 3000- Porter Jr. is going to see minutes at the two and the three on opening night and can contribute in a bunch of categories. Wall needs a running mate with Beal sidelined and I like Porter Jr.’s opportunity tonight.
PF-
LaMarcus Aldridge– Portland Trailblazers-9200- The price seems a little low if you think about the numbers Aldridge puts up, but he does face an elite defender in Serge Ibaka tonight. I don’t see a ton of upside in this play, but it’s pretty safe for a cash game.
Ed Davis-LA Lakers- 3900- Davis went for 11 ponts-6 rebounds-1 steal and 2 blocks yesterday against Houston and now will be counted on a lot more with Julius Randle going down. Boozer isn’t getting any younger and might not be able to log that many minutes in the second game of a back to back. Davis also gets to play the five and it doesn’t hurt him against the Suns who play small.
Marcus Morris-Phoenix Suns- 3600- The second Morris should start at the small forward position and play some four against the smallish Lakers. Morris had a nice preseason and will want to have a good showing with the chance for him to grab a full time starting role. He’s an interesting play with the rotation down a few players that could eat into his minutes.
C-
Al Jefferson– Charlotte Hornets- 9100- Big Al started out of the gates slowly last season, but in the second half he was one of the best DFS plays you could make, especially in cash games. His big body should be hard to handle for the slender Larry Sanders and John Henson.
Mason Plumlee– Brooklyn Nets- 5400- Plumlee gets the start for the injured Brook Lopez and he could play a ton of minutes if he can control the fouls. Plumlee is a double double waiting to happen with his hustle and leaping ability, but he actually looked a lot better of the summer. He develped a nice little jump hook and hung with the best the USA had to offer.
Samuel Dalembert-New York Knicks- 4000- Dalembert gets the nod due to heavy minutes to start the season. The Knicks need a rim protector and Dalembert is it. He should have a nice rebounding game and you just need 10 points form him to hit value with his ability to block shots.
Steven Adams– OKC Thunder- 3500- Kendrick Perkins is finally pushed to the bench. Last year I compared Adams to a great dane because he has know clue just how big he is. He is a the perfect price to take a chance on tonight, but he is another guy that can hurt you if he gets into foul trouble. At that price his fouls should be an issue. Big time double double potential with a few blocks and assists thrown in.
Jason Smith-New York Knicks- 3000- Smith is one to keep an eye on as far as possible starters go. The rumor is the Knicks could start Smith next to Dalembert. With Bargnani injured there’s one less body for the rotation. Acy should see minutes, but Chicago is pretty tall across the back line and the Knicks won’t want to allow them to push them around at home. He has a lot of upside if he gets the minutes tonight, but Adams is by far the safer play.
