We have a short three-game slate to kick off our NBA week today, so options are going to be limited at each position along with some price gaps in between players. Two of the three games are set to be very high-scoring, so you may want to load up on players from those games. With that said, there are still some good options for either cash games or GPPs, so let’s get into it.
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Guards
Kyrie Irving (BOS): $8,800 @ ATL
Irving has scored 41 or more DraftKings points in four of his last five games and is up against the Hawks, who are giving up 45 DK points per game to points guards. This sets up very nicely for Irving to have a big game, and with his recent performance, he is viable in all formats tonight. He has a very strong floor of points, and with his 35% usage rate, he has great upside. That 35% usage rate is 15% higher than the next Boston player in the normal rotation. He is seeing a ton of touches every game and is a lock for at least 20 real points. He is still slightly cheaper than he really should be, given how much he sees the ball. It’s a great spot for him tonight up against the Hawks who are on the second night of a back to back.
We have a short three-game slate to kick off our NBA week today, so options are going to be limited at each position along with some price gaps in between players. Two of the three games are set to be very high-scoring, so you may want to load up on players from those games. With that said, there are still some good options for either cash games or GPPs, so let’s get into it.
Create Optimal DraftKings lineups using our DFS Lineup Optimizer tool
Guards
Kyrie Irving (BOS): $8,800 @ ATL
Irving has scored 41 or more DraftKings points in four of his last five games and is up against the Hawks, who are giving up 45 DK points per game to points guards. This sets up very nicely for Irving to have a big game, and with his recent performance, he is viable in all formats tonight. He has a very strong floor of points, and with his 35% usage rate, he has great upside. That 35% usage rate is 15% higher than the next Boston player in the normal rotation. He is seeing a ton of touches every game and is a lock for at least 20 real points. He is still slightly cheaper than he really should be, given how much he sees the ball. It’s a great spot for him tonight up against the Hawks who are on the second night of a back to back.
Allen Crabbe (BKN): $4,100 @ PHO
On a short slate you have to take the savings where you can, so let’s look at Crabbe, who has plenty of upside. He hasn’t been starting every game but has still seen 24 or more minutes in four of his last five games. The upside comes from his ability to hit the deep ball, and he has two or more threes in three of his last five games. He is averaging 0.76 fantasy points per minute and is up against the Suns, who are giving up 45 points per game to shooting guards. The Nets play at one of the fastest paces in the league, and they are up against a team who is bad at defense. This sets up for Brooklyn to be very popular tonight, but the matchup is too good to pass up.
Forwards
Devin Booker (PHO): $8,400 vs. BKN
Booker has the highest usage rate on the Suns, sitting at 31%, which means he will be seeing the ball a ton. He has 41 or more DraftKings points in three of his last four games and is up against the Nets who are giving up 41 points per game to shooting guards. This game has a total set at 236 points, with Phoenix favored by only one point. Vegas predicts this game will very high-scoring, and very close, which is exactly the type of game we want to target as DFS players. He is averaging 1.17 fantasy points per minute and makes a great play in any format tonight.
Draymond Green (GS): $7,400 vs. MIA
Green is generally the fourth scoring option on the Warriors, but he still has plenty of fantasy value. He has a 16% usage rate which isn’t high, but he is super efficient when he is on the court. Green is averaging 1.12 fantasy points per minute because he is filling the stat sheet. He has 33 or more DraftKings points in three straight games and is nearing a double-double or triple-double almost every game. He chips in when it comes to rebounding and assists, so his fantasy value is very high. He may not be the most prolific scorer, and especially being on the Warriors, he may pass up a shot or two. Green is playing a full set of minutes on most nights and has a 34-point average for the year, so he makes a good play in any type of contest tonight and should be rostered with confidence.
Center
Hassan Whiteside (MIA): $7,000 @ GS
Whiteside has missed a few games to start the season, but he is back and makes a great option tonight. He is a bit cheaper than he really should be, considering the consistency and upside he has. Whiteside is a double-double machine nearly every night and is averaging 1.44 fantasy points per minute. Yes, he has only played four games, so that average may come down over time, but he has 14 or more rebounds in three of his four games this season, and those points can really add up. He has a usage rate at 23%, which is solid for his role, but he will be seeing extra touches tonight since they are up against the Warriors and will be playing up in pace. This game has a total set at 226 points, so a high-scoring game is on tap, which is favorable for Whiteside since the Warriors are giving up 60 DraftKings points per game to centers, fourth-worst in the league.
John Collins (ATL): $5,000 vs. BOS
If you are looking to save some money at center so you can spend up elsewhere, Collins is the guy for you. He has scored 24 or more DraftKings points in three of his last four games and is averaging 1.21 fantasy points per minute. That’s very strong production from a player at his price point, so you can take the savings and know you are getting a consistent option. He may not have the highest ceiling, but you will be able to spend up elsewhere with the savings he brings.
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Thomas Vecchio is a correspondent at FantasyPros. For more from Thomas, check out his archive and follow him @DFS_Tom.