Welcome to SuperDraft. Tired of salary-cap based DFS contests? In the mood for something refreshing and new? At SuperDraft, you can start any player available on the slate, and receive differing multiplier bonuses based on the players you plugin. James Harden, being James Harden, has just a 1x multiplier, as having in your lineup should be reward enough. However, if you start someone with upside, but as inconsistent as Jusuf Nurkic has been in the playoffs, you get a 1.4x multiplier. The multipliers vary, making for some interesting strategy sessions as you have to pit raw production against multiplier production when making lineup decisions. It is important not to get too cute in setting lineups by chasing high multipliers only, as a combination of high floor, and high multiplier based upside usually leads to ideal results as far as finishing in the money. Let’s take a look at some of tonight’s top plays.
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C.J. McCollum (1.35x multiplier)
C.J. McCollum is set to go off in Game 5 versus the Los Angeles Lakers. Damian Lillard is injured and will miss the rest of this series. This has made McCollum, especially at his 1.35x multiplier destined to be the chalkiest play of the day on a slate that will be full of chalk. McCollum would be an attractive option even if Damian Lillard were healthy, as despite shooting .419 from the field in the playoffs, he has averaged 20 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.5 blocks, and 2.5 threes per game. He has put up 37.9 fantasy points per game on the season as a whole, a number that translates to 51.2 when we factor in the SuperDraft multiplier. While the expectation is that McCollum will have a monster game, it is important to remember that he is playing injured. Portland will need to keep this contest competitive to ensure that their starters get full burn.
Jusuf Nurkic (1.4x multiplier)
Jusuf Nurkic has been a DFS disappointment up until this point of the playoffs, but like teammate C.J. McCollum and the rest of the Blazers, Nurkic should be forced into a larger role with Damian Lillard sidelined. After averaging a robust 17.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, four assists, 1.4 steals, and two blocks on .495 shooting during the seeding games, Nurkic crashed back to earth with averages of 13.8 points, 10.5 rebounds, three assists, 0.5 steals, and zero blocks on .463 shooting during the playoffs. His best game of the postseason came in Game 4 when he put up 20 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, and a steal on .700 shooting. He will be looking to build on that this evening as the Lakers look to stave off elimination. As mentioned, Nurkic was hot during his limited season run, with his averages pushing him to 44.9 fantasy points per game. With his 1.4x multiplier that added up to an enticing 62.8 fantasy points at SuperDraft. Nurkic will not be as chalky as McCollum, but will likely find his way into quite a few lineups due to his multiplier and the fact that he should be afforded an expanded role with no Damian Lillard.
Chris Paul (1.4x multiplier)
Fresh off an eventful three days, one full of despair, hope, anger, and fear, NBAPA President Chris Paul will be looking pour all of his energy into bringing his team within one game of the second round. Paul put up solid numbers this season, especially considering he often shared the court with two other point guards (at the same time). He put up 37.9 fantasy points per game in the regular season, a number that translates to 53 fantasy points with the 1.4x multiplier at SuperDraft. He has been good in the playoffs but has not been as consistent in the assist department.
Paul is no longer the elite fantasy player that he once was, but can still put up the numbers to keep you in the money. Today’s decision at guard centered around Paul and the player he was traded for in Russell Westbrook (1.15x multiplier). Westbrook, of course, averaged more fantasy points per game, both pre and post multiplier, but may not see a full complement of minutes in his first game back from injury. He may also try to force the issue a bit (in typical Westbrook fashion), so fading him if going with a single entry for Chris Paul seems like the sharper play.
Paul has averaged a solid 21 points, 7 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.5 blocks, and 2.3 threes on .500 shooting from the field during the playoffs. He will need to be playing as he did in Game 1 to ensure his team has a chance, as they have some young pieces who may need his on-court leadership after the events of the last few days. Stick Paul in at least one of your SuperDraft lineups.
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Raju Byfield is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Raju, check out his archive and follow him @FantasyContext.