NBA DFS Primer Saturday (10/30)

Saturday’s NBA main slate features 10 games as the season continues to take shape. Let’s walk through the most important DFS angles and find some players that can help you set successful lineups.

Check out today’s NBA Layup from FanDuel

Schedule and Odds

• BOS @ WSH (-2.5) O/U: 224
• ORL @ DET (-5.5) O/U: 206.5
• NYK @ NOP (+5.5) O/U: 215.5
• TOR @ IND (-3.5) O/U: 215.5
• ATL @ PHI (-3.5) O/U: 218.5
• SAS @ MIL (-8.5) O/U: 224
• MIA @ MEM (-2) O/U: 217.5
• UTA @ CHI (+4.5) O/U: 217.5
• OKC @ GSW (-13) O/U: 220.5
• DEN @ MIN (-1.5) O/U: 221.5
• CLE @ PHX (-10) O/U: 216

Injury Report

• Joel Embiid (PHI) Questionable
• Zion Williamson (NOP) OUT
• Pascal Siakam (TOR) OUT
• Malcolm Brogdon (IND) OUT
• Jamal Murray (DEN) OUT
• Caris LeVert (IND) OUT
• Ben Simmons (PHI) OUT
• Dillon Brooks (MEM) Questionable
• Jerami Grant (DET) Probable
• Coby White (CHI) OUT
• Jrue Holiday (MIL) OUT
• Klay Thompson (GSW) OUT
• Mike Conley (UTA) OUT
• Victor Oladipo (MIA) OUT
• Brook Lopez (MIL) OUT
• Donte DiVincenzo (MIL) OUT
• Bogdan Bogdanovic (ATL) Probable
• Markelle Fultz (ORL) OUT
• Chuma Okeke (ORL) OUT
• James Wiseman (GSW) OUT
• Bobby Portis (MIL) OUT
• T.J. Warren (IND) OUT
• Michael Carter-Williams (ORL) OUT
• Hassan Whiteside (UTA) Probable
• Damion Lee (GSW) Questionable
• Doug McDermott (SAS) OUT
• Nerlens Noel (NYK) Questionable
• Rudy Gay (UTA) OUT
• Isaac Okoro (CLE) OUT
• Patrick Williams (CHI) OUT
• Cade Cunningham (DET) Questionable

Core Plays

Domantas Sabonis (PF/C – IND): $9.2K DraftKings, $9.1K FanDuel
Now that the Pacers are missing both Malcolm Brogdon and Caris LeVert, they need Sabonis to contribute even more than usual. His value comes from being such an outstanding multi-category contributor, and he’s a uniquely strong passer for a big man. That could lead to a big night in the assists department on top of his typical heavy scoring and rebounding.

Fred VanVleet (PG/SG – TOR): $8.1K DraftKings, $8.2K FanDuel
VanVleet offers the opposite way to play the injuries to the Pacers best guards. This is a much softer defensive matchup than it would normally be with a full-strength Indiana team. VanVleet managed 52.5 DK points against the Pacers in their last matchup earlier this week and is getting significant usage for a Toronto team that is still without Pascal Siakam.

Devin Booker (SG/PG – PHX): $7.8K DraftKings, $7.7K FanDuel
It took until the Suns’ fourth game of the season for Booker to deliver a big performance, but it appears he’s finally shaken off the little bit of rust that he carried into the season. His salary, however, has not adjusted, and he should have a great chance to keep things up against a defensively weak Cavaliers team.

Cash Game Considerations

Stephen Curry (PG – GSW): $10.9K DraftKings, $10.5K FanDuel
The Thunder are allowing 113.4 points per game this year. Curry is scoring 30.4 points per game and hasn’t produced less than 21 in a single contest. His fit for cash games is strengthened by his strong rebounding and passing production.

Ja Morant (PG – MEM): $9.4K DraftKings, $10.1K FanDuel
Until Morant’s salary is adjusted upward, he will be an outstanding cash option. He’s fifth in the NBA in usage so far at 32.0% and it’s resulting in averages of 30.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game.

Jakob Poeltl (C – SAS): $6.9K DraftKings, $7.2K FanDuel
Now that Poeltl is finally seeing big minutes for the first time in his career, his production is skyrocketing. His price has followed, but not enough. At an average of 36.3 minutes per game over his last three, Poeltl is delivering 17 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game.

GPP Targets

Joel Embiid (C – PHI): $10.2K DraftKings, $9.8K FanDuel
Embiid has too much upside not to leverage the dip in interest resulting from his questionable tag. He seemed fine in Philadelphia’s last game when he posted a monster 30-point, 18-rebound double-double.

Nikola Vucevic (C – CHI): $8.8K DraftKings, $8.7K FanDuel
This is not an ideal matchup for Vucevic as he has to face Rudy Gobert and Utah’s stellar defense. That will cause him to go ignored on this slate which could be a mistake. Even great defensive players like Gobert give up big games sometimes, especially to fantastic offensive players like Vucevic.

D’Angelo Russell (PG/SG – MIN): $6.8K DraftKings, $7.5K FanDuel
Russell has had two great games this season and two clunkers. That pretty much sums up his outlook as he’s heavily dependent on getting things going each game in the scoring department. When he does, though, that volatility can work in your favor. He scored 29 in the Timberwolves’ last contest after producing just 9 the game before. If the 29-point version shows up Saturday he is very likely to outperform his salary.

Value Plays

Precious Achiuwa (C/PF – TOR): $5.1K DraftKings, $5.1K FanDuel
Achiuwa has now recorded 3 double-doubles in Toronto’s last four games. He’s seeing increased minutes in the absence of Pascal Siakam and priced way too cheap considering his recent performance.

Jalen Suggs (PG/SG – ORL): $4.9K DraftKings, $4.6K FanDuel
The salary for Suggs continues to remain low despite even more court time. His production has been modest, but some growing pains should be expected for a rookie. Suggs will get plenty of chances for the Magic and gets a soft matchup against the Pistons.

Cade Cunningham (PG/SG – DET): $3.6K DraftKings, $5.0K FanDuel
Speaking of the Pistons, it looks like the number one overall pick is ready to make his debut. It seems likely that Cunningham will have some limitations on Saturday, but at a salary this low and especially on DraftKings, he makes for a very interesting value play.

Advantageous Pricing

• D’Angelo Russell (PG/SG – MIN): $7,500 FanDuel, $6,800 DraftKings
• Steven Adams (C – MEM): $6,700 FanDuel, $5,500 DraftKings
• Cade Cunningham (PG/SG – DET): $5,000 FanDuel, $3,600 DraftKings
• Tobias Harris (PF/SF – PHI): $7,400 FanDuel, $8,400 DraftKings
• Kyle Lowry (PG – MIA): $5,900 FanDuel, $7,100 DraftKings

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Aaron White is a featured writer for FantasyPros. His industry experience includes projects for the Chicago Cubs, QL Gaming Group, and The Sporting News.