NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Friday (10/28)

This marks my final article of the week, and it feels like we’re finally in full swing. It took a handful of days to get back into the NBA grind, but it becomes easier the more you follow every day. Keeping up on the news and injury reports gives you a leg up on the competition, and we’re hoping most of the info here can earn you some big cashes. Fridays are always one of the biggest days in terms of prize pools, so let’s get started with the schedule and odds!

View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet

Schedule and Odds

• ATL at DET (ATL -5.5) O/U: 227.5
• CHA at ORL (CHA -2.5) O/U: 226
• CLE at BOS (BOS -5.5) O/U: 219.5
• IND at WAS (WAS -5) O/U: 229
• PHI at TOR (TOR -1.5) O/U: 212.5
• NYK at MIL (MIL -6.5) O/U: 223.5
• LAL at MIN (MIN -8.5) O/U: 227
• CHI at SAS (CHI -4) O/U: 230
• UTA at DEN (DEN -8.5) O/U: 229.5
• NOP at PHX (PHX -6.5) O/U: 225.5
• HOU at POR (POR -5.5) O/U: 226

Check out our consensus game odds as well as the odds from each sportsbook at BettingPros

Injury Report

• Anthony Davis (back) Questionable
• LaMelo Ball (ankle) OUT
• Zion Williamson (hip) Questionable
• Brandon Ingram (concussion) OUT
• C.J. McCollum (finger) Questionable
• Terry Rozier (ankle) Questionable
• Darius Garland (eye) OUT
• Khris Middleton (wrist) OUT
• Jaden Ivey (illness) Questionable
• Devin Vassell (knee) Questionable
• Russell Westbrook (hammy) Questionable
• Cole Anthony (oblique) OUT
• Michael Porter Jr.(back)
• Jalen Suggs (ankle) OUT
• Alperen Sengun (illness) Questionable
• Bogdan Bogdanovic (ankle) OUT
• Robert Williams (knee) OUT

Core Plays

Anfernee Simons (PG – POR): $7,100 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel
Simons is the best play on the board. He hasn’t had many monster games this year, but that’s because Dame has taken over this offense. His 35 minutes, 35 percent usage rate, and 20 shots are out of the lineup due to a calf issue, leaving all of that for Simons. He averaged over 35 fantasy points per game when Lillard was out last year, and he happens to face the best matchup in fantasy. Houston ranked second in pace and dead last in total defense last year.

Dennis Smith Jr.(PG – CHA): $6,300 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel
Smith’s career looked over this time last year, but he’s been one of Charlotte’s best players through the opening week of the season. The Miles Bridges situation earned him a roster spot, but subsequent injuries to LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier earned him a starting job. He’s actually been the starting point guard, averaging over 32 fantasy points per game. DSJ has also played 71 minutes over the last two games, and they can’t get him off the floor with so many Hornet players stung by injury.

Franz Wagner (SG/SF/PF – ORL): $6,400 DraftKings, $6,600 FanDuel
It’s tough to say who’s going to suit up for Orlando. They’re expected to be without Anthony, Suggs, and Markelle Fultz, leaving Wagner to play point guard. He was one of the surprise rookies with 30 DK points per game last season and has backed it with a 31-point average this year. We believe that’s his floor here because Wagner could be looking at season-highs in usage rate, minutes, shot attempts, and assists in this spot. Charlotte is a sensational matchup, too, ranked eighth in pace and 21st in points allowed.

Cash Game Considerations

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $11,000 DraftKings, $11,500 FanDuel
We have Jokic in the cash game section every day, and he’s only let you down twice over the last two years. Dating back to last season, Joker has scored at least 39 DraftKings points in all but two games. He’s also leading the NBA with over 60 DK points per game since 2020, and he’s simply the best play on every slate. Getting to face Utah without Rudy Gobert is great, too, with Jokic averaging 25 points, 14 rebounds, and 10.3 assists in their three meetings last season.

Pascal Siakam (PF/C – TOR): $8,900 DraftKings, $9,600 FanDuel
It’s strange that Siakam is considered a big man because he’s been playing point for the Raptors. That’s evident in his assists, averaging 25.2 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per game this year. That stat-stuffing has earned him some MVP consideration, scoring at least 44 fantasy points in all five fixtures this year. That means he needs to be a $10K player, especially since he had 49 DK points in this same matchup on Wednesday.

Josh Hart (SF – POR): $6,600 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel
People have been sleeping on Hart all season, and he could be looking at his most significant usage of the year. With Dame’s 35 percent usage rate out of the lineup, Hart should be asked to play some point guard. That’s huge since he’s leading the team with 10.2 rebounds per game en route to a 32-point average on DK. Getting 32 fantasy points is plenty at this price, and it should be easy to reach in an expanded role.

GPP Targets

Terrence Ross (SG/SF – ORL): $5,400 DraftKings, $5,000 FanDuel
Ross has always been a microwave player, providing elite scoring in a bench role. That’s always made him a volatile choice, but he could also be doing some ball-handling for this shorthanded team. We’re talking about 35-40 minutes and 15-20 shots, and we believe Ross should be a $7K player in that sort of role. We also don’t mind that Charlotte is surrendering the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing wings.

Myles Turner (C – IND): $5,800 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
Turner is going to be an $8K player. This dude played like that without Domantas Sabonis last year, and people forget that he’s the main big man in Indiana now. He already had 25 DK points across 24 minutes in his debut, despite making just one shot, and he’ll probably play 30 minutes here. Washington is far from a tough matchup, ranked 27th in defensive efficiency last season. In their two matchups, Myles maintained a 43-point average against them. Just use Turner every day until he’s above $7K!

Al Horford (C – BOS): $5,200 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel
There is no doubt that Big Al has gotten off to an awful start this season, but we refuse to believe he’s this bad. He averaged close to 40 fantasy points per game when Robert Williams was out last season and was a $7K player in that expanded role. We believe he’ll return to that guy sooner rather than later, and Boston will need him to play big minutes to oppose Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.

Value Plays

Bol Bol (PF/C – ORL): $4,900 DraftKings, $4,900 FanDuel
I never thought Bol would be in this article. He looked lost in a Denver uniform, but something has clicked in Orlando. His minutes have increased in four straight outings, providing 60 DK points across 42 minutes over his last two games. Getting 30 fantasy points from a sub-$5K player is absurd, and he could be looking at a career-high in minutes with so many players out for the Magic. We already discussed how bad Charlotte has been, allowing the third-most fantasy points to opposing centers.

Trey Murphy (SF – NOP): $5,600 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel
We love this play if Zion and Ingram are both out again. That was the case on Tuesday, with Murphy dropping 33 DK points across 36 minutes. He had 29 fantasy points across 40 minutes in the game prior, and it appears they can’t take him off the floor with those All-Star wings missing. If he plays 35-40 minutes with all this usage on the table, Murphy should be $1,000 more.

Alperen Sengun (C – HOU): $5,500 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel
Sengun was a sneaky pick in season-long fantasy leagues, and he truly looks like a star in the making. Despite coming off the bench, Alperen is averaging 33 DK points per game across 24 minutes a night. That minute total should be his floor because the other two starting centers on this roster are expected to miss this game. If you look at the 19 games Sengun has played at least 25 minutes, he’s averaging 33 fantasy points per game. Portland was pitiful defensively last year, sitting 29th in defensive efficiency ratings.

Advantageous Pricing

• Pascal Siakam (PF/C – TOR): $8,900 DraftKings, $9,600 FanDuel
• Tyrese Maxey (PG/SG – PHI): $6,200 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel
• Jayson Tatum (SF/PF – BOS): $9,600 DraftKings, $10,500 FanDuel
• Kristaps Porzingis (PF/C – WAS): $7,900 DraftKings, $7,200 FanDuel
• Brook Lopez (C – MIL): $6,000 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel
• Anthony Davis (PF/C – LAL): $9,400 DraftKings, $10,800 FanDuel
• Jamal Murray (PG – LAL): $6,100 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel
• Jonas Valanciunas (C – NOP): $8,000 DraftKings, $7,300 FanDuel
• Cameron Johnson (SF – PHX): $5,000 DraftKings, $4,300 FanDuel

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