Welcome to Sleeper Picks. Sleeper’s newest offering promised plenty of entertainment and action, and they delivered. We will break down our top three picks for tonight’s NBA action. Sleeper is quickly becoming one of the most popular season-long fantasy platforms, and they are expanding into other areas based on demand. Each week in this space, we’ll talk about some strategy for the new platform while providing our favorite NBA more/less picks.
NBA Sleeper Picks Player Predictions (10/26)
Giannis Antetokounmpo (F – MIL): 0.5 double doubles
Giannis 0.5 double doubles even being a thing on a fantasy app, is quite impressive. There is obvious value on the More, as Giannis recorded 46 double doubles in 63 games played last season. He averaged 31.1 points and 11.6 rebounds per game last season as a whole but saw his numbers spike against Joel Embiid and co. Giannis averaged 13.5 rebounds in four games against Philadelphia last season, with at least 13 rebounds in each. There is a slight gamescript concern here as the 76ers, without James Harden (who was asked by the team not to travel with them on their road trip), are no match for the new-look Milwaukee Bucks. Regardless, with trends screaming value on the More, this is the top play for Thursday night.
Pick: More
Devin Booker (G/F – PHX): 26.5 points
Booker was sensational on opening night, draining 13 of 21 shots for 32 points. Booker is going to be leaned on as the primary option this season, and the potential return of Bradley Beal tonight should not affect his volume. Booker will take 18 to 25 shots most nights while adding a handful of trips to the line. For a player who shot .494 from the field last season, that means he will surpass 24-25 points more often than not. The push to 27 depends on the opponent. The Suns’ opponent tonight, the Los Angeles Lakers, have no one on the roster capable of containing Book, so only an off shooting night should be able to derail him from hitting 27 points. Booker hit 25 and 33 points in his two games against the Lakers last season. The 25 came prior to the KD trade, while the 33 came afterward. The room and freedom of movement sharing the court with a player like Kevin Durant, and soon Bradley Beal opens up cannot be overlooked. Booker shot a career-high from the field last year for a reason. Bump the More on Booker for Thursday night.
Pick: More
Kevin Durant (F – PHX): 0.5 double doubles
I get it; the multiplier on this is and will continue to be low. However, we would be foolish not to consider it in an environment where we are required to make at least two picks. There will be simpler low multiplier plays on busy slates, but with only two games on Thursday night, this will likely be one of the best. KD managed just five double doubles in 47 games played last season, and while he is all but certain to have more this season, the percentage will remain well under 50 percent. Attach this to your ticket if you are stuck looking for a high probability play and are not overly concerned with the multiplier.
Pick: More
Writers note: The lines are constantly changing on Sleeper, so there is a high probability that one or all of the numbers may no longer be the same when you open your app. There are excellent values when they are first posted, with the only catch being that they are not all released at the same time. Vigilance could provide a solid return on investment this season, literally.
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Raju Byfield is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Raju, check out his profile and follow him @FantasyContext.