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 (10/23)
Cade Cunningham (G – DET): 5.5 1st quarter points
Cade was one of the most notable fast starters in the NBA last season, averaging 5.3 points per game in the opening frame. Cunningham averaged 9.6 first quarter points per game in his last 15 outings and should continue to start hot this season, even with new additions to the team. His volume should remain relatively static in the first, and we expect to see increased efficiency due to the floor spacing Tobias Harris should help provide. Clap the More on Cade for Wednesday night.
Pick: More
Trae Young (G – ATL): 5.5 1st quarter points
Trae Young should have all the volume he desires with Dejounte Murray now in New Orleans. Trae was a little streaky in this category last year but should come out firing early down a 20 ppg scorer. Young should have a higher usage rate sans Murray, and the hope is that he will also be more efficient now that he feels less of an intrinsic need to jack up questionable shots when sharing the floor with Murray. Trae scored six or more points in seven of his last eight games without Dejounte. Tap the More on Trae for tonight’s action.
Pick: More
Donovan Mitchell (G – CLE): 5.5 1st quarter points
Mitchell is taking on the Toronto Raptors tonight, meaning he should have little trouble filling it up on opening night for the Cavs. Mitchell averaged 7.5 points per 1st quarter in his final six games of last season and should hit at least six tonight against an uninspiring backcourt (at least defensively) of Immanuel Quickley and Gradey Dick. Donovan will need to stay aggressive to hit the number, but Mitchell and Darius Garland should quickly identify Dick as the player to target, especially with Scottie Barnes less likely to rotate freely due to Evan Mobley being his assignment in a frontcourt that also consists of Jarrett Allen. Dap the More on Donovan for Wednesday Night Basketball.
Pick: More
Writers note: The lines are constantly changing on Sleeper (and sometimes expiring), 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.