DraftKings NBA GPP Plays: October 20
DraftKings NBA GPP Plays: October 20
We’re back to a large DraftKings NBA GPP Main Slate tonight with 10 games set to tip-off. There will be a larger variance in player ownership and roster construction compared to last night’s action.
The NBA $500K Thursday Starting 5 Special tournament had a cash line of 256.75 DraftKings and a top score of 325.5 DraftKings points, which was hit by two players with the same lineup. Leading the charge were Russell Westbrook, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan who were all over 30 percent owned. These studs were paired with a handful of sub-$5,000 value plays to round out the winning combination.
Be aware of players with multiple position eligibility. Throughout this column, players might not be listed at their true position due to a lack off depth at another spot. Using positional flexibility could give you the edge to take down a DraftKings GPP.
Let’s jump into tonight’s slate!
DraftKings NBA GPP Plays: October 20 – Point Guards
Elite
John Wall ($9,800) vs. DET
Wall continued to prove his worth as an elite point guard with a strong 49.25 DraftKings point outing against the Sixers. He stuffed the box score in multiple categories and led the team in shot attempts with 28. He logged 37 minutes and is a sure bet to see significant usage every night. If word comes out that Wall will be guarded by Avery Bradley, I would consider fading.
Steph Curry ($8,800) vs. NOP
First, it is important to note that Curry has SG position eligibility, which makes him the clear-cut elite option in that spot. If you wanted an elite PG and SG, Curry could definitely be in the mix. This Warriors team is obviously good and it’s tough to predict who will have the big game, but the passing is so efficient that it doesn’t have to be one guy. The Warriors love to push the pace and will be looking to do so even more tonight when facing the Pelicans two stud big men. Curry averaged 51.8 DraftKings points in three contests against New Orleans last season.
Kyrie Irving ($8,600) vs. PHI
The Celtics scoring effort was evenly spread out last game against the Bucks, but Irving still dominated the ball with 25 shot attempts. Irving is still underpriced as the primary offensive force on this Celtics roster. The Sixers just got rocked by Wall in their last game, so expect Irving to follow closely in his path.
Mid -Tier
Kemba Walker ($7,800) vs. ATL
Walker had a respectable performance in a slowed down game against the Pistons on Wednesday night. He finished with 36 DraftKings points in 35 minutes and will continue to see added work with Nicolas Batum sidelined. Walker has a favorable matchup tonight against Dennis Schroder who sported a -2.76 defensive real plus-minus (DRPM) rating last season.
Dennis Schroder ($7,600) vs. CHA
Just because Schroder can’t play defense, doesn’t mean he isn’t a solid DraftKings GPP play tonight. We expected Schroder to carry the offensive load on this thin Hawks team and he did exactly that in his first game. Schroder finished with 44.5 DraftKings points and will look to repeat his performance against a poor defender in Walker.
D’Angelo Russell ($7,300) vs. ORL
If you thought Russell’s usage was going to be big this season, think again. It’s going to be huge! Jeremy Lin went down with a knee injury and is likely out for the year. Russell is going to be the primary source of offensive for the entire season and has the talent to put up big fantasy numbers. He should be putting up $8,000 fantasy production, so roster Russell until the price matches.
Value
Darren Collison ($5,800) vs. POR
I overlooked Collison in his first game, but refuse to do it again. His opening night performance was 8.7x value and his price has only jumped $500. I don’t expect such a monster game, but he’s certainly a great value. To be even more clear on how much I like Collison, I think he warrants consideration among the mid-tier guys.
Jordan Clarkson ($4,300) vs. PHO
For those who are strictly minute watching, you’d be disappointed by Clarkson’s box score. He only logged 23 minutes off the bench, but the Lakers got throttled by the Clippers all night. The good news is that he jacked up 16 shots in limited minutes and finished with over 6x value. His price hasn’t changed and is in a matchup against the Suns, which should have lighting fast pace.
Terry Rozier ($4,200) vs. PHI
Perhaps the biggest trend to start the DFS NBA season is to find the Celtics value plays and lock them in. Now that we are seeing most of those value plays get a bump in salary, it’s not quite so obvious. However, it looks like Rozier is the forgotten man. Good for us! In 27 minutes last game, he posted 15 points, seven rebounds, six assists and two steals, which was good for 38.25 DraftKings points. That’s 10x value! He’s still cheap and great money saver tonight.
DraftKings NBA GPP Plays: October 20 – Shooting Guards
Elite
Eric Bledsoe ($7,400) vs. LAL
The entire Suns team was abysmal in their season opener against the Trail Blazers. Bledsoe certainly underperformed for his price tag, but his 18 shot attempts led the team despite playing shortened minutes due to the blowout. The Suns are the favorites in this one against a terrible defensive team in the Lakers. Bledsoe is a underpriced elite option at shooting guard tonight.
C.J. McCollum ($7,200) vs. IND
McCollum will be making his season debut after missing the team’s opener due to a questionable one-game suspension. This Portland team looks quite similar to last year, which means McCollum will continue his role as the other weapon in this two-headed attack. He’s a threat to go off for 40 points on any night and can pile up the threes in a hurry. He crushed the Pacers last year for an average of 45.4 DraftKings points in two meetings.
Bradley Beal ($7,100) vs. DET
Should we know for certain that John Wall will draw Avery Bradley‘s elite defense, I really like Beal in this one. This would mean that he’d face Reggie Jackson whose -2.94 DRPM rating puts him in the bottom five at the point guard position. This would be a significant mismatch given how talented Beal is at scoring the rock.
Mid-Tier
Devin Booker ($7,000) vs. LAL
Like his teammate Bledsoe, Booker’s numbers were underwhelming, but that can be expected when your team loses by nearly 50 points. He didn’t play past the six-minute mark in the third quarter, which could go overlooked by many. He’s got a great matchup tonight against the Lakers who he beat up for an average of 36 DraftKings points over four games last season. The opportunities will certainly be there for Booker tonight.
Jrue Holiday ($6,100) vs. GS
Holiday is going to see a ton of action if the Pelicans stand a chance at keeping up with the Warriors tonight. He’s the third offensive option behind Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins, but there are plenty of opportunities in this type of game. His greatly disappointed in his first outing, but his 38 minutes are tough to ignore. Holiday could be a quality source of assists and points in this one.
Jaylen Brown ($5,500) vs. PHI
The former value play has graduated to a mid-tier option. However, I think Brown is still quite underpriced and provides a ton of value even at his new $5,500 price tag. He led the Celtics in scoring with 18 points and added a few boards and assists on top. This was all while battling foul trouble throughout the game. I’m still riding with Brown until his price takes a significant jump.
Value
Wesley Matthews ($5,100) vs. SAC
If you’re looking to roster a guy who can pile up threes, Matthews is your choice. He went five for nine from deep on Wednesday night, while adding eight rebounds. His 34.5 DraftKings points were a 7x value and has a favorable matchup against the Kings who are lousy at defending the perimeter.
Kelly Oubre Jr. ($4,400) vs. DET
In their season opener, the Wizards played each starter over 30 minutes, while no bench player saw more than 19 minutes. It’s a very small sample size, but if they decide to go with a tight rotation, I love Oubre at $4,400. He filled the stat sheet in just about every category, which gives him a nice floor to work with.
Terrance Ross ($4,300) vs. BKN
Ross did a little bit of everything on Wednesday night against the Heat, finishing with 35.5 DraftKings points. He saw 31 minutes in the opener and went three for seven from three-point range. The Magic look like they might keep a limited rotation, which boosts Ross’ value even further. Ross has great GPP upside against a Nets team that is looking to push the pace this season.
DraftKings NBA GPP Plays: October 20 – Small Forwards
Elite
Giannis Antetokounmpo ($10,800) vs. CLE
There’s a reason Antetokounmpo is the top priced player at the deepest position. He exploded for 62.75 DraftKings points in the Bucks season opener. He slashed the Cavs for over four games last season with an average of 50.8 DraftKings points. The Greek Freak continues to get better every year, so that price tag shouldn’t scare you off one bit.
LeBron James ($10,500) vs. MIL
An acceptable pivot off Antetokounmpo would certainly be the best player in the NBA right now. James shined in the home opener and is going to see major usage with the new additions, Derrick Rose and Dwyane Wade, playing complimentary roles. James didn’t have the most dominant outings last year against the Bucks if you’re looking for a tie breaker between these two.
Kevin Durant ($9,600) vs. NOP
I never thought I’d say this, but Durant could be a sneaky GPP play tonight. It’s odd that one of the best and most efficient scorers in the NBA could go under the radar, but with such depth at the position, it’s quite possible. Durant doesn’t have the same usage as the other two elite options, but the Warriors work so efficiently that he can put up numbers in such a hurry. If you want to pivot off both Antetokounmpo and James, Durant isn’t a bad pick by any means.
Mid-Tier
Tobias Harris ($5,900) vs. WAS
Harris had himself a game in the Pistons opener, finishing with 27 points, 10 rebounds and three assists. His 47 DraftKings points were an 8x value despite a slower paced contest. Detroit will tend to play at a reduced pace, but Harris has a clearly defined role and can dominant in multiple categories.
Jeremy Lamb ($5,700) vs. ATL
With Nicolas Batum sidelined with an injury and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist potentially missing his second straight game, Lamb will continue get a solid amount of minutes. He attempted the second most shots on the Hornets last game and could post a 5x value performance tonight.
Robert Covington ($5,700) vs. BOS
Covington got busy on Wednesday night, draining seven threes en route to 29 points and 46.25 DraftKings points. Now, Covington is unlikely to hit 9x value again, but this Sixers teams looks to have significant fantasy value with Ben Simmons running the point. Covington is one of the leagues most volatile scorers, which makes him a great GPP play.
Value
Evan Fournier ($5,400) vs. BKN
I really like the game script in this matchup tonight and there’s a lot of value to be had on both sides. For the Magic, Fournier led his team in shot attempts and tied for most minutes played last game. He continues to be a primary source of offense for the Magic and the potential of Aaron Gordon missing the game makes his stock rise. Fournier is a great value at $5,400.
Brandon Ingram ($5,100) vs. PHO
I will continue to list Ingram as a value play until his price jumps too hight, or the Lakers give up on him. The Lakers front office wants him to be “the guy,” he wants to be “the guy,” now its just time for him to play like “the guy.” We’re going to get incredible from him eventually when he has a breakout game. I really don’t want to miss out on that opportunity. Its coming!
T.J. Warren ($5,000) vs. LAL
Warren is in a nice spot against the Lakers tonight with a 111.8 implied team total and fastest projected pace of play on the slate. It’s hard to take much from the whooping that the Suns took from the Trail Blazers, but we have seen Warren contribute as a scorer and rebounder last season. I think there are enough points to go around in this one and Warren should have a good chance at hitting tournament value.
Allen Crabbe ($4,800) vs. ORL
It’s unclear how the Nets will respond to the loss of Jeremy Lin, but Crabbe should certainly see an increase in minutes and opportunities. The Nets will push the ball this season and D’Angelo Russell is going to need help offensively. Crabbe hit 6x value and only saw his price go up $200. He’s a great money saver on the slate.
DraftKings NBA GPP Plays: October 20 – Power Forwards
Elite
Anthony Davis ($10,600) vs. GS
The Brow is clearly the most elite option at power forward tonight. The Pelicans don’t have much depth among big men, so a second consecutive 40 minute outing isn’t out of the question. Every time I list Davis it is a must to note the injury risk you are taking, but when a guy has a 75 DraftKings point ceiling, I’d throw the injury risk out the window.
Draymond Green ($7,300) vs. NOP
Green is the heart of this Warriors team that fell apart when he exited the game with a knee strain against the Rockets. He contributes in so many ways and his work rate directly relates to his fantasy value. Green is listed with a questionable tag, but has been upgraded to probable. There’s a good chance that Green goes overlooked tonight, which makes the play even sharper. In four games against the Pelicans last season, Green averaged 42.7 DraftKings points.
Mid-Tier
Julius Randle ($5,800) vs. PHO
The entire Lakers team was manhandled by the Clippers last night. Randle should bounce back tonight against the Suns in an uptempo matchup that favors his athletic skill set. If this game turns into a track meet as expected, Randle could see a lot of easy opportunities on the break. I think Randle should get back on track in a better matchup tonight.
Thaddeus Young ($5,800) vs POR
The Pacers have a different look this year without Paul George, giving Young more room on the offensive end. There’s a good amount of spacing on the court for him to be aggressive, which showed in his first game. Young posted a double-double good for 44.25 DraftKings points. He’s not a lock for 40-plus DraftKings points every night, but we know his shooting and rebounding ability gives him a nice ceiling.
Value
Trevor Booker ($4,700) vs. ORL
Booker is going to be another guy who will be relied on for offense with Lin sidelined. He put up 33 DraftKings points against the Pacers on Wednesday night and could continue to find a nice role on this Nets team. I wouldn’t be surprised by another 7x value outing tonight.
Larry Nance Jr. ($4,300) vs. PHO
One of the few bright spots from the Lakers last night was Nance. His 31 DraftKings points in 30 minutes were second most on the team and his rebounding and impressive athleticism give him a solid floor. Nance should be in line for another good opportunity to outperform his price tag.
Domantas Sabonis ($3,500) vs. POR
If you’re looking to dig deep, Sabonis could be a nice value play. Myles Turner is questionable tonight and if he ends up not playing, Sabonis is a viable tournament play. In only 19 minutes, he went seven-for-seven from the floor and put up 25.75 DraftKings points. Should Sabonis see increased minutes, he’s a great way to free up some salary.
DraftKings NBA GPP Plays: October 20 – Centers
Elite
DeMarcus Cousins ($10,400) vs. GS
Everything I mentioned about Anthony Davis applies to Cousins, except the injury risk. Instead, swap it with the risk of foul trouble/ejection. Quite frankly, that might be an even trade. Either way, he carries such an elite ceiling and is a major part of the Pelicans offense, so rostering Cousins is never a bad play.
Joel Embiid ($8,000) vs. BOS
Well, so much for a minutes restriction. Embiid saw 27 minutes of action and put up 40.25 DraftKings points. At only $8,000, I think Embiid is heavily underpriced now that we know what his minutes floor is. This Sixers team is more dimensional than before, which gives Embiid more room to operate. In one game against the Celtics last year, he put up 40 DraftKings points.
Myles Turner ($7,900) vs. POR
Keep an eye on Turner’s status tonight, but if he’s good to go, I like him as a pivot option. He had a monster game on Wednesday night and I don’t see it as much of a fluke. He’s the focal point of this offense that has enough complimentary offensive options to free up space. Turner should be priced in the $8,000 range, so you’re getting a nice value here. UPDATE – TURNER IS OUT
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Mid-Tier
Nikola Vucevic ($7,600) vs. BKN
In three games last season, Vucevic waxed the Nets for an average of 47.1 DraftKings points. The Nets might be an even worse defensive unit this season and want to speed up the game as well. Fire up Vucevic! He’s extremely efficient around the rim and I don’t see any player being able to slow him down on the opposing side.
Jusuf Nurkic ($7,000) vs. IND
Nurkic is in a killer spot tonight after seeing his price drop $500. He underperformed in terms of value last game, but his 27.25 DraftKings points in 23 minutes were great production. The Trail Blazers won’t be up 50 in this game, so Nurkic should see a full workload.
Brook Lopez ($6,500) vs. PHO
Lopez led the Lakers with 34.5 DraftKings points last night. He should see another solid dose of looks tonight against the Suns. If Tyson Chandler matches up with Lopez, I think his value increases even more. Lopez’s ability to stretch the floor and burry the three will be too much for Chandler who is a dominant defender in the paint.
Value
Marcin Gortat ($5,600) vs. DET
I’m rolling with Gortat again tonight who played 34 minutes and posted 45.75 DraftKings points against the Sixers last game. He’s a dominant rebounder and Wall’s playmaking ability in the pick-and-roll consistently gives Gortat easy scoring opportunities. He should see similar minutes in this limited rotation.
Best of luck in your DraftKings NBA GPP contests and stay tuned to Fantasy CPR for all your NBA DFS news and analysis!