DraftKings NBA Picks October 20: Giannis Or LeBron?

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – OCTOBER 8: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder shoots a free throw against Melbourne United during the first half of a NBA preseason game at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on October 8, 2017 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images) /

DraftKings NBA Picks October 20

Friday we are back up to ten games in the main DraftKings tournament. Most teams are playing their second games tonight, and there are bargains all over the place! Let’s take a closer look!

Point Guards

Best Bets:

John Wall ($9,800): Wall finished 9th in DraftKings points in his first game of the season, which is right about where his price point suggests he should be. Wall averaged 51.9 DraftKings points per game in his two tilts against the Pistons last year. That suggests that he should be somewhere around 5x value tonight.

Damian Lillard ($9,300): Lillard outdid Wall on Wednesday night with C.J. McCollum out. With C.J. back, it could be a different story for Lillard. However, Lillard racked up 110.5 DraftKings points in just 71 minutes against Indiana last year. He could be worth using over Wall again tonight.

Honorable Mention:

Eric Bledsoe ($7,400): Lost in the entire Suns team forgettable opener against Portland was the fact that Eric Bledsoe took more shots than he averaged last year when he was healthy. He stands a pretty good chance of getting more of those to fall against the young Lakers tonight. Both teams are going to run a lot and shoot a lot. Vegas thinks so too. There is a lot of DFS value to be had in this game.

D’Angelo Russell ($7,300): Russell cracked the top 20 in DraftKings points in the opener against Indiana. It’s looking like Brooklyn is going to be kind to Russell. Russell picked up 72.5 DraftKings points in 60.5 minutes last year against Orlando. His role is even larger with Brooklyn, so I am expecting another good night from Russell.

Elfrid Payton ($7,300): Payton had a solid game in the opener against Miami. Brooklyn would have been prime time for him to feast last year, but the going could be a little tougher against D’Angelo Russell. Still, he is a likely candidate for 5x value due to his reasonable price.

Dark Horses:

Darren Collison ($5,800): Collison was outstanding in his Indiana debut alongside Oladipo. This team got far too little from its guards last year. This year looks markedly different. Collison led all point guards with 8x value in the opener. Portland will be a tougher task, but 6x value is well within reach.

De’Aaron Fox ($5,100): Fox still put up really good numbers with the second unit for the Kings on Wednesday. It remains to be seen if Fox can duplicate that game in and game out, but the early returns for the fifth overall pick were very good.

Terry Rozier ($4,200): Rozier saw more minutes than Jaylen Brown after the injury to Gordon Hayward. Rozier is a better shooter (most nights) than Brown, so he should continue to see a healthy share of minutes. He also proved to be a capable rebounder and passer, and should again destroy 5x value. I expect him closer to 8x.

My picks: Russell(PG), Rozier(G); Collison(PG), Rozier(G)

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – OCTOBER 18: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers dribbles the ball against the Brooklyn Nets at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on October 18, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Shooting Guards

Best Bets:

C.J. McCollum ($7,200): McCollum worked over the Pacers in the two games he played against them last season. He put up 90.75 DraftKings points in 71 minutes. The going could be a little tougher with Oladipo in town, but McCollum should still be able to hit 5x value or better.

Victor Oladipo ($6,900): Oladipo performed well out of the shadow of Russell Westbrook on Wednesday. He did a little bit of everything while playing just 25 minutes. Given that Oladipo did well against the Blazers last season in the two games that he played against them with Westbrook around, Oladipo could have another big night tonight.

Honorable Mention:

Dennis Smith Jr. ($6,600): The rookie turned in a double-double in his debut on Wednesday. Sacramento has a lot of guards, but none of them defend particularly well. That gives Smith a nice shot at duplicating the feat, or even improving the numbers.

Jaylen Brown ($5,500): Just because Rozier did well with Hayward out doesn’t mean that Brown was poor. Far from it. Brown is Boston’s leading scorer this season. His price increase probably still leaves Rozier as the better value, but I like Brown for this price as well.

Dark Horses:

Buddy Hield ($5,200): The sophomore guard lit up the Rockets in his debut. Hield has a good chance to do the same thing to Dallas. His terrible shooting in the preseason was not present in this one, but Hield has been streaky in his young NBA career. He has yet to shoot like he did in college for an extended period of time, which makes him hard to rely on.

Nick Young ($4,000): Young was a sharpshooter for the Warriors’ second unit in the opener. He poured in 23 points in only 26 minutes. The chances of him doing that every night are not great, but the Warriors will ride him until he cools down.

Marco Belinelli ($3,500): Belinelli no longer finds himself completely buried on a depth chart. He is a much-needed long range threat for the Hawks, so if anything his minutes could actually increase. Belinelli has more upside than young simply because of the players in front of him. Young is definitely blocked by Klay Thompson. Kent Bazemore is not an immovable object in Atlanta.

My pick: Belinelli(SG), Brown(SG)

CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 17: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on while playing the Boston Celtics during the first half at Quicken Loans Arena on October 17, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Small Forwards:

Best Bet:

Giannis Antetokounmpo ($10,800): There is a reason that Giannis is this price. He outscored everyone in DraftKings points in the first night of the NBA season. He averaged 50.8 DraftKings points in four games against the Cavs last year. If the opener is any indication, he may be able to do even better than that this time around.

LeBron James ($10,500): We know that the King shows up big when the stage is bigger. Such was the case on Opening Night. Only Giannis outscored him among all players in DraftKings points, and it was very close. James actually struggled a bit against the Bucks last year, averaging 48.4 DraftKings points per game. Giannis is the safer option, but I certainly couldn’t fault you for using LeBron as a change of pace.

Honorable Mention:

Ben Simmons ($7,500): The rookie dazzled in the opener, picking up 45 DraftKings points. That was 17th among all players, and eight spots ahead of Kevin Durant. If I am going to spend that kind of money, I’m paying up for one of the elite options. If not, I’m comfortable using Simmons again and using the $2,100 I saved over KD elsewhere.

Andrew Wiggins ($6,300): Wiggins picked up 35.25 DraftKings points against the Spurs in the opener, leaving him 70th on the value per dollar list. Utah will be a tough matchup, but the opener showed that even with new faces in town that Wiggins is going to get his points.

Tobias Harris ($5,900): Harris had a strong opening game, picking up right where he left off last season. He put up an astounding 8x value, and is a strong threat to do it again so long as his price is this low.

Robert Covington ($5,700): Remember that superb 8x value from Tobias? Covington even topped that! He recorded 46.25 DraftKings points, good enough for 8.1x value in the opening game. I’m seriously considering using both of them and just watching the points pile up!

Dark Horses:

Caris LeVert ($4,400): LeVert’s versatility afforded him good run in the opener. He easily hit 6x value in that one, and there is no reason for him not to do so here as well.

Kelly Oubre ($4,400): Oubre was sixth among all players in value for his price. He produced 8.3x value with 36.5 DraftKings points. He likely wont be that high since his price rose $600, but he is still a lock for at least 6x value. Oubre is finally getting the run for Washington that he deserves, and he is doing a lot with it.

Pat Connaughton ($3,100): Connaughton racked up 31 DraftKings points, good for 10x value in the opener. Only Dillon Brooks and Marco Belinelli got more value. Belinelli’s is far more sustainable considering that Connaughton only saw significant run because of McCallum’s suspension, but he showed that he should get more run off the bench. Connaughton should play enough to hit around 6x value if you really need to go cheap.

My pick: Antetokounmpo(SF), Harris(F), Oubre(UTIL); Covington(SF)

NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 19: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans makes a slam dunk in the first half during the 2017 NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center on February 19, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Bob Donnan – Pool/Getty Images) /

Power Forwards

Best Bets:

Anthony Davis ($10,600): I thought Davis would struggle against Memphis since he did last year and since he was under the weather. I was wrong. A.D. responded with 57 DraftKings points against the Grizzlies. Davis dominated the Warriors last season, racking up 61.8 DraftKings points per game in three tries. Cousins didn’t detract from his production on Wednesday. He shouldn’t tonight either.

Draymond Green ($7,300): Green racked up 43.25 DraftKings points even though he didn’t play most of the fourth quarter. He he been upgraded to probable for tonight. There is a bit of risk involved here since Draymond isn’t likely 100%, but I can guarantee that I trust him more than Durant at his price.

Honorable Mention:

Willie Cauley-Stein ($6,200): The Kings’ commitment to Cauley-Stein paid off big time in the opener. WCS racked up 42 DraftKings points, which was good for a shade over 7x value. I don’t think he hits that mark tonight against Dallas, but he could come close. The Mavs are still a bit of a mess up front.

Thaddeus Young ($5,800): Thad posted a double-double in the opener. The improved guard play opened up the whole floor for Indiana, and everyone will reap the rewards. Now, Indiana won’t score 140 points every night, so you can expect a dip in production. But even the expected dip puts Thad at 6x value.

Jayson Tatum ($5,800): Tatum has been really good for the Celtics so far. Now he gets a shot at Philadelphia, who is talented but very young. Tatum wont hit the kind of value he did in the first two games due to inflation, but 6x value is still likely.

Dark Horses:

Skal Labissiere ($4,900): Skal is only in play if Zach Randolph sits again. If Randolph is back, his production will be almost nothing, and it could cut into Cauley-Stein’s as well. Labissiere picked up a double-double in Randolph’s absence. If Z-Bo is out again, I’m using Skal.

Trevor Booker ($4,700): Booker showed flashes of good play when he got run last year. He showed it again in the opener, posting 33 DraftKings points. Booker is good for at least 6x value against Minnesota tonight.

Larry Nance Jr. ($4,300): For all the hype surrounding Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and Julius Randle, it was Nance who stuffed the stat sheet last night. He outplayed Luol Deng by a large margin, and picked up 30 minutes to Deng’s 13. Deng is a starter in name only, which means Nance is priced as a backup, but produces like a starter.

My pick: Cauley-Stein(PF), Davis(PF), Booker(F)

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Center:

Best Bets:

DeMarcus Cousins ($10,400): Both Cousins and and Davis dominated the Memphis frontcourt in the opener. Memphis was strong up front all last season. This proves that both Cousins and Davis can co-exist and both get their stats. They are going to dominate the Warriors up front, so both Davis and Cousins are in play in DFS formats.

Joel Embiid ($8,000): Embiid racked up 40.25 DraftKings points in the opener. Due to the struggles of both Towns and Gobert against each other last year, I would much rather drop a little lower for the potential of Embiid. He has a crazy high seiling, and the kid gloves are slowly coming off.

Honorable Mention:

Myles Turner ($7,900): Turner is questionable with a sore neck. It didn’t bother him on Wednesday, but with all of the NBA now paying more attention to player workload in back to back games, Turner could be limited in both or sit in one. Keep an eye on this situation. Turner was a monster in the opener, and has a good chance to do it to Portland too if he plays a full workload.

Nikola Vucevic ($7,600): Vucevic picked up a double-double in the opener, and the Magic are encouraging him to shoot more from the perimeter. Whether this come to fruition or not remains to be seen. However, even if he doesn’t, Vucevic is a strong play against the Nets who were abused by Turner on Wednesday.

Jusuf Nurkic ($7,000): Indiana is more an offensive juggernaut than defensive, so Nurkic will have a chance to build on his inefficient double-double in the opener. I like Vucevic better, but Nurkic has good upside at much lower ownership.

Dark Horses:

Brook Lopez ($6,500): Lopez was very strong in the opener last night. The Lakers finally have a center, and they took full advantage of it. Lopez scored 20 points to go with his six rebounds. Lopez is a strong play against Phoenix since he is athletic enough to keep up with the Suns.

Marcin Gortat ($5,600): Gortat was a monster in the opener, racking up 16 points and 17 rebounds. Don’t expect a repeat against Andre Drummond and the Pistons, but Gortat did average 29.8 DraftKings points in three games against Detroit last season.

Nerlens Noel ($5,500): Noel was superb in just 20 minutes against the Hawks on Wednesday. Dallas should give him more minutes going forward based on that performance. Playing off of that makes Noel look like a strong play at this price point.

My pick: Vucevic(C), Embiid(C), Noel(UTIL)

Next: FanDuel NBA Picks

Stay tuned for our FanDuel picks, and our picks for the PGA tour! We even have some EPL picks coming your way! For you college football fans, we have all of the games picked against the spread along with ESPN college pick em picks!