DraftKings NBA Picks October 31: Treats To Avoid Tricks

DraftKings NBA Picks October 31

The treats wont be plentiful as there are only four games on Halloween night in the main DraftKings tournaments. Let’s try to avoid those tricks that will derail your lineup. There wont be a lot of separation at the top on a night like this. The value will be found deeper down!

Point Guards

Best Bets:

Russell Westbrook ($11,200): I will preface this by saying that I doubt Westbrook makes value against the Bucks. However, he is one of a very small number of players that could drop 50 DraftKings points tonight. That automatically makes him worth considering. Westbrook likely hits that 50 mark, but I don’t think he gets up to 5x value (56). You have to decide whether he’s worth it or not.

D’Angelo Russell ($7,300): Many a point guard has had a huge night against the Suns this year. Only the Timberwolves have allowed more fantasy points to the position. Russell is likely in line for somewhere near 6x value. Just make sure that Russell is at 100%. He hasn’t played his full compliment of minutes in the last two games.

Honorable Mention:

Reggie Jackson ($6,200): Most will use his opponent, Lonzo Ball, but I would rather use Jackson. First off, the Lakers aren’t a very good defensive unit. On top of that, Ball has not reached 5x value at his current price over his last three games. Jackson has in all but one of his over the course of the season. Let people play Ball. I want Mr. October instead.

Malcolm Brogdon ($5,600): Brogdon always produces about the same stats no matter who the opponent. That gives him a lower ceiling, but it can also be valuable on a night like this where consistent points are at a premium. Darren Collison has slowed down lately, so I think you are going to get about the same from Brogdon for $400 less if you need the cash. Collison has more upside though.

Dark Horses:

Mike James ($4,900): James is far from a consistent producer, but the Suns are going to roll with him until they deal Eric Bledsoe. If they get a guard back in that deal, the run for James could be over. However, he has still hovered around 5x value against solid defensive teams in Portland and Utah. He shouldn’t have a problem with the Nets.

Tyler Ulis ($4,000): Ulis has outplayed James of late, though he has yet to take his spot. The Suns like Ulis running with the second unit. Despite his assignment, Ulis may be a better bet for DFS play because his price is lower and his ceiling is higher being the man on the second unit.

My picks: Westbrook(PG), Ulis(G); Russell(PG), Ulis(G)

Shooting Guards

Best Bets:

Devin Booker ($7,900): Booker gets most of his points from his shooting skills, but he has become a better rebounder and passer than he was last year. Booker’s ceiling and floor keep growing, which makes it easier to shell out this price. Booker is a threat to go off against anyone, regardless of how well they have played the perimeter. On a night like tonight with so few teams going, Booker may be a must-play alongside one of the big stars.

Victor Oladipo ($7,700): Oladipo continues to put up big numbers with the Pacers. The Kings have struggled to defend the perimeter this year, which means Oladipo could be in for a big game. So long as Collison doesn’t run it up on his former team.

Honorable Mention:

Khris Middleton ($6,900): Middleton is not the most consistent player, but part of that comes from being on the Bucks. That said, Middleton gets more run and more shots than most of his teammates. He lit up the Hawks his last time out. It could be a little tougher against the Thunder, but they got torched by the Wolves in their last outing. Middleton could exceed his value once again.

Avery Bradley ($5,700): Bradley fits in nicely with this team, it just took him a bit to get going. He is clearly an upgrade over KCP and a more accomplished scorer. Bradley is a constant threat to hit 5x value or more. As I mentioned before, the Lakers have yet to get the hang of that defense thing. Bradley should see plenty of open shots.

Dark Horses:

Buddy Hield ($4,400): Hield is always a risk because of his inconsistent shooting at the pro level. It’s strange because he was such a great shooter in college. He doesn’t get nearly as many open shots in this league, and he has trouble creating space for himself. The Pacers haven’t done very well on the perimeter, so maybe Hield can get going in this one. For this price, he could provide ample upside at low ownership.

Bogdan Bogdanovic ($4,300): Bogdan, not to be confused with Bojan of the Pacers, has the upper hand in the Bogdanovic battle tonight. The Kings have a lot of wing players, and the minutes have been inconsistent for many, but Bogdanovic should be immune to that. The Kings like his shot and international experience, so expect him to continue trending upward.

My pick: Bogdanovic(SG), Oladipo(SG)

Small Forwards:

Best Bets:

Giannis Antetokounmpo ($12,500): Giannis is averaging 61.7 DraftKings points per game. In fact, his 55.75 DraftKings point output against Atlanta on Sunday was his lowest of the season! Giannis could have trouble getting value at this price, but he is most likely to hit the high 50’s. Even Westbrook can’t be counted on to do that every game anymore. Antetokounmpo is still worth the money. Find a way to get him in there.

Paul George ($7,500): George has been a nice compliment to Westbrook, but being in that situation also limits his upside. However, it also raises his floor with the talent around him. George does a lot more than score, which sometimes was forgotten in Indiana. His game in which he got into foul trouble was the only time he has been under 34 DraftKings points this year. George is a safe play again tonight.

Honorable Mention:

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson ($5,500): While most of the Lakers team has had trouble on defense, they have dominated small forwards. Therefore I am fading the slumping Tobias Harris in favor of RHJ against the Suns. Hollis-Jefferson has the athleticism to play with the Suns, and has become more of a scorer this year. I like him at this price tonight.

Brandon Ingram ($5,400): Much like in his rookie season, Ingram has had problems producing with any consistency. He had a good game against a really good Jazz team in Utah on Saturday. Can that carry over to Detroit? If it does, Ingram could be a very nice bargain.

Dark Horses:

Caris LeVert ($5,100): LeVert is likely running the point again with Jeremy Lin done for the year. Point guards have done very well against the Suns, so you could get a lot of production out of Levert for a low price at a position that is somewhat thin in the middle.

Josh Jackson ($3,800): Jackson’s inconsistency is much easier to take at this price range. Jackson has topped 20 DraftKings points in three of the last four games. That makes him a solid value play if you need to save to put Giannis and Westbrook together.

My pick: Antetokounmpo(SF), Jackson(F); George(SF), Hollis-Jefferson(F)

Power Forwards

Best Bet:

Carmelo Anthony ($7,100): Anthony has been a solid contributor for the new-look Thunder. He has scored at least 20 points in every game this season, though his assist and rebounds are a bit down from his Knicks numbers. That said, he is a solid contributor at this price, though like the other parts of the big three for the Thunder, his upside is capped.

Honorable Mention:

Willie Cauley-Stein ($5,400): Cauley-Stein has cooled significantly since his hot start, but if the Pacers are as thin up front as it looks like they will be, everyone in the Kings frontcourt is in play. WCS is in no danger of losing his job, but it sure looks like he needs to pick it up to hold off those behind him.

Thaddeus Young ($5,200): With Sabonis battling a respiratory infection, it sounds like he will be limited if he is able to play at all. I was battling the same thing last week, and I could barely walk around the block without wheezing, let alone run a basketball court. Now I realize that Sabonis is younger and in better shape than me, but it has to take a toll on him. At any rate, Thad is going to play until he collapses. He wont be able to help obliterating 5x value.

Dark Horses:

Skal Labissiere ($4,600): Labissiere could be in for a nice game tonight if he doesn’t have to tangle with Sabonis all night. Skal doesn’t always hit value, but he does have nice upside at this price point, which makes him slightly safer than Cauley-Stein.

Dragan Bender ($3,400): Bender is playing as many minutes or more than Marquese Chriss, and is outplaying him on almost every level. The Suns have a lot of bodies up front, so counting on any of them is risky, but things are trending in Bender’s favor right now. He is an intriguing dart throw at this price.

My pick: Young(PF), Cauley-Stein(UTIL); Young(PF), Labissiere(UTIL)

Center:

Best Bet:

Andre Drummond ($8,200): The Lakers are solid with Lopez up front, but Drummond has at least 40 DraftKings points in five straight games. It isn’t all rebounding, though he is still one of the league’s best in that category. Drummond has 14 steals and six blocks in those five games. He is stuffing stat sheets right now, making Drummond a very nice play.

Honorable Mention:

Steven Adams ($5,800): Adams has been strong up front for the Thunder, though his lack of a big offensive role will keep his upside limited. He has a pretty good matchup against the Bucks tonight. Many will roll the dice with Sabonis or pay up for Drummond, so Adams may have pretty low ownership.

Domantas Sabonis ($5,700): If Sabonis starts, I would consider using him. He had a monster game on Sunday while presumably coming down with this infection, so he could still hit value even if his minutes are limited. If he sits, TJ Leaf and Al Jefferson automatically become great targets for bargain hunters.

Dark Horses:

Tyson Chandler ($4,100): The minutes between Chandler and Len are divided right down the middle right now. We have seen this show before. Len has a few solid games, everyone jumps on him, then he fails and cedes the job to Chandler. The Suns are counteracting that by playing both in what effectively is a co-starters role. Therefore, Chandler’s cheaper price gives him slightly better prospects. Len still has much better upside though.

Al Jefferson ($3,600): Jefferson has been solid off the bench with Myles Turner out. If Sabonis is made to sit out, Jefferson could conceivably start for this low price. Even if he doesn’t start, Jefferson should be in the high 20’s for minutes at least. I like his prospects a lot tonight.

My pick: Jefferson(C); Drummond(C)

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!