Fansided

NBA Preseason DFS: Tuesday, 10/8 – Rubio’s revenge and the Unicorn returns!

By Dan Palyo

SALT LAKE CITY, UT -APRIL 01: Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz brings the ball up court against the Charlotte Hornets in the second half of a NBA game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 01, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT -APRIL 01: Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz brings the ball up court against the Charlotte Hornets in the second half of a NBA game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 01, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – MAY 7: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on during a game against the Denver Nuggets during Game Five of the Western Conference Semi-Finals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on May 7, 2019 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – MAY 7: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on during a game against the Denver Nuggets during Game Five of the Western Conference Semi-Finals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on May 7, 2019 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) /

NBA Preseason DFS: Nuggets @ Blazers

Denver: Nikola Jokic and Bol Bol are OUT.

Portland: Jusuf Nurkic is OUT. Pau Gasol, Hassan Whiteside, and Zach Collins are QUESTIONABLE

The Nuggets are the team that you have to get right tonight, I think, in order to cash on this slate. They are going to be very tempting as all of their starters become more appealing with Nikola Jokic sitting out tonight. The problem is their coach is notorious for playing a lot of players and it’s hard to trust that he will give any of them enough run in this first game.

I’m going to try to focus on Jamal Murray mainly and mix in some Will Barton and Mason Plumlee, who should draw the start at center for Jokic and is super cheap. Plumlee is a great per-minute guy and he should be able to exceed value easily if he steps into 18-20 minutes with the first unit.

There are too many other guards on Denver who are going to split minutes for me to try to guess which of Gary Harris, Monte Morris, Malik Beasley, and Torrey Craig make value. I am interested in Jerami Grant a little as he is a great shot blocker and is likely going to play more minutes than veteran Paul Millsap.

Portland could be a tricky team to figure out tonight, too, so hopefully, we get some clarity on who’s playing before the slate locks. If Whiteside plays, I really like him for his price. If Whiteside is out and Collins plays, then I really like him, too. Damian Lillard is an obvious play as long as he goes but he has been nursing a sore hamstring lately. CJ McCollum may end up being the safest play on the team and becomes an elite play if Dame were to be limited or miss tonight’s game.

Elite Plays: Mason Plumlee, Hassan Whiteside (if he plays)

Also Consider: Jamal Murray, Will Barton, Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, Zach Collins