NBA DFS Playbook: October 24

EVERYTHING lines up for Curry here. He shot 5-21 on opening night and has a triple-double along with 58 DKP. Second game, Curry scores 45 actual and puts up 65.5 DKP. He’s also been actively hitting the glass, notching 10 rebounds in both games. That won’t continue, but as Golden State plays without a traditional center for most of the game, he can grab more than his career average. This game is the clear cut most enticing on the board in Vegas at a 234.5 O/U. The Kings are allowing 115.5 points per game, so the Warriors offense should have a big day and it starts with Curry.

Game 1 was a disaster, but Game 2 was much more like the Russell Westbrook we’re used to seeing. He fell one assist shy of a triple-double and now has a Grizzlies team coming to town on the second leg of a back-to-back. Well, the Grizzlies didn’t actually have to go anywhere since they played the Clippers in Staples Center last night. Memphis has a 117.4 DRtg through two games and have allowed 117 PPG as well. This is a great spot for RWB to put up his best numbers of the year.

Fox has taken 41 shots through two games, but nothing is falling. The good news is, he’s taking the shots and there is positive regression on the way and I’d venture to say that starts here. He takes his 31% USG rate into a game with the biggest total on the board and in a nice pace up spot as well. Hard not to love Fox at his current price point across the industry in the best match-up on the board.

Generally we think of Boston’s defense as being stout and it’s been anything but that to start the year. They’ve allowed nearly 130 PPG and because of that, this poor Rockets team is only 5.5 point dogs here. Porter Jr. was fantastic in the second game of the year notching a double-double. He has a team leading 28.5% USG rate through two games thus far. Porter may go overlooked at this price tag when you factor in how many elite point-guards we have available to us.

It’s not as if we’re not used to Anthony being this type of volume player. He needs volume to be successful because he’s simply not efficient offensively. I don’t love his DK price point, but under 5K on FD? I can get behind that. Anthony has played 30 minutes in each game this year, which means he’s getting blowout run and he has a very good 25% USG rate. He’s viable in GPPs on this slate.

In the value tier two names stood out to me. Immanuel Quickley and Damion Lee. The reason Lee made the playbook and Quickley didn’t is playing time. Lee has played 29 minutes in each of the first two games this year while Quickley needed a blowout to reach 20. Is a blowout in the cards for the Knicks? Sure, that’s why Quickley is interesting, but Lee’s firmly in the Warriors rotation. This game has shootout written all over it and Lee could greatly benefit from that.

I might as well just put every piece of this game in the playbook because I like all of em. Haliburton looked great in game number two, doing a little of everything which is why we like him so much. He looked for his offense more last time out than he did in the first game which is another positive. I mentioned it already, but this is a pace up spot for the Kings and this is the slates largest total and the only game with a total over 230.

Now that Jaylen Brown has been ruled out, Marcus Smart is a very strong option. When Brown was off the floor last season -- along with Kemba Walker off the court -- Smart’s 22% USG rate was second on the team behind Jayson Tatum. The Rockets have played fairly fast this year and it’s a pace up game for the Celtics.

Wiggins is supposed to be limited, yet played 31 minutes in his second game of the year. He’s been really chipping in on the glass grabbing six and seven boards in each of the first two games. He took 15 shots in Game 2 and as long as Klay Thompson isn’t on the floor, Wiggins could very well be the team’s second scorer. Best game environment on the board, by the way.

I mean, yeah, if he’s going to continue to be free, continue to start and continue to produce, he’s a lock and load. He’s scored at least 20 actual and 31 DKP in each of the first two games this season and is still 4.2K on DK. Despite the fact it’s a back-to-back, we should play Melton with confidence.

The Grizzlies are running out a fairly small starting lineup with Desmond Bane starting at SF and that could put LeBron James in a prime position to get whatever he wants on the floor. We saw Paul George go for 41 against them last night in a similar situation. LBJ is one of my favorite spend ups of this slate. Hopefully Memphis can be competitive enough that James can play another 37 minutes tonight.

I mean, Barnes has been incredible to start the year and now has revenge on his mind going up against his former team in the Warriors. Barnes has at least 49.75 DKP in each of the first two games and has fallen one rebound short of back-to-back double-doubles. Best game environment on the board.

I MEAN…..the price. Have to have it if he’s going to be this productive. Tough match-up against LeBron James though. That’s for sure.

It’ll be interesting to see whether it’s Richardson or Dennis Schroder gets the biggest bump without Jaylen Brown, but Richardson’s price tag is WAY better. Richardson played 20 minutes in his debut and looked extremely sharp, taking seven shots and making four threes.

It’s hard not to love how AD has started the campaign. He’s so good everywhere. He has a 28.5% USG rate through two games, is averaging a double-double and has three steals/blocks per game. This game is one of two on the board with a total of at least 220. I actually really, really like all the Lakers stars on the slate of games.

It’s been a rough start for Tatum but without Jaylen Brown, it’s all Tatum, all the time. They need it to be at least. He had a 36.7% USG and 1.4 FP/min without Jaylen Brown and Kemba Walker on the floor last year. He’s only 8.8K on this slate too, against a Houston team we’re not too confident in defensively. Tatum is one of the safer spends of the slate.

I could totally see a scenario where Embiid is sitting against the Thunder here, which means all Harris all the time. Even with Embiid on the floor, Harris has averaged 40 FP/game through two contests this year. Cash, tournaments, whatever format you’d like.

I mean, Melo is getting a lot of run off the Lakers bench. He’s played 25 & 26 minutes off the bench and has taken 20 shots through two contests. He was very good last time out, scoring 16 actual in just 25 minutes against a good Phoenix defense. The Grizzlies are allowing 117 PPG and have a dreadful 117 DRtg as well. GPP’s only.

It’s not an easy match-up at all against Robert Williams, but the Celtics have allowed nearly 130 points per game to opposing offenses. Wood is coming off a 31 point double-double and through two games has a solid 23.5% USG rate. Wood is likely going to lead this team in scoring and rebounding this year and he’s a great GPP option on this slate.

I mean, yeah, this looks like it may work out from a fantasy standpoint. Bamba has played heavy minutes through two games, averaging right around 31. He’s also averaged 16.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and three blocks. Bamba could lead the league in blocks if he is given the chance to play all year long. 

Holmes is a very consistent fantasy producer when he can stay out of foul trouble. He was able to do just that in the first game..45 DKP. He wasn’t able to in the second game...29 FP and just 18 minutes. Against this smaller Warriors front court he’s almost a shoe in for a double-double here.

He's SO cheap considering how well he's played over the first two games. He's a load to handle down below and Memphis should maximize their offensive possessions in this game w/ the Lakers playing at such a high pace to start this year.

ADDED - Schroder is sliding into the starting lineup for the Celtics on Sunday. He could immediately slot in as the Celtics second scoring option in this game considering the other options on the floor w/ he and Tatum.

ADDED - Note: If Gary Harris is ruled out, I want exposure to Suggs. If Harris plays, I may be reserved in my desire to play him.