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Free daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for today's slate on DraftKings and FanDuel. Use Zach Thompson's NBA DFS expert picks to building winning DFS lineups on November 8th, 2025.
Welcome back, RotoBallers! After a full night of Emirates NBA Cup action on Friday, the Association heads into the weekend full steam ahead with eight more games on the hardwood this Saturday night. The first six of those games are on the DraftKings main slate, while two late games are in separate contests. FanDuel opts to put all eight games on its main slate, creating a bigger player pool on that site. We'll focus on picks from the six games on both sites but include a few picks for the FanDuel-only contests as well.
Of the 16 teams in action on Saturday, nine are playing for the second day in a row. With so many back-to-back sets of games, there could be significant shifts to the schedule as the injury reports come out throughout the day. We already know that Austin Reaves, Kawhi Leonard, and Jordan Poole will be out, and the Spurs are expected to have De'Aaron Fox available for the first time this season as they finish their back-to-back.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 11/8/25. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our awesome NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 7:00 p.m. EST on FanDuel and DraftKings. To keep up with all the latest developments and get access to updated projections, grab an NBA season pass and also gain access to our RotoBaller Premium Discord, where our experts are talking about the slate up until lineups lock!
NBA DFS Core Picks
P.J. Washington, DAL - SF/PF ($7.3K DK/$6.9K FD)
The Mavericks will likely remain without Anthony Davis (calf) for a fifth straight game, which would set Washington up in a great matchup against the Wizards. Washington has been an excellent matchup for almost every position, and power forwards like Washington have averaged more fantasy points against Washington than any other team in the NBA. The Wizards have given up the most points per game in the NBA at 130.3 and have the second-worst Defensive Rating.
Washington has helped the Mavs get through Davis's absence by picking up more offense. He only played 25 minutes in Friday's lopsided loss to the Grizzlies, but he should be back to his full workload on Saturday, which gives him a high ceiling. He showed that high ceiling earlier this week with 29 points, 12 rebounds, and over 54 FanDuel and DraftKings points in a huge double-double against the Rockets. He had another double-double on Wednesday and is getting plenty of praise from coach Jason Kidd.
Jason Kidd on P.J. Washington’s play and improvement as a finisher:
“He’s playing unbelievable. He’s been playing at an All-Star level. 38 minutes a night, has been playing the 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. He’s playing them all and guarding everybody…I think he worked extremely hard on his… pic.twitter.com/CkCEQ8IDGP
— Noah Weber (@noahweber00) November 6, 2025
Washington should be in a great spot to carry the offense and offers elite upside at a mid-range salary if Davis is out again for Saturday night's matchup. Building around Washington in his matchup against Washington in Washington, D.C., makes a lot of sense on Saturday's slate
Alexandre Sarr, WAS - C on DK, PF/C on FD ($7K DK/$7.6K FD)
On the other side of that matchup of struggling teams, Sarr has gotten off to a great start for the Wizards and gets a favorable matchup against the Mavs' banged up frontcourt, which will likely be without Davis and Derek Lively II (knee), leaving former-Wizard Daniel Gafford as the main big man in the middle.
Sarr has gotten off to a great start to his second season in the league, averaging 19.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 41.1 FanDuel points, and 40.6 DraftKings points in 28.1 minutes per game. He has produced 1.43 FanDuel points and 1.43 DraftKings points per minute, which is an elite production rate for any nine-game span.
Sarr had a big game Friday night with 20 points, four rebounds, four assists, four blocks, and a steal against the tough frontcourt of the Cavs.
Alex Sarr - 20/4/4/1s/4b vs Cleveland pic.twitter.com/fS5CeyXXfm
— riley ｼ (@rileyricharrds) November 8, 2025
Earlier this week, he went off for 31 points, eight rebounds, and over 50 DraftKings and FanDuel points against the Celtics. Even though the Wizards are losing badly, he gets enough playing time to bring a good ceiling in most matchups, including this contest with the Mavs on Saturday night. Like Washington, he brings an elite ceiling at a mid-range salary to a favorable matchup.
Jeremiah Fears, NO - PG ($5.4K DK/$5.3K FD)
With Jordan Poole (quad) out on Saturday, along with Dejounte Murray (Achilles), Zion Williamson (hamstring), and Yves Missi (illness), the Pelicans will have a short-handed rotation as they head to San Antonio and face a Spurs team finishing their back-to-back.
The Pelicans have actually won their last two games, getting good contributions from young players like Fears, who was the No. 7 overall pick in the NBA Draft earlier this year. The undersized guard only turned 19 years old 25 days ago, but he has brought plenty of excitement with his exceptional handles and highlight-reel circus shots.
Jeremiah Fears... HOW?? 🎪
Watch NOP/DAL on NBA League Pass: https://t.co/JC4RQca95r pic.twitter.com/S2t9x3bXNE
— NBA (@NBA) November 6, 2025
Fears moved into the starting lineup six games ago and has posted double-digit points in each of his last five contests. He matched his season-high with 15 field goal attempts against the Mavs on Wednesday without Poole available, and he should get more scoring chances over the next week with Poole sidelined. Fears has also averaged 3.8 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in his six starts.
On Saturday, Fears is a key value to build around, even though he will have a tough test against the Spurs improving defense. Catching them on the second night of a back-to-back and in De'Aaron Fox's season debut could make the matchup a little easier for the rookie, and I love his upside at this salary on both sites.
NBA DFS GPP Pivots
Luka Doncic, LAL - PG ($11.8K DK/$12.8K FD)
If you have the salary available and are paying up for a top ceiling play, Doncic is definitely a strong play to build around with the highest ceiling projections of the night. Without LeBron James (sciatica) available, Doncic has started the season posting huge usage numbers and averaging 40.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 9.2 assists, 2.0 steals, 70.8 FanDuel points, and 74.6 DraftKings points per game.
He and the Lakers are in Atlanta to face the Hawks on Saturday night, who typically defend opposing point guards well. However, Atlanta is a little banged up in the backcourt and playing for the second night in a row, so this looks like another great spot for Doncic to go off. He had over 80 FanDuel and DraftKings points on Wednesday against the Spurs, posting 35 points, 13 assists, nine rebounds, five steals, and two blocks in 42 minutes.
With Austin Reaves (groin) missing a third straight game, Doncic will again have to carry a huge workload, giving him a very high ceiling.
Josh Giddey, CHI - PG on DK, PG/SG on FD ($9.5K DK/$9.6K FD)
Giddy has also been stuffing the stat sheet for the last six games with at least a double-double in every game and two triple-doubles during that span. In those six games, he is averaging 23.0 points, 10.7 rebounds, 10.7 assists, and 1.0 steals per game while logging over 35 minutes per contest.
Josh Giddey is doing it all on every level this season ‼️
23.1 PPG | 10.0 RPG | 9.1 APG pic.twitter.com/gJXCmvcCuR
— NBA (@NBA) November 7, 2025
Giddey and the Bulls are finishing their back-to-back road games with a stop in Cleveland after losing to the Bucks on Friday. Giddey comes in with enough momentum to be a solid GPP pivot if you have plenty of salary available for a backcourt spot, but not quite enough to get all the way up to Luka.
Jarrett Allen, CLE - C on DK, PF/C on FD ($6.2K DK/$6.4K FD)
On the other side of that matchup, Jarrett Allen has brought strong production in the Cavs' frontcourt, scoring 15 points in four straight games with back-to-back double-doubles. He had 24 points and 10 boards on Wednesday against the Sixers and followed that up with 16 points and 14 rebounds on Friday against the Wizards. He's added strong defensive numbers as well and is a very solid GPP option in the middle with his mid-range salary and very high ceiling.
Ivica Zubac, LAC - C (N/A DK/$7K FD)
Zubac is another key option to consider for GPP builds on FanDuel. He had 23 points and 11 boards on Thursday while carrying more work on offense without Kawhi Leonard (ankle). He'll have James Harden back from a one-game absence for personal reasons, so he'll have a little more help for this rematch with the Suns. He brings a very high ceiling in the favorable matchup with more work likely coming his way once again.
Stephon Castle, SA - SG on DK, PG/SG on FD ($7.6K DK/$7.4K FD)
Castle would probably be in my core plays for today if it weren't for the return of De'Aaron Fox raising his risk factor this Saturday. Castle has been great for the Spurs this season and had an impressive 14 points, 13 assists, six rebounds, and two steals in the Spurs' NBA Cup win over the Rockets on Friday.
Stephon Castle... JUST in time 🔥
His steal & and-1 finish caps a 12-0 run to give San Antonio the lead right before halftime!
🏆 HOU-SAS • West Group C
📺 @emirates NBA Cup on Prime: https://t.co/oVMFjA76NJ pic.twitter.com/PFlGy1gXMQ— NBA (@NBA) November 8, 2025
He's averaging 39.2 DraftKings points and 38.0 FanDuel points per contest, and will be in a great spot against the Pelicans. He still brings a very high ceiling on the second night of the back-to-back, but Fox's return could crowd him out of some work. That factor makes him too risky to be a core play on Saturday's slate, but I still love his upside enough to make him a strong GPP consideration.
NBA DFS Value Picks
Derik Queen, NO - PF/C ($4.5K DK/$4.5K FD)
With Missi and Williamson both out, Queen joins his fellow rookie Jeremiah Fears as one of my favorite value plays on the slate. Queen has averaged 9.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.4 steals in 19.2 minutes per game over his last seven contests and is coming off back-to-back strong showings.
He had 12 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, four steals, and 39 DraftKings points in only 18 minutes against the Hornets on Monday, and he followed that up with 11 points, seven rebounds, two assists, three steals, and 27.2 DraftKings points on Wednesday against Dallas. He also made this play that helped the Pels get their second straight victory.
Derik Queen is something pic.twitter.com/9wmlWomlZQ
— Pelicans Film Room (@PelsFilmRoom) November 6, 2025
Without Missi, he's in a great spot to go off his Saturday.
Bub Carrington - PG ($4.1K DK/$4K FD)
Carrington has handed out at least five assists in six of his last seven games and each of his last four contests. He had a season-high 11 assists to go with six points and four rebounds in 28 minutes on Friday.
It was his first start of the season, and he was a solid fantasy option even though he shot just 2-of-12 from the field. If his shooting comes around and he keeps so much playmaking responsibility, Carrington could be a steal at this salary on Saturday.
He's had a rough start to his sophomore season and has struggled with efficiency, but he brings a very high ceiling at such a bargain salary. If Kyshawn George (illness) misses a second straight game, Carrington, Justin Champagnie, and Tre Johnson would all get a significant fantasy boost.
Zaccharie Risacher - SF on DK, SF/PF on FD ($4.4K DK/$4.4K FD)
Risacher started his second season a little slowly as well, but he has found some good rhythm in his last few games. He had a season-high 21 points on Tuesday against the Magic, and he followed that up with 16 points, five rebounds, and two steals in 30 minutes against the Raptors on Friday.
The Hawks could have a strange rotation depending on who is available for the second night of their back-to-back, but if Risacher is in line for usage, he has shown he can chip in solid enough numbers to be a good value option at forward since he usually plays significant minutes with the Hawks' starters.
Isaiah Jackson - C (N/A DK, $4.3K FD)
Jackson has ramped up to a full workload for the short-handed Pacers and has turned in good numbers over the last week. He has at least eight points and at least seven boards in each of his last four games, averaging 12.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per contest.
He had a ceiling game with 21 points and 10 boards against the Bucks on Monday and should continue to get plenty of playing time and usage for the short-handed Pacers in one of the later games against the Nuggets on FanDuel.
Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stacks
Trail Blazers at Heat (240.5 O/U)
Bulls at Cavaliers (240 O/U)
Raptors at 76ers (237.5 O/U)
My Favorite NBA DFS Picks for Today
Here is where I leave you with some of my favorites.
- My favorite OVERALL play on the slate: Jeremiah Fears
- My favorite CASH play on the slate: Alexandre Sarr
- My favorite GPP play on the slate: P.J. Washington
- My favorite VALUE play: Jeremiah Fears
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