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Welcome, RotoBallers. We have another large 11-game slate to dissect for tonight's slate, and the ol' DraftKings algorithm has seemed to (finally) right the ship by pricing most players where they need to be. There are a few exceptions, though, and they're detailed in the recommendations in this article. We're still waiting on injury updates for Damian Lillard, Jimmy Butler, Fred VanVleet, DeAndre Ayton, and Jalen Suggs.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 11/15/21. You can also check out today's FanDuel lineup picks. Remember to monitor injury news as the slate can completely change before lineups lock.
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DraftKings Overview - NBA DFS Matchups
This is how the games, teams, and positional matchups shake out for tonight's slate. "K-Rate" is a metric that includes implied totals, projected pace, fantasy points against, and defensive ratings. The higher the number - the more attackable the game/opponent is for DFS purposes.
DraftKings Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Spencer Dinwiddie - PG, WAS vs. NOP ($7,200)
This game as a whole feels like it should be a great environment for DFS production, but it doesn't rate out too well since Vegas is posting a low implied total and the Wizards have been decent at limiting fantasy points to their opposition. The Pelicans, however, have not, and that's part of what makes Dinwiddie a great play once again tonight. The Pels have allowed the seventh-most DK points per game to their opponents, and they're allowing the sixth-most DK points per game to the point guard position. They've been even worse recently, allowing the fourth-most FPPG to PG's over their last seven games. The former Brooklyn Net put up 49.25 DK points over 31 minutes on Saturday (vs. ORL) with Bradley Beal out, and the star guard will miss tonight's contest as well. Dinwiddie holds a 31.1% usage rate and a 1.37 FPTS/min rate with Beal off the floor this season.
Talen Horton-Tucker, SG/SF, LAL vs. CHI ($3,000)
"THT" got his first crack at playing time on Sunday afternoon against the Spurs and he delivered in a big way. He got the starting nod, played 27 minutes, and put up exactly 27 DK points with a tidy 17/4/1/1/1 line. He's likely going to start again and if he does, he's going to be among the top value plays on the slate at the minimum salary. The Lakers aren't lining up to be among the top teams to target tonight, but Horton-Tucker's very difficult to pass on at this salary. Keep an eye on his rostership though, as there are plenty of awesome value plays to pivot to if he starts to become too popular.
Zach LaVine - SG, CHI vs. LAL ($8,100)
Ball, DeRozan, and Caruso can all be confidently mixed-and-matched in this pristine matchup against the sieve-like Lakers backcourt defense. The Lakers will be playing the second half of a back-to-back, and they just permitted Dejounte Murray to go for 22/10/10/3/1 against them on Sunday afternoon. Though they've righted the ship a bit recently, they're allowing the most FPPG to PG's and the eighth-most FPPG to SG's this season. LaVine plays a bit of a hybrid PG/SG role in this offense, especially when Vucevic is sidelined. With the big man off the floor, LaVine is holding an astronomical 37.7% usage rate and a 1.16 FPTS/rate. He needs 40.5 DK points to hit 5x value, and that shouldn't be a problem since he's averaging 40 DK points per game this year. Add in the matchup and usage boost and you have a great core piece for tonight's lineups.
Others to consider: Alex Caruso ($4,200), Lonzo Ball ($6,500), Aaron Holiday ($3,500), Josh Richardson ($3,500), Jalen Suggs ($4,000), Bogdan Bogdanovic ($5,100)
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DraftKings Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Jaren Jackson Jr. - PF/C, MEM vs. HOU ($6,000)
I checked PopcornMachine to figure out what happened to JJJ in his last game as he only scored 15.25 DK points over 22 minutes, but it really was just a case of a bad shooting night and nothing more. He went 1-for-8 from the field in a classic "off night" that every NBA player has. Prior to that game, he had put up between 29.5 and 42 DK points in five consecutive games as his usage, shot attempts, and peripheral stats have all seen a boost. He's still priced very fairly and he's in a top-tier spot to produce big numbers tonight. The game rates out as the #1 matchup on the slate for DFS production, and the Rockets are allowing the second-most FPPG to C's and fifth-most FPPG to PF's on the season. You're going to want some pieces of this game and JJJ is my favorite target on a per-dollar basis.
Kevin Huerter - SG/SF, ATL vs. ORL ($3,800)
Huerter has received 25, 39, 30, and 33 minutes of playing time in his last four games, and that fact alone puts him in the value conversation when he's under $4,000. The sharpshooter needs just 19 DK points to hit 5x value, a number he has hit in two of his last three games. When his shot is falling, he's among a select few on this slate who can legitimately hit 8x value - which he did on 11/9 when he posted 42.25 DK points on 11-for-18 shooting (6-for-9 from 3PT). He's shooting .435 from 3PT range in the last 10 days, and tonight's matchup against Orlando is as good a spot as any to make the "magic" happen again (*ducks*). The Magic rank near the middle-of-the-pack in FPPG allowed to SG's and SF's, and they're right around the same ranking in terms of 3PT% and 3PT's allowed to those positions. However, the matchup as a whole ranks really well as the Hawks have the fourth-best matchup on the board when considering implied totals, pacing, and defensive ratings. De'Andre Hunter is still out, which means Huerter should receive another start and see somewhere around 30 minutes again. There are much worse ways to spend $3,800 tonight.
Kristaps Porzingis - PF, DAL vs. DEN ($7,000)
Everyone can hate on the Unicorn as much as they want - he's posting big numbers and is still priced at a relative discount. His rostership may be even further suppressed tonight due to the tough matchup against Jokic and the Nuggets, but don't let that scare you off. He put up 40.5 DK points on the Bulls and 38.25 DK points on the Celtics, and they both rank in the top-10 in terms of FPPG allowed to C's this season. He's a GPP-only play as his production fluctuates quite a bit on a nightly basis, but he has been taking (and making) a ton of shots recently while also contributing plenty of boards and "stocks" in the process.
Others to consider: Kyle Anderson ($4,400), Naz Reid ($3,100), Larry Nance Jr. ($3,200), Jae Crowder ($4,800)
DraftKings Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Isaiah Stewart - C, DET vs. SAC ($5,000)
Stewart is an intriguing play tonight because he's still priced for his role prior to Kelly Olynyk's injury. Olynyk was injured on 11/10 and since then, Stewart has posted outputs up 14.25 DK points (24 minutes) and 33 DK points (32 minutes). He scored 20 points in the latter effort, which isn't likely to continue, but he's absolutely worth taking shots on in GPP's due to his upside when given enough minutes. Stewart's rates have actually taken a slight dip without Olynyk on the floor, and most people will likely write off his recent performance as a fluke, but those factors actually make tonight a perfect time to pounce on I-Stew. The Kings are allowing the most DK PPG to opposing C's this season, and it's a pace-up spot for the Pistons as the Kings play at the eighth-fastest pace in the league. Reserve Stewart for GPP's only, but there's a clear path for him smashing value tonight.
Nikola Jokic - C, DEN vs. DAL ($11,700)
Jokic has been going nuclear lately and, like Giannis, you should be strongly considering him every time he plays. He needs 58.5 DK points to hit 5x value tonight, and he's averaging 60.9 DK points over his last five games (with two games over 66 DK points). He's averaging an incredible 34.2% usage rate and 2.07 FPTS/min with Michael Porter Jr. off the floor this season. The matchup against the basically center-less Mavericks is as appealing as it gets - they're allowing the third-most FPPG to opposing C's this season. Joker is an elite core piece tonight.
Others to consider: Daniel Gafford ($4,300), Clint Capela ($7,000)
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