RADIO
Happy Friday to you all, my fellow hoop addict friends. The second Friday of the regular season brings us a relatively light slate compared to most Fridays, but seven games is still a pretty healthy number. The range of anywhere between five and eight games is pretty optimal, in my opinion, as you have a chance to deep dive into each matchup entirely (as opposed to 10+ game slates, where it's extremely time consuming), while worrying less about ownership percentages of your target studs (as compared to 2-4 game slates, where ownership percentage leverage is critical to your success in tournaments).
I like to kick things off with Vegas lines that are of interest and a few to be aware of. There are a handful of games with no totals or spreads as of this writing, so I'll try to come back once they're posted. As of right now, the Nets - Knicks game, with point total projections of 108 and 110, respectively, looks like a great place to find value as that's a pretty high total and the cost of rostering their core players is pretty low. The Wizards at Warriors matchup looks intriguing as well - a 230 over/under and a lot of star power - just beware of the potential for blowout, as that spread is currently at 10.5. And the Rockets at Hornets (211 over/under, 4.5 point spread) looks very game stack-able.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel and DraftKings on 10/27/17. The DFS lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays on FanDuel and DraftKings. If you have any questions or comments, let me know @kpLUCH on Twitter.
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DFS Guards to Consider
Kemba Walker - PG, HOU @ CHA (DK - $7,800, FD - $8,000)
This matchup has all the makings of one to target for cash and tournament formats. It starts with Kemba, who is pretty moderately priced and in a great position to exceed his price implied value. Kemba has had a few rough shooting nights, but the defense (or lack thereof) of the Rockets and the faster pace and extra possessions should benefit the crafty veteran guard and get him back on the right track. Not only does this game have one of the better point total projections of the night, it also has one of the tighest spreads, which makes it a good idea to target starters and spend up where appropriate. Kemba is projected for 35ish minutes, which gives him an incredibly high floor and his Usage rate in the high 20's gives him the ceiling we chase in tournaments.
Dejounte Murray - PG, SAS @ ORL (DK - $5,300, FD - $5,500)
I'm cringing seeing his name right now because the memory of his six point dud still stings, but I'm excited for his potential tonight. That recent dud I speak of could help to depress his ownership quite a bit, as could the matchup as Spurs and their competition aren't often targeted (for good reason, mainly). Murray is appealing, though, because of his ability to fill it up in a number of categories and while the Spurs normally operate with a pretty slow, plodding offense, they are in a big time pace-up game for them. I think the up-and-down nature and speed suits Murray's style and athleticism. Consider this - you'd be getting a player who's fantasy points are fairly non-scoring dependent and he's likely to play 25-28 minutes with a Usage rate around 25. Twenty-five-plus minutes and a Usage rate in the mid-twenties is attractive already, not to mention the cash savings and likely depressed ownership.
Also Consider: Jamal Murray - PG, DEN @ ATL (DK - $4,500, FD - $4,900) - Cash/GPP punt
James Harden - SG, HOU @ CHA (DK - $11,000, FD - $11,500)
On the other side of the Kemba coin is my favorite cash target among the shooting guard options Friday night. The price certainly isn't cheap, but he does seem a tad under-priced considering his consistent production, the positive game context I previously mentioned, and Walker's lackluster defense. The Rockets are operating with a tight rotation right now due to a number of minutes, so we know Harden's minutes in the upper 30's are solidified, and his Usage rate is consistently over 30. I don't think he has any trouble reaching value here, and if this game stays tight (like it should) I think his ceiling is 65+ points.
Also Consider: Jeremy Lamb - SG, HOU @ CHA (DK - $5,700, FD - $6,400) - Cash
DFS Forwards to Consider
Let me start this section by saying the options at forward are quite ugly. There are plenty of name brand players and minutes aren't in shortage, it's that the game context for many is okay at best and the defensive assignments many of them will draw are difficult. I tend to see this slate as a stars-and-scrubs type slate, but if anything, it is most especially true at the small forward and power forward positions.
Kevin Durant - SF, WAS vs GSW (DK - $9,400, FD $10,100)
I hate starting an article off where three of the four have been All-Stars, but this slate calls for grabbing value from the faster paced games and paying up for the studs in cash. Their floors are safer and seeing as any are still capable of 60+ even in more difficult defensive situations, you need to have your exposure because the drop off at every position outside of point guard is quite steep. Durant actually has one of the best matchups of the elite talent tonight and he'll be featured in the game with the highest projected total. Save for a blowout, his minutes are safe in the upper-to-mid thirties and with a Usage rate at 26 and his efficiency, the sky is the limit tonight. He's a lock for me in tournaments.
Also Consider: Paul George - SF, OKC @ MIN (DK - $7,700, FD - $8,300) - *GPP only if Jimmy Butler is playing*
Kyle Kuzma - PF, TOR vs LAL (DK - $4,700, FD - $4,900)
In a game where I think most of the Lakers starting unit could struggle to score against Toronto's defensive prowess, Kuzma could be a strong value play on the second unit. He's a steal at this price point when you consider his Usage rate is just shy of 20, he's active on the glass, and he often plays in the mid to high twenties in minutes, playing with more than one Lakers' rotation.
Also Consider: Carmelo Anthony - PF, OKC @ MIN (DK - $7,200, FD - $8,000)
DFS Centers to Consider
Enes Kanter - PF/C, - BKN vs NYK (DK - $5,900, FD - $6,000)
Kanter has been a rebounding machine in his welcome week with his new teammates in New York. In the pre-season, we saw very few minutes from Kanter, which made it tough to project how he would be used in this offense and in which rotations he'd play in. It's a short sample, but thus far we've seen a Usage rate around 25, with minutes in the low 20's (but trending up) and double digit rebounds in each - including a monstrous 19 boards his last time on the court. This season he's averaging 1.19 fantasy points per minute, which is fantastic for a player in his price range.
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