It’s easy to fall behind in the daily fantasy game early in the season, especially when playing NBA DFS. It usually takes teams, and that means players, about three or four weeks before the “real” daily fantasy season begins. Try not to get caught up in what has or hasn’t worked this season. If you stick to the systems, you should be golden in the long run.

Here are my picks for DraftKings plays for Thursday, November 5, 2015. These picks are intended for cash game and double-up games. As always, make sure to check the lineups before the game to make sure everyone is healthy and not considered a dreaded “DND.”

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DraftKings Point Guards

Russell Westbrook, OKC (at TOR, $10,400)

Obligatory, “think about adding Westbrook to your lineup” blurb. That being said, his price is rather expensive, he played 35 minutes in Wednesday’s overtime loss to Toronto and the Thunder travel to Chicago. Westbrook has enough endurance to go another nine rounds, but there are better value options available at the point for Thursday night.

Ricky Rubio, MIN (v. MIA, $7,300)

I love Rubio tonight, but I am crossing my fingers that he can continue to play without getting injured. Rubio right now ranks seventh overall in efficiency while averaging just under 32 minutes per outing. With a couple days rest, Rubio owns a career O-Rating of 108 and averages over 31 minutes. Rubio is my top point guard value play of the day.

DraftKings Shooting Guards

Jimmy Butler, CHI (v. OKC, $7,700)

Injuries and personal problems have placed the statuses of Dwyane Wade and Kevin Martin to questionable. Butler automatically becomes the best available top tier option for Thursday night. Vegas has this game as the highest scoring affair of the night. Considering Butler is playing nearly 36 minutes per game while seeing a usage rate of just under 22%, rostering him at the two guard is a no-brainer.

Jeremy Lamb, CHA (at DAL, $4,000)

In only 58 minutes this season, Lamb has scored 40 points, grabbed 10 boards and has hit 6-of-12 from behind the arc. His numbers are not overwhelming, but his 31.7 Player Efficiency Rating (PER) screams more minutes are coming. Look for those more minutes Thursday night in Dallas in what should be the second-highest scoring game of the evening.

DraftKings Small Forwards

Kevin Durant, OKC (at CHI, $9,200)

If you look at the rest of the eligible players at SF for Thursday’s slate, you’ll understand why I am not writing a whole lot into Durant’s selection.

Maurice Harkless, POR (v. MEM, $3,100)

I am a little intrigued by this Maurice Harkless cat. First, with the exceptions of C.J. McCollum and Damian Lillard, the Blazers will be employing a socialist style of basketball by giving a fair share of minutes to a ton of guys. Harkless has not started one game this season, but he has played 117 minutes in five games. Despite Memphis looking awful in the early part of the season, Z-Bo and the Grizzlies are still a tough matchup for any team not named the Warriors. Conclusion: Harkless is a tournament play at best.

DraftKings Power Forwards

Nikola Mirotic, CHI (v. OKC, $6,700)

The second year player out of Montenegro is actually performing at a lower level than last season. His O-Rating is down 11 points from 111 last season and his PER has dipped 0.8 points to 17.1 in the 2015 season. What does this all mean? It means that playing time means everything in fantasy sports. He is seeing nearly 10 more minutes per game on the floor and has translated that into some nice numbers. With a day of rest, expect Mirotic to hit over 32 minutes of playing time Thursday night.

Zach Randolph, MEM (at POR, $6,500)

Z-Bo is primed to dominate in Portland. Marc Gasol is questionable for Thursday’s game and if he does not suit up, that means Randolph becomes the focal point of the interior offense. Portland possesses zero big men that are capable of slowing down physically imposing power forwards. I like Z-Bo as the top value option of the night.

DraftKings Centers

Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN (v. MIA, $6,700)

Towns got himself into some foul trouble early in Minnesota’s last game against Portland. That is literally the only reason he recorded a sub-par 11 point, five rebound performance. I’m still buying in to the rookie. It should be fun to watch the matchup between Towns and Whiteside on Thursday night.

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