RADIO
This feels right. Yesterday was nice, but to be fair, those teams are always nationally televised. This is where we get to the real nitty-gritty DFS nonsense that we all love. A fat 12-game slate to start off the year for everyone and the options for value are endless. The first few games of the year is a bit rough for DFS cause this is where the trends start. DeMar DeRozan is a fantastic play, but assuming the Spurs offense won't limit might get you in some trouble. That being said, DeRozan is still going to be a top play seeing how his play style mimics previous Spurs players.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 10/17/18. These DFS lineup picks can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced players and value picks on DraftKings.
You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for sites like FanDuel, and other sports too. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to find me in the Hoops Chat Room, on Xbox or hating the fact I'm on Twitter @HalfCourtJester.
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DraftKings DFS Guards
Jeremy Lin - PG, @ NYK ($4,000)
It's nice seeing Jeremy Lin without an injury tag next to his name. Granted, we've seen this before and it only lasted one game, but he still was having no trouble getting the rim and finding shooters. This is a revenge game for him and since he has little competition for minutes, there's no reason not to play him. Lin can only help an offense and seeing how the Hawks are mainly offense, his upside is about as high as it can go. If Lin can stay healthy, he is DFS gold.
Caris Levert - PG/SG, at DET ($5,800)
There are plenty of Brooklyn players you can take tonight but Caris LeVert has been ready for this for some time. Last year he secured a spot in the rotation and this year he intends to make is permanent. His price given the start of the year is high, but seeing how important he was and has been in the Nets offense, tracing back to last year, he is ready to hit the ground running. If Demarre Carrol and Allen Crabbe's injuries continue, LeVert will not only live up to the hype, but he will be a top fantasy player in every format.
DraftKings DFS Forwards
Tobias Harris - SF/PF, vs DEN ($7,000)
The Clippers are loaded with young talent and scorers. Luckily for Tobias Harris, he is the clear-cut best scorer on that team. Danilo Gallinari is a close second, but until the Clippers establish a solid rotation of young guys and veterans, Harris is going to find the ball hitting his hands frequently. His only real competition for usage is Lou Williams and even then, Los Angeles will need production from both if they want to compete with some of the West's top teams, including the Nuggets. Denver's defense didn't improve on a personal basis, so expect this game to be straight up shootout.
Zach Randolph - SF/PF, vs UTA ($4,400)
The Kings have a really young team but Zach Randolph will still make his mark every game. Tonight, when the nerves are at an all-time high for some players, they are going to need production coming from somewhere and Randolph is about as consistent as it gets. He will get his shots off, it's just whether he is actually making his shots. The Utah defense excels against some of the top offense, but it doesn't mean they will have someone to specifically stop Randolph. The Jazz should run away with this game, but expect high usage from Randolph when he plays.
DraftKings DFS Centers
Nikola Vucevic - C, vs MIA ($7,100)
There are a few thoughts going into this pick. The first being, DID YOU WATCH NIKOLA VUCEVIC START THE SEASON LAST YEAR? The second is, no matter how good Hassan Whiteside or Bam Adebayo's defense is, Vucevic starts strong and his in-and-out style is almost un-guardable in the post. His price is definitely telling of this matchup and if you prefer value, look at Skal Labissiere. He does have a few Kings ahead of him in the depth chart, but he is by far the most versatile when it comes to scoring and ball movement. Both centers have upside tonight, it's just whether you are eyeing 40 FPTS from Vucevic or 25 FPTS from Labissiere.
