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Zach's top DraftKings NBA DFS picks for today, Wednesday, 11/6/24. His favorite daily fantasy basketball lineup sleepers and value picks for DraftKings DFS.
After an NBA-wide day off Tuesday for the election, fantasy basketball is back in a big way on Wednesday. Twelve games fill the NBA schedule, and the first 10 of those are on the main DraftKings slate, with the two late games as part of separate contests. The first two games begin when contests lock at 7:00 p.m. EDT with the other eight games tipping off over the next two hours by 9:00 p.m. ET. With 20 teams in the player pool, there are plenty of great options to consider and some situations to be sure to pinpoint for value. Several teams will already have to adjust their workloads due to injury, which creates opportunities for players to step up.
Since Tuesday was a full rest day, none of these teams are finishing a back-to-back. However, the Bulls and Spurs bounce back with another game on Thursday, which may impact their rotations. Let's look at these matchups from a DFS perspective on DraftKings. If you're looking for FanDuel-specific advantage, check out Thunder Dan's FanDuel picks!
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 11/6/24. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our awesome NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 7 p.m. EDT on DraftKings.
DraftKings NBA DFS Core Picks
Nikola Jokic, DEN - C ($11,700)
If you're spending all the way up for a huge name on Wednesday's slate and building in bargain plays around him, Jokic is my top option. He has been remarkably consistent and productive this season, averaging 67.7 DraftKings points in his first seven games with at least 60 DraftKings points in every game and a high point of 81.5 DraftKings points in a monster game against the Nets.
With Aaron Gordon (calf) and Jamal Murray (concussion) out, Jokic will carry even more of the workload as the focus of the Nuggets offense. Denver visits Oklahoma City on Wednesday night, and if they want to keep the game close, The Joker will have to drop a huge number.
He's producing an immense 1.81 DraftKings points per minute this season, so even though his salary is huge, he's worth building around with so many value options available from the 20 teams on this slate.
Cade Cunningham, DET – SF ($8,500)
Cunningham is coming off a triple-double on Monday when he produced 50.75 DraftKings points on 17 points, 11 assists, and 11 rebounds. It was his second game of the season with over 50 DraftKings points and his first triple-double.
Cade Cunningham tonight:
17 PTS
11 REB
11 ASTThe Pistons get a big time upset win.pic.twitter.com/0DIdXmZoKm
— NBA World (@NBAW0RLD24) November 5, 2024
Cunningham has over 40 DraftKings points in all but one of his eight games and is averaging 1.26 DraftKings points per minute and 44.7 DraftKings points per game.
On Wednesday, he gets an extremely favorable matchup against the Hornets, who have allowed the rank last in the NBA in Defensive Rating and have given up big games to opposing point guards all season.
Jalen Suggs, ORL – PG($6,900)
Suggs has stepped up for the Magic while Paolo Banchero (oblique) has been out. He showed how high his ceiling is with the extra work in his massive performance last Friday against the Cavs. He finished with 55.5 DraftKings points on 28 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, one block, and three steals over 37 minutes. He played less of a role when the team was crushed in Dallas on Sunday but bounced back with 37 DraftKings points in this game against the Thunder on Monday:
Jalen Suggs Stats For NBA Game vs THUNDER 04-11-2024 https://t.co/h8lkKhuVIY#JalenSuggs #Jalen #Suggs #nba #nbahighlights #basketball #orlando #magic #magic #orlandomagic pic.twitter.com/MVHLkEogpz
— NBA Players Highlights (@NBAPlayersHigh) November 6, 2024
Suggs has averaged 1.26 DraftKings points per minute this season and has been much more aggressive on the offensive end, with his usage rate increasing from 19.7% last year to 24.6% this year.
Getting him under $7,000 is a great value at point guard, especially in what is expected to be a high-scoring, up-tempo game in Indiana.
Others Under Consideration: Luka Doncic - PG ($11,500), Jayson Tatum - SF/PF ($10,200), LeBron James SF/PF ($9,000), Ja Morant - PG ($9,200)
DraftKings NBA DFS Tournament Pivots
Nikola Vucevic, CHI - C ($8,200)
The Bulls were without Zach LaVine ($7,200; thigh) on Monday, and the star is questionable for Wednesday as well. If LaVine is out, the rest of the Bulls would have to shoulder more of the offense, including Vucevic, who has gotten off to a strong start to the year. On Monday without LaVine, he had 23 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and 55 DraftKings points in 33 minutes. That was his third straight double-double and his sixth straight game with over 40 DraftKings points.
Even though his matchup in Dallas isn't ideal, Vucevic brings a high ceiling with steady results, averaging 1.37 DraftKings points per minute and 45.4 DraftKings points per game so far this year. He doesn't have the ceiling that Jokic brings to the position, but his salary is also $3,500 lower which is substantial savings.
Zion Williamson, NOP – PF/C ($9,100)
As has been the norm throughout his career, Zion has posted great numbers when available but has missed time due to injury. He is averaging 1.36 DraftKings points per minute but has only played five games.
Before being sidelined the last two games with a thigh injury he had this massive performance that earned him 61 DraftKings points:
Zion Williamson DOMINANT and EFFICIENT in the @PelicansNBA 3rd win of the year!
💪 34 PTS (16 in 4Q)
💪 10 AST
💪 14-20 FGM (70.0 FG%)
💪 6 REBIt's his first career game with 30+ PTS and 10+ AST 👏 pic.twitter.com/mhTh3qYcn0
— NBA (@NBA) November 2, 2024
He's questionable for Wednesday, but if he returns, he brings a high enough ceiling to be a great leverage option for tournament play. Even though the Cavs typically play big and are a strong defensive unit, they have allowed the fourth-most DraftKings points per game to opposing power forwards this season, so it's a better matchup than it appears to be at first glance.
Jalen Green, HOU – SG ($7,800)
Green reliably gets plenty of volume in the Rockets' offense and has a 29.1% usage rate this season. All those shots can result in scoring spikes like he had earlier this season in this same matchup with the Spurs.
36 PTS 🚀 7 3PM 🚀 11/22 FG
Jalen Green continues to LIGHT UP the court! He posted a game-high in scoring to lead the @houstonrockets over the Spurs. Green is averaging 28.8 PPG in his first four games. #GLeagueAlum pic.twitter.com/2mY0WqCjDq
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) October 29, 2024
His 36 points in that game were a season-high, and he has cooled off since then, shooting just 3-for-13 from long range in his last two games. His two recent down games should keep his ownership low for this rematch with the Spurs, but he still brings a sky-high ceiling, making him a strong option in tournaments.
Michael Porter Jr., DEN – SF/PF ($6,200)
Without Murray and Gordon, Porter will get all the work he can handle against the Thunder. While he hasn't gone off with huge numbers this season, he has been quietly consistent, posting 33.1 DraftKings points per game at the rate of 0.91 DraftKings points per minute. With Gordon and Murray off the floor last year, his usage increased to 22.9% and his production ticked up to 1.05 DraftKings points per minute. If he gets near that level on Wednesday, he'll be a great midrange play with upside.
Others Under Consideration: Brandon Ingram - SG/SF ($8,600), Jalen Williams -SF/PF ($7,600), Victor Wembanyama - C ($10,400)
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DraftKings NBA DFS Value Picks
Russell Westbrook, DEN – PG ($5,000)
Westbrook is likely to be very chalky with Murray and Gordon out after he had 21 points, six rebounds, six assists, and 40 DraftKings points on Monday in a win over the Raptors.
RUSSELL WESTBROOK TONIGHT:
21 Points
6/10 FG (60%)
6 Rebounds
6 Assists
72.9 TS%
34 Minutes
Nuggets win without Murray & AGRuss haters really quiet 🤫 pic.twitter.com/WHgasIJZdC
— Beastbrook (@Beastbr00k0) November 5, 2024
Asking the 35-year-old veteran to keep up that level of production seems like a huge ask, but he should at least be able to return great value at only $5,000.
On top of that, you know he'll be especially fired up in this contest since he'll be heading back to OKC to face his former team.
Peyton Watson, DEN – PF ($3,400)
While the other Nuggets in this post will get more usage from Gordon's absence, the biggest direct beneficiary is Watson, who played 31 minutes on Monday after playing 20 or fewer in every other game this season.
The 22-year-old UCLA product is still remarkably cheap after producing 16 points and 29.25 DraftKings points against the Raptors. he should continue to get plenty of minutes and good usage for as long as Gordon is sidelined, so take advantage of his reduced rate before it jumps probably before the Nuggets' next game.
Naji Marshall, DAL – SF/PF ($3,400)
Marshall has always been an option I live to mix into my lineups when he is lined up for extra playing time. He brings tons of energy and can go off for big games. He had a chance to step up on Monday after Dereck Lively II ($5,000; shoulder) was ruled out, and he should be set for as much playing time as he can handle on Wednesday with Lively questionable and starting power forward P.J. Washington (knee) already ruled out.
On Monday Marshall finished with 20 points and 38.25 DraftKings points in 34 minutes.
NAJI MARSHALL TONIGHT:
20 POINTS
5 REBOUNDS
6 ASSISTS
1 STEAL
8-9 FG
2-2 3PT
+5Balled out despite the loss 💯 pic.twitter.com/Oi9izs1lvR
— MFFL NATION (@NationMffl) November 5, 2024
His role moving forward isn't clear, but while Washington is out, he has a great opportunity to smash expectations at this salary.
Stephon Castle, SAS – SG/SF ($4,000)
Castle is much more of a "boom-or-bust" pick than Marshall or Watson since his role is less clear. The rookie has shown glimpses of potential but only averaged 0.72 DraftKings points per minute while playing under 20 minutes per game. However, with Jeremy Sochan (thumb) out for a while, Castle could get more work and more opportunities. He's loaded with potential, but it might be smart to wait a day to see how he fits without Sochan in the mix. For tournaments, though, he is an interesting high-upside option even in Wednesday's matchup vs. the Rockets.
Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stacks
Bulls at Mavs (235 total)
Lavine's availability will be a key storyline to track this Wednesday since the rest of the Bulls get so much more usage if he's out. Josh Giddey ($7,100; illness, probable), Coby White ($6,700) and Ayo Dosunmu ($4,400) are all excellent options to add along with Vucevic if Lavine is out.
On the other side of this matchup, the Mavs have the top implied team total on the slate. Marshall is an elite value play and using him opens salary to go with Luka Doncic ($11,500) or Kyrie Irving ($8,200) in this excellent matchup as well. If Lively misses a second straight game, Daniel Gafford ($4,500) would also be worth a look as part of a big Dallas stack.
Warriors at Celtics (230 total)
Many fans expect Jayson Tatum ($10,200) to have some extra juice facing his USA Basketball coach Steve Kerr at the Garden this Wednesday. With Jaylen Brown (hip) missing a third straight game, Tatum should have plenty of usage in this matchup, unlike when he was riding the pine in Paris. Brown's absence also opens up usage and value for Derrick White ($6,900) and Payton Pritchard ($5,200), who have both been excellent in the Celtics' hot start, and Neemias Queta ($3,200) has been impressive as a bargain big man.
On the other side, Stephen Curry ($8,800) is expected to return to full strength after easing back from a three-game absence on Monday. Golden State's rotation has been tricky to navigate, but Buddy Hield ($6,300), Trayce Jackson-Davis ($4,800), and Kyle Anderson ($3,800) should be solid plays in Boston.
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: Nikola Jokic
- My favorite CASH play on the slate: Cade Cunningham
- My favorite GPP play on the slate: Jayson Tatum
- My favorite VALUE play: Peyton Watson
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