FanDuel NBA DFS Lineup Picks (11/17/21): Daily Fantasy Basketball Advice

November 17, 2021

John Brubaker highlights the top FanDuel NBA DFS lineup picks for 11/17/21, and a couple of sleepers to consider while building daily rosters.

Happy Wednesday, RotoBallers! I hope this week of NBA DFS has treated you well. I'm continuing to work on my NBA model, trying to gather more information to make sure all of you are as armed as possible going into each slate. Even with the small adjustments I've made so far, it seems to be working. I'm trying to implement different factors to separate cash options against GPP options. I'll continue to keep you all updated with the adjustments I make, and with all of that said, let's get to tonight!

Tonight we have a big slate, with 11 games on tap. With FanDuel adding multi-position eligibility players, we'll have to attack slates a bit differently to make our lineups as optimal as possible. That's where I come in! I'll look to find my personal top plays and values for tonight's slate. Things can change during the day as well, so I'll do my best to update as news comes out!

Here are my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 11/17/21. You can also check out today's DraftKings NBA DFS lineup picks. Keep an eye on RotoBaller’s injury news to stay up to date before lineups are locked.

FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks

Lonzo Ball, PG - at POR ($6,000)

Lonzo has been on a bit of a tear lately, including a revenge game against the Lakers where he scored 27 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists, resulting in 49.4 FD points. He's been playing well with Nikola Vucevic and Patrick Williams out, averaging 0.96 FD points per minute. I have him projected for 36 minutes tonight, so he should have no problems hitting value against the Blazers, a team who's in the bottom tier in points allowed as well as FD points allowed to point guards.

Ricky Rubio, PG/SG - at BKN ($6,600)

The Cavs have a long list of players out for various reasons, which of course opens up value for the players who are in. Rubio has had five straight 30+ FD point performances and should look to get another here tonight. I have him projected to play 33 minutes, and he's averaging over one point per minute with all of the players out (Allen, Mobley, and co.) off of the floor. He gets a run at Brooklyn that just got smoked by the Warriors last night. Most of Brooklyn's studs didn't play in the fourth quarter last night, but they'll be without a couple of players as well. 

Jalen Brunson, PG/SG - at PHO ($6,500)

Jalen Brunson will likely be a focal point in most players' cash lineups tonight, and for good reason. He's averaging 15.1/4.4/4.7 this season, and with Luka Doncic out, Brunson should be the one running the offense. He's averaging 1.16 FD points per minute with Doncic and Maxi Kleber off the floor, and I have him projection north of 35 minutes against the Suns tonight. The matchup isn't the greatest, but the usage and minutes floor is too high to ignore.

Also consider: Zach LaVine ($7,900), Dennis Schroder ($6,200)

Want more NBA DFS tools and content? Our NBA Premium package includes our daily DFS Cheat Sheets, Research Station, Optimizer, and access to our Premium Slack Chatrooms where members can chat with our NBA analysts. Check out this big win from RotoBaller premium member Bsuperak on FanDuel using our Premium tools - join in on the winning!

FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks

Julius Randle, PF/C - vs ORL ($8,600)

Randle has had a rough stretch of games, logging less than 30 FD points in three straight, despite playing at least 27 minutes in each game. This has lowered his price quite a bit, but I still rate Randle highly with Nerlens Noel out, as he's averaging 1.15 FD points per minute, and I have him projected to play at least 35 minutes tonight. Orlando struggles with the big man positions, ranking in the bottom 10 in nearly every category.

Al Horford, PF/C - at ATL ($6,800)

Horford is having a bit of a renaissance back in Boston, averaging a whopping 36.58 FD points per game on the season. I think Horford is a great play regardless of Robert Williams's status, as he's the highest FD point per minute guy with Jaylen Brown off of the floor, coming in with 1.18 FD points per minute. He does get a huge boost if Williams is out though, as he should get a minute boost, and with both Brown and Williams off of the floor, Horford logs 1.44 fantasy points per minute. He's a great play regardless, but I think he becomes a must-play if Williams sits.

Cedi Osman, SF/PF - at BKN ($4,600)

Osman gets a huge boost of course with Allen, Mobley, and Markkanen out. Kevin Love looks like he's going to play as of now, and we'll talk about him later. Osman averages over 1 FD point per minute with Allen, Mobley, and Markkanen out, and I have to believe he'll play north of 30 minutes tonight. I have him projected at 33 minutes, and I'll likely be eating the chalk here and will have him in a ton of my lineups.

Also consider: Isaac Okoro ($4,600), Christian Wood ($7,300)

FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks

Wendell Carter Jr., C - at NYK ($6,200)

Wendell Carter Jr. has been having quite a solid year despite the Magic having not-so-great of a year. He's averaging 31.72 FD points per game and now gets a strong matchup against the Knicks who are bottom three at defending the center position. It'll be fun to see Carter as well as Bamba, Randle, and Mitchell Robinson battle it out, but I'll be sticking with Randle and Carter as my guys.

Kevin Love, C - at BKN ($5,300)

Kevin Love is a game-time decision tonight, but if he's in he's a solid play. I lean on him being more of a GPP play due to his low minute floor, but he's certainly worth taking a look at. With Allen, Markkanen, and Sexton all off of the floor, Love is averaging a whopping 1.55 FD points per minute. Brooklyn has actually been average defending the center position, but even if Love plays 25 minutes tonight he has an extremely high ceiling, making him a great play. 

Also consider: Mason Plumlee ($4,800), Clint Capela ($7,000)

Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy basketball mobile app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, lineup notifications & DFS articles. All free!

NBA DFS News and Injury Alerts

More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis