FanDuel NBA DFS Picks for Today (Friday 11/8/24): Daily Fantasy Basketball Advice

It's another massive Friday night slate with 13 games on the docket tonight! It can feel like too much to deal with at times, which is why my goal is to help break it down for you and get you started with the absolute BEST spots to target.

In today's edition, I recommend some higher-priced players for cash games and GPPs while highlighting some of my favorite value plays and game stacks. If you want advice on the DraftKings NBA slate, give my friend Zach Thompson's article a read!

This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 11/8/24. 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. EST on FanDuel. 

FanDuel NBA DFS Core Picks

Scotty Pippen Jr., MEM – PG ($6,000)

Ja Morant is out tonight for Memphis and the Grizzlies are also going to be without their other star guard Desmond Bane (as well as Marcus Smart) - both of whom have been out for the last week.

That means Pippen should likely start for Memphis and get the keys to the offense in a plus matchup against the Wizards. Pippen has been fantastic off the bench for Memphis this season, averaging 11.7 points and 6.4 assists in just 25.8 minutes per game.

He should see 30+ tonight and in the only game that Morant missed earlier this year, Pippen Jr. posted 14 points and 10 assists in 31 minutes. Yes, he's going to be chalky tonight, but this is a free square that you should take and then look to get different elsewhere.

Bam Adebayo, MIA – C ($7,800)

Bam is off to a slow start shooting the ball this season. He's averaging only 15 points per game on 40% shooting from the field. But his fantasy production has not fallen off everywhere.

He's still grabbing nine boards per game as well as 3.6 assists, 1.4 steals, and 2.0 blocks. I want to take advantage of his low price tonight in a matchup that is actually really good for centers despite what some may think.

Targeting Nikola Jokic with opposing big men has been a winning trend. The Nuggets are allowing the fourth-most FD points to opposing big men this season. Bam should be able to grab a lot of boards tonight while playing close to the basket on defense. And if his shot starts falling, he could erupt for another huge outing.

Thanks to his defensive stats, Bam has 56, 54, and 52 FD points in his last three games. This game projects to stay close, which means we should see Bam for at least 34-46 minutes tonight.

Franz Wagner, ORL – SF/PF ($7,800)

Wagner had to take on the role of the top scorer and facilitator in Orlando since Paolo Banchero went down with a major injury last week. Jalen Suggs has been helping to take on some of the burden as well, but Wagner has a team-high 32.2% usage rate in the four games since Banchero went down.

Franz Wagner at IND:

28 PTS
8 REB
6 AST pic.twitter.com/24nFnXwN9F

— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) November 7, 2024

Orlando is a bit of a mess right now with Wendell Carter Jr. out of the lineup again, too. I look for Wagner to continue his new alpha role in a winnable game against another very injured team (New Orleans) tonight.

We are getting him under 8k for likely the last time for a while. He feels like an easy 40 FD point floor tonight in this spot and I'll happily take 5x from him at this price at a position that lacks many high upside options.

FanDuel NBA DFS Tournament Pivots

Jordan Poole, WAS – PG/SG ($7,900)

Poole has been one of the best surprises of the year this season as he's off to a great start statistically and is developing into a leader for Washington's young core of talent.

Poole's biggest criticism has come over his inefficiency shooting the ball and high number of turnovers, but he's been running the point this year in Washington quite effectively - averaging 22 points and 5.5 assists while shooting it close to 45% from the floor.

I love this spot for him and the Wizards tonight as they get Memphis without two of their best players in a game where I think they can compete. Washington is without Kyle Kuzma again tonight, opening up a lot of shots and minutes for other players. But Kuzma's absence also puts more on the shoulders of Poole, who has a 32.2 usage rate in the three games that Kuzma has missed already this year.

He's under 8k tonight despite averaging 40 FD points per game and I love the SG eligibility here that allows us to get another high-usage point guard into our lineups.

Domantas Sabonis, SAC – PF/C ($9,800)

This is a FD special since the DK slate doesn't have the 10 PM games and I think the two late games should feature lower ownership based on the lack of crossover between sites (though I don't have any data to back that up!).

Domantas Sabonis becomes the first player since 1977-78 with...

✅ a triple-double
✅ NO turnovers
✅ NO missed shots
✅ NO missed free throws

Flawless night from the Kings center! pic.twitter.com/k08WUHHdSp

— NBA (@NBA) November 7, 2024

Sabo has been rolling this season, scoring the ball more often with 20 points per game, while keeping up his elite rebounding (13.1 boards) and passing (7.25 assists). The Clippers allow the fifth-most FD points to opposing centers this season and Ivica Zubac will certainly have his hands full trying to slow down Sabonis tonight.

Jusuf Nurkic, PHO - C ($5,400)

After a very slow start to the year, the Suns' big man has absolutely erupted over his last two games, posting 40 and 50 FD points in his last two outings.

It's all about minutes for Nurk. When he plays 25 to 30 minutes. he's usually very productive and a rebounding machine as he already has 14 or more boards in four games this season.

I like him a lot in this matchup against Daniel Gafford and Dallas. He has one of the highest ceilings of any sub-6k player on this slate.

Others Under Consideration: Cade Cunningham - PG ($8,900), OG Anunoby - SF/PF ($5,900), Anthony Edwards - SG/SF ($9,000)

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FanDuel NBA DFS Value Picks

Brandon Boston Jr., NO – SG ($4,600)

Boston has seized the starting shooting guard role in New Orleans while CJ McCollum continues to be out. He and Jose Alvarado have filled in admirably while Dejounte Murray and McCollum have been out.

Boston has played 30+ minutes in three straight games, averaging 29.2 FD points over that stretch. He's easily one of the top values today and I never mind punting the shooting guard spot on FD which usually lacks as many high upside options as PG, PF, or C.

Bub Carrington, WAS – PG ($5,500)

The rookie Carrington should start for Washington again tonight and has been getting it done in the box score with 30+ FD points in three straight games.

Wizards Rookies Stats vs Warriors

Alex Sarr:
10 Points
11 Rebounds
3 Blocks
2 Assists
First Double Double

Bub Carrington:
16 Points
8 Rebounds
6 Assists

Kyshawn George:
Career High 20 Points
6 Threes
6 Rebounds
4 Assists

BEST ROOKIE CORE IN THE LEAGUEpic.twitter.com/wZnEJiJ6Q2 https://t.co/WNAotVq6FE

— WizardsMuse (@WizardsMuse1) November 5, 2024

His shot hasn't been falling, but he's been rebounding well and racking up assists, too. The minutes should be there for him to keep it up tonight against Memphis.

Kyshawn George, WAS – SG ($4,800)

Another Washington player - I know, I know...but George is under 5k and just played 37 minutes last time out and set a career-high with 20 points. He has the green light to fire away from behind the arc and his defensive stats (1.0 steals, 1.3 blocks) help give him a solid floor even if his shot isn't falling.

Goga Bitadze, ORL – C ($4,900)

Bitadze drew the start at center on Wednesday, posting 10 points and 12 boards to go along with three blocks. WCJ is out again tonight, so Goga should get another chance to start against the Pelicans.

He's posted 32.8 and 37.4 FD points in his last two games, which at this price is an incredible value.

Peyton Watson, DEN - PF ($4,500)

Aaron Gordon remains out for Denver, so Watson should draw another start at PF tonight. He's played 30+ minutes in two straight games and while his scoring is inconsistent, his defensive stats (1.5 steals, 2.5 blocks) have really helped prop up his FD score.

Others Under Consideration: Yves Missi - C ($4,800), Jaylen Wells - SF ($5,000), Jake LaRavia - SF/PF ($4,900), Zach Edey, MEM - C ($4,600)

Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stacks

Washington at Memphis (231 total, 6.5-point spread)

I already mentioned Scotty Pippen Jr. as well as three Washington guys I like a lot. It's pretty easy to build a cheap game stack with these four players and then slot in your favorite higher-priced players around them. Zach Edey, Jake LaRavia, and Jaylen Wells (all listed in the values section) are all Memphis pieces that could be used here as well.

Atlanta at Detroit (227 total, 2-point spread)

Cade Cunningham has the Detroit Pistons playing some competitive basketball this year. You could start with Cade and Trae Young ($9,900) as your first pieces here and add guys like Jaden Ivey ($6,300) or Zaccharie Risacher ($5,200) as secondary options.

With Jalen Duren likely out tonight for Detroit, too, then Isaiah Stewart ($5,100) becomes an interesting option as he should absorb some more minutes at center.

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: Scotty Pippen Jr.
• My favorite CASH play on the slate: Scotty Pippen Jr.
• My favorite GPP play on the slate: Jusuf Nurkic
• My favorite VALUE play: Brandon Boston

NBA DFS News and Injury Alerts

More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis