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Dan's favorite FanDuel NBA DFS picks for today, Friday 11/18/24. His top daily fantasy basketball lineup sleepers and value picks for FanDuel DFS contests.
It's an ideal 8-game slate tonight on FanDuel, featuring some great games and enticing fantasy matchups. I like these medium-sized slates (5-8 games) when we get them as we have just enough plays to get different from the field without having to break down twelve or thirteen games and all of those potential options!
I recommend some higher-priced players for cash games and GPPs in today's edition while highlighting some of my favorite value plays and game stacks. Read my buddy Jamie Calendro's article for advice on the DraftKings NBA slate!
This article will provide my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 11/18/24. 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.
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FanDuel NBA DFS Core Picks
De'Aaron Fox, SAC – PG ($9,500)
This is the lock button of the century today, don't even think twice about it!
Fox is on an absolute tear right now, scoring 57, 80, and 68 FD points in his last three games. The Kings have been without DeMar DeRozan for the last three games and Domantas Sabonis for the last two, so it's been Fox doing all the heavy lifting on offense for Sacramento.
In a pace-up spot against Atlanta, the sky is the limit on how many stats he could rack up tonight. At this price, he's a steal based on what he's done lately. The only way you win by fading him is if he gets hurt or something fluky happens.
Karl-Anthony Towns, NYK - C (9,200)
After sitting out one game, it was back to dominance for KAT last night against the Nets as he posted another monster line of 26-15-6 on his way to 58 FD points.
Happy Monday Fam, Here is an Early look at Last 10 Value (based on today's salary) 11/18/24
(𝑀𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 25 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑)
▪ Karl-Anthony Towns
▪ Alperen Sengun
▪ De'Aaron Fox
▪ Malcolm Brogdon
▪ Jalen Johnson
▪ Cade Cunningham
▪ Jakob Poeltl
▪… pic.twitter.com/SUIO4ipzIu— CeeGee (@CeeGeeDFS) November 18, 2024
Tonight he will face the Wizards, who allow the third-most FD points per game to opposing centers. KAT has been rolling all season long as the move to center has been incredible for stats and I expect him to put up a big number against a very poor defensive team in Washington tonight.
Fred VanVleet, HOU – PG ($7,100)
A lot of people were worried about FVV early this year, but he's been heating up and reminding everyone what he's capable of doing on a nightly basis. He went for 52 FD points last night in only 27 minutes against Chicago and gets another tasty matchup tonight against the Bucks, who have been much worse defensively this year than in years past.
The price here is very appealing as VanVleet offers a 50+ FD point ceiling despite being priced down in the mid-range. I love pairing him with Fox in cash games as both should offer a very reliable floor tonight.
FanDuel NBA DFS Tournament Pivots
Cade Cunningham, DET – PG ($9,400)
He's the same price as Fox tonight in the same position, but he will be considerably lower owned despite a great matchup against a Bulls team that has allowed the second-most FD points to opposing point guards this season. Heck, fire him up WITH Fox in the same lineup and use value elsewhere if you need to, but Cunningham is rolling right now and worthy of spending up for with the ceiling he has shown this season.
Bennedict Mathurin, IND – SG/SF ($6,500)
If you toss out last Friday's flop against Miami (12.3 FD points), Mathurin has been offering some excellent value at his price point on FanDuel, topping 35 FD points in five out of his last six games. He's become one of Indiana's most reliable scorers while rebounding very well from the guard position (he has 12 boards in two of his last three starts).
This game should be a good one for fantasy stats and I think Toronto is able to hang around with Indiana and allow players from both teams to push up toward their ceilings in this one.
RJ Barrett, TOR - SF/PF ($7,800)
We stay in the same game but flip over the Toronto side for an underpriced Barrett who is fresh off his first career triple-double that netted him 64 FD points against Boston.
RJ Barrett first career triple-double:
25 PTS
10 REB
15 ASTThe first Raptor ever with a 25/10/15 game. pic.twitter.com/oSoHdhMmhJ
— StatMuse (@statmuse) November 17, 2024
The Raptors continue to be without Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley, leaving Barrett as their main scorer and de facto point guard in the offense. I love this matchup as Indiana has not played much defense this season and has allowed inferior teams to play them close most of the time - if Toronto is even the inferior team! The Raptors are playing well considering how banged up they've been and they've been DFS darlings as a result.
Jakob Poeltl, TOR - C ($7,600)
I love targeting big men against Myles Turner and Poeltl is one of my favorite plays at the center position tonight. He's having a career year right now and playing huge minutes for Toronto. He has two monster double-doubles in a row and has posted 62 and 50 FD points in those two games. I think we see more of the same tonight as Toronto continues to lean on him, Barrett, and Gradey Dick as their main trio on offense.
Others Under Consideration: Myles Turner- C ($6,800), Jalen Johnson - SF/PF ($8,900), Franz Wagner - SF/PF ($8,800)
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FanDuel NBA DFS Value Picks
Nikola Jovic. MIA – PF ($4,900)
Jovic is a sneaky play for me tonight at PF with Trey Lyles probably being much more popular. He hasn't started lately but has played 29 and 31 minutes off the bench with Jimmy Butler being out and Haywood Highsmith not doing much with his minutes.
Malik Beasley, MIL – SG/SF ($5,100)
Beasley has been going off in Tim Hardaway Jr's absence, scoring 20 or more real-life points in three straight games. THJ is probably out again tonight, paving the way for Beasley to make another start against a very bad Bulls team that allows a ton of threes.
Trey Lyles, SAC – PF/C ($4,500)
Lyles has played 41 and 34 minutes the last two games with Sabonis out and is likely heading for big minutes tonight with Sabonis doubtful for this contest with Atlanta. Even as only a moderate per-minute producer, he's a good bet for 20-25 FD points and a solid floor for cash games.
Brandin Podziemski, GSW – SG/SF ($4,800)
Podz is one of my favorite players and is getting a chance at more minutes in the rotation with De'Anthony Melton out right now. He saw 27 minutes against Memphis on Friday and dropped 11-7-5 on his way to 30 FD points. I love his game and even if this rotation is annoying, I think he gets enough run to make value at this cheap price tag.
Others Under Consideration: Ochai Agbaji - SG ($4,900), Jonathan Isaac - SF/PF ($4,400), Kris Dunn - PG/SG ($4,900)
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: De'Aaron Fox
- My favorite CASH play on the slate: De'Aaron Fox
- My favorite GPP play on the slate: Cade Cunningham
- My favorite VALUE play: Trey Lyles
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