FanDuel NBA DFS Picks for Today (Wednesday 10/30/24): Daily Fantasy Basketball Advice

Welcome back to another Wednesday edition of my favorite FanDuel picks for NBA DFS! On these bigger slates, it makes sense to take a closer look at each DFS site with more specific plays and strategy as the pricing can vary greatly and the lineup structures are so different. If you play more on DraftKings, then you should check out Zach Thompson's DK-specific article, too!

There are a lot of great games tonight, both for fantasy purposes and for sheer entertainment value. I will be watching to see if my Cavs can stay undefeated against LeBron James and the Lakers, while also watching the box scores from games across the association to see how my lineups are doing (and prop bets, too!).

This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 10/30/24. 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

James Harden, LAC – PG ($9,200)

I have already seen LaMelo Ball touted in several places, but I think James Harden has just as much upside against Portland and perhaps an even higher floor. Portland is allowing the fourth-most FD points to opposing point guards and Harden is averaging 25-8-11.6 without even having a good shooting night!

Harden is $300 less than Ball on FD and has arguably the better matchup. I'll start cash game lineups with him tonight, I think he's a good bet for 50+.

Dennis Schroder, BKN – PG  ($6,300)

As much as I would love to pay up for two elite point guards today, I can't ignore the value that Schroder brings to the table. His price didn't budge at all today despite dropping 46 FD points last night in an overtime loss to the Nuggets. He went for 28 points and 14 assists against Denver and has been given free reign this year in Brooklyn to take as many shots as he wants.

I'm not worried about the back-to-back here, Schroder has been hitting value in 32 to 34 minutes nightly and the Nets get a massive pace boost here against Memphis, which is playing at the second-fastest pace in the league so far.

Paolo Banchero, ORL – SF/PF ($9,700)

Are we chasing here with Paolo having just gone off for 84 FD points against Indiana on Monday? You're damn right we are! I don't see any reason to get cute and fade Paolo in cash when he has another tremendous matchup tonight. The only team playing faster than Memphis so far is Chicago, and the Bulls are also allowing the third-most FanDuel points to opposing power forwards.

Brandin Podziemski, GSW – PG/SG ($5,700)

I was pumped last night to see my guy Podz break out with his first big game of the season.

Brandin Podziemski tonight:

19 PTS
5 AST (0 TOV)
4 REB
2 BLK
1 STL
+17

His 2nd career game with 2+ BLK. pic.twitter.com/oCTcV8Q5MM

— PodzMuse (@PodzMuse) October 30, 2024

He got the spot start with Andrew Wiggins and Stephen Curry out of the lineup and didn't disappoint. Curry is set to miss tonight's rematch with the Pelicans and Wiggins is questionable. With Podz's price the same as last night, I'm happy to go right back to him as his game is so fantasy-friendly that he should be able to make value pretty easily at this price point with starters' minutes.

FanDuel NBA DFS Tournament Pivots

Ivica Zubac, LAC – C ($7,200)

Zubac is having a tremendous start to this season! He has formed a dynamic partnership with James Harden on the pick-and-roll and has helped carry this Clippers offense in the early going with Kawhi Leonard hurt and out of the lineup.

Ivica Zubac through 3 games:

23 PTS - 17 REB - 6 AST
24 PTS - 15 REB - 4 AST
21 PTS - 9 REB - 3 AST

(Via @realapp_ ) pic.twitter.com/8Ub3KvKflg

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 28, 2024

The big man has scored 20+ points in all three games with a 24.5% usage rate. He also has the fourth-best rebounding rate (20.1%) in the league. He should eat tonight against the defensively-challenged Deandre Ayton and I expect him to keep the good times rolling. At 7.2k, he needs just 43 FD points to go 6x on his price tag, something he's exceeded twice already in three starts.

Chet Holmgren, OKC – C ($9,400)

Man, I wish Chet was eligible at PF so I could play him and another center. He's been phenomenal this year so far, averaging 57 FD points per game through his first three games. The Spurs have struggled against big men, allowing the fifth-most FD points to opposing centers.

Jayson Tatum, BOS - SF/PF ($10,100)

While Banchero is a few hundred bucks cheaper, I might like Tatum a bit more as he gets a matchup with the same team that Paolo just destroyed (Indiana). The Pacers are playing absolutely no defense so far, ranking 22nd in defensive rating and Tatum is primed to bounce back after his worst outing of the first week against Milwaukee.

Others Under Consideration: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - PG ($11,500), Buddy Hield - PG/SG ($6,000), Jimmy Butler - SF/PF ($8,300), LaMelo Ball - PG (9,500)

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FanDuel NBA DFS Value Picks

Jalen Wilson, BKN – PF ($3,600)

A lot of projection systems today will tell you to play Noah Clowney or Dorian Finney-Smith as the Nets have decided to rest Nicolas Claxton on the second half of a back-to-back. But I'm going to pivot to Wilson, who had his second solid outing of the year last night with 11 points, six rebounds, two assists, and a steal. He's only $100 more than the minimum price and is looking at 25 minutes tonight, I think he could put up 25 to 30 points with that much run.

Payton Pritchard, BOS – PG ($4,700)

Pritchard was unconscious against the Bucks shooting the ball on Monday, scoring 28 points and posting 42.5 FanDuel points. You won't find many players priced under 5k who have that much upside, but Pritchard has the green light to fire away as the sixth man off the bench. When he gets hot, he's going to crush his price tag until they move him up closer to 6k.

Fear No Moment pic.twitter.com/PT4w9l43DJ

— Payton Pritchard (@paytonpritch3) October 29, 2024

Gradey Dick, TOR – SG/SF ($5,300)

I'm not sure if Gradey Dick gets talked up much today, but the Charlotte defense doesn't scare me and I expect Dick to get up a ton of shots tonight with the Raptors missing their top two leading scorers.

Isaiah Jackson, IND – PF/C ($4,800)

This play is contingent upon the status of Myles Turner as Jackson probably doesn't get enough minutes to hit value without moving into the starting lineup. But if Turner is out and Jackson earns the start, I'll fire him up as he's an elite fantasy player on a per-minute basis and is fresh off a 31.8 FanDuel point outing against Orlando in just 22 minutes.

Al Horford, BOS - PF/C ($5,100)

Big Al doesn't get much love but is still getting it done on both ends. He's still super cheap despite starting in Kristaps Porzingis's absence. If the Pacers can keep it close, then we should get close to 30 minutes from the ageless wonder and I love targeting bigs against the Pacers.

Others Under Consideration: Yves Missi - C ($4,500), Garrison Mathews - SG ($3,800), Ziaire Williams - SF ($3,800)

Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stacks

Orlando Magic at Chicago Bulls (226.5 total, 5.5-point spread)

Yes, the Boston-Indiana game has a high total but will also be played at a much slower pace than this Orlando-Chicago game.

We can roll with Paolo and even Wendell Carter Jr. on the Orlando side with Jalen Suggs as a potential third piece, while I would come back with Chicago's usage leader (Zach LaVine) and possibly Nikola Vucevic.

Toronto Raptors at Charlotte Hornets (224.5 total, 6.5-point spread)

How can the Raptors hang with the Hornets tonight without Immanuel Quickley and Scottie Barnes? RJ Barrett and Gradey Dick will have to carry the offense with Jakob Poeltl picking up some of the slack, too. I like Dick and Poeltl the most based on their prices.

We can run it back with LaMelo Ball and some cheaper pieces like Tre Mann and Nick Richards. The Hornets love to play fast but don't play much defense. I think Toronto could hang in there and push this Charlotte team to the end, let's not forget they just beat Denver earlier this week.

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: Brandin Podziemski
• My favorite CASH play on the slate: Dennis Schroder
• My favorite GPP play on the slate: Chet Holmgren
• My favorite VALUE play: Jalen Wilson

NBA DFS News and Injury Alerts

More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis