NBA DFS: Top Daily Fantasy Expert Picks for DraftKings, FanDuel (10/31/24)

Happy Halloween, RotoBallers! Tonight, we have a spooky four-game slate ahead of us. We have a few solid spots tonight, and hopefully, we can take advantage of them. The Bucks look to get back on track against the Grizzlies, the Mavericks and Rockets square off, the Spurs and Jazz take each other on in Utah, and to cap the night off, we get a solid game between the Suns and the Clippers!

The key to succeeding in NBA DFS is making adjustments during the day as injury information becomes available. With that being said, the main players we need to keep an eye on are Lauri Markkanen and Bradley Beal, who are both questionable for tonight's slate! But it's always essential to have a game plan and zero in on the best players and spots before making those adjustments.

This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 10/31/24. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our excellent NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 8:00 p.m. EDT on FanDuel and DraftKings. Good luck, RotoBallers!

Today's NBA DFS Core Picks

To keep up with all the latest developments and get access to updated projections, grab an NBA season pass and access our RotoBaller Premium Discord, where @chiefjustice6 is talking about the slate up until lineups lock!

Let's take a look at some of our premium NBA projections for today's slate!

Kevin Durant has been elite to start the season, so I'm surprised he hasn't hit the 10K price tag yet. He is averaging 47 FP a game so far this season and has a decent matchup against the Clippers. He is one of the top pay-up options on the slate.

I love Jalen Green on today's slate, as he has been extremely consistent so far to start the season. Although he hasn't done too much outside of scoring, he is still getting the little things done. He gets a fantastic matchup, as the Mavericks are giving up the second-most fantasy points to opposing SGs this season. He has averaged just over 38 FP a game this season and is likely one of my top plays on the slate.

John Collins is elevated quite a bit after the very unfortunate injury to Taylor Hendricks. He has been a PPM monster this season and he should get more minutes in this game. Averaging 28.6 FPPG this season in roughly 21 minutes a game. I expect that number to rise in Hendricks' absence.

1. Kevin Durant, PHX at LAC ($8,600 DK; $9,200 FD)
2. Jalen Green, HOU at DAL ($7,700 DK; $7,600 FD)
3. John Collins, UTA vs. SAS ($5,600 DK; $6,000 FD)

Today's NBA DFS Value Picks

Scotty Pippen Jr. gets put into an interesting spot tonight. There is a good chance he gets 30+ minutes with Marcus Smart and Desmond Bane both going down in yesterday's game. He has been lighting it up off the bench in limited minutes and should get an extended run here. He has averaged 32 FP a game this season and I'll take that any day for someone who is 6K.

I'm not sure I understand the price of Jeremy Sochan. He has been averaging nearly 35 FPPG and is still in the 6K range. He will probably end up being chalky, but if he keeps up this pace, he is a lock in cash games. Sochan is elite value on this slate!

Derrick Jones Jr. is a sneaky cheap play for the Clippers. He is listed at only 4.5K on FD, and he has been doing decently well in the 30+ minutes per game he has played. He is averaging 13 PPG as well as two STOCKS a game. Anything over 20 FP and that is close to a 5x, which I will gladly take for DJJ.

Top Value Plays:

1. Scotty Pippen Jr., MEM vs. MIL, ($5,800 DK; $6,200 FD)
2. Jeremy Sochan, SAS at UTA ($5,800 DK; $6,300 FD) 
3. Derrick Jones Jr., LAC vs. PHX ($4,400 DK; $4,500 FD)

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Today's NBA DFS Picks: Point Guard

I think the likes of Luka Doncic and James Harden are decent options as well, but I do like Damian Lillard at a slight discount compared to them. The Grizzlies have given up the 10th-most fantasy points to PGs this year and Lillard has been fantastic to start the season. He is averaging 28 PPG and as well as getting his peripherals in rebounds and assists. He has averaged nearly 44 FP in four games this season and gets two days of rest coming into this one.

Keyonte George gets an elite matchup here against the Spurs, who are coming off a loss to the Thunder yesterday. So far this season, the Spurs are giving up the most fantasy points to opposing point guards this season. Like Pippen, George is a great price at only 6K, and if you were looking to spend up elsewhere, these guys are great mid-tier-priced players to balance out your lineup.

Scotty Pippen Jr. has 33 assists this year, that’s the 3rd most in the NBA

Pippen Jr. is doing this while coming off the bench.

THE GRIZZLIES HAVE FOUND THEIR BACKUP PG OF THE FUTURE 🔥 pic.twitter.com/rEe6fOpAVS

— Grizzlies SZN (@Grizzlies_szn) October 30, 2024

Top PG Options:

1. Damian Lillard, MIL at MEM ($8,800 DK; $8,900 FD)
2. Scotty Pippen Jr., MEM vs. MIL, ($5,800 DK; $6,200 FD)
3. Keyonte George, UTA vs. SAS, ($5,700 DK; $6,100 FD)

Today's NBA DFS Picks: Shooting Guard

Kyrie Irving is coming off his best performance of the season against Minnesota. He finished with just under 50 FP off 35 points! He has a decent matchup against the Rockets, who give up the 11th-most fantasy points to SGs this season. I expect Irving to keep the hot streak going and be one of the top scorers on the slate.

I love Jalen Green on today's slate, he has been extremely consistent so far to start the season, and although he hasn't done too much outside of scoring, he is still getting the little things done. He gets a fantastic matchup as the Mavericks are giving up the second-most fantasy points to opposing SGs this season. He has averaged just over 38 FP a game this season and is likely one of my top plays on the slate.

Norman Powell has been wild this season, I'm not sure how he is still as cheap as he is. He is getting 30+ minutes a game and has been shooting lights out with 20+ points in three of four games this season. Phoenix isn't the greatest matchup, but he has the green light as he is shooting 15+ times a game, and the Clippers need his scoring to keep games close.

Top SG Options:

1. Kyrie Irving, DAL vs. HOU ($7,500 DK; $8,100 FD)
2. Jalen Green, HOU at DAL ($7,700 DK; $7,600 FD)
3. Norman Powell, LAC vs. PHX ($5,600 DK; $5,900 FD)

Today's NBA DFS Picks: Small Forward

Harrison Barnes is a cheap player who has been getting solid minutes. He is averaging just under 20 FPPG but had a floor game of only 3.0 FP, which brings his average down quite a bit. This game should be relatively close, and if Barnes is hitting his shots, he could be in for a solid night for very cheap.

Outside of what we have listed, Lauri Markkanen (if he plays) and Royce O'Neale are both great options as well.

Kevin Durant this season:

☄️ 29.0 PPG
☄️ 53.3 FG%
☄️ 45.5 3P%
☄️ 7.0 REB
☄️ 3.0 AST
☄️ 1.8 BLK
☄️ 1.0 STL pic.twitter.com/vv0hA2c5y9

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 29, 2024

Top SF Options:

1. Kevin Durant, PHX at LAC ($8,600 DK; $9,200 FD)
2. Harrison Barnes, SAS at UTA ($4,600 DK; $4,600 FD)
3. Derrick Jones Jr., LAC vs. PHX ($4,400 DK; $4,500 FD)

Today's NBA DFS Picks: Power Forward

Jaren Jackson Jr. has been ramping up his minutes. In his last outing, he finished with 28 minutes, which resulted in 42 FP. He has a tough matchup, but if the game stays close, the usage is there for his production to exceed.

P.J. Washington and Kyle Filipowski have decent potential as well on this slate if you are looking for some GPP plays and ways to get different.

Top PF Options:

1. Jaren Jackson Jr., MEM vs. MIL ($7,400 DK; $7,800 FD)
2. Jeremy Sochan, SAS at UTA ($5,800 DK; $6,300 FD) 
3. John Collins, UTA vs. SAS ($5,600 DK; $6,000 FD)

Today's NBA DFS Picks: Center

Ivica Zubac has been on a tear this season, and he gets to go up against the Suns again. In their first matchup, he finished with 33 FP. Across the season, he has averaged 43 FP a game.

Walker Kessler is in a great spot against the Spurs. The Spurs are giving up the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing centers this season. Kessler has averaged 32 FP this season, and with Taylor Hendricks going down, his usage should only go up, as well as his minutes.

Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford are both solid options, but I give the edge to Lively, as he has been playing more minutes than Gafford. But if you don't quite have enough for Lively, then Gafford will work as well. The Rockets are giving up the third-most fantasy points to opposing centers, so these guys should eat.

Top C Options:

1. Ivica Zubac, LAC vs. PHX ($6,500 DK; $7,400 FD)
2. Walker Kessler, UTA vs. SAS ($5,700 DK; $6,400 FD) 
3. Dereck Lively II, DAL vs. HOU ($5,100 DK; $5,600 FD) 

Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stacks

1. HOU at DAL (o/u 227.5)
2. SAS at UTA (o/u 229.5)

Today's Top NBA DFS Avoids

I may bite my words, but I think you can fade Victor Wembanyama today. His price is astronomical compared to the production this season. I think you can safely avoid him. Outside of that, with it being a small slate, I think everything is on the table.

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: John Collins
• My favorite CASH play on the slate: Jeremy Sochan
• My favorite GPP play on the slate: Damian Lillard
• My favorite value play: Scotty Pippen Jr.

NBA DFS News and Injury Alerts

More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis