NBA Daily Fantasy Helper: Wednesday 10/28/15
If you've never played daily fantasy basketball before, it's time to start. Unlike traditional leagues, you're able to select the players you want on that specific day only, giving you a different squad to root for each and every NBA night.
Today's lineups can be found here. The information below is to help you understand why particular players are being picked, because we don't want you going into the night completely blind. We want to help you. Keep in mind, however, that things often change up until tip-off, so make sure you're refreshing the optimal lineups as close to the start of games as possible.
Let's get to it.
The Best of the Best
Blake Griffin - The Clippers' star put together another spectacular season last year, averaging 21.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. Despite the fact that Chris Paul is the true floor general for Los Angeles, the offense really runs through Griffin. The former Oklahoma Sooner led the Clippers in scoring, field goal attempts (17.1 per game) and Usage Rate (28.4%) while rankings second in both Assist Percentage (26.2%) and Rebound Percentage (12.1%). What really sets Griffin apart from other big men tonight is his matchup with the Kings. Los Angeles is a -5.5 favorite in a game that Vegas expects to be the second-highest scoring on the slate. The Clippers have the second highest team total on the board and face a Kings' frontcourt that allowed the 10th most fantasy points per game to opposing power forwards last season. Griffin is an elite play on all platforms tonight.
James Harden - With a matchup against the defensively-challenged Nuggets on the docket, the Rockets are my favorite team to target on tonight's slate. They have the highest team total on the board, and Vegas anticipates their game against Denver to be the highest scoring on the night. Dwight Howard is suspended for the Rockets' season opener, which means Houston will likely rely on a small-ball lineup and will look to force the Nuggets into a fast-paced shootout. That game script bodes perfectly for Harden. The Rockets' star -- who is coming off of a season where he averaged a ridiculous 27.4 points, 7 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game with a massive 31.3% Usage Rate -- is one of the best transition players in the NBA and should have plenty of opportunities to run the floor. Look for The Beard to pick up right where he left off from last season as he dominates the Nuggets en route to a massive fantasy outing.
Top Mid-Range Values
Khris Middleton - Like the aforementioned Howard, Giannis Antetokounmpo is suspended for his team's opening game of the season. Jabari Parker and O.J. Mayo will also miss the first game of the season as they recover from their respective injuries. With the Bucks so thin at the wing positions tonight, breakout candidate Middleton will see all the minutes he can handle. Milwaukee is expected to take another big leap forward this season, and Middleton is a huge reason why. The Bucks' forward put together the best season of his career a year ago, setting career-highs in points (13.4 per game), rebounds (3.8 per game), assists (2.3 per game), steals (1.5 per game), Player Efficiency Rating (15.6), Value Over Replacement (2.0) and Usage Rate (19.9%) and should continue to show progress in his fourth year in the league. Middleton makes an excellent play in all formats against a Knicks' squad that ranked 28th in Defensive Rating (110) and allowed the eighth most points per game (101.2) a year ago. He is an absolute steal at just $6,100 on FanDuel and $5,400 on DraftKings.
Eric Bledsoe - Last season was the first year in Bledsoe's career where he was an every night starter and managed to stay healthy, and boy did it pay off for his fantasy owners. The Suns' point guard filled up the stat sheet, posting 17 points, 6.1 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game with a 23.7% Usage Rate. Bledsoe is one of the best perimeter defenders in the entire NBA and should see as much playing time as he can handle this season. Tonight, the Suns get the pleasure of facing off against a Mavericks team that allowed the sixth most points per game (102.3) and ranked 20th in Defensive Rating (106.4) last season. With Wesley Matthews expected to be limited if he plays at all tonight, the Dallas backcourt will feature Deron Williams, Juan Jose Barea and Devin Harris, none of whom earned a Defensive Rating better than 109 last year. Bledsoe should eat the Mavs' guards alive and should reach value easily tonight.
Basement Ballers
Clint Capela - With Howard suspended, Capela will slide into the starting lineup and a big role tonight against the Nuggets. The Rockets' sophomore center was impressive when on the floor last season, averaging 12.8 points with an absurd 14.4 rebounds and 3.6 blocks on a per-36 minute basis. Although he won't see quite that much playing time, Capela should push for 30 minutes and draws a dream matchup against a Denver team that has historically struggled to defend the paint and gave up the fourth most fantasy points per game to opposing centers last season. The Rockets' big man provides tremendous value at $4,400 on FanDuel but is nearly a must play at minimum salary on DraftKings.
Joffrey Lauvergne - With Jusuf Nurkic expected to miss several weeks as he recovers from a knee injury, Lauvergne should fill in as the Nuggets' starting center for the foreseeable future. Just like Capela, the Nuggets' sophomore center also posted impressive numbers when given the opportunity to play. Lauvergne averaged 12.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.1 steals per game on a per-36 minute basis and won't have to deal with the likes of the Rockets' star big man Howard tonight in what is expected to be the highest-scoring contest on the slate. The Nuggets' big man can be had at minimum value on both FanDuel and DraftKings and is in play in all formats tonight.
