3 NBA DraftKings Studs to Target on 10/19/17

Blake Griffin, PF/C, Los Angeles Clippers

DraftKings Salary: $9,600

While Russell Westbrook stands out as the clear top player from a raw points perspective, Blake Griffin makes a strong case for the best point-per-dollar play among the studs. For starters, the Los Angeles Clippers have the slate's second-highest implied team total (111.75 points) on the slate, despite being in the only game that isn't projected to be a blowout. Both the Oklahoma City Thunder and Toronto Raptors are favored by 12.5 points, whereas this Los Angeles shootout has a spread of only five points.

This is also the first game we'll see of the post-Chris Paul era in Los Angeles, meaning Griffin will be the clear leader and facilitator of the offense. Last season, Griffin averaged 23.2 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per 36 minutes with Paul off the floor, as opposed to 22.7, 8.2, and 4.8 with him on, per NBA.com. The most notable increase is his assists, as Griffin should see the offense run through him much more often this year.

That is an exciting proposition against a Los Angeles Lakers team that ranked dead last in defensive efficiency last season. The Lakers also ranked in the bottom 10 in rebounding rate and played at the sixth-fastest pace in the league. This should be the fastest and most-competitive of any of the three games tonight, making it a primary stacking candidate. Whether you're loading up on this game or going with a more balanced approach, your roster construction should start with Griffin.