3 NBA DraftKings Studs to Target on 10/22/18

LeBron James, SF/PF, Los Angeles Lakers

DraftKings Price: $10,500

The Los Angeles Lakers' 0-2 start is probably not what many fans hoped for a team with a newly crowned King. Yet, that's where they stand after losses to the Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets to start the season.

While the Lakers were competitive in both games, they lost their mojo late, losing by nine in both contests. Part of the reason for their lackluster start could be a slip in LeBron James' usage rate.

Through two games, LeBron has a usage rate of 27.5%. While that number still ranks 25th among all players who have seen at least 50 minutes of run this season, it would mark a career low if the season ended today. LeBron's previous low of 28.2% came in his rookie season; he's hit at least 29.7% in every other year.

For the Lakers to win, the answer might be as simple as LeBron becoming a little more selfish. That should happen tonight, whether he intends for it to or not. The Lakers will be without starters Rajon Rondo and Brandon Ingram, who were both suspended for their part in a fight against the Houston Rockets on Saturday.

With those two out, it would be fairly shocking if the Lakers' game plan didn't flow more through the King. Not surprisingly, our models have LeBron dishing out 8.8 assists, which is 2.8 more than his high through the first two games.

We project him to score 54.2 DraftKings points, the highest for anyone on the slate. There are legitimate reasons to sleep on big names on certain nights, but don't do so with James this evening.