DraftKings Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Monday 11/11/19
With six games to choose from on tonight's NBA slate, let's take a look at how to narrow down the DFS possibilities. Here are some of the top plays and sleepers on DraftKings. As always, good luck and Happy Veterans Day to those who served.
Point Guard
D'Angelo Russell ($8,300) -- D-Lo has three straight 30-point games, including a 52-point performance on the road in Minnesota. Russell is averaging 59.9 fantasy points over those three games while averaging 42.8 on the season. At home against a good defensive team like the Utah Jazz, Russell will be leaned on for scoring, as Eric Paschall ($6,100) is the only other Warrior to average more than 15 (16.4) points. Russell is tied for tenth in player usage rating (30.9%), and without Stephen Curry, that number will probably rise, especially if Paschall remains out for the Warriors.
Donovan Mitchell ($7,300) -- Mitchell scored 19 points in Utah's win over the Bucks on Friday. It was the first time in six games that he hadn't scored 20 or more. The Golden State Warriors are last in the NBA in defensive rating (116.6), while the Jazz are 27th in offensive rating (101.5). Mitchell is Utah's leading scorer at 24.8 points per game, and their assist leader at 4.1 per game. Expect Mitchell's averages and offensive touches in tonight's action to rise.
Shooting Guard
James Harden ($11,500) -- Harden has been getting his and looks well on his way to third-straight scoring title. Harden is averaging 37.1 points per game, which would be the fifth-most in NBA history behind Wilt Chamberlain's four-highest scoring seasons of all-time. Harden has a chance to pass Chamberlain's third-highest scoring season ever (38.3) if he can score at will for 82 games. The 2017-18 MVP is a must-play every night. Harden is averaging 60.4 fantasy points a night while sporting the highest player usage rating in the league (39.7%).
Jrue Holiday ($7,400) -- The Rockets and Pelicans matchup is going to be a high-scoring affair as the over/under is 245.0. Harden, Russell Westbrook ($8,800) and Holiday are all strong plays at guard tonight since there will be enough shooting to go around for all. Both teams lead the NBA in pace factor with Houston at number one (110.1) and New Orleans right behind them (109.7). Expect Holiday and Westbrook to push that pace as both are projected to tie for the league-lead in assists tonight (9.0) based on our projections. Holiday is also projected to score 17.9 points, which is higher than his 14.1 per game clip. He's a good value play and a much cheaper option than Westbrook.
Small Forward
Brandon Ingram ($7,800) -- Since Ingram's return from injury, his play hasn't slowed down. Ingram has averaged 30.6 points per game in his past three contests and posted a near double-double of 25 points and 9 rebounds in the Pelicans win over the Hornets on Saturday. Ingram is projected to be the third-highest scorer in the NBA tonight with 24.4 points, behind just Harden (30.1) and Westbrook (25.0).
Jayson Tatum ($7,500) -- With Gordon Hayward out, the roles Tatum and Jaylen Brown ($6,300) will increase, and so will their scoring. Brown scored 30 points in the latest game, but Tatum is the conservative and more reliable play if you're picking between the Boston duo. Our model projects Tatum to have 17.9 points and 6.5 rebounds against the Dallas Mavericks, which is lower than his season averages of 21.3 points and 7.6 rebounds. I think Tatum will pass his projections and season averages going up against Luka Doncic ($7,500). Tatum has averaged 39.7 fantasy points a night and could be in line for more rebounds with Hayward out.
Power Forward
Kawhi Leonard ($9,400) -- Leonard will play his first game against his former Toronto Raptors team in Los Angeles tonight after the Raptors ended the Los Angeles Lakers' seven-game winning streak last night. With a healthy Kawhi and the Raptors playing on the second night of a back-to-back, the Clippers have the upper-hand. Leonard has five straight games of 50-plus fantasy points and has scored at least 21 points in every game this season, making him a must-play on a nightly basis.
Blake Griffin ($7,200) -- The return of Blake Griffin is here, after Griffin missed the first 10 games of the season for the Detroit Pistons. Our model projects Griffin at 19.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists tonight versus the Timberwolves in his season debut. In 2018-19 he set a career-high in points (24.5) and three-pointers attempted per game (7.0), in addition to averaging 7.5 rebounds and 5.4 assists. Andre Drummond ($9,800) has been dominant this season, averaging 21.2 points and a league-high 18.0 rebounds. He's a suggested play as well, even though his numbers will take a slight dip.
Center
Kristaps Porzingis ($7,200) -- Porzingis is coming off a 28-point, 9-rebound performance in a loss to his former New York Knicks squad on Friday. Porzingis had a rest day on Saturday against the Grizzlies and appears to be ready to go against the Celtics. KP is averaging 20.1 points, and for the first time since October 27th, he scored over 18 points in the loss to the Knicks. Porzingis shot 30 three-point attempts over the last five games, making 11 (36.6%). He has also had six straight games of eight rebounds or more.
Clint Capela ($7,300) -- Capela is projected to be the second-highest rebounder in the league tonight, with 13.1 boards -- behind only Drummond (16.3) and Rudy Gobert (14.1). Capela has been a stud on the glass the past three games and posted double-doubles in all three. Capela scored 16 points and grabbed 20 rebounds in the win over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday, as well as 19 points and 16 rebounds against the Warriors last Wednesday. He's posted two-straight 52-point-plus fantasy performances and is projected to have his fourth straight double-double. Capela's is a nice value play matched up against Derrick Favors ($4,700).
Vaughn Dalzell is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice Vaughn Dalzell also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username vdalzell. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his/her personal views, he/she may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his/her personal account. The views expressed in his/her articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.
