NBA

DraftKings Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Wednesday 9/30/20

Which players are worth captain and utility considerations for Game 1 of the NBA Finals?

With one game to choose from on today's NBA slate, let's look at how to utilize the DFS possibilities.

Here are some of the top plays on DraftKings. As always, good luck.

Captain Considerations

LeBron James ($19,800) -- LeBron has been on a tear in his first postseason with the Los Angeles Lakers. He's double-doubled in 10-of-15 games in the playoffs, and in two meetings with the Miami Heat this season, LeBron averaged 49.1 fantasy points on 26.5 points, 9.0 assists, and 6.5 rebounds per game. LeBron has recorded 49 or more fantasy points in four straight games and 8 of the last 10 overall. He averaged a triple-double in the first round and a double-double in the semifinals and Western Conference Finals. I'm expecting more of the same from him in his ninth NBA Finals in the last 10 years.

Anthony Davis ($18,000) -- Besides LeBron, Davis has to be the next and arguably only other choice for the captain spot. He's been an animal all postseason, and in the WCF, he averaged a postseason-high 31.2 points in the series. In Davis' two meetings with the Heat this season, he averaged 55.8 fantasy points on 29.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks. He will have the toughest matchup of the series, drawing Bam Adebayo down low. Adebayo has solid defense, but in both players' first NBA Finals, I'll side with Davis to continue his success and especially in the scoring department.

Utility Considerations

Jimmy Butler ($9,200) -- Butler has led the Miami Heat to their first NBA Finals since 2014 against all the odds and in dominating fashion. Butler has totaled 38 or more fantasy points in three straight games, and in 9 of his last 10 games, he's surpassed 30 fantasy points. Butler has done a little bit of everything in the postseason, recording eight rebounds in three of his last four games and eight assists in his previous two. Butler is the engine that makes Miami go, and numberFire's model predicts Butler to lead the team in scoring tonight. He's projected to record 21.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists in 38.4 minutes.

Goran Dragic ($8,600) -- In four-of-six ECF games versus Boston, Dragic had outstanding games, posting 30 or more fantasy points to help Miami to the NBA Finals. Dragic averaged 20.9 points, 4.7 assists, and 4.2 rebounds in the 15 playoff games and has been a steal most nights. His value continues to rise, and in his first finals appearance, he'll face a Lakers team that allows the second-fewest fantasy points per guard on the regular-season (43.44). If you're selecting between Dragic and our next player, I'd still roll with Dragic.

Tyler Herro ($8,000) -- Herro has been a fan favorite in the postseason, and after his career-high 37 point-night in Game 4, his stock and value have skyrocketed. Herro has totaled 30 or more fantasy points in five-of-six games versus the Celtics and recorded double-digit points in all 22 games and 15 playoff games. In four-of-six ECF games, he played 35 or more minutes, and in the NBA Finals, he'll likely draw a minute increase versus the Lakers' bench. Herro only averaged 12.1 fantasy points in his two regular-season meetings with the Lakers, so he comes at a slight risk.

Jae Crowder ($6,200) -- Crowder is a sneaky play in DFS, as he's been a constant scoring threat for the Heat throughout the 15 games. He's averaging 12.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in the playoffs, and versus the Lakers this season, Crowder's at 15.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in two meetings. Crowder's gone cold from three in the past three games (2/18) but has found success from two-point land in the past two games (8/10). In five-of-six fantasy performances in the ECF, Crowder surpassed 22 fantasy points and played 30 or more minutes in all six.

Rajon Rondo ($5,400) -- Rondo averaged 21.6 minutes in the WCF, a low number for a DFS selection, but he's produced substantial numbers in that limited time. He averaged 7.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in the WCF series and 26.8 minutes in the semifinals, his first series back from injury. He finished with two or fewer assists in three-of-five games versus the Rockets and averaged 10.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 4.6 rebounds overall. He's going to be the Lakers' most important bench and role player in the series and is a reliable stream in DFS.


Vaughn Dalzell is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Vaughn also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his 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.com