NBA Daily Fantasy Helper: Thursday 10/29/15
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
Chris Paul - The Clippers' star point guard is one of the best fantasy assets in the entire NBA. Last season, he averaged 19.1 points, 10.2 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 2 steals per game with a 22.3% Usage Rate. Not only did Paul lead the league in assists, but he also led it assist to turnover ratio (4.41) and did so while playing all 82 games. With tonight's matchup between the Clippers and Mavericks expected to be the highest scoring on tonight's slate by a wide margin and Los Angeles locked in as massive 10.5-point favorites, the Clippers are my favorite team to target tonight against the defensively-challenged Mavs. Last season, Dallas gave up the sixth most points per game (102.3), ranked 20th in Defensive Rating (106.4) and played at the ninth fastest pace in the league. With both Deron Williams and Wesley Matthews expected to be on minutes limits, Paul should be able to take advantage of the short-handed Mavs' backcourt en route to a huge fantasy outing.
Paul Millsap - Despite the fact that Atlanta struggled against the Pistons on opening night, Millsap still managed to put together a solid 19-point, 8-rebound and 3-assist line in 36 minutes of action. The Hawks should be in great position to bounce back tonight against a Knicks defense that allowed the eighth most points per game (101.2) and ranked 28th in Defensive Rating (110) a year ago. Atlanta's star big man should be a huge part of their resurgence. Millsap should easily overpower Knicks rookie Kristaps Porzingis down low and should have little trouble scoring at will. The Hawks' forward makes a great play tonight at just $7,700 on FanDuel and $7,800 on DraftKings.
Top Mid-Range Values
J.J. Redick - As I already mentioned, the Clippers have the highest team total on the board tonight by a mile at 110.8 with the next closest team -- the Atlanta Hawks -- coming in a full 10.5 points behind. Essentially all Los Angeles starters are in play tonight, but it's the Clipper guards that I will have the most shares of tonight. The Mavericks' backcourt is extremely banged up, and their defensive stopper Matthews looks far from 100% right now. Additionally, Dallas allowed the 10th most fantasy points per game to opposing shooting guards last season and don't have guard who is a plus defender at guard outside of the aforementioned Matthews. Redick should be on the floor for more than 30 minutes and should see plenty of open shots. If he is able to add a few rebounds and assists he should reach value easily at just $5,100 on DraftKings and $5,000 on FanDuel.
Jeff Teague - Teague is coming off of a bit of a disappointing opening game, but a matchup against the Knicks should help cure what ails him. New York allowed the fifth most fantasy points per game to opposing point guards during the 2014-15 season and feature some of the worst perimeter defenders in the league. Neither Langston Galloway nor Jose Calderon eclipsed a Defensive Rating of 110 last season and while rookie Jerian Grant shows some promise on the defensive end, I'm not sure he is ready to take on the challenge of guarding an All-Star point guard like Teague. Atlanta has the second highest team total on the board and their star point guard should be in prime position to put together an impressive line tonight.
Basement Ballers
Sasha Vujacic - With Arron Afflalo unavailable tonight, the journeyman Vujacic will slide into New York's starting lineup for the second straight game. The former NBA champion while a member of the Lakers scored 11 points with 6 boards, 3 dimes and 4 steals in 29 minutes against Milwaukee and should see plenty of playing time once again tonight. Kyle Korver is far from an elite defender and Atlanta allowed the 15th most fantasy points per game to opposing shooting guards a year ago, which means Vujacic makes a solid value play at minimum price on both FanDuel and DraftKings, especially considering there are only three games on tonight's slate.
Langston Galloway - Galloway may have been the Knicks' most impressive player last night, lighting up the Bucks for 16 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists in just 25 minutes. He should continue to see a significant role tonight and will likely see a lot of Hawks' backup point guard Dennis Schroder and his less-than-stellar 110 Defensive Rating. Galloway is New York's go-to-guy on the second unit and should see a big Usage Rate while on the floor tonight. Look for Galloway to stay hot in another impressive outing in tonight's matchup with the Hawks.
