Main Slate Breakdown for NBA DFS 10/24:
Oct 14, 2022; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby (3) and Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) during the second quarter at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
Welcome to another year of the DFS Army NBA Full Court Press! Members had a ton of success using the Full Court Press along with various articles and tools that DFS Army provides last season, so we are glad to be back with another year of the all-inclusive article. You have to start your research somewhere, and oftentimes going game by game and breaking down every matchup and its key players is the first step in our process. My name is Mike aka @MadnessDFS on Twitter, make sure to give me a follow as I’ll occasionally make updates to the advice in the article. But, you’ll mostly find me in our VIP coaching forums where I provide detailed lineup maneuvers and answer all lineup questions. With that said, let’s get it started!
Save $50 on a DFS Army NBA Season Pass with coupon code NBA2022
Indiana Pacers @ Philadelphia 76ers
Vegas Total: 227.0
Vegas Spread: Phi -11.5
We’ll kick off this slate with the Pacers, I’ve been all over Tyrese Haliburton all season and he’s continued to produce nicely. We’re used to seeing him closer to the $9k range on DraftKings. I’m going to continue to target him until his price gets to where it should be. The rookie Bennedict Mathurin has looked like their second-best producer and now has at least 34 DraftKings points in three straight games. His price tag on FanDuel is still ridiculously low for the production he’s putting up. Myles Turner will continue to be out here which opens up minutes for guys like Jalen Smith, Terry Taylor, and Isaiah Jackson. Taylor is probably the most volatile of the group, but I have no issue going back to any of these guys, they’ll need size against Embiid down low. That being said, Smith and Jackson are my favorites of the three. Then Buddy Hield will be a fine secondary option in tournaments, but not a guy I’m forcing in. From the Sixers, Joel Embiid is coming off of a massive game last time out against the Spurs and sets up nicely again in this one. The Pacers might have the worst defense in the league with Turner out… Embiid will look like one of the better raw options on the slate. James Harden has produced consistently as well with at least 48 DraftKings points in three straight games, and again, a great matchup. Then guys like Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris are solid secondary options depending on where you land to round out your roster. They both have nice ceilings at their price tags.
5-star play: Joel Embiid, Tyrese Haliburton, Bennedict Matchurin (FanDuel)
4-star play: Jalen Smith, Isaiah Jackson, James Harden, Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris
Deeper Value: Terry Taylor, PJ Tucker
GPP Sleeper: Terry Taylor, PJ Tucker, Isaiah Jackson
Quick shoutout to VIP member “Cenzamatic” on a massive $20k win last season! Sometimes paying up for double studs works, and Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant brought it home for him with the help of some Stanley Johnson and Pistons value. Good work and congrats man!
Toronto Raptors @ Miami Heat
Vegas Total: 217.5
Vegas Spread: Mia -3.5
We just saw this matchup the last time these two teams took the court, so we have a bit of a sample size here. The price has come up a bit on Pascal Siakam, but it’s well warranted. The nice thing with the Raptors is we know the starters are going to push 40 minutes with Nick Nurse as the coach, so Siakam is going to look like a great option yet again here, he has at least 51 FanDuel points in back-to-back games. It does sound like Scottie Barnes is more doubtful than questionable in this one with an ankle injury, below is how the rest of this team operated with him off of the court last season:
- Pascal Siakam – 29% usage rate; 1.31 fpm
- Fred VanVleet – 25.7% usage rate; 1.16 fpm
- Gary Trent Jr. – 23.5% usage rate; 0.89 fpm
- OG Anunoby – 22% usage rate; 0.91 fpm
The Raptors have a few options on who they can start in his place which includes guys like Precious Achiuwa, Chris Boucher, or Thad Young so keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for an updated starting lineup. From the Heat, Bam Adebayo has been popular to start the season simply due to his price tag, but he hasn’t really killed you if you’ve faded him. The production hasn’t been great and I don’t love this matchup… I may just make him prove it to me before I go back to him with any consistency. Jimmy Butler has been fine but has only one 40+ FanDuel point performance on the season, I won’t talk you off of him in this one, I just don’t love the matchup and pace of this one. Guys like Tyler Herro and Max Strus have both looked great to start the season and make a ton of sense in the mid-range if you happen to fall on them in your builds, but they won’t necessarily be priorities for me. Kyle Lowry looked a lot better over his last couple of games than he did in the opener, he’s a solid option in the mid-range as well, but again, I just don’t love the matchup.
5-star play: Pascal Siakam
4-star play: Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr., OG Anunoby, Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro, Max Strus, Bam Adebayo, Kyle Lowry
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Precious Achiuwa, Chris Boucher, Tyler Herro, Max Strus
Orlando Magic @ New York Knicks
Vegas Total: 218.5
Vegas Spread: Nyk -7.5
Starting with the Magic, it sounds like Jalen Suggs is going to miss some time with an ankle sprain which will help the usage and production of this backcourt. Cole Anthony had a 26.5% usage rate and 1.10 fantasy points per minute with Suggs off of the court last season and looks like a solid option again in this one. Paolo Banchero will likely benefit from Suggs being out as well just from a usage standpoint. He’s been their best producer this season with at least 46 DraftKings points in two of their three games. Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr. both have looked good to start the season and make a lot of sense in their price ranges as well… the rest of this team would be dart throws at best in what should be a slower game against the Knicks. Speaking of the Knicks, Jalen Brunson has looked good to start his Knicks career, he hasn’t done anything crazy but he’s doing kind of what we expected with being a good floor general and offense leader. I don’t necessarily love the price tag from a DFS perspective, but if you land on him I would have no issue with that in a good matchup. Julius Randle is coming off a dud game against the Pistons, but I don’t think that’s anything we’re not used to with him. He was very volatile last season and it looks like that may be the case again this season, I’ll consider him more of a GPP option. Isaiah Hartenstein followed up his big 40-minute game with a nice game against the Pistons and is always a guy that produces nicely on a per-minute basis. I can never talk myself into him at this price tag just because I value minutes too much, but he’s certainly in play again here. RJ Barrett hasn’t been able to crack the 30 fantasy point mark yet this season, I’ll wait until I see it from him before I go too crazy on rostering him.
5-star play: Cole Anthony, Paolo Banchero
4-star play: Franz Wagner, Wendell Carter Jr., Julius Randle, Jalen Brunson, RJ Barrett
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Isaiah Hartenstein, RJ Barrett, Terrence Ross
Boston Celtics @ Chicago Bulls
Vegas Total: 223.5
Vegas Spread: Bos -4.5
Starting with the Celtics, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have both looked incredible to start the season. Brown had a bit of a down game last time out due to a poor shooting night, going just 4-16 from the field. That being said, that’s kind of what you get with Brown, if the shots are falling he’s likely going to get you there but he’s going to have a rough day if he’s not knocking down shots. Malcolm Brogdon seems to have been surpassed by Derrick White who has been the better producer over the last two games. It helps that White is starting which gives him more of a minutes floor as well. If you’re stuck between the two, the guy you’ll want right now is White. Al Horford will return in this one after missing Saturday’s contest, he has not looked good to start the season, I’ll wait for him to find his footing before I go back to him. The thing with him is he’s old (relative to the rest of the league) and had a deep postseason run, so there may be some tired legs yet there and the Celtics will do what they can to preserve him. The price tag hasn’t really moved for Marcus Smart and will be a guy I don’t have an issue going right back to in this one. From the Bulls, Zach LaVine made his season debut on Saturday and looked pretty solid in 28 minutes. I don’t think the minutes had anything to do with his knee injury, but more the blowout loss to the Cavs by 32 points. LaVine being back will hurt the production and usage of guys like DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic who both had their worst games of the season. I’ll likely be lower on them again in this one until their prices adjust a bit to LaVine being back in there. After those three it gets pretty thin, I guess you can make a case for guys like Alex Caruso and Ayo Dosunmo, but I don’t think we need to get that cute on this slate.
5-star play: Jayson Tatum
4-star play: Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Marcus Smart, Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic, DeMar DeRozan
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Malcolm Brogdon, Al Horford, Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic, DeMar DeRozan
Utah Jazz @ Houston Rockets
Vegas Total: 232.0
Vegas Spread: Hou -1.0
Starting with the Jazz, this team is running a very deep rotation right now but has had some nice stories to start the season. Lauri Markkanen has at least 51 DraftKings points in back-to-back games and feels too cheap considering the minutes and production he’s putting up right now and he gets a great matchup with the Rockets here. Jordan Clarkson is right behind him on the season with a 24.7% usage rate and 1.02 fantasy points per minute, the nice thing with him is he’s seen 30+ minutes in each game this season. Collin Sexton continues to come off the bench and is playing around 20 minutes per game, until that comes up or the price tag comes down, I’ll likely avoid him. Guys like Mike Conley and Kelly Olynyk have both produced nicely as well and look like solid options at their price tags as well here. Then Jarred Vanderbilt and Walker Kessler make sense as well, Vanderbilt will play more minutes since he’s the starter but Kessler has been great on a per-minute basis with 1.21 fantasy points per minute on the season. From the Rockets, they’ll continue to be without Bruno Fernando and Jae’Sean Tate in this one. Even with Fernando out last game, they stuck with Alperen Sengun on the bench and it just feels like that’s going to be his role regardless of who’s available which kind of stinks because we know he can fill up the stat sheet when given the minutes. He’ll continue to be a GPP guy due to the volatility of his minutes. Usman Garuba got the start for Fernando and played 25 minutes and produced on a point-per-minute basis. I would have no issue going back to him as a value option should he start again in this one. Jabari Smith had a nice bounce-back game against the Bucks as well and makes sense as a secondary option in this one. Then Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green will continue to run this backcourt and are both guys I’ll go right back to the well with them here.
5-star play: Lauri Markkanen
4-star play: Jordan Clarkson, Mike Conley, Kelly Olynyk, Jabari Smith, Kevin Porter Jr., Jalen Green
Deeper Value: Usman Garuba
GPP Sleeper: Jarred Vanderbilt, Walker Kessler, Alperen Sengun, Usman Garuba
I need to give VIP Member “TTG2436” a massive shoutout for his $100k takedown earlier in the season, congrats man! Our NBA Domination Station lineup optimizer is Powered by DFS Army proprietary projections. The Domination Station will help you create 150 of the highest projected lineups in a matter of minutes. With features that allow you to Like
Love
or Dislike
a player, you can create a fully unique pool of players to generate your lineups from every day. Combine the power of the Domination Station with our VIP Only Articles and the NBA Research Station to really take your game to the next level.
Brooklyn Nets @ Memphis Grizzlies
Vegas Total: 228.0
Vegas Spread: Mem -1.5
Starting with the Nets, Ben Simmons was actually a guy I talked myself into last time they were on the slate. He ended up playing 32 minutes and looked pretty good. We know he’s going to stuff the stat sheet and I just think he’s too cheap again here, I’ll go right back to the well. Kyrie Irving bounced back nicely against the Raptors as well, I just don’t love the price tag on him. He would be more of a tournament option than anything for me. Kevin Durant would be my preferred option on the team if you can find the money to get up from Irving to him. Durant led the team last season with a 31.5% usage rate and 1.38 fantasy points per minute. He also averaged 59.5 DraftKings poitns per game in two games against the Grizzlies last season. Speaking of the Grizzlies, Dillon Brooks comes into this one as questionable, but I’ll continue to operate under the assumption that he’s out until he actually returns. Be sure to keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates as we get closer to lock. Ja Morant had a down game last time out but has been in elite form to start the season. He’s dominating usage with Brooks and Jackson out and would be a guy I have no issue going right back to in this one. Desmond Bane will continue to be a nice mid-range option as well, he had a 28.1% usage rate and 1.12 fantasy points per minute with Brooks and Jackson off of the court last season. I would expect Santi Aldama to continue to start for Jackson in this one, he got into quick foul trouble last time out which led to him playing just 21 minutes but he’s been very good on a per-minute basis this season. Then guys like Steven Adams, Tyus Jones, and John Konchar are all fine dart throws in GPPs, but nobody I want to go too crazy with.
5-star play: Ben Simmons, Kevin Durant, Ja Morant
4-star play: Kyrie Irving, Desmond Bane, Santi Aldama
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Kyrie Irving, Steven Adams, Tyus Jones, John Konchar, Royce O’Neale
San Antonio Spurs @ Minnesota Timberwolves
Vegas Total: 230.5
Vegas Spread: Min -10.0
Starting with the Spurs, Keldon Johnson continues to look great with Dejounte Murray off of the team. He’s playing right around 30 minutes per game and is producing nicely, I have no issue going back to the well with him in a great matchup with the Wolves here. The price tag on Jakob Poeltl continues to be too low, but this is a tough matchup against Gobert down low which makes him more of a secondary option for me. Devin Vassell has looked great after a rough opener, but now has at least 35 DraftKings points in back-to-back games and is a guy I like again in this one. Tre Jones will continue to start at point guard and has been great this season but the price tag has caught up with him making him more of a secondary option as well. I liked Jeremy Sochan to start the season but his minutes have declined in three straight games, so we can safely avoid him in this one. From the Wolves, Rudy Gobert has looked great to start the season for the Wolves, but his price feels like it’s right where it should be. Poeltl can handle the interior pretty well, but Gobert should have no issue continuing to play well and looks like a solid secondary option if you land on him. Karl-Anthony Towns has been held under 40 fantasy points in each game this season and I’ll probably hold off on playing him until we see that ceiling game… I just have a feeling that those big double-double games will be few and far between with Gobert manning the glass. D’Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards both look great here, I was all over Edwards yesterday and he dropped a 50 burger. I love attacking the Spurs with guards and this spot will be no different. Then Jaden McDaniels has played good minutes to start the season and makes sense as a mid-range GPP option.
5-star play: Keldon Johnson, Anthony Edwards
4-star play: Jakob Poeltl, Tre Mann, Devin Vassell, Rudy Gobert, D’Angelo Russell
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Karl-Anthony Towns, Jaden McDaniels
Denver Nuggets @ Portland Trailblazers
Vegas Total: 229.5
Vegas Spread: Den -3.5
We’ll round out the slate with the Nuggets, Jamaal Murray returned last time out and played 28 minutes. I would expect something similar for him in this one, somewhere around 30 minutes, but I’ll still wait for that big game from him before going back at this price tag. I loved getting to Michael Porter Jr. in that $5k range on DraftKings and think he’s a solid option again in this one. He has a legit 50-point upside when he’s out there if he can get hot from the field. Nikola Jokic had a 31.8% usage rate and 1.78 fantasy points per minute last year and has picked up right where he left off this season, he’s looked great and will be an elite spend-up option on this slate. Outside of those three, guys like Aaron Gordon, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Bruce Brown are all secondary GPP options for me, but the pace in this one should set up nicely for some fantasy production. From the Blazers, Damian Lillard has at least 52 DraftKings points in back-to-back games after a slow start in the opener. I have no issue going right back to the well with him here, especially on FanDuel where he’s just $8.8k. Jerami Grant and Josh Hart are both going to continue to play massive minutes and are guys I have no problem going right back to. Grant has had a couple of rough games after a good opener, but as long as the minutes are there I think he’s a solid option. Anfernee Simons is another guy that will play massive minutes, but I just don’t love the price tag in the backcourt with a ball-dominant point guard in Lillard. Finally, Jusuf Nurkic has been a bit volatile to start the season but the price tag is nice and they’ll need his size down low against Jokic. It’s also a revenge game for him against his old squad.
5-star play: Nikola Jokic, Damian Lillard (FanDuel)
4-star play: Michael Porter Jr., Jerami Grant, Josh Hart, Jusuf Nurkic, Damian Lillard (DraftKings)
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Jamaal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Bruce Brown, Anfernee Simons
NBA Lock of the Day: Ben Simmons (DK – $6.6k; FD – $6.4k)
I’m going right back to the well with Ben Simmons in this one after falling in love with him as the slate went on the last time the Nets were on the slate. The price tag is just too low considering the minutes he’ll play and his role on this team. He’s going to stuff the stat sheet and the potential assist numbers are crazy. Any scoring for him is the cherry on top and would help with a double-double and triple-double bonus. At this point in the day, I would think he makes my core, but check out our VIP Cheat Sheets as we get closer to lock for staff picks on Core plays, 8x locks of the day, and tiers notes as well!
The only thing you are missing at this point is the key to unlock the next level of your game. Come inside and check us out!! We have experts sharing their secrets and experience on a daily basis. Combining that with the actual ability to ask them questions and get quick answers in return gives you a recipe for success that puts our army hats on leaderboards all over the face of DFS.
When you sign up, don’t forget to use promo code MADNESS to save 10% on your membership each and every month!
Editor’s Note – However, if you are more interested in simply betting the games, NBA is full of crazy action. And, our dynamic modeling over at SharpBets adjusts in real time to help identify Vegas inaccuracies you can exploit. Follow Ryan, Anthony, and Statsational for models and coaching advice that help you build any bankroll for any sport…
