DFS NBA Full Court Press: FanDuel & DraftKings Main Slate

Main Slate Breakdown for NBA DFS 11/14:

Nov 12, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) reacts after scoring 50 points against the Indiana Pacers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-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!

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Before I get started, I need to shoutout a few huge VIP Member wins – “Phamacist” took 1st place in the $300k Fadeway contest which netted him $100k while “da_banditz” grabbed 1st place on FanDuel as well winning $10k- congrats guys!

Miami Heat @ Charlotte Hornets

Vegas Total: 224.5

Vegas Spread: Sac -8.5

We’ll kick this slate with the Heat, Jimmy Butler returned last time out but wasn’t all that great in 37 minutes. The matchup here is awesome against a fast-paced Hornets team that doesn’t play a whole lot of defense, however. Bam Adebayo was the guy who kept it rolling last time out with at least 52 DraftKings points in four straight games and gets an elite matchup in this one. Kyle Lowry ended up resting last time out but should return here at a fair price tag with Tyler Herro still out. I do still think Duncan Robinson is solid as well, he should continue to start with Herro out, I don’t understand the PF eligibility on DraftKings, but we know what he can do when he gets going from the field like he did last time out. Guys like Josh Richardson and Jaime Jaquez are fine options but do take a slight minutes hit with Lowry back, I would think more so Richardson than Jaquez who has been great in big minutes over the last two games. From the Hornets, they’ll be without Terry Rozier again, so we should expect Brandon Miller to get the start in his spot which solidifies his minutes a good amount. Below is how this team has operated with Rozier off of the court this season:

LaMelo Ball – 30.3% usage rate; 1.44 fpm
Brandon Miller – 16.6% usage rate; 0.59 fpm
Gordon Hayward – 26.0% usage rate; 1.27 fpm
PJ Washington – 22.2% usage rate; 0.87 fpm
Mark Williams – 23.4% usage rate; 1.50 fpm

Miller hasn’t done a ton with his opportunity but we know the raw talent is there, I just don’t love the price tag on a big slate. Ball has been the guy to get to with at least 50 DraftKings points in three of his last four games and is going to look great again in this one. Then guys like Washington, Hayward, and Mark Williams all make sense as secondary options in a tougher matchup against a slower-paced team that looks to win more on the defensive end.

5-star play: Bam Adebayo, LaMelo Ball

4-star play: Jimmy Butler, Duncan Robinson, Kyle Lowry, Gordon Hayward, PJ Washington, Mark Williams

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Jaime Jaquez, Brandon Miller

Indiana Pacers @ Philadelphia 76ers

Vegas Total: 240.5

Vegas Spread: Phi -5.5

Starting with the Pacers, Tyrese Haliburton kept it rolling last time out and now has at least 52 FanDuel points in three of his last five including a 60-point game in this matchup last time out. The Pacers are playing extremely fast and the assist equity is massive for him with the number of threes this team is taking. Myles Turner will have his hands full with Embiid down low but was solid last time out and has shown some consistency as of late. Then we get to the rest of this team which is a bit of a crap shoot. Bennedict Mathurin, Bruce Brown, and Buddy Hield are all fine options, but good luck trying to predict who gets the minutes and has a good game. We’ve at least seen the ceiling over the last few games from Mathurin making him my favorite option of the three. It’s hard for me to back anyone on this team outside of Haliburton and Turner, honestly. From the Sixers, Joel Embiid comes in as questionable so we’ll need to keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed as we get closer to lock, but for the sake of the article, I’ll operate under the assumption that he’s good to go here. Embiid kept it rolling last time out and now has at least 61 DraftKings points in three of his last four. He’s going to look like a top raw option on this slate if we can find the value to spend up. Tyrese Maxey has gone nuclear with Harden now out of the question, he has at least 63 DraftKings points in back-to-back games and I still think he might be underpriced considering the matchup against a fast-paced team. Then Tobias Harris is the last player I’d have interest in, maybe Robert Covington if he starts with Oubre and Batum out. Harris has been extremely consistent as of late.

5-star play: Tyrese Haliburton, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey

4-star play: Myles Turner, Tobias Harris

Deeper Value: Robert Covington

GPP Sleeper: Bennedict Mathurin, Bruce Brown, Buddy Hield, Robert Covington

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Atlanta Hawks @ Detroit Pistons

Vegas Total: 233.0

Vegas Spread: Atl -4.5

Starting with the Hawks, Trae Young comes in questionable, so more news we’ll have to keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed as we get closer to lock, but again, I’ll operate under the assumption that he’s good to go here. He’s still not shooting great but is putting up good fantasy numbers, when he has that good shooting game he’s going to have a massive game and I want to be on him when it happens. Dejounte Murray has at least 42 FanDuel points in three of his last five and is a fine option, but I’m not sure I love the price tag. Jalen Johnson had a rough go of it in 22 minutes last time out, I would think he still starts, but they’ve been open to throwing Saddiq Bey in there at times this year and maybe this game is enough to turn that again here. If Bey starts he’s going to look like a great value option and is someone I like at this price whether he starts or not. Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu continue to split minutes and I’m just more willing to save the money on Okongwu who is just as good of a point-per-minute guy. Then guys like Bogdan Bogdanovic and De’Andre Hunter are fine filler pieces, but I doubt we need to get to them on a slate of this size. From the Pistons, they got Jaden Ivey and Alec Burks back last time out which hurts the minutes for guys like Marcus Sasser and Killian Hayes and are guys I’d be off of in this one at their respective price tags. They’ll still be without Jalen Duren which means we probably see Marvin Bagley back in the starting lineup. He hasn’t been great and the minutes are still volatile, so I don’t think we need to get to him either. Cade Cunningham had a tough game last time out but still saw big minutes, we know the ceiling is there but he’ll be volatile, I do like the matchup a good deal though. Isaiah Stewart was good and will continue to play big minutes and Duren being out will help that rebound equity. Then, Ausar Thompson has been great as well and is filling up the stat sheet, his price is up, but I like the floor/ceiling combination.

5-star play: Trae Young

4-star play: Dejounte Murray, Saddiq Bey, Jalen Johnson, Cade Cunningham, Isaiah Stewart, Ausar Thompson

Deeper Value: Saddiq Bey

GPP Sleeper: Clint Capela, Onyeka Okongwu, Bogdan Bogdanovic, De’Andre Hunter

Orlando Magic @ Brooklyn Nets

Vegas Total: 219.0

Vegas Spread: Bkn -2.0

Starting with the Magic, they’ll be without Wendell Carter Jr. and Markelle Fultz again here… Fultz was ruled out right at tip-off last time out which was frustrating to say the least, so at least we don’t need to worry about that again. Anthony Black should start in his place again and just isn’t doing a ton in terms of fantasy production. That said, the minutes will be there if you need a value option with good position eligibility. Goga Bitadze will start at the five but I think I like Mo Wagner slightly more off of the bench. He’s been better as a point-per-minute guy and has the ability to close games. Paolo Banchero looked great last time out and now has at least 47 Fanduel points in three of his last five. Franz Wagner is never really a guy I’m looking to force into lineups, but if you land on him I won’t talk you off at this price tag. Then Jalen Suggs and Cole Anthony make sense with Fultz out as well, Suggs is the cash guy while Anthony is more fit for tournaments. From the Nets, no Ben Simmons or Cam Thomas for them while Lonnie Walker comes in as questionable. Cam Johnson is back with the team and in the starting lineup, he saw 35 minutes last time out and is going to look like a great mid-range option. There’s going to be a lot more usage and shots to go around with Thomas out, below is how they operate with Simmons and Thomas off of the court this season:

Spencer Dinwiddie – 19.9% usage rate; 1.03 fpm
Mikal Bridges – 30.4% usage rate; 1.06 fpm
Cam Johnson – 25.3% usage rate; 0.74 fpm
Dorian Finney-Smith – 12.6% usage rate; 0.63 fpm
Nic Claxton – 8.0% usage rate; 1.07 fpm

They did get Claxton back last time out and saw 28 minutes, I would think we see more of the same in this one and gets a great matchup. Johnson is probably my favorite at his price tag but Bridges and Dinwiddie make sense as well as Claxton.

5-star play: Cam Johnson

4-star play: Paolo Banchero, Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, Spencer Dinwiddie, Mikal Bridges, Nic Claxton

Deeper Value: Anthony Black

GPP Sleeper: Anthony Black, Goga Bitadze, Mo Wagner, Cole Anthony, Dorian Finney-Smith

San Antonio Spurs @ Oklahoma City Thunder

Vegas Total: 237.0

Vegas Spread: Okc -9.5

Starting with the Spurs, Victor Wembanyama was good last time out and now has at least 45 DraftKings points in three of his last five games. I think the beef with Chet is actually real, so he may have some incentive to give a little extra in this one. I have no issue with him in tournaments at the very least. Devin Vassell was unlikely to play last time out and then played…12 minutes, welcome to the NBA. I would think he’s a go here, but it’s hard to trust him after that game. Keldon Johnson has been fine but is priced right where he should be. Zach Collins hasn’t been great over his last few games but I do like the matchup against this Thunder frontcourt. Jeremy Sochan, Keldon Johnson, and Tre Jones all come in as questionable so keep an eye on their statuses as we get closer to lock. If any of them fit the rest of this lineup would see a boost, but I’ll operate under the assumption they’ll all play. From the Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a massive game last time out and gets a great matchup here against the Spurs, he has at least 50 DraftKings points in four straight games and the matchup looks great here. Josh Giddey continues to be priced up and is probably not a guy I want to get to with SGA in there, he demands a bunch of usage in order to produce that price tag and it’ll be tough to do with SGA in there. That said, his price tag has come down a decent amount, and is coming off of a nice game last time out. Chet Holmgren has looked good and is seeing a bunch of minutes, it’s a great matchup, and is a guy who makes sense in all formats…and as I mentioned, I do think there is beef between him and Wemby. Jalen Williams is in the same boat as Giddey, I just don’t love the price tag on a big slate. Then Lu Dort will make sense as a tournament option at his price tag.

5-star play: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

4-star play: Victor Wembanyama, Devin Vassell, Zach Collins, Chet Holmgren

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan, Tre Jones, Josh Giddey, Jalen Williams, Lu Dort

Dallas Mavericks @ New Orleans Pelicans

Vegas Total: 239.5

Vegas Spread: Dal -3.5

Starting with the Mavs, Luka Doncic came down to Earth last time out but the Pelicans are playing fast and loose defensively this season so the matchup is elite and Doncic has at least 60 DraftKings points in two of his last three. Kyrie Irving had the big game last time out and it’s pretty clear it’s going to be tough for Kyrie and Luka to have big games relative to their price tags on the same night. Dereck Lively has really struggled with foul trouble as of late but we’ve seen him produce nicely at times this season so I don’t hate taking a flyer on him. I do think the price tag on Tim Hardaway is solid enough that he can produce a ceiling outcome in a solid matchup. Grant Williams hasn’t been good either and wouldn’t be a guy I can imagine playing on a big slate. Lastly, if you want to take a chance on Derrick Jones Jr. you can but he came back to Earth last time out. From the Pels, they’ll be without CJ McCollum again in this one meaning we should see Jordan Hawkins in the starting lineup again. Zion Williamson hasn’t been good since returning to the team after the birth of his child, maybe that newborn is keeping him up all night? Below is how this team has operated with him off of the court this season:

Brandon Ingram – 33.8% usage rate; 1.18 fpm
Jordan Hawkins – 22.6% usage rate; 0.81 fpm
Herbert Jones – 14.5% usage rate; 0.77 fpm
Zion Williamson – 30.7% usage rate; 1.17 fpm
Jonas Valanciunas – 20.1% usage rate; 1.28 fpm

Ingram will be my favorite option here as he runs the point with McCollum out but the rest of this starting lineup is going to look good as well. Hawkins has been all over the place and is more of a tournament option. I want to like Zion but it’s hard to ignore his production as of late, that said, I love the matchup against this Mavs frontcourt.

5-star play: Luka Doncic

4-star play: Kyrie Irving, Tim Hardaway, Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, Jonas Valanciunas

Deeper Value: Matt Ryan

GPP Sleeper: Dereck Lively, Derrick Jones Jr., Jordan Hawkins, Herbert Jones

Portland Trail Blazers @ Utah Jazz

Vegas Total: 230.0

Vegas Spread: Uta -6.0

Starting with the Blazers, they’ll continue to be without Scoot Henderson, Anfernee Simons, and Malcolm Brogdon. This means the backcourt will be run by Shaedon Sharpe and Skylar Mays, both guys are playing absolutely massive minutes and look good again in this one. Jerami Grant came down to Earth last time out after a massive game against the Kings, that said, he’s going to look like a nice mid-range option in a good matchup. Deandre Ayton hasn’t been great but the minutes are still there and the matchup is great with Kessler out for the Jazz, I like the price tag as well. Lastly, Matisse Thybulle and Toumani Camara will have to play wing minutes and are fine value options but I have a feeling we’ll get better options than them. From the Jazz, we saw Keyonte George continue to get the start with Walker Kessler set to miss the next few weeks. I had originally thought we’d see Kelly Olynyk in the starting five but that wasn’t the case. George has seen 30 minutes and has been solid if you need a mid-range option. Speaking of Olynyk, he hasn’t seen the minutes increase I figured he would with Kessler out but I do still think they’re there for him to take if he’s playing well and makes sense as a tournament option. Lauri Markkanen has been fine as of late but feels like he’s priced right where he should be, we don’t need to force him in. Jordan Clarkson has at least 42 DraftKings points in back-to-back games and gets an elite matchup in this one. John Collins is another guy who has been good for them but is priced all the way up to the point where I don’t think we can confidently roster him. Lastly, Talen Horton-Tucker’s minutes are all over the place making him hard to trust as well.

5-star play: Shaedon Sharpe, Skylar Mays, Lauri Markkanen

4-star play: Deandre Ayton, Jerami Grant, Keyonte George, Jordan Clarkson

Deeper Value: Toumani Camara, Matisse Thybulle

GPP Sleeper: Toumani Camara, Matisse Thybulle, Kelly Olynyk, John Collins, Talen Horton-Tucker

Los Angeles Clippers @ Denver Nuggets

Vegas Total: 225.5

Vegas Spread: Den -4.5

Starting with the Clippers, it’s extremely hard to know what to do with this team with James Harden joining Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and Kawhi Leonard as high-usage players. Harden hasn’t been great from a fantasy perspective in his first few games. George and Westbrook were able to pay off their price tags last time out if you want to go to them, but this team feels like mostly a stay-away for me. His presence seemed to harm the production for Kawhi and George and will be GPP options for me, at best. Lastly, Ivica Zubac is a fine option who should see his minutes solidify with Mason Plumlee now out with injury, they’ll also need his size down low against Jokic in this one. From the Nuggets, they’ll still be without Jamal Murray again in this one meaning Reggie Jackson should stick around in the starting lineup. Below is how this team has operated with Murray off of the court this season:

Reggie Jackson – 20.9% usage rate; 0.86 fpm
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope – 14.1% usage rate; 0.59 fpm
Michael Porter Jr. – 21.8% usage rate; 1.10 fpm
Aaron Gordon – 18.3% usage rate; 1.05 fpm
Nikola Jokic – 32.0% usage rate; 1.88 fpm

Jokic is the obvious option and will look like a top spend-up option on the slate, he has at least 67 DraftKings points in five straight games. Porter Jr. and Gordon have looked great as of late as well and will see an increase in usage and opportunity with Murray out. I can’t say I love getting to Jackson at his price tag but I’m fine with it if you land on him.

5-star play: Nikola Jokic

4-star play: Paul George, Russell Westbrook, Ivica Zubac, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Russell Westbrook, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Reggie Jackson, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

Minnesota Timberwolves @ Golden State Warriors

Vegas Total: 219.5

Vegas Spread: Gsw -2.0

Starting with the Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards has been in great form with at least 50 DraftKings points in four of his last five games and gets a great matchup in this one. Karl-Anthony Towns has been much better over his last two games and makes sense at this price tag after showing some inconsistency very early on in the season. I do like the price tag on Rudy Gobert again, he’s been in good form and is playing elite-level defense again. Jaden McDaniels saw his minutes come back up last time out, but I can’t say I love the price tag relative to his point-per-minute production. Then guys like Naz Reid and Kyle Anderson are secondary tournament options. Naz continues to pop in our lineup optimizer, he’s been great on a point-per-minute basis. From the Warriors, Steph Curry comes into this one as questionable, so keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed as we get closer to lock, but I’ll operate under the assumption that he’s good to go here. We may not get the news by lock anyway with this being a later game. He’s never really a spend-up option that I get to due to the other guys in his price range ability to grab those ancillary stats more than Curry does, but we know what happens when Steph gets hot from behind the line. I’ll continue to fade Klay Thompson at this price tag, he’s only gone over 30 DraftKings points once this season. Draymond Green has been solid but his minutes haven’t been great, he’s never a guy I’ll talk you off of if you land on him. I don’t love the price tag on Chris Paul considering the minutes he’s seeing. They’ll need Kevon Looney’s size against Gobert and Towns down low and makes sense as a GPP option. Lastly, Andrew Wiggins has been terrible this season, I can’t get to him until he starts to show signs of improvement.

5-star play: Anthony Edwards

4-star play: Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert, Steph Curry, Draymond Green

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, Kyle Anderson, Klay Thompson, Kevon Looney, Chris Paul, Andrew Wiggins

Memphis Grizzlies @ Los Angeles Lakers

Vegas Total: 223.0

Vegas Spread: Lal -4.5

Starting with the Grizzlies, Xavier Tillman comes in as questionable so we’ll need to keep an eye on his status as we get closer to lock but I would imagine he moves back into the starting lineup which would make Bismack Biyombo a fade… if Biyombo starts again I have no problem going back to him. Jaren Jackson Jr. has struggled over his last few games, both with fouls and from the field. He’ll have a tough time keeping his hands to himself against LeBron and Davis in this one making him a tournament option. Desmond Bane has been great with at least 42 DraftKings points in four of his last five games and looks great again in this one. Then Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard are fine options in all formats to fill lineups with. From the Lakers, Anthony Davis has returned to playing monster minutes yet again, he’s going to look like a great option and will get a boost if LeBron is forced to miss. LeBron James comes in as questionable, so keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed as we get closer to lock. I prefer Davis if they both play, but no issue with LeBron as well. D’Angelo Russell has seen good minutes this season and makes sense as a mid-range option in all formats. Lastly, Austin Reaves came off of the bench last time out but the minutes were still there, I don’t have an issue with landing on him again here.

5-star play: Desmond Bane, Anthony Davis

4-star play: Xavier Tillman, Jaren Jackson Jr., Marcus Smart, LeBron James, D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves

Deeper Value: Luke Kennard

GPP Sleeper: Xavier Tillman, Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard

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