Main Slate Breakdown for NBA DFS 11/2:
Oct 31, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant #35 guards San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama #1 during the second half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Zachary BonDurant-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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Orlando Magic @ Utah Jazz
Vegas Total: 222.5
Vegas Spread: Orl -1.0
We’ll kick this slate off with the Orlando Magic on the road. Paolo Banchero has been fine but he’s not performing to where his price tag has been. I do think he’s probably the best player and has the highest potential of anyone on this team, but he’s just gotta figure it out after struggling a bit. That being said, his price tag has followed his production making him in play on a short slate in a great matchup. Franz Wagner has been solid on the wing with at least 30 DraftKings points in three straight games and makes sense in this one. Wendell Carter Jr. was a guy I liked quite a bit last time this team was on the slate, but he’s underproduced as well. He has the capability of playing 30+ minutes per game and I think it’s just a matter of time before he has a breakout game. Then the trio of Markelle Fultz, Cole Anthony, and Jalen Suggs feel like similar options in the same price tier. It’ll be tough to determine who has the big night between the three on any given night but are all worth a look at the very least. From the Jazz, Lauri Markkanen has been in great form as of late, as I write this he’s cooking on the Grizzlies and has put up 57 DraftKings points in two of his last three games prior to Wednesday. Jordan Clarkson has struggled from the field this season but bounced back nicely last night, he’s going to look good again here at a nice price tag, he’s far too cheap. Then we get to Walker Kessler who had a big bounce-back game against the Nuggets but has been bad otherwise, under 20 DraftKings points in his other three games and is under 20 again on Wednesday’s slate. We know what he can do from a fantasy standpoint, but it just feels like he’s hitting a bit of a sophomore wall. I like him as a GPP option due to the upside he has. John Collins has been great since joining the team and is playing consistent minutes, he’s yet another guy who will look good. Talen Horton-Tucker and Kelly Olynyk are tournament options too, both are volatile but have nice ceilings. Lastly, Keyonte George is an interesting flyer on a short slate, the rookie has shown signs of upside if the minutes are there at a cheap price tag.
5-star play: Jordan Clarkson
4-star play: Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Wendell Carter Jr., Markelle Fultz, Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, Walker Kessler
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs, Talen Horton-Tucker, Kelly Olynyk, Keyonte George, Collin Sexton
Toronto Raptors @ Philadelphia 76ers
Vegas Total: NA
Vegas Spread: NA
Starting with the Raptors, they opened up a can of whoop ass on my Bucks last night and gets another tough matchup in this one. Scottie Barnes has been incredible to start the season and is taking on more ball-handling and playmaking duties with Fred VanVleet off of the team. He has at least 42 FanDuel points in every game this season but has certainly seen his price come up. That said, he’s going to look good yet again in this one. Pascal Siakam has been on the opposite end of that, he did bounce back nicely last night but gets a tough matchup with Embiid down-low in this one. If Precious Achiuwa misses this game again I’ll go right back to the well on Jakob Poeltl as well, it solidifies his minutes a good deal. Dennis Schroder has been great as well and is a solid mid-range option in this one. O.G. Anunoby hasn’t been all that impressive but the price tag makes sense on a short slate. Then Gary Trent Jr. makes sense as a tournament option to round out the team. From the Sixers, Joel Embiid was unreal last time out in just 29 minutes, he’s going to look like a top spend-up option on this slate and has only increased his production in every game this season. Tyrese Maxey has been awesome with James Harden no longer on the team, his price tag has followed his production but with at least 47 DraftKings points in each game, he’s going to look great again here. Tobias Harris is playing massive minutes and has been more aggressive in their new offense, he’s a solid mid-range option. Then guys like Kelly Oubre and De’Anthony Melton are in play as tournament flyers but do come with some volatility. Oubre may lose some of that volatility as he moves into the starting lineup with PJ Tucker traded, however, so he would be my preferred option. I don’t think newcomers like KJ Martin, Robert Covington, and Nic Batum are worth playing right away, but let’s keep an eye on their rotations.
5-star play: Scottie Barnes, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey
4-star play: Pascal Siakam, Jakob Poeltl, O.G. Anunoby, Dennis Schroder, Tobias Harris, Kelly Oubre
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Gary Trent Jr., De’Anthony Melton
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Detroit Pistons @ New Orleans Pelicans
Vegas Total: NA
Vegas Spread: NA
Starting with the Pistons, we’ll have to keep an eye on the status of Jalen Duren as he missed yesterday’s game. If he misses this one we can go right back to the well on Marvin Bagley who started in his place and would be a top value yet again. Cade Cunningham looked good again last night and makes sense as a pay-up option on this slate. Isaiah Stewart looked good again last night and regardless of whether Duren plays or not, his minutes are solidified, and makes sense as a mid-range guy with PF/C eligibility. Jaden Ivey is going to be extremely volatile this season as we have already seen, his minutes are all over the place and he needs to fight for usage with Cade. The only other guy I would have interest in here is Ausar Thompson, he continues to stuff the stat sheet, I mean he’s doing everything except for scoring right now, and that will come with time. From the Pelicans, we have some injury news to keep an eye on with them as well. Brandon Ingram has missed their last two games, so keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates as we get closer to lock. CJ McCollum had a massive night last night and will look like a great option if Ingram is forced to miss again tonight, if Ingram plays he’s more of a secondary option, but still someone I would find some exposure to. Zion Williamson looked solid, I just don’t love his price tag. Jonas Valanciunas only played 21 minutes but was able to put up big fantasy numbers, he’s always been a great per-minute guy. The other guy I would look to get to if Ingram is out is Jordan Hawkins who has been great over the last couple of games with him out, he has a nice price tag as well. Then guys like Larry Nance and Herbert Jones are solid fillers to round out this team.
5-star play: TBD
4-star play: TBD
Deeper Value: TBD
GPP Sleeper: TBD
***TBD – check out the Cheat Sheets as we get closer to lock for updates when we get news on Ingram and Duren***
San Antonio Spurs @ Phoenix Suns
Vegas Total: 225.0
Vegas Spread: Pho -8.0
We saw this matchup on Tuesday night, so we have a bit of a sample to go off of. Starting with the Spurs, Victor Wembanyama bounced back a bit last time out but is still overpriced, he’s not going to see minutes that we would expect to see out of guys in his price range. That said, he’s obviously a freak and has 5+ block upside which is huge for DFS. He’s more of a tournament guy due to the price tag. Devin Vassell bounced back nicely last time out and has at least 32 DraftKings points in three of his last four, he’s a solid secondary option. Keldon Johnson is in the same boat as Vassell and looked great last time out, he’ll look like a good option here. Zach Collins is going to continue to start at center next to Wemby and is a guy I like in all formats, he’s always been a nice per-minute producer. Jeremy Sochan has great PG/SF eligibility at a nice price tag and will look like a nice option as he continues to start at point guard for this team. Lastly, Tre Jones is a fine option off of the bench as well, but he’s going to be killed by blowouts as we saw last game since he’ll lose a rotation or two coming off the bench. From the Suns, they’ll be without Devin Booker and Bradley Beal yet again tonight, below is how this team has operated with these guys off of the court this season:
- Eric Gordon – 23.7% usage rate; 0.92 fpm
- Grayson Allen – 14.0% usage rate; 0.83 fpm
- Josh Okogie – 14.0% usage rate; 0.64 fpm
- Kevin Durant – 35.0% usage rate; 1.31 fpm
- Jusuf Nurkic – 18.3% usage rate; 1.21 fpm
Durant is going to be the guy to get to as a spend-up option here, he’s going to look like an elite option yet again on a short slate. The rest of this starting lineup is firmly in play as well due to the minutes and production that open up with these guys out. Jordan Goodwin will continue to make sense off of the bench as well and has been about a fantasy point per guy with the elevation in his minutes. He only saw 14 minutes last time out, but I have no issue going back to him as a tournament option.
5-star play: Kevin Durant
4-star play: Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan, Zach Collins, Keldon Johnson, Grayson Allen, Eric Gordon, Josh Okogie, Jusuf Nurkic
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Victor Wembanyama, Tre Jones, Jordan Goodwin
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