THE SLATE:

(w/ Implied Team Totals & Odds via KenPom)

7 pm ET -- Abilene Christian (58) at Texas Tech (74) -- 132 total **DK ONLY**

7:15 pm ET -- Indiana (69) @ Florida State (71) -- 140 total

7:15 pm ET -- Georgia Tech (74) @ Nebraska (73) -- 147 total

8 pm ET -- Oklahoma (74) @ Xavier (73) --147 total

8 pm ET -- Texas State (57) @ Texas (75) -- 132 total **DK ONLY**

8:15 pm ET -- Liberty (61) @ Missouri (72) -- 133 total **DK ONLY**

9 pm ET -- California (67) @ Pepperdine (72) -- 139 total **DK ONLY**

9:15 pm ET -- Pittsburgh (69) @ Northwestern (74) -- 143 total

 

Top Guards

 

Top Guards
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Austin ReavesOUXAV85000790039.15
Reaves was one of Oklahoma’s top playmakers last season and he’s now being asked to do even more as the lead ball-handler and offensive catalyst. Through two games, the senior leads the Sooners in offensive usage rate (30%) and we got a glimpse of exactly what his ceiling can be in Sunday’s win over TCU. In that outing, the 6-foot-5 point guard went off for 32 points scored with nine assists and six boards as he was the clear-cut top scoring option for OU. Unfortunately we only have that performance - and a blowout win over UTSA in the opener - to go off of, but we should see those types of stat-stuffing games from Reaves all season. More people might go to Scruggs or other lower-priced guards in the high end for cash games, but Reaves has a massive ceiling in GPP’s.
Paul ScruggsXAVOU830032.12650032.33
Scruggs is now the man for Xavier with Naji Marshall, Tyrique Jones and Quentin Goodin all gone from last year’s squad. After being one of the best point guards in the Big East last season, the senior entered this year as one of the best players and leaders in the conference yet again. Through six games already, Scruggs has not disappointed as he’s taken a bigger offensive role for the Musketeers. His all-around stat-stuffing and high-floor/ceiling DFS value was on full display last time out vs. Cincinnati when he scored 20 points with five assists, five boards and a block in Xavier’s rivalry game win. This is a pace-up spot for Scruggs against a fast tempo Oklahoma team - so load him up in cash games without a worry.
Matt BradleyCALPEP820027.94  
On the DK slate tonight, we have four extra games to work with and one of the best expensive players from those additional matchups is Bradley. He’s basically Cal’s entire offense with a massive usage rate (34%) and shots share (35%) through four games. This was the case last season as well and we continually saw Bradley be a solid cash game staple on any slate because of his high usage and DFS floor with how much he’s involved - no matter how badly California might lose the game. Tonight, the Golden Bears are actually projected to lose to Pepperdine - but who cares?! Bradley should give us 30+ DK points in a pace-up matchup where he’ll be taking a ton of shots with plenty of ancillary stats thrown in.
Teddy AllenNEBGT760036.83760033.40
This Nebraska-Georgia Tech game is one to target overall as one of the faster-paced, higher-scoring matchups. Two high-priced options for the Cornhuskers are firmly in play, so let’s use this space to cover both. Teddy Allen leads the team in usage rate (31%) and shot volume (31%) through four games and he’s scored 20+ points in back-to-back games. With a thick frame on the wing, Allen can score in a variety of ways and he’s a legit threat to put up 35-40 DK points tonight as Nebraska’s top scoring option. Note that Allen is a forward on FD’s slate. Dalano Banton ($7,500 DK / $6,800 FD) is the other top-end Husker to consider. At 6-foot-9, he mostly operates in a power forward role and is usually the team’s second scoring option behind Allen. He’s also a threat to put up 35-40 DFS points with how much he stuffs the stat sheet in all categories - keeping his floor very safe in this matchup. Both are great cash or GPP plays.
Au'Diese ToneyPITTNW700036.62670030.60
Pitt has a trio of studs that are firmly in play in this pace-up spot vs. Northwestern - and the cheapest among them is Toney. Because of the savings for similar DFS production, Toney is a much better per-dollar play than Xavier Johnson and Julian Champagnie - although all three should produce tonight. As for Toney, though, he’s scored 20, 20, and 15 real points in three games thus far and his propensity to stuff the stat sheet with heavy starter minutes gives him a solid DFS floor. All three of Pitt’s top players have the potential to put up 30-40 DK points (or more), but Toney helps you save a bit and still get a high-floor option in cash games.

 

Value Guards

 

Value Guards
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Scottie BarnesFSUIU530023.5610021.56
Although we only have one Florida State game to go off, it seems like Barnes is a big value as long as he remains under 6k on DK. Barnes was the ACC’s highest-ranked high school recruit coming into this season - higher than any Duke or UNC freshmen - and he’s expected to play a big role on both ends in a likely one-and-done season for a Florida State rotation that’s trying to replace first-rounder Patrick Williams. At 6-foot-7 and 225 pounds, Barnes is a physical and athletic wing/power forward who led the Seminoles in usage rate (29%) and shot volume (26%) in the opener. He put up a solid stat line of eight points, six boards, six assists and 23 DK points in only 25 minutes in the blowout win - and we should expect even more production in a tighter matchup with Indiana. This is probably the cheapest we see Barnes all season and it’s honestly a slight mispricing from both sites.
Bubba ParhamGTNEB530025.58570024.10
While Georgia Tech has some studs worth looking at, Parham presents a cheaper way to get exposure to one of the higher-paced games on the slate. The senior was already playing big minutes in a “super-sub” sixth-man role for Tech, but he was inserted into the starting lineup last time out vs. Kentucky while regular starter Rodney Howard didn’t even see the court. It worked out for the Yellow Jackets because they won on the road with Parham scoring 17 points in 36 minutes. Whether or not Parham starts tonight, we can bank on him playing 20-30 minutes or more with basically a starter-level scoring role as a key piece of this offense. In all three games, he’s scored double-digit real points and 20 or more DK points. He should be popular in cash at this price tag.
Boo BuieNWPITT52000540023.60
It’s admittedly tough to get a read on Northwestern right now with both their games being easy blowout wins over mid-majors. Tonight will be the first real test for the Wildcats and we’ll get to see what their true rotation will be moving forward. As it stands, though, Buie is underpriced based on what we do know. And what we know is that Buie led Northwestern in offensive usage rate and shot volume last season as their most dynamic scoring option - despite only starting 11 of 26 games. This year, his offensive role seems down with the addition of Chase Audige to the team - but Buie should be heavily involved as the rotation tightens in a closer game. This might be the cheapest we see Buie all year after a big performance tonight.

 

Other Guards to Consider:

Matt Coleman III - Texas ($8,400 DK Only)

Xavier Johnson - Pittsburgh ($7,800 DK / $7,500 FD)

Dalano Banton - Nebraska ($7,500 DK / $6,800 FD)

M.J. Walker - Florida State ($6,800 DK / $5,800 FD)

Michael Devoe - Georgia Tech ($6,500 DK / $6,000 FD)

Armaan Franklin - Indiana ($5,400 DK / $3,900 FD)

Chris Parker - Liberty ($4,800 DK Only)

Sedrick Altman - Pepperdine ($3,800 DK Only)

Top Forwards

 

Top Forwards
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Trayce Jackson-DavisIUFSU880035.38770033.65
When Jackson-Davis opted to return for another college season and put off the NBA, we knew he’d be in for a big year. This Indiana offense is built around his strengths as an elite post scorer who’s fresh off a 31-point outing vs. Stanford last time out. His 34% usage rate and 35% shots share lead the team by a wide margin as he’s the clear go-to scorer - a spot he should be in today in a tough matchup vs. Florida State. In fact, he’s more a risky GPP play than a floor cash option at this price tag because of the matchup. FSU will likely send multiple bodies at Jackson-Davis and there is a worry that he lands in foul trouble - hurting his production for what you’re shelling out. Still, the DFS ceiling is always there for one of the best players in the country.
Moses WrightGTNEB870046.5820044.13
This is a big pace-up spot for Georgia Tech with Nebraska playing at a top-20 pace right now - and Moses Wright is Tech’s best player. We saw the senior put up some big performances against mid-majors to begin the year - including a 60-burger with 31 points and 19 rebounds in the opener - but we finally saw him prove it against tougher competition. Wright dropped 45 DK points with 21 real points scored and a stuffed box score vs. Kentucky on Sunday as he was a force down low on both ends. Tech runs its starters heavy minutes - keeping all of them solid DFS options with high floors - but Wright has a big ceiling in this uptempo matchup vs. Nebraska. The Huskers simply don’t have anyone to match up with Wright - so expect another big outing for your cash or GPP lineups.
Brady ManekOUXAV70000710031.60
How about the young Larry Bird, anyone?! If you’re lost, just search Google Images for Brady Manek and tell me he doesn’t look like the former Celtics legend. Ironically, Manek can be Bird-esque at times when he starts hitting from deep as a lights-out shooter. He was exactly what in Oklahoma’s opener when he drained 8-of-11 from deep for 29 points. At 6-foot-9, Manek is a versatile scorer with legit three-point range - and he forms a great 1-2 punch with Austin Reaves as the Sooners’ top offensive options. Manek’s production dipped a little in the last game vs. TCU, but he should bounce back in a tight matchup with Xavier tonight. He’s a great GPP option on this slate with a fantastic price tag.

 

Value Forwards

 

Value Forwards
PlayerTeamOpp.DK $DK FPPGFD $FD FPPG
Raiquan GrayFSUIU540024.75460023.50
It may take a game or two to see exactly how Florida State’s rotation shakes out considering their only outing was a blowout win over a mid-major. Tonight’s game will be the first test and we should see Gray play more than he did in that opener. The junior put up 25 DK points in just 18 minutes in that game with a stuffed stat sheet in all categories. If he can stay out of foul trouble, his defense will be needed to make life difficult for Indiana’s Trayce Jackson-Davis and we should get 20-25 minutes easy from him with a tighter matchup. He was a regular starter last year and is a big value at depressed salaries that are based on just one game of sample size.
Greg BrownUTTXST530018.7  
Texas is really good in real life but a little annoying for DFS purposes. The Longhorns have two stud guards in Matt Coleman and Courtney Ramey, but the frontcourt has been tough to predict game-to-game so far. Greg Brown was a Top 10 high school recruit coming in but he’s yet to have that true breakout game despite starting all five outings so far. Granted most of those matchups came against stiff competition - so we could see a big performance from him vs. a mid-major tonight. When Brown is on the court, he owns a team-high 30% usage rate with a high shot volume - but the only problem is he rarely sees more than 20 minutes. In the season opener, the freshman big man had 22 DK points and a double-double against another mid-major. So maybe we see a similar type of performance tonight or better.
Kur KuathOUXAV40000420014.15
It’s not often we get a starting center on a Power 5 team priced in the 4k range - yet that’s what we’re getting with Kuath tonight. The 6-foot-10 senior isn’t needed much for his offense on a team that features Brady Manek and Austin Reaves - but Kuath should have an advantage down low against Xavier. The Musketeers haven’t been great on the boards through six games - which is an area Kuath should feast on. Against TCU on Sunday, Kuath grabbed six rebounds in addition to eight points scored and a block - a DFS performance that would make him a huge value at these low price tags. He’s a solid cash game salary-saver.

 

Other Forwards to Consider:

Justin Champagnie - Pittsburgh ($8,200 DK / $7,000 FD)

Kessler Edwards - Pepperdine ($7,400 DK Only)

Jason Carter - Xavier ($5,900 DK / $6,400 FD)

Lat Mayen - Nebraska ($5,600 DK / $4,500 FD)

Miller Kopp - Northwestern ($5,100 DK / $5,300 FD)

Jericho Sims - Texas ($4,800 DK Only)