NBA DFS Playbook Position Coach: October 30, 2015

Sometimes building lineups on different sites can be maddening. Often times the sites have guys listed at positions they are not playing in. For instance you will see on FanDuel a player available as a PF who is actually a SF. This happens more often than one would like. It also can create nightmares when trying to determine the best matchups to play. This is just silly. Really. So due to this I have moved a few guys around. Our pricing is sorted by FanDuel so I decided to do the same with the positions. You will have to play each day with this problem like the rest of us but I will do my best to make it as easy as possible for you subscribers.

Point Guards

Russell Westbrook had 33 points in his season debut and there is no reason why this should not continue tonight versus an Orlando team that allows its fair share of points to the point guard position.  You add in the 208 expected point total and the upside is huge here. A must-play for cash games.

It is not often I rank a bench player my No. 2 option on the day but with the Celtics still shuffling things around one can expect Isaiah Thomas to get plenty of playing time. He put up 27 points in 29 minutes versus Philadelphia on Wednesday and tonight he faces a Raptors team that does not defend well against point guards.

Elfrid Payton nearly had a triple-double in his last outing versus Washington and should have no problem continuing this tonight in a game with an expected team total of 100 points.

I love the Detroit Pistons tonight at home. This is going to be close game and I believe the expected point total will exceed the 200 line set by the powers that be in Las Vegas. With this being said Reggie Jackson is in line to have one hell of a night. In his season opener he had 15 points, eight rebounds, and five assists.

Emmanuel Mudiay is a great play tonight versus a Milwaukee team that ranks 29^th versus the point guard position. With a high expected point total like 210 and a close (-4) line it is hard to ignore the better matchups in this game. Mudiay had 11 turnovers in his rookie debut but also had 17 points and nine rebounds.

Darren Collison more than likely did not expect to be a bench player this season. The Lakers have had major problems defending against the point guard position. To put it in perspective they are dead last. Yep, they rank 30^th in the NBA. There is a problem with this stat. It is a new Lakers team. With that being said Collison should see his fair share of minutes tonight in a fast-paced game with a 210 expected point total. Good GPP play.

Shooting Guards

There are two players I will have in every cash game and GPP tonight. Russell Westbrook and James Harden. Harden is a great play almost every day regardless of the matchup. Tonight’s game has an expected total of 214 with a PK for the line. This is going to be a shootout and Harden will be holding the biggest gun. He could easily put up 40 points tonight.

C.J. McCollum scored 37 points in his season opener. Portland is slight underdogs tonight and expected to be behind which should see McCollum rack up quite a few minutes. Until the industry price catches up to his production he is one of a few players who are must-plays right now.

Klay Thompson certainly did not give fantasy owners what they hoped for in his season opener. He only scored nine points. Tonight he is playing a Rockets team that struggles versus the shooting guard position. In a high-paced, close game he could have that breakout night at a fairly low ownership.

Gary Harris? Yeah, that is what I am saying. Here we have a huge value play situation. He is near the minimum price across the industry and in a great spot tonight to get some buckets. The Timberwolves are near dead last defending shooting guards. A fine GPP play and should get some cash game consideration.

Anytime a team is playing the Sixers you have to get a little exposure at least. Most of the time you end up on the positive side when you do this. Tonight they play Utah and Rodney Hood in his season opener had 12 points, four rebounds, and six assists. If you get the same out of him tonight you more than achieved value for the near minimum price across the industry facing a Sixers team that certainly has its troubles versus the shooting guard position.

DFS basketball is all about matchups and value. Eric Bledsoe did not have one of his better nights in his season opener. On average Bledsoe puts up decent fantasy numbers and is in a great spot to have them tonight and allows you to get that late “bullet” in your lineup we all like.

Small Forwards

The Orlando Magic are ranked 30^th versus the small forward position. That makes it really hard to not play Kevin Durant tonight. If you are unfamiliar with Durant he puts up huge numbers most nights. In his season opener he put up 22 points and should score more tonight in a game with a 208 point total.

Kawhi Leonard put up 32 points and eight rebounds versus the Thunder in his season opener. Tonight he faces the Brooklyn Nets in what is expected to be a blowout. Kawhi should put up good numbers but comes with a risk. If San Antonio absolutely blows out the Nets he could see some decreased minutes downgrading him to a GPP play.

Rudy Gay put up 16 points in his season opener versus a tough Clippers team. Tonight he gets the new look Lakers who historically struggle big time defending the small forward position in a game with two teams that both play at a high pace of game.

Danilo Gallinari had a huge season opener putting up 23 points and eight rebounds. The Denver Nuggets are near the top of the NBA in offensive efficiency at 106. You add in the defensive troubles the Timberwolves have against the small forward position and Gallinari is in a great spot to put up huge fantasy points tonight.

Until his price comes down Marcus Morris is on the list of must-plays every day. Tonight he faces the Bulls who are ranked 28^th versus the small forward. There is no reason why he should not exceed value tonight for the low price across the industry and is a great cash game play.

Harrison Barnes always remains so cheap it is hard to ignore him. You add in Houstons troubles defending the small forward position and he becomes a great GPP play for the near minimum price.

Power Forward

Draymond Green, although his numbers weren’t as great as we hoped in the season opener, is still a great play. Tonight he is going to be in a shootout with a Rockets team that has trouble defending pretty much everyone. The result should be a very high-scoring game. Love Green in cash games today.

LaMarcus Aldridge had 11 points in his season opener. Tonight he faces a Brooklyn team that has its woes defensively. The Spurs are the largest favorite on the night so keep this in mind. High blowout potential here which leads me to my next choice, Boris Diaw. Diaw had nine points and six assists off the bench in the season opener and if this game is a blowout he should see increased minutes tonight, making him a great GPP play.

Derrick Favors was unbelievable in his season opener, scoring 26 points. Tonight he is facing the Sixers who, despite the new blood, still are lacking defensively. If he puts up 31 points tonight I will call my next article “31 Favors” because it could happen.

Ersan Illyasova is dirt cheap and playing above his means. He has been around the league for a long time but is still capable of providing you value on the low cost to roster him across the industry. This game tonight is slated to be a close one and Illyasova should get plenty of opportunity.

Kenneth Faried put up 19 points and eight rebounds in the season opener versus the Rockets and tonight he is facing the Timberwolves who struggle to defend every position.  In a game with a 210 total and close (-4) line Faried becomes a great cash game and GPP play.

Centers

Andre Drummond is impossible to not roster in cash games right now. He is averaging a double-double per game pushing nearly 20 points. Tonight should be an offensive explosion between the Pistons and the Bulls and Drummond should see a fair share of it.

With Andrew Bogut out Festus Ezeli becomes a great play for the minimum price across the industry. Anytime you get a player that starts in a high-powered offense like the Warriors for the minimum you take him.

The Lakers looked pretty good the other night. Roy Hibbert looked even better. Today he gets a great matchup in what should be a high-scoring affair in Sacramento. He should easily get another double-double tonight.

Karl-Anthony Towns had a great debut, putting up 14 points and 12 rebounds. Tonight he gets the Nuggets who are ranked 27^th versus the center. Until his price catches up with his production he will remain a top value play.

Good luck tonight and as always feel free to hit me up with any questions.