NBA Daily Fantasy Picks & Playbook: November 9, 2026
James Grande | @The_Real_Grande | DraftKings and FanDuel main slate
On Monday, we have a seven-game slate on DraftKings and eight games on FanDuel. Players such as Victor Wembanyama, Jalen Johnson, Luka Doncic, and Scottie Barnes take the floor. We have three teams on a back-to-back on DK and four on FD with the Pelicans showing up on that slate. There are plenty of injuries to run through in today's NBA DFS playbook as well, so let's dive into the top NBA DFS picks.
Before actually diving into the meat and potatoes, welcome to the NBA DFS season. If this is your first time reading our column on NBA DFS picks, I just want to welcome you and give you a few tips and tricks on what you should be looking for each night.
- News outlets: reliable sources that give us injury news & starting lineups
- Pace of play: who's playing fast vs. who's playing slow. Which teams get a pace-up spot (more possessions) vs. pace-down (fewer possessions)
- Usage rates: is a percentage of how many plays that player is being used in
- NBA DFS Projections
- Lineup Generator
- NBA Ownership
NBA DFS Picks & Daily Fantasy Playbook Today, November 9th
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Slate Snapshot & Injury Updates
Last updated: 11:00 a.m. ET
7 games on DK, 8 games on FD | Lock: 7:00 p.m. ET
- The Nuggets listed their top-six players questionable after horrible travels from Mexico City over the weekend. They've all been upgraded to PROBABLE
- Lakers vs. Hawks are a slate-high 236.5 implied points with ATL being 1.5-point favorites.
- Warriors (FD only) and Lakers are the two teams with 120 implied points.
Full Injury Report
| Player | Status |
|---|---|
| Tyrese Haliburton (IND, hamstring) | Out |
| Brandon Miller (CHA, groin) | Out |
| Kawhi Leonard (TOR, knee) | Out |
| Kon Knueppel (CHA, hamstring) | Out |
| Dennis Schroder (CHA, hamstring) | Out |
| Sam Merrill (CLE, elbow) | Out |
| Jordan Goodwin (PHX, calf) | QUEST |
| Jaylon Tyson (CLE, ankle) | Out |
| Isaiah Joe (DET, hip) | Out |
| Will Richard (GSW, thumb) | Out |
| Yves Missi (NOP, knee) | Out |
| Kyrie Irving (DAL) | IN |
| Santi Aldama (DAL) | IN |
| Luka Doncic (LAL, back) | IN |
| Austin Reaves (LAL, illness) | OUT |
| Nikola Jokic (DEN, elbow) | PROB |
| Scottie Barnes (TOR, groin) | OUT |
| Anthony Davis (WAS, ankle) | IN |
| Jamal Murray (DEN, lower leg) | PROB |
| Immanuel Quickley (TOR, hamstring) | OUT |
| Jarrett Allen (CLE, knee) | IN |
| Aaron Gordon (DEN, lower body) | PROB |
| Moussa Diabate (CHA, quadriceps) | OUT |
| Devin Vassell (SAS, groin) | OUT |
| Christian Braun (DEN, calf) | PROB |
| DeMar DeRozan (DEN, back) | PROB |
| Quentin Grimes (LAL, finger) | OUT |
| Cameron Johnson (DEN, lower body) | PROB |
| T.J. McConnell (IND, hamstring) | Questionable |
| Gui Santos (GSW, knee) | PROB |
Game Environments
| Team | Opp | Tip (ET) | Total | Spread | Implied | Pace Rank | Off Rank | Def Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAL | @ ATL | 7:00 p.m. | 237.5 | +1.5 | 118 | 19th | 1st | 18th |
| ATL | vs LAL | -1.5 | 119.5 | 4th | 13th | 12th | ||
| MEM | @ TOR | 7:30 p.m. | 228.5 | +2.5 | 113 | 7th | 10th | 9th |
| TOR | vs MEM | -2.5 | 115.5 | 5th | 9th | 11th | ||
| SAS | @ PHX | 9:00 p.m. | 226.5 | -8.5 | 117.5 | 11th | 6th | 4th |
| PHX | vs SAS | +8.5 | 109 | 21st | 17th | 27th | ||
| IND | @ DAL | 8:00 p.m. | 225.5 | +3.5 | 111 | 17th | 22nd | 17th |
| DAL | vs IND | -3.5 | 114.5 | 22nd | 14th | 10th | ||
| DEN | @ HOU | 8:30 p.m. | 219.5 | +9.5 | 105 | 25th | 7th | 21st |
| HOU | vs DEN | -9.5 | 114.5 | 27th | 2nd | 8th | ||
| WAS | @ DET | 7:00 p.m. | 217.5 | +10.5 | 103.5 | 24th | 23rd | 16th |
| DET | vs WAS | -10.5 | 114 | 26th | 15th | 2nd | ||
| CLE | @ CHA | 7:00 p.m. | 214.5 | -8.5 | 111.5 | 8th | 11th | 13th |
| CHA | vs CLE | +8.5 | 103 | 30th | 30th | 19th | ||
| NOP | @ GSW | 10:00 p.m. | 232.5 | +8.5 | 112 | 2nd | 12th | 22nd |
| GSW | vs NOP | -8.5 | 120.5 | 16th | 5th | 15th |
Each game shows the away team first. LAL @ ATL pairs the slate's top total with its closest spread. WAS @ DET carries blowout risk. MEM @ TOR has the best pace matchup on the slate. 1 game is also on the schedule but not on this DFS slate. Ranks are league-wide, 2026-27; pace rank 1 is fastest, and off and def rank 1 are best. Green marks a better DFS spot and red a worse one, so a weak defense shades green.
DraftKings vs FanDuel Price Differential
- Aaron Gordon is the 11th highest priced PF on DraftKings but 19th on FanDuel, so the better positional value is on FanDuel ($6,000 DK, $5,300 FD).
- Amen Thompson is the 10th highest priced SG on DraftKings but 6th on FanDuel, so the better positional value is on DraftKings ($6,900 DK, $6,900 FD).
- Jabari Smith. is the 8th highest priced PF on DraftKings but 13th on FanDuel, so the better positional value is on FanDuel ($7,000 DK, $6,000 FD).
| Player | Pos | DK Salary | DK Pos Rank | FD Salary | FD Pos Rank | Rank Gap | Better Positional Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Gordon DEN | PF | $6,000 | 11th | $5,300 | 19th | 8 | FanDuel |
| Jabari Smith. HOU | PF | $7,000 | 8th | $6,000 | 13th | 5 | FanDuel |
| Jalen Green PHX | SG | $6,300 | 13th | $5,400 | 18th | 5 | FanDuel |
| Amen Thompson HOU | SG | $6,900 | 10th | $6,900 | 6th | 4 | DraftKings |
| Peyton Watson CLE | PF | $5,900 | 12th | $5,600 | 16th | 4 | FanDuel |
| Collin Murray-Boyles TOR | PF | $5,800 | 13th | $5,500 | 17th | 4 | FanDuel |
| Devin Vassell SAS | SF | $5,300 | 14th | $5,200 | 18th | 4 | FanDuel |
| Cameron Boozer MEM | PF | $8,100 | 4th | $7,700 | 7th | 3 | FanDuel |
| Dyson Daniels ATL | SF | $6,500 | 9th | $7,100 | 6th | 3 | DraftKings |
| Miles Bridges PHX | PF | $7,100 | 7th | $6,700 | 10th | 3 | FanDuel |
| Kyrie Irving DAL | PG | $7,400 | 10th | $7,600 | 7th | 3 | DraftKings |
| AJ Dybantsa WAS | SF | $6,600 | 8th | $6,000 | 11th | 3 | FanDuel |
| Aaron Wiggins ATL | SF | $5,700 | 13th | $5,400 | 16th | 3 | FanDuel |
| Evan Mobley CLE | C | $7,900 | 4th | $7,800 | 6th | 2 | FanDuel |
| Devin Booker PHX | PG | $8,200 | 7th | $8,000 | 5th | 2 | DraftKings |
Each player is ranked by salary among every player in that site's file eligible at the position, including multi-position players (1 is the highest priced). Players are compared at a position they are eligible for on both sites; when they share more than one, the position with the bigger gap is shown. Rank Gap is how many spots apart the two ranks are; the greener the cell, the bigger the gap. Better Positional Value is the site where the player has the lower position rank (priced lower among players at the position), regardless of the raw salary, since the two sites use different salary scales.
Top Tier Core Plays
Victor Wembanyama - C · SAS
In 81 minutes without Devin Vassell (who's been ruled out), Victor Wembanyama is averaging 2.14 FP/min. That is not a typo. 2.14. He has a 41.7% USG to boot.
Luka Doncic - PG · LAL
The Lakers have removed Doncic off of the injury report but added Austin Reaves as questionable. As baseline numbers, Doncic has a 1.86 FP/min average on DK and 1.75 FP/min on FD. Doncic has a 41.7% USG and 45% without Austin Reaves on the floor, which is possible considering the Lakers injury report.
Nikola Jokic - C · DEN
The Nuggets top six in their rotation are all listed as questionable, so we have no idea what's going to happen here, but if Jokic plays he's an elite tournament pivot. Jokic has a 28.5% USG (which leads the team) and is averaging 1.56 FP/min on both DK and FD. Tough spot, but Jokic is matchup proof.
Cooper Flagg - SF · DAL
As it currently stands, the Mavericks do not have Kyrie Irving or Santi Aldama on the injury report and that's a bit of a surprise. Not that that won't change from now until roster lock, but it's interesting because Flagg has dominated with Irving on the floor, but are slightly worse with him off. Not saying I wouldn't play him if Kyrie sits because a 30.1% USG and 1.3 FP/min average is still solid.
Cade Cunningham - PG · DET
I love this spot for Cade Cunningham today and I love the price as well. Without Jalen Duren this year, Cunningham has a 31.5% USG and 1.3 FP/min. Washington ranks 17th in DRtg this year.
Mid-Tier Core Plays
Scottie Barnes - PG/SF · TOR
Without Kawhi Leonard this year, Scottie Barnes has a 33.4% USG and is averaging north of 1.3 FP/min. We'll see if he suits up after being a limited participant in practice on Sunday, but if he does he's an elite play. This game has being played between two teams in the top-8 of pace.
Stephen Curry - PG · GSW (FanDuel)
Stephen Curry is absolutely on a different planet. He's put up 48+ DKP in four of his last five games and has scored 40+ points in three of them. He's not missing, he's stuffing the statsheet, and once again has a good matchup against a Pelicans team on the second leg of a back-to-back and is a bottom-10 defense.
Dyson Daniels - PG/SF · ATL
The peripheral stats are insane. Daniels leads the team in potential rebounds and is second in potential assists and scores the ball enough to flirt with triple-doubles and I haven't even mentioned how good he is defensively. He's a threat everywhere but with the three ball.
Stephon Castle - SG · SAS
Stephon Castle is a really good fantasy asset and he'll be even better without Devin Vassell on the floor. This year, Castle has a 28% USG and averages 1.22 FP/min. The Suns also rank 28th in DRtg this year, which is a fantastic spot for the Spurs.
Value Tier Core Plays
Grayson Allen & Christian Anderson - SG/SF & PG · CHA
I mean, who isn't an option for Charlotte at this point? I know they can't score and they're playing horribly, but they're down most of their top offensive players and have some FREE options like Anderson. Allen should slide into the starting lineup, too.
Aaron Nesmith - SG/SF · IND
I'm always uncomfy with playing Pacers that aren't their top-two guys, but here I am..suggesting one. Nesmith's role has been quite solid (minutes) playing 27+ in three straight and four of five. He's only $4.4K and that's a solid price on a slate with limited value and value that's going away because Denver is playing everyone.
Julian Champagnie & Keldon Johnson - SG & SF/PF · SAS
The most likely scenario is Julian Champagnie starts and Keldon Johnson receives a bump off of the bench. Johnson's been the better fantasy player this year, but Champagnie's sitting at .89 so he's not terrible. His super power is his ability to fill it up from three and he can break slates. In tournaments, it makes sense to play the lower owned option of the two.
Draymond Green - C · GSW (FanDuel)
No longer are the days Draymond Green flirts with many triple-doubles because he simply doesn't look to score the ball, but his peripheral stats still stand out for a guy that's under $5K on FanDuel. It's a great spot and if he gets to 30 minutes, he has plenty of upside.
Late-News Core Plays
Players we are considering core plays based on late-breaking news and research
- Trey Murphy has been ruled OUT. Saddiq Bey averages 1.15 FP/min without him & Jeremiah Fears averages 1.05 FP/min. Fears has a 30.6% USG, Bey has a 25% USG.
- Zion Williamson has ALSO been ruled out. The Pelicans are one of the best value teams of the day.
- Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley & Collin Murray-Boyles are all OUT.
- My guess at Toronto S5: Jamal Shead - Ja'Kobe Walter - RJ Barrett - Jamison Battle - Jakob Poeltl
- Really like Allen Graves & Alijah Martin in GPPs (both guys less than 5% rostered)
- Austin Reaves is OUT. With both Quentin Grimes and Reaves out, Collin Sexton is the biggest stand out because has the highest USG on the team other than Luka Doncic with Reaves off of the floor. Jake LaRavia, Matisse Thybulle, Walker Kessler, & Ziaire Williams are secondary options.
Core Lineup
Cash Core: Collin Sexton - RJ Barrett - Grayson Allen - Jakob Poeltl
GPP Leverage: Victor Wembanyama - Julian Champagnie - Alijah Martin
Player Pool
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|---|---|
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Stacks
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