NBA Daily Fantasy Picks & Playbook: October 22, 2026
James Grande | @The_Real_Grande | DraftKings and FanDuel main slate
Small slate, big slate, small slate, big slate. That's how opening week in the NBA is going to go and tonight we have a two-game NBA DFS main slate on tap. There are still plenty of really good NBA DFS Picks we can look into such as Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Donovan Mitchell, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
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, October 22nd
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Slate Snapshot & Injury Updates
Last updated: 11:17 a.m. ET
2 games | Lock: 7:00 p.m. ET
- Jarrett Allen, the biggest name on the injury report, went through shootaround despite being listed as questionable.
- Dean Wade went through shootaround and could make his debut for Philly against his former team.
- 76ers really played mostly seven guys in the opener and that should stretch to eight if Dean Wade ends up suiting up.
NOTABLE INJURY UPDATES
Every player on this slate with an injury designation: 9 out, 3 questionable. Who Benefits is listed for the players whose absence moves the slate.
| PLAYER | STATUS | WHO BENEFITS |
|---|---|---|
| Nae'Qwan Tomlin (CLE, back) | Out | — |
| Jarrett Allen (CLE, knee) | Questionable | Thomas Bryant, Jaylon Tyson |
| Dean Wade (PHI, ankle) | Questionable | Anfernee Simons, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope |
| Spencer Jones (DEN, hamstring) | Questionable | — |
Game Environments
| MATCHUP | TIP (ET) | TOTAL | SPREAD | IMPLIED | PACE RANK | OFF RANK | DEF RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLE @ PHI | 7:00 p.m. | 235.5 | PHI -3.5 | 116 / 119.5 | 14th / 13th | 5th / 17th | 15th / 16th |
| DEN @ OKC | 9:30 p.m. | 235.5 | OKC -8.5 | 113.5 / 122 | 20th / 17th | 1st / 6th | 21st / 1st |
Numbers read away / home. CLE @ PHI pairs the slate's top total with its closest spread. CLE @ PHI has the best pace matchup on the slate. Ranks are league-wide, 2025-26; pace rank 1 is fastest, and off and def rank 1 are best.
Top Tier Core Plays
Nikola Jokic - C · DEN
Best fantasy player in the league and it's not really close. He's not as highly projected (ownership) as I would expect on a two-game slate and that's fantastic for anyone looking to roster Jokic.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - PG · OKC
In the opener, SGA had a 34.9% USG rate and poured in 32 points and 60+ DK/FD points. He's the two-time MVP and is as good as it gets around the league, especially under 10K on DK.
Mid-Tier Core Plays
Donovan Mitchell - SG · CLE
A year ago Donovan Mitchell put up a 32.6% USG rate on 27.5 PPG, 5.1 APG, and 4.6 RPG and the Cavs are going to rely on him again. Mitchell averaged 1.33 FP/min a year ago and should play mid-30s minutes here against the 76ers.
Tyrese Maxey - PG · PHI
Game 1 saw Tyrese Maxey play 39.5 minutes and he led the team with a 27.4% USG and 28 points. He also tied for the team-lead in potential assists and received over 20 passes more than anyone else on the team. Elite option with this type of role.
Joel Embiid - C · PHI
He didn't particularly shoot the ball well, but Joel Embiid's role was still elite on opening night posting a 26.1% USG (2nd on the team) while grabbing 11 boards, dishing out six assists, and have five stocks. Embiid looked fantastic with his potentials and his role was great. He looks elite at this price.
James Harden - PG · CLE
As a Cav last year, James Harden had a 24.9% USG and averaged 1.1 FP/min. Philly's best perimeter defender in VJ Edgecombe is going to be guarding Donovan Mitchell and Harden should operate with the ball in his hands a LOT tonight.
Jalen Williams - SF · OKC
JDub did not play that well in the opener and still managed 33.5 DKP and 33 FDP. Dub made the most passes on the team and received the second-most as well, which tracks with his second place finish in USG (22%). He's an ELITE play at his DK price.
Value Tier Core Plays
Chet Holmgren - PF · OKC
The most important thing from the opener was that Chet Holmgren, who didn't play during the preseason, wasn't limited at all. He played 30 minutes and was very good. He's well over 1 FP/min and at 5.8K he's pretty much the easiest click of the day.
Aaron Gordon - PF · DEN
I don't love a lot in Denver, but Aaron Gordon is entering the season healthy and that's important. During the preseason, Gordon had a robust 28% USG rate and the Nuggets roster needs are clear as day; after Jokic and Murray they need Gordon to be great.
Isaiah Hartenstein - C · OKC
There was a lot of foul trouble for Isaiah Hartenstein in Game 1 as he was limited to just nine minutes in the first half and picked up his 4th foul ONE minute into the 2nd half and sat until the 8:41 mark of the 4th Q because of it. He's a good fantasy scorer and has a path to mid-20s minutes barring that he limits his fouling.
Peyton Watson & Jaylon Tyson - SF/PF & SG/SF · CLE
The two highest rostered Cavaliers and two of the heaviest rostered players of the day are Peyton Watson and Jaylon Tyson. Watson is expected to start and he took a leap offensively last year in Denver while Tyson's going to act as the Cavs' sixth-man and is a GREAT energy guy with some real skill off the bench. If I had a preference it's Tyson because of price.
Ajay Mitchell & Jared McCain - PG/SG & SG · OKC
It's interesting that the field doesn't believe what Jared McCain did is real and they don't believe what Mitchell did is real either. McCain was a flame thrower and Mitchell couldn't make a shot. Mitchell is more expensive and is 3x the ownership, which really makes you think about McCain a lot. Both are firmly in play.
Anfernee Simons - PG/SG · PHI
The minutes for Anfernee Simons out of the gate were pretty surprising and the 76ers ran a really short rotation. If Dean Wade plays, Wade will cut into the likes of Bona and Walker's minutes and possible a little of Simons and KCP too. That being said, he has a very high ceiling offensively and if he comes anywhere close to 25 minutes again, he's as good as the other value's on the board, especially with his ownership comparing to other values on the slate.
Late-News Core Plays
Players we are considering core plays based on late-breaking news and research
- I didn't write LeBron James or Jaylen Brown up, but I like them both. James is the highest-owned 76ers player tonight, but Brown is the lowest of their “big 4” so there is naturally appeal there.
Core Lineup
Cash Core: James Harden - Jaylon Tyson - Chet Holmgren - Nikola Jokic
GPP Leverage: Tyrese Maxey - Anfernee Simons - Chet Holmgren - Nikola Jokic