NBA Daily Fantasy Picks & Playbook: October 29, 2026

James Grande | @The_Real_Grande | DraftKings and FanDuel main slate

On Thursday, we have a three-game slate on DraftKings and FanDuel. Players such as Deni Avdija, Domantas Sabonis, Jalen Johnson, and Donovan Mitchell take the floor. There are three teams on a back-to-back and no real major injuries at this point. Yves Missi is out and Jordan Poole is doubtful. 

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 29th

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Slate Snapshot & Injury Updates

Last updated: 1:05 p.m. ET

3 games | Lock: 8:00 p.m. ET

• CLE @ ATL is the game to attack: the highest total on the slate and the tightest spread.
• Jaylon Tyson & Meleek Thomas are questionable, which would open minutes up for Mario Hezonja and Sam Merrill.

FULL INJURY REPORT

Game Environments

Each game shows the away team first. CLE @ ATL pairs the slate's top total with its closest spread. MEM @ POR 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. Green marks a better DFS spot and red a worse one, so a weak defense shades green.

DraftKings vs FanDuel Price Differential

• De'Andre Hunter is the 4th highest priced SF on DraftKings but 12th on FanDuel, so the better positional value is on FanDuel ($6,000 DK, $4,000 FD).
• Jonathan Mogbo is the 20th highest priced PF on DraftKings but 14th on FanDuel, so the better positional value is on DraftKings ($3,600 DK, $3,700 FD).
• Luguentz Dort is the 9th highest priced SF on DraftKings but 15th on FanDuel, so the better positional value is on FanDuel ($4,800 DK, $3,800 FD).

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

Jalen Johnson - PF · ATL

Johnson had a tough game on Wednesday and yet, he was one rebound shy away from a triple-double and still put up 42 DKP. He is averaging 1.48 FP/min and has a 27.9% USG on the year, amongst the best in the league. The Cavs play pretty fast ranking 11th in pace, so this game should be up and down and we want JJ in an uptempo game.

Domantas Sabonis - C · SAC

Sabonis has a 19% USG but that doesn't matter too much because he has a LOT to his game. He does a little of everything. He has 25 potential rebounds and 15 potential assists and has put up 50+ DKP in three of four games. Yet, he's 9.2K and faces a Pelicans team ranking 7th in pace and 21st in DRtg. Sabonis averages 1.4 FP/min this year. 

Donovan Mitchell - SG · CLE

The Cavs are on the second leg of a back-to-back and they only give Mitchell 32 minutes on the front end. He leads the Cavs with a 28.9% USG and 1.32 FP/min this year and it's a pace up spot with the Hawks matchup in front of them.

Ty Jerome - PG/SG · MEM

One bad game doesn't change the fact that Ty Jerome has a 34.7% USG and averages north of 1.5 FP/min to boot. He's scored 28+ actual points in three of four and has already had a 60+ FP outing. He's a contrarian “spend up” off of Sabonis and Johnson because he's lowered owned than both.

Mid-Tier Core Plays

Deni Avdija & Donovan Clingan - PF & C· POR

Another day of loving Portland. They've been a fun team and the offense has clicked. Avdija's usage rate sits above 30% currently while putting up 1.44 FP/min. Clingan has been a plus fantasy scorer but 1.2+ on both DK and FD and now, with Robert Williams downgraded, has a chance at playing 30 minutes.

Dejounte Murray & Derik Queen - PG & PF/C · NO

Even after last night's dud, Dejounte Murray has had a really good offensive season and leads NO in usage rate. Queen should play a great role (as he's been doing) without Yves Missi averaging 1.22 FP/min and nearly 22%. Queen fits best in GPPs.

Cameron Boozer & Cedric Coward - PF & SG · MEM

These young upstart Grizzlies are hard to ignore because of what they're doing on the court. Coward LEADS the team in potential rebounds and has been a nightly double-double threat while Boozer has had flashes in every category and outside of one game hasn't put it altogether yet, but you can see his abilities on display all the time. Not to mention he leads the team in minutes.

Darius Acuff & Zach LaVine - PG/SG & SG/SF · SAC

It's really hard to ignore what Darius Acuff and Zach LaVine are doing right now and what their roles have been this year. Acuff Jr. has a 32.1% USG and Lavine's not far behind at 27.9% but LaVine has been the better fantasy scorer at 1.1 FP/min and Acuff's right behind at .98 FP/min. Acuff has yet to play less than 33 minutes and LaVine has been at 31+. In competitive games we've seen them play 40.

CJ McCollum - PG/SG · ATL

CJM hasn't had the best start to the year and it's mainly because Aaron Wiggins has cut into his playing time, but before last night we saw him play 30 minutes in two straight contests. He's flashed 30+ FP upside and we know how good of a scorer he can be. He's currently sitting at a 22.6% USG and .93 FP/min.

Peyton Watson - SF/PF · CLE

Watson's offensive game spiked last year and he's flashed that off in the last two games he's played. He's been a 22% USG guy in the early going, which is very solid, and has been north of 30 FP in two straight to boot. He has a big-time minutes ceiling to boot, which really makes him that much more appealing.

Value Tier Core Plays

Jrue Holiday - SG/SF · POR

I love Jrue Holiday and the role he's currently playing. Holiday's been an awesome option this year playing anywhere from 26-30 minutes. He has elite eligibility and is averaging 1.2 FP/min despite coming off the bench. Elite value.

Jaylen Wells & Jerami Grant - SF & SF/PF · MEM

Neither Wells or Grant are getting ANY ownership despite solid minutes out of both at this point. Wells has .92 FP/min this year, which is better than years past and he continues to score double-digit points nightly. He's also flashed 30 FP upside. Grant gets mid-20s minutes and we know what his pedigree as a scorer can be. It hasn't yet in Memphis, but it can be there.

De'Andre Hunter - SF · SAC (FanDuel)

I have a hard time playing De'Andre Hunter at $6K on DK but at $4K on FD he'll be incredibly popular and he should be. The price difference is very noticeable. He had 24 actual and 38 FDP last game out while posting a 21.8% USG, his first good game this season as a King. If you're looking for something low owned on DK, Hunter's sub 1% right now.

Saddiq Bey & Jeremiah Fears - SF & PG · NO (FanDuel)

With Jordan Poole and Yves Missi out, there are more minutes to be had for Bey and Fears. Fears got in foul trouble early yesterday but was pacing for 28 or so minutes. He has a very high usage rate and can fill  it up offensively. Bey is just playing mid-20s minutes and putting up nearly 1 FP/min while notching a near 22% USG. They're SO cheap on FD. Playable on DK, but free on FD.

Jaylon Tyson - SG/SF · CLE

Tyson's on the injury report listed as questionable but if he plays his role has been solid at his price. Tyson has a 20.5% USG, has topped 20 minutes in four straight, and averages just under 1 FP/min. He's a nice play in this pace-up environment.

Late-News Core Plays

Players we are considering core plays based on late-breaking news and research

• Robert Williams II has been downgraded to DOUBTFUL. Donovan Clingan should have an expanded role & they could go small with Sidy Cissoko as small-ball five.

Core Lineup

Cash Core: Zach LaVine - Peyton Watson - Deni Avdija - Domantas Sabonis

GPP Leverage: Jrue Holiday - Cedric Coward - Jalen Johnson - Donovan Clingan

Player Pool

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Stacks

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