Happy Wednesday, November 19th! We've got an amazing featured NBA Showdown contest this evening between the Chicago Bulls and Portland Trail Blazers. Both of these teams rank top 3 in pace in the league, and I believe the 244.5-point total is the highest of the season so far! On top of that, the spread sits at just 2.5 points! 

Buckle up! This should be a fun one. 


Chicago Bulls vs. Portland Trail Blazers Total & Spread

  • Total: 244.5
  • Spread: CHI -2.5

Chicago Bulls vs. Portland Trail Blazers Injury Updates

Bulls

Trail Blazers  

Chicago Bulls vs. Portland Trail Blazers Projected Starting Lineups

Bulls

Trail Blazers

 


DFS Captain / MVP Picks

Josh Giddey, CHI 

(DK CPT - $14,700, UTIL - $9,800 / FD CPT - $23,100, UTIL - $15,400)

Josh Giddey has averaged nearly a triple-double for the Bulls this season, and if you think Coby White being back for just his second game of the season is going to change things, well, that would be an incorrect assumption. Giddey had 2.5% more usage and a 1.6% higher assist rate in games White was active last season compared to games he sat out. White is almost certainly on a minutes restriction, although he did play 30 minutes in a 2OT game the first time he was active this season. My guess is the Bulls would like to keep him under that mark for a few games, as evidenced by bringing him off the bench. Giddey has a legitimate 70-FP ceiling that he has accessed a couple of times already this season, and White being back doesn't change that. 

Deni Avdija, POR

(DK CPT - $13,800, UTIL - $9,200 / FD CPT - $21,000, UTIL - $14,000)

Avdija was a bit disappointing last game, finishing with 19-5-5 in 29 minutes. The blowout certainly cost him some court time, but we expected a bit more with Jrue Holiday out and a surprise Jerami Grant inactive. Avdija gets a chance at redemption in another great spot tonight. We'll see who suits up for the Blazers, but Avdija is going to project for the best ceiling no matter who is active. 

Shaedon Sharpe, POR

(DK CPT - $12,000, UTIL - $8,000 / FD CPT - $18,000, UTIL - $12,000)

Shaedon Sharpe has been absolutely balling of late, and it started before Jrue Holiday missed the last two games, but that has only elevated him even more. Sharpe has dropped at least 29 points in four of his last five games, and he didn't even play the final six minutes of his most recent one. The usage rate without Holiday is an absurd 39%, which gives Sharpe an incredible ceiling in this fast-paced, high-scoring game environment. 

UPDATE: Shaedon Sharpe is listed as DOUBTFUL to play on the injury report. Bump Jerami Grant up for Captain exposure, and Kris Murray and Caleb Love are now excellent UTIL plays. 

UPDATE 2: With Tre Jones and Shaedon Sharpe ruled out, Kevin Huerter and Ayo Dosunmu get a big boost and are strong UTIL plays. Top CPT: Giddey, Avdija, Grant. Top UTIL (price considered): Love, Vooch, Clingan, Huerter, White.  

 

 

 

DFS Utility Picks

Jerami Grant, POR

(DK CPT - $9,900, UTIL - $6,600 / FD CPT - $12,000, UTIL - $8,000)

Grant was a very late addition to the injury report last night and ended up missing the game with an illness. We don't have any information beyond that, so we will need to monitor the news to make sure he's active and starting. There is more risk here than there otherwise would be because of the illness. Assuming he starts and there are no limitations, he's among the best UTIL options on the slate. 

Jalen Smith, CHI 

(DK CPT - $6,000, UTIL - $4,000 / FD CPT - $6,000, UTIL - $4,000)

Bulls big man Jalen Smith is only going to play 16-18 minutes in most games, but he is an excellent FPPM producer and can be useful as a value play. Last game, Smith logged 34 DK points in just 17 minutes, and he has averaged nearly 1.4 FPPM this season. 

Donovan Clingan, POR

(DK CPT - $8,700, UTIL - $5,800 / FD CPT - $9,600, UTIL - $6,400)

Clingan nearly posted a double-double in just 23 minutes last game, and he has a good chance to play a few minutes more than that in a competitive game, especially if Holiday and/or Grant are out again. He's been nearly 1.3 FPPM with Jrue off the floor this season.  

Nikola Vucevic, CHI 

(DK CPT - $12,300, UTIL - $8,200 / FD CPT - $15,300, UTIL - $10,200)

Vooch can still pop for ceiling games thanks to his double-double upside. His minutes aren't quite as secure as we would like them to be for his price, and now the Bulls have even more options to run smaller lineups with White back in the mix. He probably plays around 30 minutes and a 20-10 game would make him a useful UTIL play at his price. 

Toumani Camara, POR 

(DK CPT - $9,600, UTIL - $6,400 / FD CPT - $10,800, UTIL - $7,200)

Camara is going to play huge minutes, but he is a very low-usage player and FPPM producer. He attempted just 10 shots with Holiday and Grant both out last night. Camara can be useful in fantasy when he scores double digits and fills up the stat sheet, including a handful of steals. I'd be more willing to make the gamble if both Holiday and Grant are out again.  

 

 


DFS Dart Throws

  • Coby White, CHI (DK CPT - $11,700, UTIL - $7,800 / FD CPT - $14,700, UTIL - $9,800)
  • Matas Buzelis, CHI (DK CPT - $9,300, UTIL - $6,200 / FD CPT - $10,200, UTIL - $6,800)
  • Caleb Love, POR (DK CPT - $3,600, UTIL - $2,400 / FD CPT - $1,500, UTIL - $1,000)
  • Kris Murray, POR (DK CPT - $6,600, UTIL - $4,400 / FD CPT - $3,000, UTIL - $2,000)