DraftKings’ main NBA DFS slate Tuesday starts at 7:30 PM EST and features the first five games of the night. Let’s dive into some of the top plays on the slate using the FantasyLabs tools and projections.
Also, don’t forget that for large-field tournaments, you can utilize our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 300 lineups or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.
You can also use our SimLabs Lineup Generator, a tool that creates the most user-friendly lineup generation process.
Note: Projections and Leverage Scores/Ratings may change throughout the day after this article is posted. The NBA DFS landscape changes quickly.
Consult the NBA Player Models directly for any updates as we get closer to lock.
NBA DFS Point Guard Picks
Stud
Tyrese Maxey ($10,300)
With Paul George (knee) out this season, Maxey has been a stud, scoring 57 DraftKings PPG. The guard is handling a career-high 29.5% usage rate, and Maxey is leading the league in playing time with a whopping 41.1 minutes per game. The Kentucky product is facing the Celtics tonight, and Maxey has already torched Boston for 60 DraftKings points twice this season. Tonight’s matchup is expected to be a nail-biter, with the 76ers only favored by 1.5 points, and Maxey is a worthy spend in this spot.
Value
Immanuel Quickley ($6,400)
After an up-and-down start to his season, Quickley has found his groove recently, posting at least 35 DraftKings points in three straight starts. This season, the guard is logging 31.4 minutes per game, handling a 20% usage rate. Visiting the 1-9 Nets tonight, who rank dead last in defensive rating this season, the Raptors present the highest implied team total on the slate (122.5 points). At only $6,400, Quickley is the best way to gain a share of Toronto, and he is a strong option for all formats.
Fast Break
Derrick White ($7,200) – After a rocky start to the season, White is finally finding his form, and this $7,200 salary is just too low for his recent play. White has scored at least 35 DraftKings points in four straight, and he is going against a 76ers defense that ranks 22nd in rating this season.
Ajay Mitchell ($6,300) – Lu Dort (trap) will remain out tonight, making Mitchell a great bargain, regardless of his subpar matchup vs. the Warriors, who rank sixth in defensive rating. With Dort inactive for the last three, Mitchell has started and generated 40.1 DraftKings points in 31.7 minutes per game with a 22.6% usage rate.
Don’t forget to check out our NBA SimLabs Lineup Generator to create advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation:
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
Keyonte George ($7,100)
George has vastly improved in his third season, averaging 39.9 DraftKings points in 33.9 minutes per game while shooting a career-best 43% from the field. The guard’s 26.7% usage rate is also a career high and ranks second only to Lauri Markkanen for the Jazz this season. DraftKings continues to underprice George despite his impressive play, and he has 40 DraftKings points upside in a plus matchup vs. the Pacers, who rank 12th in pace and 17th in defensive rating this season.
Value
Anfernee Simons ($4,500)
Handling the sixth man role for the Celtics this season, Simons is producing 22.6 DraftKings PPG. His last time out, the pure scorer popped off for 32.25 DraftKings points in a tough matchup vs. the Magic on Sunday. With the reserve role, Simons is the featured player of Boston’s second unit, and his 22.6% usage rate is the second-highest for the team, trailing only Jaylen Brown. Simons scored 30 DraftKings points when he last faced the 76ers just a few weeks ago, and he should come with low ownership as a bench player.
Fast Break
Ace Bailey ($4,500) – It took some time, but Bailey is finally getting comfortable, as the rookie has scored at least 25 DraftKings points in back-to-back games. The No. 5 pick from this past NBA draft is an extremely talented prospect, and Bailey is rated as one of the best values on the slate at only $4,500, and his stock will only get stronger if the Jazz rest any players tonight, with it being their second game in two nights.
Be sure to check out all the pick’ems Sleeper has to offer with our Sleeper promo code.
NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Jaylen Brown ($8,500)
With Jayson Tatum (Achilles) sidelined this season, Brown has been putting up superstar numbers as the Celtics’ main player. While leading the team with a career-high 34.9% usage rate – which is the fourth-highest rate in the NBA – Brown is supplying 41.6 DraftKings PPG. The former NBA Finals MVP finished with 48.25 DraftKings points when he just faced the 76ers two weeks ago, and he could approach 50 DraftKings points with tonight’s rematch between the clubs expected to be a very competitive affair.
Value
Josh Hart ($5,400)
Small forward is a very thin position for this slate and if looking to pay down, Hart makes the most sense. The veteran’s playing time was cut short in Sunday’s 36-point blowout over the Nets, but prior to this lopsided contest, Hart had topped 30 DraftKings points in three straight games while logging at least 26 minutes in each of these contests. Hart is adjusting to his new role as the Knicks’ sixth man, but he is still generating 1.0 DraftKings PPM this season and with a Grizzlies team on the other side tonight that ranks eighth in pace and 20th in defensive rating, Hart is in a great position to out produce his $5,400 salary.
Fast Break
Michael Porter ($7,400) – Porter has been on fire as of late, scoring 43.6 DraftKings PPG in his last five, and Cam Thomas (hamstring) being out leaves Porter as the Nets’ clear top option. With Thomas off the floor this season, Porter’s usage rises 3.6 percentage points to 33.5%, via the On/Off Tool. Ranking ninth in pace, the Raptors are a solid matchup, and Porter is way too cheap for his potential upside.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Karl-Anthony Towns ($9,000)
Towns has been dominant, scoring over 50 DraftKings points in three of his last four starts. The big man is handling a 26% usage rate, and his 21.4% rebound percentage is a career high. Towns is leading the Knicks with 1.4 DraftKings PPM this season, and he should have a huge outing against this struggling Grizzlies team. Not only does Memphis rank 20th in defensive rating, but the Grizzlies are also allowing the sixth-most points in the paint this season (54.4). New York’s 120.5-point implied team total is the second-highest on the slate, and Towns is amassing a huge 58.5 DraftKings PPG when playing behind an implied team total of at least 120 points the last two seasons (six games), via the Trends Tool.
Value
Santi Aldama ($5,600)
Aldama has been productive as the Grizzlies’ sixth man this season, scoring 27.2 DraftKings points in 25 minutes per game off the bench. Being Memphis’ main option off the bench has translated into a career-high 21.6% usage rate for Aldama, and he has scored at least 29 DraftKings points in four of his last eight games. Aldama is facing a Knicks defense that ranks ninth in rating this season, but this game carries a healthy 231.5-point total, and Aldama has merit as a mid-tier target with forwards so thin on value plays for this five-game slate.
Fast Break
Pascal Siakam ($9,800) – Siakam is an interesting pay-up-to-be-contrarian target for GPPs tonight, as many are likely to avoid him at this near-$10,000 salary. Siakam is coming off a quiet 28 DraftKings point outing vs. the Nuggets, but with the Pacers depleted this season, the forward is leading the team with a 30.4% usage rate, and he has displayed huge upside, with four efforts over 50 DraftKings points in nine starts. Tonight, Siakam is facing a Jazz team that ranks 24th in defensive rating and is playing their second game in two nights, so this is a potential spot for Siakam to go off.
Josh Minott ($4,400) – Minott should be low-owned after only scoring 6.0 DraftKings points vs. the Magic on Sunday, and there is plenty of reason to expect a bounce back for the forward. Minott has been starting for the Celtics, and prior to the dud vs. Orlando, he had scored at least 25 DraftKings points in five of his previous seven.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Joel Embiid ($7,600)
After starting this season very limited and inefficient, Embiid is slowly regaining his form, as the former MVP has eclipsed 40 DraftKings points in three of his past four starts. Embiid’s usage has remained elite at 34.6% this season, and his playing time has been trending up, with him logging at least 25 minutes in three straight. After being rested Sunday, Embiid could be in store for a season high in minutes tonight, somewhere in the 27-30 minute range, and this is an appealing matchup vs. a Celtics team that severely lacks big men. Over 40 DraftKings points is likely for Embiid in this spot, and he is a compelling option at this sub-$8,000 price.
Editor’s note: Embiid (knee) has been ruled out.
Value
Jusuf Nurkic ($6,100)
Since losing Walker Kessler (shoulder) for the season, Nurkic has been starting at center for the Jazz and he has topped 30 DraftKings points in two of his past four with the starting job. Nurkic is producing 1.2 DraftKings PPM this season, and tonight’s matchup vs. the Pacers is an excellent spot for centers. This season, Indiana is giving up the third-most rebounds (49.6) and ninth-most points in the paint per game (52.6). Nurkic could reach the double-double bonus in this spot, and he is rated as a top-five value in our projections.
Fast Break
Neemias Queta ($4,800) – Queta is scoring 25 DraftKings points in 24 minutes per game as the Celtics’ starting center this season, and Boston is going to need him for big minutes to match up with Embiid tonight. Queta posted 26 DraftKings points in the season opener vs. Embiid, and if Queta can avoid getting in foul trouble, he should effortlessly exceed 5x value, but staying out of foul trouble isn’t easy when defending Embiid, so Queta is best suited for GPPs.
Mitchell Robinson ($4,200) – Robinson (ankle) is questionable, but if he suits up, the center will be an awesome punt play vs. the Grizzlies. Mitchell has only appeared in four games this season, but he has been productive in those tilts, scoring over 20 DraftKings points three times.
Pictured: Michael Porter Jr.
Photo Credit: Imagn
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
NBA DFS Showdown Picks Breakdown (Monday, June 13): Expect Chef Curry to Keep Cookin’
NBA DFS Picks Breakdown on DraftKings and FanDuel (Friday, Oct. 27)
NBA DFS Picks Breakdown on DraftKings and FanDuel (Monday, Oct. 30)
NBA DFS (Tuesday, Oct. 31): Top Model Picks and Value Plays on DraftKings and FanDuel
