Welcome back, RotoBallers. We have a small four-game slate on our hands for this Thursday evening! We need to keep an eye on a few questionable guys, including Scottie Barnes, Chris Paul, Zach Collins, Jordan Clarkson, Rui Hachimura, Mike Conley, and Donte DiVincenzo. Also, Victor Wembanyama is out, which leaves a big hole in the Spurs lineup!
The key to succeeding in NBA DFS is making adjustments during the day as injury information becomes available. But it's always essential to have a game plan and zero in on the best players and spots before making those adjustments. To keep up with all the latest developments and get access to updated projections, grab an NBA season pass and access our RotoBaller Premium Discord, where @chiefjustice6 is talking about the slate up until lineups lock!
This article will provide my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 11/21/24. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our excellent NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 7:00 p.m. EST. Good luck, RotoBallers!
Today's NBA DFS Core Picks
Here is a look at some of the higher-priced players we can use as building blocks for cash and GPP contests.
LeBron James has defied Father Time once again. He has been extremely efficient this season, averaging nearly 47 FD points per game. He also gets a great matchup against Orlando, who is on the second half of a back-to-back. He has had eight double-doubles or better this season and has been on an absolute tear.
Anthony Edwards has been fantastic this season, and if Mike Conley is out, Edwards will be in a position to do even better. The last time Mike Conley was out, Edwards had his best game over the previous five games. Toronto is giving up the twelfth most fantasy points to opposing SGs this season.
I'm going back to John Collins again. Walker Kessler is out once again and now Collins doesn't have Wemby to worry about. In their last matchup, he had 34 FP and that was with Wemby and Kessler both playing. This is the perfect storm for Collins to have another booming game!
- Lebron James, LAL vs. ORL ($10,100 DK; $9,900 FD)
- Anthony Edwards, MIN @ TOR ($9,600 DK; $8,700 FD)
- John Collins, UTA @ SAS ($7,200 DK; $7,100 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Value Picks
This is where we talk about saving salary. Whether it's a severely underpriced backup or even as simple as a guy playing like someone who should be priced higher, this is where you'll find guys who make lineups work.
Tre Mann is back and is still producing at a high level off the bench. He was very efficient at the beginning of the season and in his one game back he had 28 FP in 25 minutes. He is still very cheap and as long as his minutes continue to be in the high 20s he should be able to produce enough to make 5x his price.
Malik Beasley continues to get minutes even with Tim Hardaway back in the lineup. The nice thing is even with his return his role remained unchanged and Beasley is still relatively cheap for someone who has been scoring in the 30+ range.
Keep an eye on Zach Collins but if he does play, he has been a big part of this offense with Wemby down the last two games. His minutes have increased by nearly double and in the last two games has finished with 30 and 37 FP. He is still relatively cheap and if cleared to go should be highly owned.
Charles Bassey has gotten thrown into a big role in this Spurs frontcourt that is decimated with injury. If for any reason Zach Collins is to miss, Bassey becomes one of the top options to play, and the best part about it, he is extremely cheap! He has played 21 minutes in the last two games and finished with 21 and 30 FP.
Top Value Plays:
- Tre Mann, CHA vs. DET ($4,400 DK; $5,100 FD)
- Malik Beasley, DET @ CHA ($5,200 DK; $5,300 FD)
- Zach Collins, DET @ WAS ($6,000 DK; $6,000 FD)
- Charles Bassey, SAS vs. UTA ($4,000 DK; $4,800 FD)
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Today's NBA DFS Picks: Point Guard
Cade has been a menace for this Pistons team, averaging 46 FP this season and scoring 60+ FP in two of his last four games. He is going up against Charlotte who gives up the seventh most fantasy points to opposing PGs this season. He also had 45 FP in his last matchup, he is the top pay-up option at PG.
If Chris Paul does clear the injury report then he is in a position to have a solid outing. With Wemby out, his usage should increase and he gets one of the best matchups on the slate as the Jazz give up the third most FP to opposing PGs. If Chris Paul is out though, it does make Stephon Castle an interesting option as well.
Top PG Options:
- Cade Cunningham, DET @ CHA ($9,700 DK; $9,300 FD)
- Chris Paul, SA vs. UTA ($6,300 DK; $6,100 FD)
- Tre Mann, CHA vs. DET ($4,400 DK; $5,100 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Shooting Guard
Ochai Agbaji has been a player I have felt has gone under the radar this season. His minutes are in the upper 30s and although he isn't as efficient as I would hope, he has some solid usage for his price. This game is the highest total on the slate so a Toronto stack could be big on this slate.
Ochai Agbaji is everything, everywhere, all at once. pic.twitter.com/UW7uJppbyU
— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) November 19, 2024
Top SG Options:
- Anthony Edwards, MIN @ TOR ($9,600 DK; $8,700 FD)
- Ochai Agbaji, TOR vs. MIN ($6,000 DK; $5,300 FD)
- Malik Beasley, DET @ CHA ($5,200 DK; $5,300 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Small Forward
Dalton Knecht's ownership will be through the roof after two explosive games scoring 44+ in both. He is still relatively cheap in the 5-6k range but as long as he continues to get minutes and hit his shot, he should be considered for a large role in this offense.
RJ Barrett has been on a monstrous tear across the last three games going for 41, 65, and 52. He gets a great matchup against the Timberwolves who are giving up the ninth most fantasy points to opposing small forwards. Scottie Barnes is questionable to return and if he does it could impact RJ but if he does sit out once again then fire up RJ in all formats.
Top SF Options:
- Lebron James, LAL vs. ORL ($10,100 DK; $9,900 FD)
- RJ Barrett, TOR vs. MIN ($8,900 DK; $8,400 FD)
- Dalton Knecht, LAL vs. ORL ($5,100 DK; $6,300 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Power Forward
Franz Wagner has played extremely well since Paolo Banchero went down. Scoring 40+ FP in seven of his last eight games. Franz is more of an SF but with having PF eligibility we will take it. The Lakers are giving up the third most fantasy points to opposing SFs this season. Coming off a back-to-back is tough but Wagner should be hungry to get a win after losing last night to the Clippers.
John Collins's consistency in the starting lineup has been pretty awesome to watch
John as a starter this season
21.5 PPG
8.8 RPG
2.8 APG
56.9 FG%
40.0 3P%Balling in whatever role he's asked to play in pic.twitter.com/dz3SIz2HnK
— Jazz Lead (@JazzLead) November 19, 2024
Top PF Options:
- Franz Wagner, ORL @ LAL ($9,100 DK; $9,200 FD)
- John Collins, UTA @ SAS ($7,200 DK; $7,100 FD)
- Zach Collins, DET @ WAS ($6,000 DK; $6,000 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Center
Anthony Davis is one of the top spend-up options on this slate, he has finished with 40+ FP in six straight games and 55+ in the last three. There are a lot of good value plays at center on this slate making it to where Davis may go lower-owned and may end up being a sneaky GPP play.
Jakob Poeltl gets a tough matchup going against Rudy Gobert but Minnesota is giving up the eighth most fantasy points to opposing centers this season. Poeltl has been on a phenomenal run across the last three games finishing with 50+ FP in all three. He is only 8k on this slate and makes for an interesting GPP option.
Top C Options:
- Anthony Davis, LAL vs. ORL ($11,100 DK; $11,400 FD)
- Jakon Poeltl, TOR vs. MIN ($8,100 DK; $8,000 FD)
- Charles Bassey, SAS vs. UTA ($4,000 DK; $4,800 FD)
Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stacks
- Timberwolves @ Raptors (o/u 228.5)
- Pistons @ Hornets (o/u 220.5)
Today's Top NBA DFS Avoids
With it being such a small slate, I think a lot of players are on the table but I will have fewer Utah players more specifically their guards - unless Clarkson is ruled out.
My Favorite NBA DFS Picks for Today
Here is where I leave you with some of my favorites.
- My favorite overall play on the slate: LeBron James
- My favorite CASH play on the slate: John Collins
- My favorite GPP play on the slate: Jakob Poeltl
- My favorite value play: Zach Collins/Charles Bassey
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