X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Stats & Leaders
Starts and Sit
Daily Fantasy
Who To Pickup
24x7 News and Alerts

DraftKings Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks (7/17/21): NBA DFS Lineups

Giannis Antetokounmpo

We are up to Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the Suns and Bucks, which has essentially become a best-of-three series. Dario Saric for the Suns and Donte DiVincenzo for the Bucks are the only players out as the series moves back to Phoenix. The Bucks dug themselves a 0-2 hole, but got back to level ground in the two games in Milwaukee.

We are in Showdown mode for DFS on DraftKings from here on out. To build our rosters for this particular format, we need to identify a Captain and five utility players. It's just like the analytics nerds dreamt it up: positionless basketball. The Captain will earn 1.5 times the amount of points he regularly tallies, but it also drives up the price for your more prominent players.

This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 7/17/21. You can also check out today's FanDuel lineup picks. With COVID-19 a significant factor, remember to monitor injury news as the slate can completely change before lineups lock.

Featured Promo: Get any DFS Premium Bundle for for 10% off using code BALLER! Win more with expert advice from proven winners and exclusive DFS tools. Get instant access to RotoBaller's Lineup Optimizers, Research Stations, daily picks and VIP chat rooms across 10 sports! Go Premium, Win More!

 

Milwaukee Bucks (-4, 218 total) 

Giannis Antetokounmpo - PF/C (Captain: $18,900, Utility: $12,200)

That's three straight games of more than 65 DraftKings points for Giannis. No one has the ceiling that he does. If you are planning on not playing him at captain in GPP formats, you'd better have the second-highest scoring captain and Giannis still needs to be in your lineup. I wouldn't even consider a fade in cash games right now. Giannis began the playoffs like a lamb, but he's a lion against Phoenix. They have no answer for him.

Jrue Holiday - PG/SG ($9,200)

We're beyond trying to punt captain with Holiday. He puts up good numbers, but not enough to survive triple digits in the captain slot from Giannis. I still prefer Holiday and the savings over Middleton, though Middleton did finally have a game worthy of his price tag in Game 4. Those have been few and far between this series. I think the floor is much higher for Holiday than Middleton right now. If you're going for a GPP takedown and can fit Middleton with Giannis, that might work. In most formats I'm will to roll with Holiday and pay a little more for role players.

Pat Connaughton - SG/SF ($4,800)

I still love the minutes for P.J. Tucker and the price, but Connaughton at least has some upside to him. He has cleared 25 DraftKings points two of the four games in this series. Connaughton had a rough series against Atlanta, but I'll chalk that up to him finding his role in the middle of the playoffs when DiVincezo went down. Connaughton's floor is the same as Tucker's, but the upside is almost double. That's a must in GPP formats.

Other options: Khris Middleton ($10,400), P.J. Tucker ($3,600)

 

Want more NBA DFS tools and content? Our NBA Premium package includes our daily DFS Cheat Sheets, Research Station, Optimizer, and access to our Premium Slack Chatrooms where members can chat with our NBA analysts. Check out this recent big win from RotoBaller premium member Bsuperak on FanDuel - join in on the winning!

 

Phoenix Suns (+4, 218 total)

Devin Booker - SG (Captain: $15,300, Utility: $10,200)

We all know what kind of defender Holiday is, so his last three games against Paul are likely the norm and not Game 1. I will also preface this by saying that you should only run Booker at captain if you're going for first or last place. The upside is there, but he hasn't hit 50 DraftKings points in a game this series. He's way too expensive for what he has done against the Bucks. Booker scored 42 real points, but only managed 46.25 DraftKings points in Game 4. That's a problem.

Deandre Ayton - C (Captain: $12,000, Utility: $8,000)

Our days of questioning whether we can run Ayton at captain should be over by now. Ayton put up another 40 DraftKings point game and his price went down $400 bucks. Who says that DraftKings doesn't do us a solid from time to time? Booker has far more upside, but just look at that price differential. Is Booker going to be $3.300 better than Ayton? The chances of that happening are around 10%. If you're fading Giannis as captain, Ayton gives you the next best chance at making your money back based on price alone.

Jae Crowder - SF/PF ($7,400)

The last three games highlight just why the Suns wanted Crowder. He has a ton of playoff experience and can be relied upon for efficient shooting in most games. Most bailed on Crowder after he went 0-8 from the floor in Game 1, but Crowder has responded with 106.5 DraftKings points in the last three games. In fact, he had more DraftKings points than Chris Paul did in the two games in Milwaukee. It's hard to cram Crowder in there with Giannis, but I think it's necessary to do so.

Other options: Chris Paul ($8,800), Cameron Johnson ($4,000)

NBA DFS News and Injury Alerts

More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Stats & Leaders
Starts and Sit
Daily Fantasy
Who To Pickup
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Noah Fant1 hour ago

Questionable For Week 12, Update Coming On Saturday
Brock Purdy3 hours ago

Week 13 Status Uncertain
Kyle Finnegan4 hours ago

Nationals Non-Tender Kyle Finnegan On Friday
Dylan Carlson4 hours ago

Rays Non-Tender Dylan Carlson
Brendan Rodgers4 hours ago

Rockies Non-Tender Brendan Rodgers, Cal Quantrill
Mike Yastrzemski4 hours ago

Avoids Arbitration With Giants
Jordan Romano4 hours ago

Blue Jays Non-Tender Closer Jordan Romano
Dustin May5 hours ago

Dodgers Sign Dustin May To One-Year Deal To Avoid Arbitration
Walker Kessler5 hours ago

Might Return To Action Saturday
Kyle Filipowski5 hours ago

To Miss Saturday's Game
Jordan Clarkson5 hours ago

Considered Questionable For Saturday
Miles McBride5 hours ago

Questionable To Face Jazz
Joel Embiid5 hours ago

To Remain Out On Sunday
Nikola Jokic5 hours ago

Returns To Action Friday
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope6 hours ago

No Longer On Injury Report
Wendell Carter Jr.6 hours ago

Considered Questionable For Saturday
Brady Singer6 hours ago

Shipped To Cincinnati
Jonathan India6 hours ago

Traded To Kansas City
Tre Mann6 hours ago

Listed As Out For Saturday
Torrey Craig6 hours ago

Available Versus Hawks
Nick Richards6 hours ago

Ruled Out For Saturday
Jarace Walker6 hours ago

Ready To Face Bucks
Ben Sheppard6 hours ago

Misses A Third Consecutive Game
Anfernee Simons6 hours ago

Returns To Action Friday
Ja Morant6 hours ago

Considered Doubtful For Saturday
Jerami Grant6 hours ago

Ready For Action Friday
Marcus Smart6 hours ago

Questionable For Saturday
Deandre Ayton7 hours ago

Remains Out On Friday
Yves Missi7 hours ago

Will Not Play On Friday
Stephen Curry7 hours ago

Available Versus Pelicans
Scoot Henderson7 hours ago

Absent On Friday
Rashod Bateman8 hours ago

Added To Week 12 Injury Report
Vince Dunn8 hours ago

Could Be An Option For Kraken Next Week
TOR8 hours ago

Alexander Nylander Joins Maple Leafs On One-Year Deal
George Kittle8 hours ago

Cleared For Week 12
Jason Dickinson8 hours ago

Expected To Play On Saturday
Cam York8 hours ago

Expected To Return Saturday
San Francisco 49ers8 hours ago

Nick Bosa Won't Play Against Packers
Mason McTavish8 hours ago

Remains Out On Friday
Brock Purdy8 hours ago

Ruled Out For Week 12
Tage Thompson8 hours ago

Continues To Sit On Friday
Kevin Hayes9 hours ago

A Game-Time Call Friday
Kris Letang9 hours ago

Might Return On Friday
Ladd McConkey9 hours ago

Returns To Practice On Friday
CeeDee Lamb9 hours ago

Cleared To Play In Week 12
Sam LaPorta9 hours ago

Off The Injury Report, Cleared For Week 12
Jake Ferguson9 hours ago

Ruled Out With Concussion
DeVonta Smith10 hours ago

Ruled Out For Week 12
Brock Purdy10 hours ago

Not Seen At Friday's Practice
T.J. Hockenson10 hours ago

Expects To Be More Involved In Week 12
Alexander Mattison10 hours ago

Zamir White Doubtful To Face Broncos
Nico Collins10 hours ago

Set For Increased Workload Against Titans
Mike Evans10 hours ago

Officially Listed As Questionable
Malik Nabers11 hours ago

Questionable For Week 12, Intends To Play
Sam Darnold11 hours ago

Cleared For Sunday
D'Andre Swift11 hours ago

Gets Questionable Tag For Week 12
Keenan Allen11 hours ago

Lands On Injury Report, Questionable For Week 12
Isiah Pacheco12 hours ago

Ruled Out For Week 12
Shohei Ohtani13 hours ago

In Early Stages Of Recovery From Shoulder Surgery
Tabatha Ricci13 hours ago

Looks To Extend Her Win Streak
Yan Xiaonan13 hours ago

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Muslim Salikhov14 hours ago

A Favorite At UFC Macau
Chris Sale14 hours ago

To Have Normal Offseason
Garrett Crochet14 hours ago

Drawing Plenty Of Interest
Song Kenan14 hours ago

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Zhang Mingyang14 hours ago

Set For His Second UFC Fight
Ozzy Diaz14 hours ago

An Underdog At UFC Macau
MacKenzie Weegar17 hours ago

Notches Three Assists Against Rangers
Macklin Celebrini17 hours ago

Tallies Two Assists In Thursday's Loss
Nikita Kucherov17 hours ago

Comes Up With Three Assists Versus Blue Jackets
Sean Monahan17 hours ago

Finishes Thursday's Win With Four Points
Zach Werenski17 hours ago

Enjoys Career Night With Five Points Against Lightning
Jack Hughes18 hours ago

Posts Three Assists Versus Hurricanes
Joonas Korpisalo18 hours ago

Records 21-Save Shutout Versus Utah
Carlos Ulberg1 day ago

Looking To Cement Himself As A Title Contender At UFC Macau
Volkan Oezdemir1 day ago

Eyes Another Knockout At UFC Macau
Gabriella Fernandes1 day ago

A Big Underdog At UFC Macau
MMA1 day ago

Cong Wang Puts Undefeated Record On The Line At UFC Macau
Deiveson Figueiredo1 day ago

Looks To Extend Win Streak At UFC Macau
Petr Yan1 day ago

A Favorite At UFC Macau
Shohei Ohtani1 day ago

Named National League MVP In 2024
Aaron Judge1 day ago

Wins American League MVP Award
Alex Ovechkin1 day ago

To Miss 4-6 Weeks With Fractured Fibula
Zach Hyman1 day ago

Expected To Miss 4-7 Days
Kent Johnson1 day ago

Back For Blue Jackets Thursday
Yaroslav Askarov1 day ago

Makes Sharks Debut Thursday
Mikael Granlund1 day ago

Good To Go Thursday
Alexandar Georgiev1 day ago

Returns To Action Versus Capitals
Cody Bellinger1 day ago

Cubs Looking To Trade Cody Bellinger?
1 day ago

Blake Snell Has Met With Red Sox, Dodgers
Chris Sale2 days ago

Wins National League Cy Young Award
Tarik Skubal2 days ago

Wins 2024 American League Cy Young Award
Austin Eckroat2 days ago

Heads To The RSM Classic After Win
Harris English2 days ago

Finding Form Heading To The RSM Classic
Ben Griffin2 days ago

Continues Playing Well Heading To The RSM Classic
Denny McCarthy2 days ago

Returns to The RSM Classic
Ludvig Aberg2 days ago

Looks To Defend RSM Classic Title
Si Woo Kim2 days ago

An Intriguing Option At RSM Classic
Maverick McNealy2 days ago

In Solid Form Ahead Of RSM Classic
Eric Cole2 days ago

Chasing First Tour Victory At RSM Classic
3 days ago

Guardians' Stephen Vogt Named AL Manager Of The Year
Milwaukee Brewers3 days ago

Pat Murphy Named NL Manager Of The Year
3 days ago

Nick Pivetta Declines Boston's Qualifying Offer
Jose Siri3 days ago

Mets Acquire Jose Siri From The Rays
Charles Oliveira5 days ago

Gets Back In The Win Column
Michael Chandler5 days ago

Gets Dominated At UFC 309
Karine Silva5 days ago

Suffers Her First UFC Loss
Viviane Araujo5 days ago

Gets Back In The Win Column
Mauricio Ruffy5 days ago

Extends His Win Streak To Six
James Llontop6 days ago

Loses Clear-Cut Decision In Thrilling Fight At UFC 309
Paul Craig6 days ago

Loses Decision At UFC 309
Bo Nickal6 days ago

Remains Undefeated With Lackluster Performance At UFC 309
Stipe Miocic6 days ago

Retires After UFC 309 Loss

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP