RADIO
Happy Wednesday, RotoBallers! The NBA season is finally here, and we have a whopping 12 games slotted for this evening. It's a new season, with players switching teams, rookies joining the fold, and rotations mixing and matching as teams learn to gel. My model will take time to adjust to these changes, but it's my duty to give you all the best picks possible. I had a nice night on opening night, so I'll look to keep that momentum going forward into today.
Tonight, we have a 12-game slate for what I consider the true "opening night," with both FanDuel and DraftKings having multi-position eligibility players, and we'll have to attack slates accordingly to make our lineups as optimal as possible. That's where I come in! I'll look to find my personal top plays and values for tonight's slate. Things can change during the day as well, so I'll do my best to update as news comes out!
Here are my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel and DraftKings on 10/19/22. Keep an eye on RotoBaller’s NBA injury news and also our full NBA injury report today to stay up to date before lineups are locked.
DraftKings and FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Trae Young - vs HOU (FD: $9,100, DK: $9,500)
I'll start off tonight's slate with Trae Young. The Hawks will be an interesting case given the offseason addition of Dejounte Murray, but I still rate Young as a solid play on tonight's slate. As of now, my model projects Young to play north of 35 minutes against a Houston Rockets team that struggles against the point guard position, ranking 30th in point guard efficiency in 2021. His 31.59% usage may waver with the addition of Murray, but for now, I'll ride with Ice Trae.
De'Aaron Fox, vs POR (FD: $8,000, DK: $8,300)
I'll take a look at De'Aaron Fox next. Fox was in and out of the lineup throughout last season, but as far as I know, he's back and in full form for 2022. My model projects Fox to play roughly 35 minutes tonight, with a usage rate of 29.47%. He'll take on the Blazers in Damian Lillard's return, and I rate Fox to at least try to keep pace with Lillard, facing the 20th-ranked team in terms of point guard efficiency last season.
Tyler Herro, vs CHI (FD: $5,900, DK: $6,000)
I'll finish things up at the guard positions with Tyler Herro. Herro signed a very lucrative contract in the offseason and is now ready to run it back with the rest of the Heat. It appears as though Herro will get a boost into the starting lineup, which should bump up both his minutes and usage. I currently have Herro projected for 32.5 minutes and a usage rate of 25.36% and have him projected north of 5.5x value on both sites tonight.
Also consider: D'Angelo Russell (FD: $6,700, DK: $7,500), Devin Vassell (FD: $5,800, DK: $4,600)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Pascal Siakam, vs CLE (FD: $8,500, DK: $7,600)
I'll start off my favorite forwards with Pascal Siakam. There are obviously relatively high expectations for Siakam and the Raptors this season, with most of the team returning to compete in the wild wild... East? I have Siakam with one of the highest minute projections tonight at 37.3, with a usage rate of 28.78%. This should be a fun matchup against the Cavs, and while Siakam has forward eligibility, I have him as a center, and the Cavs ranked 20th in center efficiency in 2021.
Bojan Bogdanovic, vs ORL (FD: $4,900, DK: $5,000)
I'll look for value here, especially with Bojan Bogdanovic, who headed over to Detroit this offseason. I don't project his usage or minutes to go up any higher, but perhaps he can be a bit more efficient in an offense that plays with more pace than that of the 2021 Utah Jazz. I currently have him projected for 31.2 minutes and a 24.87% usage rate, both quality numbers for a guy who's as cheap as Bogdanovic tonight.
Cameron Johnson, vs DAL (FD: $4,300, DK: $5,000)
I'll look at Cameron Johnson as another value play on tonight's slate. There's been a bit of drama out of Phoenix surrounding the entire Jae Crowder saga. This does open the door for Johnson, and he should get a boost in both minutes and usage. My model has him projected for just 27.9 minutes and a usage rate of 17.72%.
Also consider: Bam Adebayo (FD: $7,900, DK: $6,400), Anthony Edwards (FD: $7,700, DK: $8,400)
DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Clint Capela, vs HOU (FD: $5,800, DK: $6,300)
While I'll surely be taking a look at the Joker as my center option tonight, I do like Clint Capela as a solid value play. Capela doesn't have the best minutes and usage projections -- projecting to just 27.6 minutes and a usage rate of 15.8% -- but he should be a solid value option as my model has him projected north of 6x value on both sites tonight in a strong matchup against the Rockets.
Also consider: Nikola Jokic (FD: $11,600, DK: $10,300)
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