Happy Tuesday, RotoBallers! The first week of the regular season is in the books, and it's time to make some sweeping overreactions.
- The Bulls will be 82-0 at the end of the year.
- The Nets, Celtics, Lakers, and Suns will be playing golf when the playoffs begin.
- The Thunder are already tanking (this one isn't a joke)
We've got five games on the schedule for Tuesday. As of this writing, the 76ers-Knicks tilt is without an over/under, but the other four all range from 219 points to 224 points. Unfortunately, we don't have many jigsaw pieces fitting together either. The three fastest teams (Warriors, Rockets, and Lakers) line up with three of the five slowest units (Thunder, Mavericks, Spurs). Still, it's my job to navigate these murky waters and set you sailing in the right direction. So let's get to it!
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 10/26/21. You can also check out today's FanDuel lineup picks. Remember to monitor injury news as the slate can completely change before lineups lock.
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DraftKings Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Derrick White - PG/SG, SAS vs. LAL ($6,500)
White is smashing his price through the first week, and that trend will continue on Tuesday against the Lakers. Through three games, the Spurs guard averages 15.3 points, 6.7 assists, 2.7 rebounds, 3.3 stocks (steals+blocks), and 2.0 three-pointers per game. It's all totaled up to 35.7 fantasy points per game, and he has returned at least five times his value in every contest. Now, he meets a Lakers team with the second-fastest pace in the league (107.5 possessions per game) but is allowing 70.6 FPPG to point guards through the first week.
Seth Curry - SG, PHI at NYK ($5,900)
As the Ben Simmons drama continues to play out, the Philadelphia backcourt is up for grabs. Fortunately, Seth Curry was already an efficient scorer, and now the volume is coming along to turn him into a must-start option. Over his last two contests, the shooting guard is 18-for-27 from the floor and 11-for-14 behind the arc while averaging 25.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 2.0 stocks per game for 38.9 FPPG. The 31-year old sharpshooter has returned six and seven times his value in those same two contests, and DFS managers should expect a similar result against a Knicks defense allowing the most FPPG to shooting guards through the season's first week.
Others to consider: Stephen Curry ($11,000), Russell Westbrook ($9,000), Tim Hardaway Jr. ($6,700), Jalen Green ($6,100), Tyrese Maxey ($6,000)
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DraftKings Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Josh Giddey - SF, OKC vs. GSW ($5,800)
The matchup between the Thunder and Warriors is the one I'm trying to grab the most pieces of on Tuesday. It has the highest over/under on the slate (224 points), and both teams have weaknesses to exploit in their defense. This thinking has led me down the path to recommending Josh Giddey for DFS lineups tonight. The rookie rebounded from two lackluster performances to open his NBA career with a stunning fantasy performance in Game 3. In 34 minutes against the 76ers, Giddey recorded 19 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, one three-pointer, and four steals for a massive 47 fantasy points and returning 10 times his $4,700 salary.
Oklahoma City seems to be in a perpetual "let's see what we've got here" mode, and will always prefer their younger players getting the majority of the playing time. Plus, Golden State is the worst defense in the Association against small forwards right now, allowing 59.89 FPPG.
Andrew Wiggins - SG/SF, GSW at OKC ($5,800)
The struggle has been real for Wiggins through the first three games of the season, but a date with the Thunder should kick-start his 2021-22 campaign. It's not as bad as you would initially think, but I had slightly higher expectations for Wiggins for a team relying on Stephen Curry to carry the load. Still, he's managed to take at least 10 shots, score double-digit points, hit multiple threes, and grab at least four rebounds in every contest this year - so things could be worse.
Fortunately, Oklahoma City allows 54.52 FPPG to small forwards this year as they already seem to be looking at the 2022 NBA Draft order. Wiggins has been quiet to begin the year, but he will be essential to the Warriors as they navigate the first two/three months of the season without Klay Thompson. That makes it imperative for Golden State to get Wiggins rolling on the road in a matchup where they find themselves as nine-point favorites.
Others to consider: Draymond Green ($7,100), Keldon Johnson ($5,200), Otto Porter Jr. ($4,200)
DraftKings Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Anthony Davis - PF/C, LAL at SAS ($9,200)
After a forgettable 2020-21 season, Anthony Davis has come out of the blocks strong and made his presence felt for the new campaign. The eight-time All-Star is averaging 25.7 points, 11 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.7 blocks per game through three games. Unfortunately, his shooting splits sit at .492/.222/.680 in those three games, so there's even room for improvement moving forward.
The big question looming over this game for the Lakers is if LeBron James (ankle) will suit up. Los Angeles begins a back-to-back set tonight, and they need to be thinking about the long game when it comes to the health of the 36-year old superstar. If the King sits, the Brow should be in for a monster performance. Unfortunately, he could become even chalkier than he already will be against a Spurs defense giving up the ninth-most FPPG to centers this season.
Alperen Sengun - C, HOU at DAL ($4,300)
This is my risk-it-for-the-biscuit pick on Tuesday, as I'm taking a stroll down the narrative avenue for my final DraftKings recommendation. Sengun is showing flashes of brilliance for the Rockets, and I believe he will soon find himself getting regular minutes no matter the game script. However, tonight, the Rockets are 11.5-point underdogs on the road to the Mavericks, and this could get ugly exceptionally quickly. The rookie center hasn't cracked 20 minutes in a game this year, but it has to happen sooner rather than later. This year, Sengun has 25 fantasy points in two of three games, and the man from Turkey is worth a flier as a low-rostered play at your center spot on a small slate.
Others to consider: Nikola Jokic ($10,600), Christian Wood ($8,400), Jakob Poeltl ($5,600)
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