RADIO
Only four games tonight, but they contain have some of the more dynamic offenses in the league. Despite the Lakers being the only team on the second night of a back-to-back, LeBron James is still a quality play. It would be the first time he would be playing in the Staples Center with a win under his belt and something to prove. You cannot pin the entire loss on missed free throws, but you can bet James will be making up for that in his next appearance.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 10/25/18. These DFS lineup picks can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced players and value picks on FanDuel. You can also check out today's DraftKings lineup picks and our Premium DFS Cheat Sheet. And don't forget to check out our brand new NBA DFS Matchup Ratings tool with daily player projections.
Make sure you don't set your lineups too early and also be sure to check player statuses and availability prior to opening tip. Find me in the Hoops Chat Room or regrettably on Twitter yelling at nothing, @HalfCourJester. Good luck.
FanDuel DFS Guards
Marcus Smart - PG, BOS @ OKC (FD - $4,100)
Usually Marcus Smart isn't the greatest play, but the Thunder doesn't have the defensive capabilities (yet) to shut down opposing offenses. You might not think of Smart when you think of offense, but he has a surprisingly high 16% Usage rate that helps his case. There are plenty of options ahead of Smart, but it's also known that Smart lives for high-intensity matchups and thrives in the chaos. There might not be a ton of chaos tonight, but expect Smart to find himself wide open on the perimeter and actually convert it into DFS production. If you can afford to spend up for Jaylen Brown, do it.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope - SG, LAL vs DEN (FD - $3,900)
I suggested playing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope yesterday and he put up some basic, yet quality numbers. He did play the most out of any Laker but failed to really shoot the ball with efficiency. To be fair, 1-for-6 from three isn't horrible of him, but he should absolutely improve on that going forward. His price is a slice above basement level and he will free you up a ton of space to roster someone like LeBron James or Russell Westbrook, perhaps even both.
FanDuel DFS Forwards
Jonathon Simmons - SF, ORL vs. POR (FD - $4,000)
He might not be the most consistent player, but Jonathon Simmons has been producing and his floor is higher than other players in that same price range. He has a 20% Usage rate through the first few games and the Magic are clearly trying to get Simmons going each game. His athleticism is hard to contain when he opens up his driving ability, but that depends on his success opportunities from the perimeter. The Trail Blazers seemed to have improved on defense, but they still don't have the depth to really strategize for someone like Simmons. While his price remains so low and he is getting the minutes, you have to play him.
Larry Nance Jr. - PF, CLE vs DET (FD - $4,400)
The Pistons frontcourt does somewhat scare me away from playing Larry Nance Jr., but his rebounding ability gives me a sliver of hope for Nance to be one of the sleeper picks of the night. After watching Blake Griffin go off for 50 and Drummond being right there to clean up any missed chances, Nance does NOT have his work cut out for him. On defense, he will benefit from the Pistons subpar shooting, but will also struggle to keep either Griffin or Drummond out of the paint. If the Pistons don't have a good shooting night, Nance will be a solid play. Even if they do, Nance is lined up to be one of the few Cavaliers that can actually produce.
FanDuel DFS Centers
Mason Plumlee - C, DEN @ LAL (FD - $3,900)
While most people will play Nikola Jokic, and rightfully so, Mason Plumlee is the sneaky play that you can't overlook. He contributes across the board and is versatile enough to exceed his projected with ease. The Lakers frontcourt is not defensively gifted, so both Jokic and Plumlee should have no problem playmaking from that role. Expect Jokic to dominate the box score, will Plumlee does the same, just at a reserves level. If you can combine Plumlee with one of the other players listed you have a great chance at rostering multiple of the top players tonight.
