NBA DFS: Top Daily Fantasy Expert Picks for DraftKings, FanDuel (10/29/24)

Happy Tuesday, Rotoballers! Tonight we have a four-game slate headlined by a TNT doubleheader featuring a rematch of last season's Western Conference Finals. These articles focus on the overall best plays, which are typically more suited for cash games. However, some exceptions may apply, depending on the size of the slate.

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 you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 10/29/24. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our excellent NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 7:30 p.m. EST on FanDuel and DraftKings. Good luck, RotoBallers!

Today's NBA DFS Core Picks

Every lineup tonight will start by answering the same question: what are you doing with the combination of Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic? Their salaries and ceiling outcomes will ultimately determine the slate. Straight up I'd lean toward Jokic due to the matchup. It's possible to pair the two of them thanks to the cheap options in the NO-GS game (more on that in a second). Fade the pair at your own risk for massive leverage on the field.

Anthony Edwards and a pair of Kings in Domantas Sabonis and De'Aaron Fox round out the top five most expensive players on the slate. Kings-Jazz looks to be the best game to stack, so I'd expect Edwards to end up the lowest owned of the five.

1. Nikola Jokic, DEN @ BKN - C ($11,300 DK; $11,600 FD)
2. Luka Doncic, DAL @ MIN - PG ($11,500 DK; $11,700 FD)
3. Domantas Sabonis, SAC @ UTA - C ($9,500 DK; $9,700 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.

As mentioned; NO-GS is the game for salary saving tonight. Steph Curry's absence is the most impactful, opening the door for plenty of opportunity amongst the Warriors' remaining backcourt options. New Orleans' backcourt has been missing two of its top three players since the second game of the season, which has allowed Jordan Hawkins to step in and shine.

Kings at Jazz has the highest implied total on the slate by 11 points and with plenty of viable options priced under $6k in this game, there's a variety of cheap options tonight. Update: Jazz starting PF Taylor Hendricks dislocated his ankle last night, and while the Jazz haven't yet announced who will start in his place, his absence opens up more minutes.

Top Value Plays:

1. Jordan Hawkins, NO @ GS - PG/SG ($4,900 DK; $5,100 FD) 
2. Buddy Hield, GS vs NO - SG/SF ($5,500 DK; $6,000 FD)
3. Walker Kessler, UTA vs SAC - C ($5,700 DK; $6,600 FD) 

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Today's NBA DFS Picks: Point Guard

For a typically deep position, PG is surprisingly short on options tonight. Without any of the standout value pieces, most lineups will opt to spend up. The question is; are they spending up to Luka? Or are they spending up to the midrange options out of necessity?

Top PG Options:

1. Luka Doncic, DAL @ MIN ($11,500 DK; $11,700 FD)
2. De'Aaron Fox, SAC @ UTA, ($8,500 DK; $8,600 FD)
3. Jamal Murray, DEN @ BKN, ($7,300 DK; $7,400 FD)

Today's NBA DFS Picks: Shooting Guard

For cash games tonight, I think Jordan Hawkins is a borderline must-play. Hawkins is averaging about 30 fantasy PPG through three games and has hit multiple 3's in each game so far in the young season. If you're looking to stay cheap, Christian Braun is also averaging nearly 30 fantasy PPG this season after earning a spot in Denver's starting 5.

SG has plenty of great options priced under $6k, but Cam Thomas makes for a very interesting pay-up option. Thomas is averaging over 45.5 fantasy PPG so far, making his $7,700 price tag stand out like a sore thumb. Thomas is taking more than 20 shots per game, and I wouldn't expect to see him this cheap again assuming his volume maintains this level.

Top SG Options:

1. Jordan Hawkins, NO @ GS ($4,900 DK; $5,100 FD)
2. Cam Thomas, BKN vs DEN ($7,700 DK; $8,000 FD)
3. Christian Braun, DEN @ BKN ($4,400 DK; $5,500 FD)

Today's NBA DFS Picks: Small Forward

With the most expensive option priced at only $8,100, SF feels like the pressure point of this slate. Will more lineups look to replace Steph Curry with Buddy Hield or Jonathan Kuminga? Or is this where people will look to get their pieces of SAC @ UTA? It's hard to pick out who the true "must-have" play is, so I'll be starting my lineup construction somewhere else, and seeing what makes the most sense based on the rest of my lineup when it comes time to choose who to roster at SF.

Top SF Options:

1. Buddy Hield, GS vs NO ($5,500 DK; $6,000 FD)
2. Cody Williams, UTA vs SAC ($3,700 DK; $3,700 FD)
3. Jonathan Kuminga, GS vs NO ($5,900 DK; $6,700 FD)

Today's NBA DFS Picks: Power Forward

PF will play very differently for cash games versus for tournaments tonight. Lauri Markkanen projects to be widely owned, and with all the options at SF, it's an easy decision to roster him at PF. However, if you decide to fade Markkanen, you will gain a massive advantage if he underperforms.

PJ Washington is coming off a huge game last night against the Jazz, and with Maxi Kleber missing a second straight game tonight, Washington could be the best play on the slate if he sniffs 40 fantasy points again.

Top PF Options:

1. Lauri Markkanen, UTA vs SAC ($8,000 DK; $8,000 FD)
2. PJ Washington, DAL @ MIN ($5,300 DK; $5,200 FD) 
3. Julius Randle, MIN vs DAL ($7,600 DK; $7,600 FD)

Today's NBA DFS Picks: Center

Tonight is a classic two-center slate. Two of the slate's three best projections are centers, with solid plays in all price ranges. If you're playing cash games and you're not starting your lineup with Jokic or Sabonis, DFS might not be for you.

A huge pressure point of this slate will be the situation in Utah between Walker Kessler and John Collins. Kessler has received more minutes, but Collins has been one of the best fantasy players so far this season on a per-minute basis. For cash games, I'm trying to find the extra $300 for Kessler due to his floor.

Top C Options:

1. Nikola Jokic, DEN @ BKN ($11,300 DK; $11,600 FD)
2. Domantas Sabonis, SAC @ UTA ($9,500 DK; $9,700 FD)
3. Walker Kessler, UTA vs SAC ($5,700 DK; $6,600 FD) 

Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stacks

1. SAC @ UTA (o/u 233.5)
2. DEN @ BKN(o/u 217.5)

Today's Top NBA DFS Avoids

One of the biggest reasons I prefer Jokic to Doncic as the top play tonight is scheduling differences. The Mavericks are set to play their third game in four nights, and players are not close to being in the best shape one week into the season. I wouldn't exclude any Mavs from my player pool, but if I had to fade one of the top five players completely, I think I'd go for Luka and hope he finished more in the range of 50 fantasy points instead of 70-75.

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: Nikola Jokic
• My favorite CASH play on the slate: Jordan Hawkins
• My favorite GPP play on the slate: Cam Thomas
• My favorite value play: Walker Kessler

NBA DFS News and Injury Alerts

More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis