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It’s great to be back in the swing of things in the NBA, RotoBallers. In these articles, I focus on the top plays, traditionally geared toward cash games. However, with over a decade of NBA DFS experience under my belt—and as someone who rarely dives into cash formats—I'm selecting picks that also typically come with high upside. That means they offer the steady floor needed for cash games while packing the high ceiling we need for tournaments.
DraftKings has the first five games on its main slate, while FanDuel has nine games on its main slate, including all of the late games. The Kings-Raptors and Cavaliers-Bucks games have the most appeal from a game environment standpoint, as both feature high implied totals and a fast projected pace. Injuries have opened up some value, most notably on the Nuggets, as we're going to see a lot of Russell Westbrook in the absence of Jamal Murray.
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 my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 11/2/24. 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
Here is a look at some of the higher-priced players we can use as building blocks for cash and GPP contests.
The optimizers and I agree on the core plays for this slate. Nikola Jokic and James Harden are my two high-priced priorities, as they're both in smash spots with unparalleled usage available. Harden is averaging 50.6 FD PPG while Kawhi Leonard continues to miss games, while Jokic has a monster ceiling, with Jamal Murray set to miss tonight's action.
- Nikola Jokic, DEN vs. UTA - C ($11,400 DK; $11,800 FD)
- James Harden, LAC vs. OKC - PG ($9,500 DK; $9,800 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.
Sorting the best value picks of the day by fantasy points per dollar, excluding players priced $7,000 or higher:
Russell Westbrook was atrocious with his uptick in minutes last night, shooting 1-for-8 from the field while notching four turnovers. He still scored 24.7 FanDuel points. He will see at least 30 minutes tonight in a much more favorable matchup against the Jazz, and he will be a staple of many lineups as his salary is too low.
Sexton is also slightly underpriced with his expected minutes and usage increase. Jordan Clarkson won't be suiting up tonight, which allows Sexton to play around 30 minutes as a starter. He has been volatile to start the season, but the guard should have no issues exceeding value at his salary tonight.
Zubac is finally seeing his salary increase as he has been crushing value lately, averaging 41.9 FD PPG while racking up a ton of points and rebounds. He can exploit this matchup as the Thunder allow the fourth-most fantasy points per game to Cs, with Isaiah Hartenstein continuing to miss games.
Top Value Plays (FanDuel):
- Russell Westbrook, DEN vs. UTA - PG ($5,100 FD)
- Collin Sexton, UTA @ DEN - PG/SG ($5,800 FD)
- Ivica Zubac, LAC vs. OKC - C ($7,600 FD)
Top Value Plays (DraftKings):
- RJ Barrett, TOR vs. SAC - SF ($7,300 DK)
- Jakob Poeltl, TOR vs. SAC - C ($6,900 DK)
- Caleb Martin, PHI vs. MEM - SF/PF ($5,400 DK)
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Today's NBA DFS Picks: Point Guard
Westbrook and Sexton look like the best options at PG. They're underpriced and due for increased minutes, usage rate, and fantasy production. Garland also feels underpriced, as he needs just 32 FD points to hit 5x value, and he's averaging 32.4 FD PPG this season. He feels like he's priced at his floor, and he has the potential to hit a ceiling game in this matchup as the game environment is great, and the Bucks allow the eighth-most FPPG to PGs this season.
Lastly, Conley slots in well as a value-filler at the position tonight. He has only hit value in one game so far this season, but he's playing 24 minutes per game and shouldn't have issues putting up fantasy points against a Spurs team that has allowed the fourth-most FPPG to PGs.
Top PG Options:
- James Harden, LAC vs. OKC ($9,800 FD)
- Russell Westbrook, DEN vs. UTA ($5,100 FD)
- Collin Sexton, UTA @ DEN ( $5,800 FD)
- Darius Garland, CLE @ MIL ($6,600 DK; $6,400 FD)
- Mike Conley, MIN @ SAS ($4,500 DK; $4,700 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Shooting Guard
Here's where things can get slightly different, with the two sites having vastly different slate sizes. Sexton and Christian Braun can be played at SG on FanDuel, but they're unavailable on DraftKings. Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, Kevin Huerter, Donovan Mitchell, and Gradey Dick are popping out as the top options over on DraftKings. I like B-Pod, Mitchell, and Dick from that group as Moody and Huerter project for suppressed minutes and have a more narrow path to a ceiling game.
Top SG Options:
- Brandin Podziemski, GSW @ HOU ($5,800 DK; $6,000 FD)
- Christian Braun, DEN vs. UTA ($5,200 FD)
- Donovan Mitchell, CLE vs. MIL ($8,200 DK; $8,600 FD) Prefer on DraftKings
- Gradey Dick, TOR vs. SAC ($5,500 DK; $5,600 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Small Forward
Caleb Martin is an unexciting play, but he makes sense on both sites at his pricing. He's a shooting-reliant fantasy producer and will be volatile, but Memphis is allowing the second-most FPPG to SFs and the sixth-most FPPG overall. RJ Barrett can also be played on both sites, and he shouldn't have any trouble hitting value with how he has been playing. He put up 58.25 and 52.5 DK points over his last two games, and now he gets the top game environment on the entire slate to work with.
Kelly Oubre Jr., Huerter, and Dick are other options at this position, but I'll be focusing most of my exposure to Martin and Barrett.
Top SF Options:
- Caleb Martin, PHI vs. MEM ($5,400 DK; $5,300 FD)
- RJ Barrett, TOR vs. SAC ($7,300 DK; $7,900 FD)
- Christian Braun, DEN vs. UTA ($5,200 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Power Forward
Giannis looks excellent tonight, but I can't pay for him when prioritizing Jokic and Harden. I'll mix him into some lineup to capture that potential upside, but I don't think he's the most optimal way to play this slate. I'm cycling in value at PF tonight, with Martin, Aaron Gordon, Draymond Green, and others filling out the position.
Top PF Options:
- Aaron Gordon, DEN vs. UTA ($6,200 FD)
- Draymond Green, GSW @ HOU ($6,200 DK; $6,100 FD)
- Michael Porter Jr., DEN vs. UTA ($6,200 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Center
Jokic is my favorite play on the slate. The Jazz allow the most FPPG in the league this season, and the Nuggets will be without Jamal Murray, so Jokic is in the smashiest of smash spots tonight. Zubac also projects well against a vulnerable OKC frontcourt, and he shouldn't be too popular with his recent price increase and the other appealing centers on this slate.
Drummong and Poeltl are the two Cs we can play across both sites, and both are underpriced given their recent production and favorable matchups. Poeltl is my pick between the two, as he has crushed value with at least 44 DK points in three consecutive contests.
Top C Options:
- Nikola Jokic, DEN vs. UTA ($11,800 FD)
- Ivica Zubac, LAC vs. OKC ($7,600 FD)
- Jakob Poeltl, TOR vs. SAC ($7,300 FD; $6,900 DK)
- Andre Drummond, PHI vs. MEM ($6,800 DK; $6,700 FD)
Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stacks
- Kings vs. Raptors (o/u 234)
- Cavaliers @ Bucks (o/u 233.5)
Today's Top NBA DFS Avoids
I won't get too much of Victor Wembanyama, Ja Morant, or Jalen Green on tonight's slate. They're all too expensive for their expected production, and I like the players priced around them better with my preferred lineup construction. Wembanyama is a scary guy to fade, but I'll take my chances with not getting to him against a stout Minnesota defense.
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: RJ Barrett
- My favorite GPP play on the slate: James Harden
- My favorite value play: Russell Westbrook
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