Tonight brings an 11 game slate and the first large slate of the season . Games start at 7p..m. ET.
The “Droppin Dimes,” article will go over my favorite plays for the slate. It will consist of five core plays (one player at each position) with a full write-up for the core along with a few additional plays and a few value plays. These are my favorite options. You won’t always see the highest-priced players or the most obvious plays. Players listed first at each position are my favorite and a good start to build a lineup around.
(Note: All pricing and fantasy points are based on DraftKings but can be used for all sites.)
Keep an eye on the injury status of players as they can be ruled out right before lock.
Game/s to Target
Rockets@Timberwolves rates out as the best game on my mode. Right behind it is the Kings@Blazers
These games both have high totals and faster pace.
Dimes Play(GPP Play of the Night)
Montrezl Harrell- is on his new team the Wizards and will give them a spark off the bench. In preseason he averaged 13.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and close to 2 blocks a game. Coming in at 3.7k DK and 4K on FD he has 8-10 times the upside. A 1.2 FPPM player that should play 20-24 minutes.
NOTES:
FPPM= Fantasy Points Per Minute, FPPG= Fantasy Points Per Game, PPG=Points per Game, Value=Projected points/salary(This will differ depending on the site).
Pricing (DK/FD)
POINT GUARDS
(1A) Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers ($4,000/$4,600)
The Sixers will be without Ben Simmons and Shake Milton which would potentially put Maxey in the starting lineup. Either way he should see 25 plus minutes tonight and at close to a FPPM he becomes a solid play. As a starter last year Maxey averaged 31.5 minutes, 18.6 points and 4 rebound and assists while shooting 50% from the field. He also displayed a 50 FP ceiling last year. I am not saying he is going to drop 50 FP, but I can see him putting up 30 plus tonight and this makes him an excellent value at his sub 5K price on both sites.
(1B) Spencer Dinwiddie , Washington Wizards ($4,900/$6500) DK PLAY
Dinwiddie missed the majority of last year with an injury and found himself on a new team to start this year. In the 2019/20 season Dinwiddie showed his potential averaging over 20 points, 6.8 assists and just shy of 4 rebounds a game. He will get a fresh start this season on his new team the Wizards and I can see him having a good season along side Bradley Beal. Projected to start and play around 30 minutes a game puts him in an excellent spot tonight on DrafKings are his sub 5K price. A return of 6-7 times value is viable tonight at his reduced price for DK.
Also consider: Damian Lillard has torched the kings for 60 and 70 FPs over the last two meetings, Ja Morant and Dejounte Murray
Value: Goran Dragic – Tyrese Maxey (see above)
SHOOTING GUARDS
CJ McCollum, Portland Trailblazers ($7,200/$8,000)
McCollum loves to shoot an averaged close to 20 shot attempts per game last year. He ended the year averaging over 22 points per game with 4 rebounds and just shy of 5 assists. The Blazers start the season against the Kings in what should be a fast paced, high scoring game. The Kings are not know for their defense as they ranked in the bottom 10 last year. This showed as McCollum dropped two 50 burgers on them over the last two meetings and as I mentioned earlier Lillard dropped 60 and 70. Looking at an excellent price for McCollum on DraftKings as I see him a bit underpriced. My model has him coning in a the second best rating tonight.
Also consider: Fred VanVleet, Anthony Edwards
Value: De’Anthony Melton, Anfernee Simons
SMALL FORWARDS
Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards ($5,100/$4,700)
Kuzma gets a fresh start on the Wizards and is projected to be in the starting linuep. He came off the bench most of last year for the Lakers and still averaged 25 FPs. When given the opportunity to start and get 30 plus minutes Kuzma got to show his upside of close to 50 FPs. I have him projected for around 30 minutes in a plus matchup where I can see him dropping 30-35 fantasy points tonight. Nice return of 6-7 times value with the upside to exceed 40 FPs.
Also consider: Aleksej Pokusevski– showed 45 plus FP upside last year, played well in preseason, The Real OG Anunoby
Value: Scottie Barnes is projected to start and be a big part of the Raptors offense. 3.4K price is too cheap!, Desmond Bane should start tonight and provides excellent value, especially on Draftkings coming in at only $3200.
POWER FORWARDS
Domantis Sabonis, Indiana Pacers ($9,800/$9,700)
Sabonis was a beast last year averaging 20 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists, 36 minutes and just shy of 5o FPPG. He averaged 1.4 FPPM last year and showed upside in the mid/high 70s. This is a matchup for his as the Hornets are weak defending big men, even with the addition of Mason Plumlee. I mainly picked Sabonis over Randle due to the matchup, but I can easily see Julius Randle doing well tonight as he gets massive minutes and is a bit underpriced to start this season.
Also consider: (Strongly consider)- Julius Randle played over 37 minutes a game and has taken a big step forward last season. I see him continuing this progress, Keldon Johnson should take a step forward with n Aldridge or DeRozan.
Value: Jaden McDaniels (MIN), Evan Mobley
CENTERS
Jonas Valanciunas, New Orleans Pelicans ($7,400/$6,500)
Valanciunas played well for the Grizzlies last year, especially towards the end when he consistently saw 30 plus minutes Averaging 17 points, 12.5 rebounds a block a game and 1.4 FPPM over last season. He finds himself on a new team that will be without Zion Williamson tonight, so I do expect Valanciunas to see around 30 minutes with the potential for a few more as long as he stays out of foul trouble guarding Joel Embiid. Over two games last year against the Sixers Valanciunas averaged 12.5 points and 10 rebounds over 23 minutes per game. Add another 5-8 minutes and he should easily exceed value. An excellent value on FanDuel.
Also consider: Joel Embiid, Jusif Nurkic (Highest rated player on my model- could be a BIG night!).
Value: Montrezl Harrell, Jakob Poeltl
CORE- Extra options for each core spot.
Tyrese Maxey or Spencer Dinwiddie
CJ McCollum
Kyle Kuzma
Domantis Sabonis or Julius Randle
Jonas Valanciunas or Jusif Nurkic