It is finally here: DFS contests for the opening night of the NBA are finally out. That means we can finally start making lineups. Some values will change once we learn who the starters are and stuff like that, but it is never too early to start filling out lineups. Here are my first thoughts for opening night:
Point Guards
Reggie Jackson – If I’m paying up for a point guard, than it has to be R-Jax because his floor is 20-plus points and eight-plus assists. He could produce similar fantasy points as Stephen Curry without the crazy-high price tag.
Mo Williams – Will be the starting point guard for the Cavs with Kyrie Irving out. Williams averaged 17.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 7.6 assists in 33 games as a starter last season. He will likely face off vs. Aaron Brooks, who is not that great of a defender. His price tag is insultingly low on DraftKings ($4,900)
Aaron Brooks – Speaking of Brooks, he is one of the best value plays on the board IF Derrick Rose does not play. He’ll play 25-plus minutes and should have no problem exceeding value.
Shooting Guards
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope – The shooting guard position is one of the best places to save money at as the options are not that great. KCP is slated as the starting shooting guard for the Pistons, which means he’ll play well over 30 minutes. With Greg Monroe gone, the Pistons are going to need someone else to score the ball, and that man is KCP. His low price tag will make it easy for him to exceed value.
Jimmy Butler- Will play close to 40 minutes and will get steals and rebounds, something Klay Thompson does not do. Butler contributes stats all across the board, while only costing a couple of hundred dollars more than Klay. That is why Butler is the better play.
Small Forwards
Pistons starting SF – Stanley Johnson has flourished during the preseason, but Marcus Morris could still end up starting for the Pistons. On a site like FanDuel, where you need to start two small forwards, Johnson’s price tag is $1,400 lower than Morris, which makes him the better on that site.
LeBron James – The question on this night is, which stud player should you spend up on? The answer is LeBron James, mainly because the small forward position is so weak. Anthony Davis will likely exceed LBJ’s fantasy points, but there are plenty of quality options at that position. James will easily the lead position in fantasy points, which makes him hard to fade.
Nikola Mirotic – Is only worth playing on FanDuel, where you have to start two small forwards and his price tag is reasonably low. His $6,400 price tag on DraftKings is way too rich for my blood. Doug McDermott is a quality option as well considering his close to minimum price tag.
Power Forwards
Anthony Davis – The Warriors have no one that can contain A.D., the problem is his exuberant price tag for a position that is filled with better value plays. Davis is the unquestionable No. 1 player in fantasy this season. Expect him to prove it right out of the gate
Draymond Green – Averaged almost 14 points, 12.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and just under two blocks a game vs. the Pelicans during the regular season last year. He costs only $6,900 on Draftkings, which is a steal considering Pau Gasol is $8,000 and Millsap is $7,700.
Ryan Anderson – Will be in a majority of lineups as his price tag is extremely cheap when you realize the Pelicans will be without Omer Asik and Alexis Ajinca to start the season. That means Mr. Anderson is going to play huge minutes, score plenty of points, and pull in some rebounds as well. He is easily the best value play at the position.
Centers
Al Horford – Andre Drummond’s price tag is ridiculously high, which will make it hard for him to reach value. Horford has a solid floor, but his ceiling is limited as he has to gets to some blocks/steals to exceed value.
Anderson Varejao – Is a sneaky, sneaky value play. He is averaging nine points, 6.5 rebounds, four assists, and 1.5 steals in the two games he has played 21 minutes in the preseason. He can rack up fantasy points in bunches, so the fact he doesn’t log huge minutes will not hurt him. Joakim Noah is another solid value option, but that also depends on if he starts or not. The center position is looking like the best position where you can save money.