NBA GPP Green Light 10-24-17

Tonight's six-game slate features an excellent late night game between the Portland Trail Blazers and New Orleans Pelicans that should feature a lot of fantasy goodness, a few games with blowout potential, and a rematch of the Brooklyn vs. Orlando game that we saw last week. The Nets and the Magic combined for 247 in that game, and we can expect to see a lot of points from them again tonight. I love the idea of stacking that game, while sprinkling in exposure from the five other games.

DK Salary: $10,500 / FD Salary: $11,400

It is crazy to think that there is a team out there that presents a tough matchup for the duo of DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis, but there is. Surprisingly enough, that matchup is the Portland Trail Blazers. Elite talents can always overcome their tough matchups, which is why I am considering Cousins tonight, although I am reserving him strictly for GPPs. The acquisition of Jusuf Nurkic changed the face of the Trail Blazers, taking them one of the best matchup for opposing big men to one of the worst last season, and that trend has continued this season. The Trail Blazers lead the NBA in rebounding differential early on, pulling down 50 rebounds per game, while holding opponents to 35.7 per game. In addition to limiting opponent rebounds, the Trail Blazers are holding opposing centers to a measly 20 points per game. It is early on in the season, which is why I am considering Cousins in GPPs, but there is risk associated with him tonight and he could go overlooked due to the matchup.

DK Salary: $8,600 / FD Salary: $10,100

After three straight games where Towns failed to eclipse 50 DraftKings points, it is time to for Towns to get his yarn and have a breakout game. The Timberwolves will be taking on a Pacers team that is without starting center Myles Turner, putting Towns in an excellent spot to abuse Domantas Sabonis and Al Jefferson down low. Vegas is projecting this game to be a little bit of a blowout, the spread is currently sitting at -11, so there is some risk with Towns' minutes, but if Indiana can keep this close we could get 32-36 minutes Towns toying with an over-matched Pacers defense. The Pacers are allowing a massive 119 points per game to start the season, along with 46.3 rebounds per game, and have allowed opponents to shoot 58.6 percent at the rim where Towns is attempting 44 percent of his shots. KAT is going to toy with the Pacers defense all game and I will have tons of exposure to him.

DK Salary: $7,100 / FD Salary: $7,800

McCollum has come out of the gate hot this season, after serving his one-game suspension, scoring 28 and 26 points in back-to-back games, while shooting 58.3 percent from the floor and 60 percent from beyond-the-arc. McCollum has posted a 25.5 percent usage rate in his first two games back, picking up where he left off last season when he posted a 27.4 percent usage rate. The Pelicans have struggled against opposing shooting guards this season, giving up a massive 54.07 fantasy points per game to them. The Pelicans are allowing opponents to shoot 47.6 percent from the floor, and 37.5 percent from three, putting McCollum and his hot hand in a great spot to continue his streak of big games.

DK Salary: $5,700 / FD Salary: $6,300

The rookie out of Arizona has been impressive to start the season, averaging 15 points and 10 boards, and posting a double-double against the Spurs in their last contest. Due to injuries and suspensions, Markkanen is blowout proof which is important to note when you consider the projected spread in this game. The Bulls have sub-par talent at all positions, with exception to Markkanen and Lopez, and will likely get embarrassed by the Cavaliers, meaning Markkanen will get his chance to abuse the second-unit late in this game. Markkanen has the third-highest usage on the team, 21.7 percent, behind only Kay Felder and Justin Holiday and he is averaging .80 DraftKings points per minute this season. The Cavaliers are surrendering the fifth most rebounds per game to opposing forwards, 28.3, and the third most points at 69.9 per game, meaning Markkanen has plenty of opportunity to put up a great game. People tend to shy away from games with higher spreads, meaning Markkanen could go overlooked tonight.

DK Salary: $5,000 / FD Salary: $5,800

After a disappointing and injury-laden season in Toronto, DeMarre Carroll has thrived in Brooklyn so far, dropping 14.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, two assists, and 1.7 steals per game. Carroll has notched over 30 DraftKings points in back-to-back games, including 35 DraftKings points against Orlando just a few days ago. Carroll has been active on defense, notching two steals in those games, and he has pulled down at least 8 rebounds in two of the first three games. The Magic are surrendering 25.9 rebounds per game to opposing forwards and 102.83 fantasy points combined to opposing small forwards and power forwards. Carroll is averaging 1.11 DraftKings points per minute, with a 20.2 percent usage rate, in this offense without Lin and we have seen the upside he possesses in this matchup. With Caris LeVert and D'Angelo Russell being the popular options on the Brooklyn side of this game, I expect Carroll to have lower ownership.