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Winners From Downtown is bringing the top daily picks for your cash games, alongside some value plays, and Vegas notes. Be sure to check out our minutes tool, and Colossus lineup optimizer.
Projections show DraftKings prices and fantasy points.
Vegas Notes
Top Picks
Russell Westbrook (PG), Thunder | |||||||
Opponent | Minutes | Fantasy Points Per Minute | Defensive Efficiency Rating | Usage Rate | Opposing Fantasy Points Allowed | Vegas Team Total | Projection |
at MEM | 34 | 1.51 | 18.6 | 34.6 | 43 | 98 | 51 |
Salary: FD: $11,400 DK: $12,200
You know the drill by now. When Durant sits, you plug Westbrook into your lineups, especially on a short slate. Sure, there is a possibility that he throws up a dud, but his "dud" came last game, where he shot just 5/20 from the floor...and STILL managed 48.5 FP. This is just about the floor with Westy, and if his shot is falling, the upside is higher than any player, and it isn't really that close.
Eric Bledsoe (SG), Suns | |||||||
Opponent | Minutes | Fantasy Points Per Minute | Defensive Efficiency Rating | Usage Rate | Opposing Fantasy Points Allowed | Vegas Team Total | Projection |
| vs LAL | 34 | 1.00 | 19.6 | 27.8 | 37 | 109.25 | 38 |
Salary: FD: $8,700 DK: $8,400
Bledsoe may just be the most efficient player in the NBA right now. Over his last 3 games, he has shot a ridiculous 30/44 from the field with 24 assists and 19 rebounds. The Lakers are an inept defensive team, and targeting guards against them has been an ideal strategy for quite some time. Bledsoe certainly won't continue to shoot 60% from the field, but his ability to fill up the stat sheet in every category (4.4 RPG, 6.2 APG, 2.1 SPG) makes him a high-floor, high-upside play at less than an elite price tag. On this short slate, he is a nice price-saving option from James Harden if you can't quite afford his tag.
Damian Lillard (PG), Blazers | |||||||
Opponent | Minutes | Fantasy Points Per Minute | Defensive Efficiency Rating | Usage Rate | Opposing Fantasy Points Allowed | Vegas Team Total | Projection |
at SAS | 37 | 1.05 | 20 | 31.3 | 43.95 | 95.75 | 39 |
Salary: FD: $9,100 DK: $8,700
The Spurs have struggled with PG in a big way this season, and Lillard has been one of the better PG in the game. With the offseason departures of key players, Lillard is the obvious top option in the Portland offense. He posted a solid game against the Spurs last week, with 46 FP despite shooting just 7/19 from the field. He has a top-10 usage rate in the NBA this season, and has one of the best floor/ceiling combos on this short slate.
Paul George (SF), Pacers | |||||||
Opponent | Minutes | Fantasy Points Per Minute | Defensive Efficiency Rating | Usage Rate | Opposing Fantasy Points Allowed | Vegas Team Total | Projection |
at CHI | 35 | 1.02 | 18.9 | 30.7 | 33.73 | 95.75 | 40 |
Salary: FD: $9,200 DK: $9,200
It feels odd talking about George as if he hadn't already been a superstar in the NBA, but now that he in finally healthy, he is putting the league on notice. He is averaging 24.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.5 steals per game this season. Tonight he faces a Bulls team that is a tough matchup in name more than actual performance. PG has at least 43 FP in 5 straight games, with 3 of those going for 50+. His price is steadily rising, but is still at a very playable level. I'm going to continue to take advantage as long as he is producing at this elite level.
Jordan Clarkson (PG), Lakers | |||||||
Opponent | Minutes | Fantasy Points Per Minute | Defensive Efficiency Rating | Usage Rate | Opposing Fantasy Points Allowed | Vegas Team Total | Projection |
at PHO | 32 | 0.90 | 20.4 | 22.5 | 45.33 | 97.75 | 29 |
Salary: FD: $6,000 DK: $5,200
While Clarkson could be listed in the "Value Plays" section, I'm going to slot him in here now that news has broken that the aging Kobe Bryant will sit out once again. With Kobe on the bench, there will be (a lot) more shots to go around, and Clarkson has emerged as a legitimate offensive threat. This will be an up-tempo game against the Suns, which suits his style of play and skills perfectly. His peripheral stats aren't ideal, but he has upside to score 30 real points in the right situation (see Denver on 11/3), and he should be locked into 30+ minutes tonight.
Value Plays
Marcus Smart (PG - BOS) FD: $5,300 DK: $4,500
Smart just had his breakout game on both ends of the floor agains the Thunder. He posted a 26/8/3/1 line, while also doing a fine job slowing down the toughest cover in the NBA in Russell Westbrook. He doesn't come without risk, considering his FP output has been in the 12-45 range this season, but he is likely to see big minutes once again. Brad Stevens likes to roll with the hot hand, and Smart is playing great basketball on both ends of the court.
Mason Plumlee (C- POR) FD: $5,500 DK: $5,500
As odd as it feels to say it, the Spurs have struggled at times with big men this season, including Plumlee in their first matchup this season. He went for 9/9/4/1/2/2 in a complete effort, and while the deep peripherals are tough to predict, Plumlee only needs to reach about 26 FP to hit value tonight, something he has done in 5 of his last 7 games. He is more of a filler than a building block, but he's one of the better values down low.
Joakim Noah (C - CHI) FD: $4,700 DK: $4,700
Let me start off by admitting something. Noah is my one of my favorite big man in the league. His ability to distribute the ball, run the offense, and rebound make him an incredible asset down low. Health and opportunity have been the only downfalls for him recently, and he has been phenomenal in his last two games, posting 68.25 FP in just 48 minutes...while making TWO total FG against MIN and CHA. He has upside even when he doesn't score, and if he sees upper 20s in minutes again, I expect another 25-30 FP performance at his crazy low price.
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