NBA DFS moves on Thursday night with just a six-game slate. The Coach is here with his starting five and authentic insight from ‘inside the ropes.’ The NBA’s fantasy landscape changes daily with nightly examples of last-minute injury designation and load management. Last night’s FanDuel $12k main slate pay line again touched the 340 point mark. We were there again, but last-minute inactives forced us to the bench to replace Malik Monk and Santi Aldama.
Our starting lineup is designed to provide core players with which to construct your DFS lineups. We strive for players who have the potential to be less owned and will give us a lineup different from the masses. Your obvious must-start studs or options are not always mentioned; we try to offer balanced DFS salary options. The fantasy point-per-game averages referenced are those across FanDuel scoring. Which five guys will get green light from the Coach tonight?
DFS Starting Guards
Trae Young ($9.8k DraftKings and $9.3k Fanduel)
Trae Young will be the floor general tonight and start at point guard. He is a GTD, but is listed as probable. Young plays in a green light matchup versus the Pacers who allow the eighth most fantasy points to the position. On top of that, the Pacers-Hawks boast a slate best 246 implied game total and a competitive three-point spread. Young enters as the overall PG3 at 43.87 fantasy points a game and dropping 12.5 dimes in his last seven contests.
Andrew Nembhard ($5k DraftKings and $5.6k Fanduel)
Staying in the same game environment, we can start the Pacers’ Andrew Nembhard at shooting guard. He is a terrific DFS low-tier option. Nembhard is averaging 36 minutes, 32.9 fantasy points and 7 assists in his last three games. Atlanta is ranked 29th in fantasy points allowed to shooting guards, making Nembhard one of the better value plays tonight. As a bonus, he can be used in our point guard spot, which will afford us the coveted roster flexibility. Note: If Tyrese Haliburton, a GTD, is inactive Nembhard will be an even better DFS option.
Bench Options: Luka Doncic (Probable), Jalen Brunson, Derrick White, CJ McCollum
DFS Starting Forwards
Quentin Grimes ($6.1k DraftKings and $6.7k Fanduel)
With no Joel Embiid and Paul George a GTD with a groin, Quentin Grimes’ usage can not be ignored. Grimes is averaging 46 fantasy points, 38 minutes and 29 points per game in his last three contests. Despite the blow out potential and a tough statistical matchup, Grimes remains a very good DFS value tonight. In addition, we get major flexibility with Grimes being eligible for both shooting guard and small forward.
Draymond Green ($6k DraftKings and $6.6k Fanduel)
DFS Starting Center
Alperen Sengun ($9.4k DraftKings and $8.8k Fanduel)
Despite being priced behind Karl-Anthony Towns, we feel Sengun is the top center on the main slate tonight. Sengun has a major green light set up against the Pelicans who yield the third most fantasy points to the center position. He enters tonight versus the Nets as the overall C3 averaging 42.27 fantasy points. Sengun has scored at least 42 fantasy points in four of his last five starts and posted a double-double in six of his last eight.
Bench Options: Myles Turner, Onyeka Okongwu, Kristaps Porzingis (GTD), Jaxson Hayes
DFS Tournament Stacks
Trae Young-Dyson Daniels-Onyeka Okongwu/ Andrew Nembhard-Pascal Siakam-Myles Turner/ CJ McCollum-Trey Murphy-Zion Williamson/
Final Thoughts
It is not possible to mention every player or obvious starts. Our bench options provide our followers, much like a coach, with additional green light options, injury replacements, and flexibility for your DFS builds. We strive to balance studs and value plays who might be potentially lower-owned. Pay attention to implied team and game totals and try to get roster exposure to those games.
The top DFS builds will consist of the right balance between studs and value players that pay at least 5x their DFS salaries. Good luck with your roster builds, and please like and follow us on social media. Please always double-check our recommendations and your roster builds once line-ups are finalized for late inactives.
