NBA DFS Picks 1 November: Fanteam, DraftKings, FanDuel & Yahoo

The Fanteam format is seven players (PG, SG, SF, PF, C and two UTIL) under an 80 cap. Value here is a plain ratio of projection to salary, and around 3 is the number I look for.

Luka Doncic is the highest projection on the slate at 55.3, but at 19.3 his value is 2.87, which is a little under that mark. I still view him as the anchor. Nothing else comes close to that ceiling, and he is not on the injury report. That does not confirm him healthy, so lineups are not final.

The better price-to-production plays sit one tier down. Yaxel Lendeborg (3.11), Andrew Nembhard (3.12), Julius Randle (3.10) and Michael Porter (3.06) all clear 3. According to the latest injury report, Tyrese Haliburton and T.J. McConnell are both out for Indiana. That is why I like Nembhard to carry the guard workload. Pascal Siakam is a fair price at 14.0 for 40.3.

Scottie Barnes should see a heavy role with Kawhi Leonard out for Toronto, according to the latest injury report. His price is fair rather than cheap, so I treat him as a good piece but not a must.

Fanteam value plays

Brooklyn dominates this list. The latest injury report has Egor Demin and Mikel Brown Jr. out, along with several G League assignments. That leaves the Nets short on bodies, and I would rather pay for their cheap rotation players than for expensive names elsewhere.

Chaney Johnson is the best value on the board at 3.95. Moritz Wagner (3.72) and Nolan Traore (3.62) follow. Those three let you spend freely at the top of the lineup. Isaiah Jackson and Kris Dunn on the Clippers are also priced below their projections.

Fanteam fades

These are not bad players. They are badly priced tonight, because the projection does not cover the salary.

Austin Reaves at 14.8 projects for 36.7, a value of 2.48. Quentin Grimes is the clearest miss: 8.8 for 17.5. Walker Kessler at 13.0 is also expensive for 34.3. The latest injury report lists him as available with a finger splint, but I would rather spend that money elsewhere. Gui Santos at 9.2 is listed as probable, and his 23.3 projection does not justify the price. The Lakers are also dealing with Ziaire Williams as questionable and Adou Thiero as out, so I would wait for final lineups before building around that rotation.

DraftKings uses eight players (PG, SG, SF, PF, C, G, F, UTIL) and a $50,000 cap. Value is points per $1,000, and about 5 is the baseline. Doncic leads the projections at $12,300 and 55.3. Franz Wagner at $8,300 has the best value among the top plays at 5.00. He is not on the latest injury report, so lineups are not final. Several Magic players are listed out, including Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs.

The cheap end is led by the same Brooklyn names we like on Fanteam, plus Neemias Queta in Boston.

FanDuel asks for nine players (PG, SG, SF, PF, C, G/F, F/C and two UTIL) under a $60,000 cap. Doncic is again the top projection at $11,900 and 55.4. Siakam at $7,900 and Franz Wagner at $8,000 both sit above 5 points per $1,000 among the top plays. Queta is the best value at $4,100. The latest injury report has Mitchell Robinson out for Boston, which helps explain why I like Queta’s role.

Yahoo uses eight players (PG, SG, G, SF, PF, F, C, UTIL) with a $200 cap and at most six players from one team. Value is a plain ratio, and anything above 1 beats the price. The standout is Yaxel Lendeborg at 14 for 38.5, a value of 2.75. Keaton Wagler is the next best at 2.55. Among the stars, Franz Wagner at 36 and 40.7 is the best price at 1.13.