NBA DFS Picks 21 October: Fanteam, DraftKings, FanDuel & Yahoo

Fanteam lineups are 7 players (PG, SG, SF, PF, C and two UTIL) with an 85 cap and at most 7 players from one team. The main slate includes all 11 games: BKN-CHA, HOU-DAL, LAC-SAC, LAL-GSW, MEM-UTA, MIA-MIN, NOP-IND, ORL-ATL, POR-PHX, TOR-CHI and WAS-MIL. On Fanteam, a value around 3 is roughly fair, so I am looking for players clearly above that.

Anthony Davis is my favourite expensive play. At 12.8 he is priced well below the other stars, yet his 45.3 projection is almost level with Sabonis. According to the latest injury report, Washington’s AJ Dybantsa is out, which leaves more of the offense for Davis and Trae Young. Washington is the favourite against a Milwaukee defense I do not trust. The only real risk is a lopsided game, and that is a risk I will take at this price.

Between the two most expensive players, I lean Luka Doncic. His value of 2.97 is not as clean as Giannis at 3.24, but the Lakers roster is thin enough that he should carry a massive load, and I expect fewer people to pay for him. Giannis Antetokounmpo is the better number, but similar production is available elsewhere for less, so I only get there when the build has room.

Domantas Sabonis has one of the safest floors on the slate. According to the latest injury report, Sacramento’s Dylan Cardwell and Maxime Raynaud are out, and Malik Monk is questionable. Sabonis runs that offense and has a 50-point ceiling in a matchup against a Clippers team that is missing just as many bodies.

Jalen Johnson leads Atlanta in usage and has the highest ceiling on the team, though the Orlando matchup is not ideal. Paolo Banchero is the top Magic option on a roster missing Anthony Black, Jonathan Isaac and Noah Penda, according to the latest injury report. Alperen Sengun has the best floor and ceiling of Houston’s top group, and Steven Adams is questionable, which could add to his workload. Anthony Edwards is fine in the top total game, though at 2.95 I am not forcing him.

Charlotte is where the cheap production lives. According to the latest injury report, Kon Knueppel, Coby White, Grant Williams and Kylan Boswell are all out. That leaves almost no guards, so Dennis Schroder steps into a big role at 6.2. His 4.26 value is the best on the Fanteam slate. He will be very popular, and I am fine with that in cash games.

Grayson Allen is my preferred way to get into the same game. He starts for a guard-poor team and can fill several categories with threes and steals. At 7.2 he is a strong buy in a game most people will skip because of the low total.

Draymond Green is a safe floor play rather than a slate breaker. Golden State is without Jimmy Butler, Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski, and Kristaps Porzingis is not with the team, according to the latest injury report. That means a bigger role for Green at 8.4.

Obi Toppin gets a boost from Indiana’s thin depth, with Aaron Nesmith, T.J. McConnell and Johnny Furphy out according to the latest injury report. He also spent time as a small-ball five in the preseason, which helps both his floor and ceiling.

Jerami Grant is conditional. Isaiah Stewart is listed as doubtful according to the latest injury report. If Stewart sits, Grant should lead the Memphis second unit and take plenty of shots. He is shot-dependent, but a few buckets and rebounds are enough at 6.5.

Kawhi Leonard grades well at 3.38, and Toronto has one of the best team totals. I still prefer Davis at a similar price. Kawhi will be heavily owned, and I am not fully sure how hard Toronto will lean on him this early. In tournaments, I am happy to be lighter on him than the field.

None of these are bad players. They are simply badly priced tonight, and the salary is better spent elsewhere.

Derik Queen at 10.5 for a 20.5 projection is the easiest pass on the slate. Kelel Ware is productive in whatever role he gets, and if he starts the picture improves. At 11.5, though, I need that confirmed before he makes sense.

Cooper Flagg has a huge role in Dallas, but at 15.4 he is too expensive, and I do not love the Houston matchup. Yaxel Lendeborg starts on a depleted Golden State roster and rebounds well. On Fanteam, his 10.5 price takes most of that upside away.

DraftKings uses 8 players (PG, SG, SF, PF, C, G, F, UTIL) under a $50,000 cap. Value here is points per $1,000, with about 5 as the baseline. Davis at $7,600 (5.96) and Sabonis at $7,700 (5.90) are both strong mid-priced builds. The cheap end leans on the same thin rosters: Charlotte, Golden State, Indiana and the Clippers. According to the latest injury report, the Clippers are without Bradley Beal, Brandon Ingram, Max Strus, Jordan Miller and Yanic Konan Niederhauser.

Kris Dunn benefits from the Clippers’ lack of guards. Isaiah Jackson is the better per-minute center over Brook Lopez, and he should see a full starting workload.

FanDuel uses 9 players (PG, SG, SF, PF, C, G/F, F/C and two UTIL) under a $60,000 cap, and value is again points per $1,000. Anthony Edwards at $8,500 (4.98) is the best-priced star here. Most of the cheap value sits at center, which makes the F/C slot easier to fill.

Maluach and Melton are both better if they start. According to the latest injury report, Phoenix’s Mark Williams is out, which helps Maluach’s case. Jalen Smith should get plenty of run with Nic Claxton out for Chicago, although his preseason role moved around. Boozer is a natural piece of a Memphis-Utah stack.

Yahoo uses 8 players (PG, SG, G, SF, PF, F, C, UTIL) with a $200 cap and at most 6 players from one team. A value above 1 beats the price. Giannis at 50 (1.07) is the only top play clearing that bar, so my builds lean on the cheap end to afford him.

Lendeborg is a fade on Fanteam but a clear value on Yahoo, because his price here matches his starting role. VanVleet should be heavily involved on a Houston team short on guards.