NBA DFS Picks 23 October: Fanteam, DraftKings, FanDuel & Yahoo

Fanteam uses 7 players (PG, SG, SF, PF, C and two UTIL), an 89 cap and at most 7 players from one team. A ratio of around 3 is the benchmark. Several stars clear it tonight.

Anthony Davis is my favourite star on Fanteam. According to the latest injury report, AJ Dybantsa is out for Washington. That pushes the offence toward Davis and Trae Young, and Davis is the matchup problem in that pairing. At 14.3 with a 3.28 ratio, he is priced like a second-tier player while projecting close to the top. I expect him to be very popular, and I am fine with that.

Domantas Sabonis has the best ratio in the top group at 3.31. Sacramento’s implied total of 110.9 is not exciting. According to the latest injury report, though, the Kings are without Dylan Cardwell and Maxime Raynaud, so there is little frontcourt depth behind him. I would rather trust his rebounding and passing floor than chase a better game.

Jayson Tatum is a bounce-back spot. He missed shots in the opener, but the playmaking load was heavy and the shot volume was there. Boston-New York is the lowest total, which is the one thing holding me back from playing him everywhere.

Cade Cunningham lands right on 3.00. He is a big point guard who runs everything in Detroit, and Detroit-Miami is a decent game environment. Jalen Johnson was slowed by foul trouble last time, not by his role. I would treat that as noise.

At the very top, Giannis is the best fit for the price, with Miami’s offence running through him. Wembanyama has the highest projection on the slate. According to the latest injury report, Tobias Harris is out, while De’Aaron Fox and Keldon Johnson are questionable, so there could be even more for him to do. The Spurs-Rockets total of 224.6 keeps his ratio just under 3. Luka is the weakest ratio of the group at 2.82. I would play him only as a tournament pivot.

Fanteam value plays

Charlotte is the story here. According to the latest injury report, the Hornets are without Kon Knueppel, Coby White, Grant Williams and Kylan Boswell. That leaves a tight rotation. Dennis Schroder starts at point guard with a steady workload. Moussa Diabate is the main centre and piles up rebounds and steals. Naz Reid has the ball in his hands far more than usual and takes plenty of threes. All three will be popular. I would still play at least two of them.

Jalen Suggs tops the list at 3.82. He plays heavy minutes but takes few shots, so his floor depends on defence and secondary stats. That is fine at 8.8, but I see him as a cash-game piece more than a ceiling play.

Naji Marshall has been the best of the Dallas bench options, with a bigger role than Zaccharie Risacher and a strong game environment against Indiana. According to the latest injury report, Dallas is without Dereck Lively II, Caleb Martin and Santi Aldama, which keeps the rotation small.

Jerami Grant and GG Jackson are cheap Memphis salary savers in the 239.8 total game. According to the latest injury report, Cedric Coward is doubtful and Isaiah Stewart is questionable. That is worth watching before lock.

Here is one build that fits: Wembanyama, Tatum, Davis, Suggs, Schroder, Diabate and Reid. It comes to 85 of the 89 cap.

Fanteam fades

These are good players who are badly priced tonight. The projection does not justify the salary.

Alexandre Sarr shares the floor with Davis and had a disappointing role in the opener. I would rather pay a little more for Davis himself. Josh Hart can fill a stat sheet, but he plays in the lowest total on the slate at a price that needs a big night. Jabari Smith has the worst ratio here. Pay down to Grant or Marshall instead.

DraftKings uses 8 players (PG, SG, SF, PF, C, G, F, UTIL) and a $50,000 salary cap. The value names line up closely with Fanteam. The Charlotte trio and Suggs lead the way, and Jerami Grant at $3,700 is the cheapest useful salary saver.

At the top, Tatum at $9,200 has the best rate of the stars. Wembanyama at $10,600 is right behind him.

FanDuel uses 9 players (PG, SG, SF, PF, C, G/F, F/C and two UTIL) and a $60,000 salary cap. The value board looks different here.

Darryn Peterson gets you into the highest total on the slate at $4,700. Rudy Gobert rebounds well, and I expect his scoring to improve with LaMelo Ball setting him up. Daniel Gafford looks cheap on paper, but Dallas has been playing small and easing him in. I would keep him to tournaments.

Yahoo uses 8 players (PG, SG, G, SF, PF, F, C, UTIL) and a $200 cap, with at most 6 players from one team. Anything above 1 beats the price, and the cheap end is very strong.

According to the latest injury report, the Clippers are without Bradley Beal, Brandon Ingram, Max Strus and Jordan Miller. That opens up work for Keaton Wagler and Rui Hachimura. In Utah, Jusuf Nurkic is out and Tony Bradley is questionable, which helps Jaxson Hayes.

The cheap end lets you pay up for Giannis at 50 or Wembanyama at 54. Both clear 1.