Monday, Oct. 25, starts the week off right with a nine-game main slate. Let’s look at the player pool and discuss the top NBA DFS picks for DraftKings, FanDuel and Yahoo lineups. Do not forget to head over to the Awesemo NBA DFS home page for more great written daily fantasy basketball content.
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NBA DFS Picks: Building Blocks, Monday, Oct. 25
Yahoo Play of the Day — James Harden: Brooklyn Nets vs. Washington Wizards
- Awesemo’s Preliminary Point Projections: Yahoo and FanDuel: 48.5 | DraftKings: 50.62
- Awesemo’s Preliminary Rostered Projections: Yahoo 25.6% | FanDuel 28.9% | DraftKings 26.8%
- DFS Salary: Yahoo $48 | FanDuel $10,000 | DraftKings $9,500
James Harden and the Nets are off to a 1-2 start, but tonight looks like a get-right spot against the Wizards. While Harden has been somewhat lackluster this season compared to past performances, his salary is a great deal tonight given his perpetual triple-double upside. Bradley Beal (hamstring) may be out, but on Friday the Wizards did not let his absence slow them down, as they knocked off Indiana 135-134 in overtime. Spencer Dinwiddie is making his return to Brooklyn for the first time in a different uniform, and he has been a key part of the new-look Wizards. Though Harden is not getting to the line with the same frequency as in the past with the revised jump shot foul rules, he is going to drop a 50-burger at some point soon, and tonight is lining up to be that perfect spot.
Karl-Anthony Towns: Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New Orleans Pelicans
- Awesemo’s Preliminary Point Projections: Yahoo and FanDuel: 46.65 | DraftKings: 48.81
- Awesemo’s Preliminary Rostered Projections: Yahoo 10.4% | FanDuel 1.8% | DraftKings 9.3%
- DFS Salary: Yahoo $45 | FanDuel $10,900 | DraftKings $9,700
This is a home-and-home matchup, with the Timberwolves besting the Pelicans 96-89 on Saturday night. Though Karl-Anthony Towns has only played 29 minutes in each of the first two games, he has been quite productive, averaging 1.56 Yahoo points per minute. The matchup tonight is a good one against Jonas Valanciunas, who is nowhere near the defender that Steven Adams was last year. Minnesota is favored by half a dozen points as they look to start the season 3-0 in front of their hometown fans. Towns has yet to be unleashed, but a big performance is lurking just under the surface.
Paul George: Los Angeles Clippers vs. Portland Trail Blazers
- Awesemo’s Preliminary Point Projections: Yahoo and FanDuel: 45.04 | DraftKings: 47.72
- Awesemo’s Preliminary Rostered Projections: Yahoo 13.2% | FanDuel 7.3% | DraftKings 5.5%
- DFS Salary: Yahoo $45 | FanDuel $10,500 | DraftKings $10,100
Through the first two games of the season Paul George is doing everything for the Clippers, who are looking for their first win. In these games he has averaged 36 minutes and 24 field-goal attempts. This has culminated in 35 points, 10.5 rebounds, five assists and 1.5 steals. Portland plays fast and does not prioritize defense, which bodes well for another 50-point fantasy performance for George.
Yahoo Daily Fantasy Basketball Discount Dandies
Precious Achiuwa: Toronto Raptors vs. Chicago Bulls
- Awesemo’s Preliminary Point Projections: Yahoo and FanDuel: 23.71 | DraftKings: 23.41
- Awesemo’s Preliminary Rostered Projections: Yahoo 12.6% | FanDuel 7.0% | DraftKings 4.9%
- DFS Salary: Yahoo $12 | FanDuel $4,600 | DraftKings $4,500
Until Pascal Siakam returns, Precious Achiuwa should continue to see 25 to 28 minutes in the rotation, with upside for 30-plus if he can stay out of foul trouble. There will be nights where Chris Boucher is playing out of his mind, which will curb Achiuwa’s minutes, but at the near-minimum salary on Yahoo, he is a core option tonight for salary relief.
Montrezl Harrell: Washington Wizards at Brooklyn Nets
- Awesemo’s Preliminary Point Projections: Yahoo and FanDuel: 28.12 | DraftKings: 28.04
- Awesemo’s Preliminary Rostered Projections: Yahoo 30.6% | FanDuel 11.7% | DraftKings 12.9%
- DFS Salary: Yahoo $14 | FanDuel $5,800 | DraftKings $5,400
Montrezl Harrell looks like a solid value option tonight on Yahoo with the two-center option. Although he is coming off the bench and has yet to share the court with starting center Daniel Gafford, Harrell has been getting more minutes, and while with the second unit he is one of the primary offensive options, which gives him more efficient per-minute fantasy production than Gafford with the first unit. Regardless of Beal’s status, the Wizards are going to need all the scoring they can find tonight against Brooklyn.
Franz Wagner: Orlando Magic at Miami Heat
- Awesemo’s Preliminary Point Projections: Yahoo and FanDuel: 27.82 | DraftKings: 27.74
- Awesemo’s Preliminary Rostered Projections: Yahoo 21.6% | FanDuel 25.4% | DraftKings 15.2%
- DFS Salary: Yahoo $11 | FanDuel $4,100 | DraftKings $4,400
Through three games this season, Franz Wagner is leading the Magic in minutes with 35 per game. Like his teammate and older brother Moritz Wagner, he does a little bit of everything, but it is his scoring and floor spacing that make him so important to the Magic. There should be consistent playing time available with Gary Harris, Jonathan Isaac, Chuma Okeke, Markelle Fultz and Michael Carter-Williams all sidelined with injuries.
Final Thoughts on NBA DFS picks for the Monday, Oct. 25 Slate
There are 18 teams in action, which means a deep player pool. Do not feel the need to force any particular player into lineups, as there are viable alternatives up and down the salary list. Keep in mind that salaries and scoring formats differ across the various fantasy sites, and a slam-dunk play on Yahoo may be a below-average NBA DFS pick on DraftKings or FanDuel.
