NBA DFS Pick 5! Damien’s Top DraftKings, FanDuel Plays for 7/31/20

Need a jump start on your lineups before Awesemo’s NBA DFS rankings or projections? No worries, Damien Mathews has you covered with his Pick 5! favorite NBA DFS Picks on DraftKings and FanDuel for Friday, July 31. With six games in the mix, there are a myriad of options to choose from. Damien has some takes on Ricky Rubio, Caris LeVert and more!



Point Guard: Ricky Rubio $6,500 FanDuel, $7,400 DraftKings

With only eight games to determine the fate of many teams this season, Ricky Rubio grades out fantastically for this matchup against the Wizards, who play at the sixth-fastest pace and allow the most points. This is sure to be a fast-paced game even without Bradley Beal. The Wizards are going to put up some points which only adds to Rubio’s appeal if this game stays close. Nobody knows how rotations will shake out, but before the season was paused, Rubio was averaging 31.6 minutes per game and shooting 41.2% from the field on 10.7 attempts for 35-plus fantasy points per game. From a fantasy perspective, teams farther out will be asking big minutes from their starters, so for us DFSer’s, rostering players with the potential to play big minutes equals more opportunities for ceiling games and GPP takedowns.

On the other side of this game, we have value in abundance with Davis Bertans and Bradley Beal opting out. That brings me to Shabazz Napier, whose usage percentage jumps to a whooping 39.4% without those two. At his price point, he can be deployed in all formats on all sites. Napier, when given the minutes, has raked and should be in line for a hefty workload in this high-scoring game. Kemba Walker’s price makes him extremely enticing as well, so if you are making multiple lineups, he should call for some consideration. Just know the matchup is dreadful against the Bucks, and Walker has not been playing well of late. But for his price he could easily pay off huge if he has a big game.

*Bonus Round: Derrick White

Shooting Guard: Caris LeVert $8,200 FanDuel, $7,800 DraftKings

The situation in Brooklyn is in a crisis as we know. Most notably Kyrie Irving, DeAndre Jordan, Kevin Durant, Michael Beasley, Spencer Dinwiddie, Wilson Chandler, Taurean Prince and Nicolas Claxton will all be out for their push towards the playoffs. Caris LeVert will get the chance to run and gun within this offense and should be a core play in your DFS lineups for the sheer volume of usage he is going to get. LeVert has averaged 29.0 minutes and 17.7 points with a 27.7 usage percentage. When you take those players off the court, his usage spikes to 35.6%. One can only imagine what is in store if he was already putting up 16 shots in 29 minutes. I can see him trying 25-plus attempts in this game, and for that type of volume, count me in.

On another note, Devin Booker stands out as well. He has as much upside as anyone on any given night if his shot is falling. He is averaging more points per game than LeBron James on the season and is shooting at a 48.7% clip from the field. The upside is massive, and if he is on, the potential for a ceiling game is certainly there versus the Wizards. Marcus Smart looks appealing also and should play 30-plus minutes in this game. He could be a low-owned flier with upside even without the start. His ability to finish out games is crucial because of his high-level defensive awareness on the court.

*Bonus Round: Terrence Ross

Small Forward: Carmelo Anthony $5,000 FanDuel, $5,400 DraftKings

For the Portland Trailblazers, the time is now or never, as they are currently sitting ninth in the Western Conference. They will look to dominate down low with Hassan Whiteside and Jusuf Nurkic both roaming the frontcourt while their play-making guards drain the trey. But do not overlook the 10-time All-Star Carmelo Anthony, who completes the starting five being able to slide down to his natural position looks to pay dividends for Anthony and his game. Added the weight-loss and conditioning training, Melo looks like a steal on both sites relative to his upside playing the three. Also, the Grizzlies play at an extremely high pace, ranking seventh, and they are currently sitting in eighth in the Western Conference. Giannis Antetokounmpo is also popping in my model as a great option on this slate, but we just do not know how long his leash is. We all know Giannis is an unstoppable beast, but we must use caution when rostering some of these high-priced players on teams with little to play for in the first eight games. Troy Brown should get the start in Washington, and at min price, is grading out nicely. Again, with so many missing pieces and so much at stake, these types of plays will be the staple point of my builds.

*Bonus Round: Mikal Bridges

Power Forward: Kristaps Porzingis $9,300 FanDuel, $8,600 DraftKings

Kristaps Porzingis is in a smash spot and will be popular. But if any player on this slate checks off all the boxes, it is Porzingis. He is easily my top play on the slate regardless of position, as this will be a high-scoring affair against the Rockets and a meaningful game for both teams. Currently sitting sixth and seventh in the Western Conference the Rockets and Mavericks will give it all they got in this one. As for Porzingis, Houston has no one remotely close to holding him down and he knows it. He is averaging in 31.3 minutes per game, 19.2 points, 9.5 rebounds and two blocks. With tempo and the inabilities of the Houston frontcourt too hold Porzingis, he should rake.

Also, Maxi Kleber is workable at min price. He should play 25-30 minutes given he is the only other power forward on the team. If Dallas wants to go small to matchup with Houston, Kleber will get the run and a chance to pay off his salary. On the other side of this game, we have Robert Covington, who is also in a great spot, as he tends to like to shoot the 3 more now that he’s in Houston. That could cause matchup problems for the Mavericks, and Covington is too cheap for his upside in my opinion.

*Bonus Round: Richaun Holmes

Center: Jakob Poeltl $4,200 FanDuel $4,700 DraftKings

Jakob Poeltl will get all the playing time he can handle in this restart with LaMarcus Aldridge and Trey Lyles both out for the remainder of the season. That bodes well for NBA DFS as we need to get on board before Poeltl’s price rises. When giving significant playing time, Poeltl has proven he can produce at an extremely high level. In 708 minutes played without Aldridge or Lyles, he is averaging 1.0 fantasy points per minute and shooting at a 63.4% clip. If we project him for 35 minutes, he becomes a great play at his price point and will be one of my highest-owned players.

Nikola Vucevic rates high up in my model and seems to always get what you need with a consistency rating of 76%. Also, Deandre Ayton looks appealing against Washington in a game both teams need to win. With no real rim protector, Ayton should feast down low. For the season, Ayton is producing in 32.3 minutes per game, 19.0 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks, which is good for 41.2 fantasy points per game.

*Bonus Round: Boban Marjanovic


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