Tuesday, Nov. 2, brings a frenetic five-game main slate with a host of pending injury news, which is creating uncertainty with half of the teams in action. 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, Tuesday, Nov. 2
Yahoo Play of the Day — Rudy Gobert: Utah Jazz vs. Sacramento Kings
- Awesemo’s Preliminary Point Projections: Yahoo and FanDuel: 0 | DraftKings: 0
- Awesemo’s Preliminary Rostered Projections: Yahoo 30.4% | FanDuel 20.3% | DraftKings 20.3%
- DFS Salary: Yahoo $34 | FanDuel $8,200 | DraftKings $8,100
Tonight Rudy Gobert is a fine foundational piece on Yahoo with his reasonable $34 salary. Last season Gobert led the league in field goal percentage at 67.5%, and this year he has been successful on an insane 72.1% of his attempts. Additionally, he is leading the league in rebounds per game with 17.2. Richaun Holmes and some combination of Alex Len and Tristan Thompson will be attempting to battle Gobert in the paint, which is going to be a minor inconvenience at best. With all of the pending injury news for New Orleans, Dallas, Houston and Los Angeles, there will be plenty of value options that will facilitate a luxury option at center tonight. If the Kings can keep this close into the final frame, Gobert could flirt with 50 Yahoo points if he takes even half a dozen shots.
Jimmy Butler: Miami Heat at Dallas Mavericks
- Awesemo’s Preliminary Point Projections: Yahoo and FanDuel: 45.11 | DraftKings: 44.84
- Awesemo’s Preliminary Rostered Projections: Yahoo 13.4% | FanDuel 9.2% | DraftKings 16.3%
- DFS Salary: Yahoo $43 | FanDuel $10,000 | DraftKings $9,100
Regardless of the status of teammate Bam Adebayo (knee) and opposing big man Kristaps Porzingis (back), Jimmy Butler is an excellent option tonight. Over his last four games, Butler is averaging 34.2 minutes and 17.5 field goal attempts. This has culminated in 28 points, eight rebounds, 5.3 assists and a whopping 3.8 combined blocks and steals. After four straight 50-fantasy-point games, Butler is sneaking up on exactly no one. However, in the likely scramble that will take place after lock due to late-arriving news, do not let him fall out of the player pool.
Devin Booker: Phoenix Suns vs. New Orleans Pelicans
- Awesemo’s Preliminary Point Projections: Yahoo and FanDuel: 38.57 | DraftKings: 40.34
- Awesemo’s Preliminary Rostered Projections: Yahoo 28.2% | FanDuel 17.2% | DraftKings 21.0%
- DFS Salary: Yahoo $32 | FanDuel $8,200 | DraftKings $8,000
While this looks like it should be a walk in the park tonight for the Suns, who are favored by 11.5, someone is going to have to put up the production. This looks like the perfect game environment to let Chris Paul take it easy in the second half, which would open things up for Devin Booker. Each side in this matchup has questionable players. For New Orleans, Brandon Ingram (hip) is questionable after missing the Pelicans’ last game, and Devonte’ Graham (adductor) is also questionable. Phoenix may be without Deandre Ayton, who is dealing with a leg issue. If any of these players miss time, it all lines up favorably for Booker’s fantasy prospects. With Paul off the court this season, Booker has seen a 10% increase in his per-minute production.
Yahoo Daily Fantasy Basketball Discount Dandies
Milwaukee Bucks at Detroit Pistons
Khris Middleton (health and safety), Jrue Holiday (ankle) and Brook Lopez (back) are out for tonight, and Giannis Antetokounmpo is dealing with a sore knee but expected to play. That is going to provide all sorts of opportunities for Jordan Nwora, George Hill and Bobby Portis, who are all at the Yahoo minimum salary. Thanasis Antetokounmpo ($11), Pat Connaughton ($12) and Grayson Allen ($13) are just off of the salary floor. This provides discounted options at nearly every position and a tremendous amount of roster construction flexibility. Portis is the most interesting, as he is a terrific fantasy performer, at over a point per minute. He has played 15 and 19 minutes in his two games as he works his way back into shape after missing the early season. If he can get 23 to 25 minutes tonight, he has the best shot of this motley crew to get to 30 fantasy points. Allen and Nwora would be the next two desired options.
Cheap Center Options
If either Deandre Ayton or Bam Adebayo are out, then their respective backups, JaVale McGee and Dewayne Dedmon, would slot into the starting lineup. They would become two of the best discount options on the slate, although since they both play center, their respective value may not translate into enough raw points to create better lineups than those with Gobert, Holmes, Christian Wood or Jonas Valanciunas.
Final Thoughts on NBA DFS picks for the Tuesday, Nov. 2 Slate
Everyone will be waiting on news from the Lakers and Pelicans regarding the availability of various players or some surprise rest candidates. There are three hours from the first tipoff until these games start in the 10 o’clock hour. 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.
