We’re back with an 11-game slate on Friday. Using Stokastic’s NBA DFS Boom/Bust tool, let’s dive into the player pool to discuss the best NBA DFS contrarian picks on DraftKings this evening.
NBA DFS Contrarian Picks — Plays For Today
Contrarian Stud — Paul George: Houston Rockets-Los Angeles Clippers
Much has been made of Los Angeles’ struggles since acquiring James Harden, with DFS players pretty much out on the entire Clippers roster. Losers of six straight games, Paul George and co. head back home tonight in an effort to break that skid and finally get in the winner’s circle with Harden. With George, Kawhi Leonard, Russell Westbrook and Harden all competing for touches, it’s been difficult for any of them to produce with any sort of consistency. However, since he is priced the lowest he’s been all season, George is the best contrarian stud on the slate.
Stokastic’s tools have George optimal 10.10% of the time this slate plays out on DraftKings. With only 5.70% of the field expected to roster him, he’s one of the highest-graded leverage plays on the slate. While the Clippers as a whole have struggled since Harden’s arrival, George is coming off back-to-back monster performances, and he looks like one of the best differentiators on the slate at a very reasonable $8,600 price tag.
Contrarian Mid-Tier — R.J. Barrett: New York Knicks-Washington Wizards
Coming off a two-game slate last night where the good contrarian options were few and far between, there are numerous differentiators tonight with 11 games in play. Injury news can change pretty much everything in this article, but R.J. Barrett currently stands out as the top contrarian mid-tier play at $6,400 on DraftKings.
Barrett has been really good this season, and he finds himself in the dream spot of all dream spots in Washington against the Wizards. Despite all of this, Barrett is only projected to be 10.10% owned on DraftKings. Given his optimal percentage of 17.50%, it’s clear why Barrett is the top contrarian mid-tier piece on the board and a great play in tournaments. While his questionable tag could be making his ownership projection lower than it should, be sure to stay on Stokastic’s tools to see if those numbers change as lock approaches.
Contrarian Value — Duop Reath: Los Angeles Lakers-Portland Trail Blazers
As DraftKings continues to do a much better job of consistently pricing up players, there seems to be a definite lack of viable value pieces priced under $4,000. While there are a few more options tonight than there has been on some other recent slates, we’re still dumpster diving a bit with Duop Reath looking like the clear top contrarian value play on the board.
Despite his very cheap $3,400 price tag, the field is not buying what Reath is selling, as only 1.00% of lineups are expected to roster him on DraftKings. With an optimal percentage of 5.10%, Reath is definitely worth getting over the field on in tournaments. He is coming off a game in which he played 20 minutes, as Deandre Ayton struggled to contain the Cavaliers big men, and it’s reasonable to think that Reath will play a similar amount tonight against an Anthony Davis led frontcourt. While it’s still unlikely that Reath will put up a score that’s needed to win, his $3,400 price tag opens doors to roster construction that otherwise would be shut.
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