The NBA is back with a five-game slate on Tuesday. 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 — Tyrese Haliburton: Indiana Pacers-Atlanta Hawks
One of the breakout stars of the young season, Tyrese Haliburton is the top contrarian stud on DraftKings tonight at $10,400. He comes into tonight’s action averaging a robust 51.1 DraftKings points per game, and Haliburton has been the engine for an up-and-coming Pacers team that currently sits sixth in the Eastern Conference with a 7-5 record. He has been priced below $10,000 for the majority of the season, so he has been popular on most of the slates he’s been on. That is not the case tonight, however, as the field is hesitant to get to Haliburton at $10,400.
Despite his expensive price tag, Haliburton is projected to be optimal 8.10% of the time this slate plays out on DraftKings. Compare that to his 8.10% projected ownership, and it makes sense why he stands out as an elite high-end differentiator in tournaments. The Pacers match up with Atlanta in a game with a crazy 252-point total, so Haliburton couldn’t ask to be in a better spot. He’s one of the top GPP plays on the board.
Contrarian Mid-Tier — Scottie Barnes: Toronto Raptors-Orlando Magic
Scottie Barnes is a bit expensive for the mid-tier range, but such is life on this slate, and he looks too good to ignore. Barnes has been spectacular in his third year with the Raptors, putting up 46.7 DraftKings points per game and doing it across the board — 20.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks per contest.
Even with his tremendous nightly production, Barnes is getting ignored by the masses this evening. As of this writing, Barnes is projected to be only 2.90% owned on DraftKings. With an optimal percentage of 9.60%, it’s clear that it is worth getting overweight on Barnes in tournaments. While he’s not in a great spot against an Orlando team that’s played very well defensively, Barnes’ upside at $8,900 is undeniable, especially on a slate with few games.
Contrarian Value — Jabari Walker: Portland Trail Blazers-Phoenix Suns
As DraftKings does a much better job of consistently pricing up players, there continues to be a definite lack of viable value pieces priced under $4,000. There are a few more options tonight than there have been recently, with Jabari Walker currently standing out as the top contrarian value play on the board.
Despite Walker’s cheap $3,900 price tag, the field is not buying him, as only 5.30% of lineups are expected to roster him on DraftKings. He has an optimal percentage of 9.30%, however, and Walker stands out as one of the best leverage plays at any price point. He is consistently playing at least 20 minutes on a nightly basis, and tonight Walker is in a great spot to get extended run tonight, as the Trail Blazers are currently 13-point underdogs tonight in Phoenix. While he’s still unlikely to put up a score that’s needed to win, Walker’s $3,900 price tag opens doors to roster construction that otherwise would be shut.
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