Tonight features a nice eight-game NBA slate that is big enough that there is some value but not so big that it is overwhelming. None of the most expensive players are garnering massive ownership, but none of them are going completely overlooked either. Using Stokastic’s NBA DFS projections, let’s break down the player pool to find the NBA DFS high-priced studs and see if Domantas Sabonis is a true candidate for the top spot in DraftKings and FanDuel lineups.
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NBA DFS Studs: Domantas Sabonis and Nikola Jokic
Stud No. 1 – Nikola Jokic: Denver Nuggets at Detroit Pistons
- DFS Salary: DraftKings: $12,800/ FanDuel: $12,800
- Stokastic’s Point Projections: DraftKings: 68.4/ FanDuel: 65.5
- Stokastic’s Ownership Projections: DraftKings: 13.5%/ FanDuel: 12.0%
Jokic is on tonight’s slate, which means he is the top option if you can afford him. He is currently projected for about 9 FanDuel points and 11 DraftKings points more than the next-closest player. He has now logged six games without Jamal Murray this season, producing 2.01 DraftKings points per minute, a 35.9% usage rate and 50.9% assist rate. The Pistons have been a bottom-10 defense this year while playing at the NBA’s 11th-fastest pace.
Stud No. 2 – Giannis Antetokounmpo: Milwaukee Bucks at Washington Wizards
- DFS Salary: DraftKings: $11,000/ FanDuel: $11,000
- Stokastic’s Point Projections: DraftKings: 57.8/ FanDuel: 56.7
- Stokastic’s Ownership Projections: DraftKings: 12.1%/ FanDuel: 16.8%
Antetokounmpo has a dream matchup against the Wizards, and he would be tonight’s top option if Jokic weren’t on the slate. Washington has played at the second-fastest pace this season while allowing the sixth-most points per 100 possessions. Antetokounmpo has produced 1.51 DraftKings points per minute, a 34.2% usage rate and 23.5% assist rate in the 10 games that he has played alongside Damian Lillard.
Stud No. 3 – Jayson Tatum: Boston Celtics at Charlotte Hornets
- DFS Salary: DraftKings: $10,200/ FanDuel: $10,200
- Stokastic’s Point Projections: DraftKings: 51.6/ FanDuel: 48.9
- Stokastic’s Ownership Projections: DraftKings: 7.0%/ FanDuel: 8.0%
Jayson Tatum takes on the worst defense in the NBA in Charlotte. In addition to allowing the most points per 100 possessions, the Hornets also rank 10th in pace. Boston will be without Al Horford and Derrick White, which shouldn’t make much of an impact on Tatum. He has produced 1.28 DraftKings points per minute this season, and that number is likely to increase in this matchup. He doesn’t project as well as Antetokounmpo, but he is also slightly less expensive and lower owned.
Stud No. 4 – Domantas Sabonis: Sacramento Kings at New Orleans Pelicans
- DFS Salary: DraftKings: $10,000/ FanDuel: $10,400
- Stokastic’s Point Projections: DraftKings: 50.8/ FanDuel: 48.6
- Stokastic’s Ownership Projections: DraftKings: 7.9%/ FanDuel: 3.9%
Sabonis is yet another star in a favorable matchup tonight as he takes on the Pelicans. New Orleans has played at the eighth-fastest pace and ranks 19th in defensive rating. De’Aaron Fox is healthy for the Kings, which unlocks a lot of Sabonis’ game. In the seven games that Sabonis has played alongside Fox this season, he has produced 1.58 DraftKings points per minute in 35.2 minutes per game. Jokic is the priority at center, but Sabonis is available at a substantial discount and offers triple-double upside as well.
There are eight games tonight and some injury news is yet to come out, so be sure to check out Stokastic’s Deeper Dive and Live Before Lock shows.
