NBA DFS Picks Breakdown on DraftKings (Sunday, October 27)

Sunday features a four-game main slate starting at 6 p.m. ET.

Let’s dive into some of the top plays on the slate using the FantasyLabs tools and projections.

Also, don’t forget that for large-field tournaments, you can utilize our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 300 lineups or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.

You can also use our SimLabs Lineup Generator, a tool that creates the most user-friendly lineup generation process.

Note: Projections and Leverages Scores/Ratings may change throughout the day after this article is posted. The NBA DFS landscape changes quickly. 

Consult the NBA Player Models directly for any updates as we get closer to lock.

Stud

The Thunder are playing on the second leg of a back-to-back on Sunday, but it’s a better back-to-back spot than most. For starters, the team will be at home instead of on the road. They also cruised to a pretty comfortable victory Saturday, so most of their starters saw fewer minutes than usual.

That includes Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He played just 29.5 minutes, so he should be relatively fresh for Sunday’s matchup vs. the Hawks.

SGA has picked up basically right where he left off last season, averaging 1.57 DraftKings points per minute through his first two outings. The Hawks also represent an elite matchup, playing at the sixth-fastest pace while ranking 27th in defensive efficiency last season. As a result, the Thunder’s 119.0 implied team total is tied for the top mark on the slate.

Gilgeous-Alexander is also priced at a discount at just $9,700. He leads the position with an 81% Bargain Rating, and he’s averaged a +1.87 Plus/Minus with a comparable salary since the start of last season (per the Trends tool).

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Value

Ben Simmons is playing basketball once again, but he’s struggled through his first two contests. He’s posted a negative Plus/Minus in each, while his fantasy production is down to 0.92 DraftKings points per minute. He was above 1.00 in that department last season, albeit over a small sample size.

Still, there are reasons to be bullish on Simmons moving forward. He’s picked up five fouls in each of his first two games, which may have impacted his minutes. He’s also had 10 total turnovers, which has hurt his fantasy stock. He should still be a guy who averages over a fantasy point per minute, so he’s a prime buy-low target at just $5,000. He ultimately leads the position in projected Plus/Minus.

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Fast Break

With Kawhi Leonard sidelined indefinitely, James Harden is going to have to do a lot for the Clippers this season. He’s done exactly that through the first two games, averaging 1.42 DraftKings points per minute. After a down fantasy season in 2023-24, Harden could be poised to return to fantasy superstardom this year.

Cason Wallace is currently projected for 27 minutes in our NBA Models, which makes him a solid value target at just $3,700. Historically, players with comparable salaries and minute projections have averaged a Plus/Minus of +3.00.

Don’t forget to check out our NBA SimLabs Lineup Generator to create advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation:

NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks

Stud

C.J. McCollum doesn’t have the same ceiling as guys like Gilgeous-Alexander and Harden, but he’s a pretty steady producer. He’s had 39.5 and 38.5 DraftKings points in his first two outings, and with Dejounte Murray currently on the shelf, there’s no reason to expect that to change. He’s averaged 1.15 DraftKings points per minute to start the year, and he played nearly 40 minutes in his last outing.

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Value

Dennis Schroder is another strong value target for the Nets on Sunday. He’s going to have to serve as one of their primary facilitators this season after the team lost Mikal Bridges in the offseason. So far this season, he’s posted a 23.2% usage rate and a 32.2% assist rate, both of which are up from his marks with the Nets last year.

Schroder had a poor showing in his first game of the year, finishing with five turnovers while shooting just 5-16 from the field (31.3%), but he bounced back nicely in his second. He racked up 32.75 DraftKings points in 32.5 minutes, and he’s the type of player who should average better than a fantasy point per minute.

Schroder is projected for another 32 minutes Sunday vs. a Bucks squad that struggled defensively last season. They also played at the eighth-fastest pace, and this game leads the slate with a 229.0 total. It should be a strong fantasy environment as long as this game doesn’t turn into a blowout, making Schroder the top SG option on the slate.

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Fast Break

Norman Powell has always been capable of putting the ball in the basket. He wasn’t asked to do it much last season, when the team had Harden, Leonard, and Paul George, but the Clippers are going to need his scoring this season. He had 37 points in his last outing, and his 25.8% usage rate through two games is on pace to shatter his mark from last year (20.0%). He’s underpriced at $5,800.

Dyson Daniels is up to $5,100, but he still offers plenty of upside at that price tag. He’s scored at least 33.75 DraftKings points in each of his first two games despite playing just 24.4 minutes in his last outing. He should return to around 32 minutes Sunday, and he’s averaged a stout 1.20 DraftKings points per minute through his first two games.

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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks

Stud

Jalen Williams may never be a true fantasy superstar playing next to Gilgeous-Alexander, but he appears poised to take another step forward this season. His usage rate is up to 27.9% through his first two contests after sitting at 23.7% last season. Williams is also capable of contributing in every category across the board, and he finished one rebound and two assists shy of a triple-double Saturday. Overall, he finished with 46.75 DraftKings points vs. the Bulls after struggling to just 22.75 in his first game of the year.

Williams still has some room for improvement moving forward. He’s shooting below 40% through his first two outings, including just 25.0% from 3-point range. He was a better than 50% shooter from the field and nearly 40% from 3-point range last year, so if he can get back to those percentages with his increased volume, he has the potential for the best year of his career.

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Value

Gary Trent has basically been a nonfactor for the Bucks through his first two games, averaging just 0.49 DraftKings points per minute. Still, Trent has historically been a decent fantasy producer, and he’s seeing plenty of minutes. He averaged 0.81 DraftKings points per minute last season, making him a prime buy-low target.

Trent is projected for another 33 minutes on Sunday’s slate at just $4,800. Historically, players with comparable salaries and minute projections have averaged a Plus/Minus of +2.46. Trent has personally matched that trend on 32 previous occasions, and he’s averaged a Plus/Minus of +4.64. As long as he continues to get the minutes, the production should ultimately follow.

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Fast Break

If you need to go even cheaper at SF, Jalen Wilson is worth some consideration at $3,500. His playing time has been all over the place to start the year – he had nearly 34 minutes in Game 1 but just 13.2 minutes in Game 2 – but we have him on the more optimistic side of that spectrum in our projections. He’s projected for 26 minutes vs. the Bucks, which is a lot for his price tag.

De’Andre Hunter is doing his best to hold off No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher for as long as possible. He’s averaged 1.12 DraftKings points per minute through his first two outings, and he racked up 40.25 DraftKings points in his last game.

NBA DFS Power Forward Picks

Stud

After sitting out the first game of the season with an illness, Zion Williamson returned to the lineup Friday vs. the Blazers. He was limited to just 29.1 minutes in his season debut, but he was still able to make a tremendous impact. He racked up 16 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, one steal, and three blocks, good for 49.25 DraftKings points.

There are reasons to be bullish on Williamson once again Sunday. He’s facing the same team he played Friday, and the Blazers have been one of the friendliest matchups in fantasy dating back to last year. Williamson also shot just 4-15 from the field in his last outing despite being a nearly 60% shooter for his career. That gives him the potential to be a bit more efficient, even if he continues to play limited minutes.

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Value

Minutes are always going to be a concern for Onyeka Okongwu, who will have to split playing time at center with Clint Capela. However, Okongwu has been extremely efficient with his playing time so far this season. He’s averaged 1.25 DraftKings points per minute, which would represent a tremendous increase from his average of 0.95 last year. He went off for 42.25 DraftKings points in his first game of the year, so he has upside at just $5,500.

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Fast Break

Giannis Antetokounmpo is always a viable pay-up option. He has the highest ceiling projection on basically every slate where he’s available, especially ones that don’t have Luka Doncic or Nikola Jokic. He doesn’t stand out as the best pure value on this slate, but that should keep his ownership relatively low.

Bobby Portis has always been a solid per-minute producer, averaging 1.13 DraftKings points per minute last season. He’s played between 26 and 28 minutes in his first two games this season, which is enough for him to pay off his $5,500 salary.

NBA DFS Center Picks

Stud

Ivica Zubac could be a sneaky stud fantasy center this season. He racked up 35.25 DraftKings points in his first outing this season, and he followed that up with 24 points, 15 rebounds, and four assists in his second. He played more than 39 minutes in that contest, and he could be poised for a new career high in that department. The Clippers are going to need production from somewhere, and Zubac is a potential contributor.

We don’t have him projected for quite as many minutes Sunday, but he remains affordable at $6,500 on DraftKings. Even if he only plays 30 minutes, he should be able to return positive value. If he can get back to 35-plus minutes, the sky is the limit.

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Value

Trayce Jackson-Davis was limited to just 16.9 minutes in his last game, which the Warriors won by 30 points. That said, he was still able to get 25.75 DraftKings. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in each of his first two games this season, and he remains reasonably priced at $4,800.

Jackson-Davis averaged 1.12 DraftKings points per minute as a rookie last season, and his playing time should be more consistent in his sophomore campaign.

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Fast Break

Chet Holmgren has been an absolute monster to start the year. He’s averaged 1.70 DraftKings points per minute through his first two games. He ripped off 62.5 DraftKings points in his first game of the season, and he managed 47.5 in his last game despite playing just 28.8 minutes. If he can keep up that level of production, his $7,700 salary is going to look like a joke in retrospect.

Deandre Ayton has posted a double-double in back-to-back games. He’s scored between 31 and 36 DraftKings points in both outings despite shooting just 10-26 from the field. He has the potential for a bit better moving forward, making him a solid choice at $6,900.