NBA DFS Picks Breakdown on DraftKings (Friday, November 1)

Friday features a seven-game main slate starting at 7 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

As expected, Jalen Brunson has taken a bit of a step back from a fantasy perspective to start the year. After carrying the Knicks at times last season, the roster was significantly improved during the offseason. The team acquired Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges, which was going to have an impact on Brunson’s usage. He’s averaged just 1.14 DraftKings points per minute to start the season, and he’s posted a negative Plus/Minus in three of four games.

That all sounds fair, but it’s not exactly what has happened. Brunson has posted a 32.6% usage rate so far this season, which is nearly identical to his mark from last season (32.5%). Rather, his poor fantasy production has stemmed from the fact that he hasn’t shot the ball well. He’s just 14-42 from the field over his past two contests (33.3%).

With some better shooting luck, Brunson should be looking at some bigger fantasy performances moving forward. That makes him an appealing buy-low target at $8,400. He’s averaged 45.5 DraftKings points and a +3.36 Plus/Minus with a comparable salary over the past two seasons (per the Trends tool).

There’s also a chance that Towns is out of the lineup on Friday. He’s questionable with a wrist injury, so Brunson could be looking at an even larger workload than usual.

---

Value

The Pelicans are a bit of a mess at the moment. They’ve lost their top two backcourt options to injuries, with both Dejounte Murray and C.J. McCollum sidelined for the time being.

That makes Jose Alvarado one of the top values of the day for DFS purposes. He’s historically been a strong fantasy producer, and he’s currently projected for 33 minutes in our NBA Models. Alvarado saw nearly 35 minutes in the team’s last outing vs. the Warriors, and he responded with 35.75 DraftKings points.

His salary has come up slightly for Friday’s slate, but he remains massively underpriced for his current role. His matchup vs. the Pacers is also a good one, with Indiana playing at the second-fastest pace last season.

---

Fast Break

The Magic are another team with a big injury to account for. Paolo Banchero is out indefinitely with a torn oblique, so the rest of the team is going to have to pick up the slack. Jalen Suggs should be one of the top candidates. He’s off to a phenomenal start this season, averaging 1.32 DraftKings points per minute, and he’s been even better in his limited minutes with Banchero off the court. He’s only seen seven minutes without Banchero this season, but he’s increased his usage rate to nearly 40% and his fantasy output to 1.68 DraftKings points per minute.

Ben Simmons has been a massive disappointment this season. Stop me if you’ve heard that before. In the past, he’s at least been a productive player when on the floor, but he’s posted a negative Plus/Minus in each game to start the year. Still, he’s impossible to ignore at just $4,600. He’s projected for 24 minutes in our NBA Models, and he’s the type of player who can comfortably exceed a fantasy point per minute.

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

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Dennis Schroder has routinely stood out as one of the best fantasy options to start the year, and that’s the case once again on Friday. His salary is up to $6,800 for his matchup vs. the Bulls, but that still seems like a pretty massive discount for the production he’s providing. Schroder has posted a positive Plus/Minus in four straight games, and he’s scored at least 46.5 DraftKings points in his past three. That’s the type of production you’d expect from a player who’s at least $2,000 more expensive.

Schroder might not be that good all season, but there’s no reason he can’t do it again vs. the Bulls. Chicago has played at the fastest pace in the league so far this season, so it’s a massive pace-up spot for the Nets. His +5.15 Opponent Plus/Minus is also the second-best mark at the position.

---

Value

Payton Pritchard is an important piece for the Celtics off the bench, and he’s had a solid start to the year. He’s averaging 1.00 DraftKings points per minute, and he’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in four straight games.

The big question with Pritchard is how many minutes he will play in a given night. Fortunately, there are a few things working in his favor on Friday. For starters, Al Horford has already been ruled out for rest purposes. If the team chooses to play a bit smaller than usual, that could open up a few additional minutes.

Also, the starters might not have to play as much if this game turns into a blowout. The Celtics are listed as 10.5-point road favorites vs. the Hornets, while their 121.5-point implied team total is the second-highest mark on the slate.

Pritchard is ultimately projected for 27 minutes in our NBA Models, and if he sees that much playing time, he’s a great bet to return value. He leads all of Friday’s shooting guards in projected Plus/Minus.

---

Fast Break

Austin Reaves is coming off a poor performance in his last outing, but he’s still been very good to start the year. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in four of his past five games, and he’s capable of racking up fantasy points in a variety of different ways. He’s averaged 1.00 DraftKings points per minute so far this season, and he should see around 34 minutes in a strong matchup vs. the Raptors.

Gradey Dick is coming off one of the best games of his young career in his last outing. The team was without both Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley, and Dick responded with 30 points and 39.5 DraftKings points. He’s had at least 32.75 DraftKings points in two of his past three outings, so he provides solid upside for his price tag for the shorthanded Raptors.

Be sure to check out all the pick’ems Sleeper has to offer with Sleeper promo code LABS1 for a $100 deposit match.

NBA DFS Small Forward Picks

Stud

R.J. Barrett has yet to live up to the hype that was bestowed upon him when entering the league, but he’s played the best basketball of his career since being traded to the Raptors. He was excellent in 32 games last season, averaging 21.8 points while shooting 55.3% from the field, and he’s poised to take another step forward this season.

With Barnes and Quickley out of the lineup, Barrett is the team’s top scoring threat for the time being. He’s posted a usage rate of at least 31.9% in his first two outings, and he’s averaged 1.34 DraftKings points per minute. He went off for 52.5 DraftKings points in his last contest.

Barrett provides an elite combination of floor and ceiling on Friday’s slate. He’s third at the position in projected Plus/Minus, and he has the fourth-highest ceiling projection.

---

Value

Zaccharie Risacher was the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, but he was expected to be a bit of a project. However, the Hawks’ current injury situation has forced him into a larger role than expected. The team is currently without De’Andre Hunter and Dyson Daniels, so Risacher was forced into 34.8 minutes in their last outing. He responded with 33.0 DraftKings points, and he’ll have the chance to do it again vs. the Kings. It should be a very fantasy-friendly game environment, leading the slate with a 237-point total.

---

Fast Break

David Roddy is another potential target for the Hawks. He’s not projected for quite as many minutes as Risacher – he played 31.8 in the team’s last outing – but he’s been the superior per-minute producer this season. He’s averaged 1.01 DraftKings points per minute, so he doesn’t need a ton of playing time to potentially return value.

Franz Wagner has been limited by an illness in his past two games, but when he’s been on the floor this season, he’s been really effective. He’s averaged 1.34 DraftKings points per minute, and he should be looking at a boost in value without Banchero. He led the team in usage with Banchero off the floor last season, increasing his usage rate by +2.06%.

NBA DFS Power Forward Picks

Stud

Zion Williamson’s playing time has steadily crept up to start the year. He missed his first game of the year with an illness, and he was slightly limited in his first few games. However, he got to 32.7 minutes in his last outing, which is enough to put him back on the DFS radar.

Williamson hasn’t been particularly efficient to start the year – he’s shooting just 36.4% from the field – but his role for the shorthanded Pelicans is elite. He’s posted a 34.5% usage rate, which is easily the best mark of his career. He’s also a threat in the peripheral categories, so with some better shooting numbers, he’s poised for a breakout.

Perhaps that will happen Friday vs. the Pacers. It’s an elite matchup, and that game has the third-highest total on the slate at 232 points.

---

Value

Jonathan Isaac is arguably the best pure value on the entire slate. Isaac’s career in the NBA has been marred by injuries, and the team has played him sparingly to start the year. However, he’s projected for 27 minutes on Friday following the injury to Banchero.

If Isaac sees that much court time, he’s going to absolutely smash at $3,600. He’s averaged 1.24 DraftKings points per minute this season, and he averaged 27.65 DraftKings points in five games with between 24 and 30 minutes last year.

---

Fast Break

Rui Hachimura has had a consistent role for the Lakers to start the year, and he’s taken full advantage. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in four of his first five games, and he’s averaged 0.90 DraftKings points per minute. He’s scored at least 32.25 DraftKings points in three games, so he’s underpriced at $5,300.

Josh Hart continues to do Josh Hart things. He’s scored at least 39.5 DraftKings points in three straight games, and he’s recorded a double-double in each contest. He’s one of the best rebounding wings in basketball, and he routinely plays heavy minutes under head coach Tom Thibodeau. He’s viable even if the team is at full strength, but he would get a boost if Towns is ultimately ruled out.

NBA DFS Center Picks

Stud

Anthony Davis finally failed to return value in his last outing, but it wasn’t entirely his fault. He saw fewer minutes than usual in the team’s blowout loss to the Cavaliers, but he’s still averaged a stout 1.59 DraftKings points per minute for the season. His 31.5% usage rate represents a massive increase from his mark last year (26.7%), so it appears as though the Lakers are officially his team.

Davis should be able to bounce back in a big way vs. the Raptors. He owns a +8.31 Opponent Plus/Minus, which is the top mark among Friday’s centers. The Lakers’ 120.5-point implied team total is also the third-best mark on the slate. He stands out as the clear top pay-up option on a night that doesn’t include some of the top producers in fantasy.

---

Value

Luke Kornet is a good bet to replace Horford in the starting lineup on Friday. That may not translate into a ton of playing time – he’s projected for 24 minutes in our NBA Models – but he should still be able to pay off his near-minimum salary. Kornet has played six games as a member of the Celtics with a comparable minute projection, and he’s responded with 29.29 DraftKings points and a +11.00 average Plus/Minus.

---

Fast Break

Jakob Poeltl can continue to be targeted for the shorthanded Raptors. Poeltl has always been a strong per-minute producer, but finding consistent playing time has been an issue. That doesn’t appear to be the case so far this season. He’s played at least 35.1 minutes in back-to-back games, and he’s scored at least 44.75 DraftKings points in both. 

I’m buying the Evan Mobley breakout. One of the reasons that Kenny Atkinson was hired in Cleveland was that he “had a plan” for Mobley. Mobley is on pace for the best offensive season of his career, and he’s averaged 1.45 DraftKings points per minute. The only reason his overall numbers aren’t better is because the team has played a handful of blowouts in the early year. Mobley should come at an ownership discount compared to some of the top studs, but his upside is significant.