Each day, we'll provide you with the players to target in your daily leagues, from the high-priced stars to the solid midrange values to the cheaper, riskier players with upside.
In general, you want to use safer options in your cash games and rely on some riskier, high-upside options in your bigger tournaments. If you can average at least five points per $1,000 of salary, you'll typically end up with at least some cash in your pocket.
Note: We're sending out these Insider tips early in the day, and a lot can change after these are posted. Be sure to follow this Twitter list of NBA reporters, bloggers and announcers for late-breaking injury updates and lineup changes.
Point guard
High-priced stars
Eric Bledsoe, Phoenix Suns (DraftKings: $7,900, FanDuel: $7,600) vs. SAC: You don’t need me to tell you that Russell Westbrook against the 76ers and James Harden (eligible at PG on DraftKings) are elite and pricey plays tonight. Instead, let’s try some better "bargain" options, like Bledsoe, who is actually healthy for the moment and set to run in a game between two high-paced teams, giving him high-end upside at a comparatively reasonable price.
D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers (DK: $7,300, FD: $6,500) vs. HOU: New Lakers coach Luke Walton has put the ball in Russell’s hands and is prepared to let him take over. Pair that with facing a Rockets team coached by Mike D’Antoni, who just wants to run and isn’t worried about defending, and the table is set for Russell to rack up big numbers tonight.
Victor Oladipo, Oklahoma City Thunder (DK: $7,100) @ PHI: I’ve made no secret about my high expectations for Oladipo across all fantasy platforms this season, and a piece of cake opener against the Sixers offers a nice starting point. I expect his salary to rise quickly.
Solid values
Emmanuel Mudiay, Denver Nuggets (DK: $6,200, FD: $5,800) @ NO: I’m not particularly enamored with any of the point guards in this range, but Mudiay is capable of outpacing his contract in a game that should be fairly wide-open.
Cheap with upside
Tim Frazier, New Orleans Pelicans (DK: $4,800, FD: $5,000) vs. DEN: Frazier proved last season to be capable of compiling quality stat lines. With Jrue Holiday tending to his family, Frazier will start at the point in a plus matchup and is an excellent value play.
Sergio Rodriguez, Philadelphia 76ers (DK: $3,200) vs. OKC: At this price on DraftKings, Rodriguez is worth a punt if he starts tonight. Victor Oladipo should bring more defense to the Thunder’s backcourt this season, but there should be enough room for Rodriguez to pay off his dirt-cheap contract, so you can spend the cash you save on higher-priced options.
Shooting guard
High-priced stars
James Harden, Houston Rockets (DK: $10,900; $11,200) @ LAL: Sometimes the fantasy gods reach down and pair an elite talent with a coach who wants his star player to pile up gobs of stats. So thank them for putting The Beard in the fantasy-friendly hands of coach Mike D’Antoni and savor what should be a monster opening night at Staples Center. Note that he is eligible at both point guard and shooting guard on DraftKings.
Victor Oladipo, Oklahoma City Thunder (DK: $7,100, FD: $7,400) @ PHI: I’ve made no secret about my high expectations for Oladipo across all fantasy platforms this season, and a piece of cake opener against the Sixers offers a nice starting point. I expect his salary to rise quickly.
Solid values
Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns (DK: $ 6,500, FD: $6,200) vs. SAC: Booker is correctly priced as a player who shouldn’t be available on the cheap but could easily outperform his price. He’s on just about everyone’s breakout list and is in position to do just that against the Kings.
Eric Gordon, New Orleans Pelicans (DK: $5,000, FD: $5,200) @ LAL: Gordon’s propensity for injury makes him mighty risky in season-long leagues, but in daily, we can ride him until he breaks down. As the starting backcourt mate of Harden in the Rockets’ perpetual-green-light offense, Gordon is an enticing play against the Lakers.
Avery Bradley, Boston Celtics (DK: $4,800, FD: $5,600) vs. BKN: One of the more underrated fantasy assets out there, Bradley is a rock-solid play against the Nets.
Cheap with upside
Mario Hezonja, Orlando Magic (DK: $3,700, FD: $4,300) vs. MIA: He has as much upside as any other shooting guard in this price range. If his shot starts falling early, the Magic could ride him for scoring.
Small forward
High-priced stars
Paul George, Indiana Pacers (DK: $8,700, FD: $9,500) vs. DAL: Considering his balance of price, talent and matchup, George is arguably the best value bet of the elite stars in action tonight.
Solid values
Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns (DK: $ 6,500) vs. SAC: Booker is correctly priced as a player who shouldn’t be available on the cheap but could easily outperform his price. He’s on just about everyone’s breakout list and is in position to do just that against the Kings.
Trevor Ariza, Houston Rockets (DK: 5,800, $5,500) @ LAL: I can’t help but picture hustle-baller Ariza playing Shawn Marion’s role in D’Antoni’s system. He doesn’t block shots like Marion, but as the guy doing the dirty work and running the floor in this high-tempo approach, Ariza is a very intriguing fantasy option in all formats.
Robert Covington, Philadelphia 76ers (DK: $5,300, FD: $5,900) vs. OKC: Another hustle guy with a reasonable contract in an up-tempo matchup. You can also take a look at Boston’s Jae Crowder against the Nets.
Cheap with upside
Dario Saric, Philadelphia 76ers (DK: $4,700) vs. OKC: He’s one of the top wild cards heading into the season, and with a plus-matchup against the Thunder’s frontcourt in an up-tempo game, he could shine.
Mario Hezonja, Orlando Magic (DK: $3,700) vs. MIA: He has as much upside as any other shooting guard in this price range. If his shot starts falling early, the Magic could ride him for scoring.
Power forward
High-priced stars
DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings (DK: $10,600) @ PHO: I’m more inclined to funnel my budget into Harden or Westbrook, but Cousins should stuff the box score tonight, too.
Solid values
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets (DK: $6,900, FD: $6,300) @ NO: If he does what we all hope he does this season, this will be a bargain price we might not see again.
Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers (DK: $6,200) vs. DAL: There is enough risk baked into this young big man that I don’t really see him as a value at this price. Still, he sports enough upside to warrant usage in GPP games, thanks to a promising matchup against a beatable Mavericks frontcourt.
Cheap with upside
Dario Saric, Philadelphia 76ers (DK: $4,700, FD: $4,900) vs. OKC: He’s one of the top wild cards heading into the season, and with a plus matchup against the Thunder’s frontcourt in an up-tempo game, he could shine.
Terrence Jones, New Orleans Pelicans (DK: $4,500, FD: $4,200) vs. DEN: Jones is always a threat to bust loose with a big outing when things click, and the Pelicans seem to be providing him the opportunity to do his thing. He has some sneaky tournament upside tonight.
Center
High-priced stars
DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings (DK: $10,600, FD: $10,000) @ PHO: I’m more inclined to funnel my budget into Harden or Westbrook, but Cousins should stuff the box score tonight, too.
Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves (DK: $9,200, FD: $8,800) @ MEM: Sure, this game has a projected total of fewer than 200 points, but at this price, KAT could easily come through with enough stats to outpace this contract.
Hassan Whiteside, Miami Heat (DK: 8,600, FD: $8,700) @ ORL: I could pretty much cut and paste my thoughts on KAT right here. The projected point total is 200.5, but Whiteside is capable of go bananas at any moment.
Solid values
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets (DK: $6,900) @ NO: If he does what we all hope he does this season, this will be a bargain price we may not see again.
Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers (DK: $6,200, FD: $6,400) vs. DAL: There is enough risk baked into this young big man that I don’t really see him as a value at this price. Still, he has enough upside to warrant usage in GPP games, thanks to a promising matchup against a beatable Mavericks frontcourt.
Jusuf Nurkic, Denver Nuggets (DK: $5,800, FD: $4,600) @ NO: It’s too bad he had such a great preseason or we could have got him at an even better price.
Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers (DK: $5,400, FD: $4,700) vs. OKC: There are plenty of nice breakout players in this section, but Embiid arguably has the highest long-term upside, plus an affordable contract for tonight. He’s only a wild card because of health concerns and a minutes restriction -- everything else is legit.
Cheap with upside
Alex Len, Phoenix Suns (DK: $4,900, FD: $6,000) vs. SAC: Len is a little too expensive on FanDuel, but he is priced right on DraftKings in a promising matchup.