Each day, we'll provide you with the players to target in your daily leagues, from the high-priced stars to the solid mid-priced 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 five points per $1,000 of salary, you'll typically end up with at least some cash in your pocket.
At this early point in the season, and with a relatively small slate of games, we are still feeling our way with rotations. Teams are figuring out their strengths and weaknesses and trying to optimize their talent in the best ways possible. For that reason, I’m prioritizing past performance, Vegas totals, and playing it a little more safely as the season starts.
Point guard
High-priced stars
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder ($12,000 FD, $11,800 DK) vs. PHO
Westbrook without Kevin Durant is fantasy gold; you all know that by now. The fact that he comes in at $2,500-3,000 more than Stephen Curry tonight is hard to swallow. He’s basically the only elite player you’ll get into your lineup if you go the Westbrook route. Of course he’ll be good, but will he be fantastic enough to more than make up for the value you’re going to need around him? Hitting on the right value plays is doable for two to three slots, but for six to seven slots, the probability goes way down. For me, he won’t be in cash game lineups, despite the juicy matchup.
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors ($9,000 FD, 9,300 DK) @ NO
In seven games against the Pelicans over the last two seasons, Curry has outperformed his season averages by more than five fantasy points. He was quiet against the Spurs Tuesday night, but I expect a more typical performance here. You don’t have to spend up, but I think he’s worth it.
Solid values
Jeff Teague, Indiana Pacers ($6,300 FD, $6,200 DK) @ BKN
Teague is just the first of many Pacers you’ll see here today, primarily because they’re playing the Nets. Brooklyn is likely going to be much the same as last year in terms of defensive efficiency -- in other words, guys playing the Nets are in a good position to outperform their salary. Teague is capable of much better shooting performances than he had Wednesday night and was still able to meet value in that game.
George Hill, Utah Jazz ($6,100 FD, $5,500 DK) vs. LAL
Hill looks to be comfortable already with his new teammates, posting a nice line vs. Portland Tuesday night, including six assists, two steals and a block. That’s encouraging, but he has traditionally been a volatile player. He gets the solid rating tonight thanks to a matchup with the Lakers, everyone’s favorite opponent. While the Los Angeles rebuild should be fun to watch, the young Lakers will push the pace (this game’s point total is more than 200), turn the ball over and not prioritize defense. Hill should be able to exceed value for the second game in a row.
Cheap with upside
Tyler Johnson, Miami Heat ($4,600 FD, $4,300 DK) vs. CHA
It’s hard to make too much of one game from a fantasy perspective, but Miami used Johnson a lot in their opener. He played 28 minutes, relieving Goran Dragic, and spent a little time at the two guard spot as well. He was incredibly efficient shooting, but it was his peripherals that caught my eye: six rebounds, three assists and two steals. With the Heat banged up to start the season, they’re going to need those kind of minutes from Johnson for a while.
Shooting guard
High-priced star
James Harden, Houston Rockets ($11,300 FD, $11,300 DK) @ DAL
Experimenting with Harden at the point sure was fun in the Rockets' season opener, and that figures to continue for the foreseeable future with Patrick Beverley out. Harden tallied 17 assists (who knew he was capable?!) to go with 34 points. He won’t struggle to get to the line, which provides a serious boost to his floor. Tonight’s game against Dallas has the highest Vegas total (221) on the slate.
Solid values
Monta Ellis, Indiana Pacers ($6,100 FD, $5,300 DK) @ BKN
Rodney Hood, Utah Jazz ($5,700 FD, $6,200 DK) vs. LAL
I’ve already mentioned both matchups (Nets and Lakers) and don’t want to belabor that point. The salary difference here is worth noting. Hood is the better play on FanDuel, while they’re about equivalent on DraftKings. Ellis is coming off a great game supplemented with overtime, but both are in line for 30-plus minutes in high scoring games, and neither guard should struggle to reach value.
Cheap with upside
Seth Curry, Dallas Mavericks ($4,000 FD, $3,900 DK) vs. HOU
Curry is more of a player with a cheap contract and solid potential than one with major upside, but the high projected total in this game and the need for backup guard minutes with Deron Williams at the helm of the Mavs, make him worth a mention here. Houston’s backcourt is not defensive-minded at all, and the three steals Curry had Wednesday boost his (and Williams’) value against a Rockets team known to play fast and loose.
Small forward
High-priced stars
LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers ($9,900 FD, $9,400 DK) @ TOR
Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors ($9,300 FD, $9,600 DK) @ NO
Paul George, Indiana Pacers ($9,200 FD, $8,400 DK) @ BKN
Pick a stud, any stud! Here’s why it’s hard to pay up for Westbrook, because these guys are all essentially off the table if you do. They all were excellent in their openers, they’re all favorites in high-scoring games, and they’ll all cost you 15-19 percent of your salary cap on both sites. If you’re a player who makes multiple lineups, make a version with each of these three. If you’re choosing just one, it’s James for me. He’s going to be in the most competitive game with Eastern rival Toronto Raptors.
Solid value
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Charlotte Hornets ($5,600 FD, $5,400 DK) @ MIA
Kidd-Gilchrist is an under-the-radar option but also a young talent who, if healthy, could continue to provide massive stat lines for the Hornets this year. This game has the lowest point total of the night but is expected to be close, and with both of these teams hungry, I expect some nice fantasy performances from it. MKG is one.
Cheap with upside
Bojan Bogdanovic, Brooklyn Nets ($4,200 FD, $4,200 DK) vs, IND
Vegas likes Brooklyn to put up points in this game -- same for the Pacers -- and they offer some nice value. Bogdanovic is coming off a nice game in which he played only 23 minutes, while Rondae Hollis-Jefferson struggled in the opener against Boston. Bogdanovic is the value cash game play, while I think Hollis-Jefferson could bounce back and be used in tournaments.
Power forward
High-priced star
Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans ($10,800 FD, $10,900 DK) vs. GS
No matter what Davis does tonight, you’re going to be disappointed after Wednesday's explosion -- 95 fantasy points is craziness; 50 fantasy points is likely. Try to regain some perspective on your expectations but continue to use Davis if you can fit him.
Solid values
Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors ($8,400 FD, $7,500 DK) @ NO
Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers ($7,100 FD, $7,100 DK) @ TOR
Tobias Harris, Detroit Pistons ($6,200 FD, $5,600 DK) vs. ORL
Thaddeus Young, Indiana Pacers ($6,000 FD, $5,700 DK) @ BKN
If listing four guys here doesn’t make it clear, I think the way to go at power forward and across the slate is with this mid-to-upper tier of player. All of these forwards should hit the 35-50 fantasy point range, are a good bet for a double-double and add value in the peripherals (blocks/steals). I’m leaning toward Harris and Young to anchor cash game lineups but really can’t quarrel with using Green or Love, if you can afford to spend a bit more.
Cheap with upside
Enes Kanter, Oklahoma City Thunder ($5,300 FD, $6,000 DK) vs. PHO
Both Kanter and Steven Adams had nice opening games. The usage for Kanter should go up with Durant gone, as he is the more versatile big, even if he does come off the bench. His 25 minutes per game are often enough for him to double-double. Phoenix is a young team that plays fast and even with Tyson Chandler and Alex Len, isn’t a lock down rebounding unit.
Center
High-priced star
Hassan Whiteside, Miami Heat ($8,500 FD, $8,300 DK) vs. CHA
Whiteside isn’t even that high-priced, but he is a stud. Almost a guaranteed double-double maker, Whiteside’s true upside comes from his multi-block games, such as he had Wednesday night. Expect more of the same against a Charlotte frontcourt that can’t match him.
Solid values
Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons ($7,800 FD, $7,900 DK) vs. ORL
Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz ($7,000 FD, $7,300 DK) vs. LAL
Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers ($6,900 FD, $7,100 DK) @ BKN
Center is tough on FanDuel, because I really wouldn’t mind using two or three of them tonight. Remember, you can do that on DraftKings, where Turner is also eligible at power forward. Drummond is an automatic double-double, and while foul trouble is always a risk, I love the matchup with Orlando for him. Gobert is an $8K player you're getting for $7K right now. Against the Lakers, there's probably no safer play at the position tonight. Turner was a favorite play last season and looks to be fulfilling the promise he showed in limited starts. Brooklyn!
Cheap with upside
Clint Capela, Houston Rockets ($4,700 FD, $5,800 DK) @ DAL
Capela doesn’t have a ton of upside but could be a stable center filler for a DFS lineup that is optimizing the PG or SF slots. He looked comfortable with Harden Wednesday night, and I’ve already discussed the appealing nature of this game having a 221-point total. 20-25 fantasy points would be a reasonable expectation from Capela.