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.
Point guard
High-priced stars
Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers (DraftKings: $9,100, FanDuel: $9,100) @ DEN: While he comes at a premium on either major site, Lillard is sixth in the league in usage rate and eighth in frontcourt touches per game on the young season. These significant exposure elements signal a consistently busy offensive role for Lillard, as he’s averaged 22 shots. As Lillard's the leading scorer and usage hog for Portland, it’s helpful to consider this matchup with Denver is home to the highest point total of the slate and is the only game trending at more than 210 points on the Saturday slate, according to the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks (DK: $8,800, FD: $9,500) vs. BKN: While he’s listed at a shooting guard on FanDuel, we’re most interested in shares of Antetokounmpo as a point guard at a more palatable price point on DraftKings. Antetokounmpo lofted at least 20 shots just twice all of last season, yet he took 21 in the opener. The Nets run at the ninth-highest pace in the league, helping increase possessions for both sides while raising Antetokounmpo’s already impressive ceiling.
Isaiah Thomas, Boston Celtics (DK: $7,200, FD: $8,100) @ CHA: For a bit of savings from the elite tier at the position, we still net cost certainty from Thomas, as he’s ninth in the league with 77 frontcourt touches per game and has a sizable role in both scoring and ball distribution for Boston.
Solid values
Jeremy Lin, Brooklyn Nets (DK: $5,900, FD: $6,200) @ MIL: An impressive 13 free throw attempts through two games reveals Lin’s uptick in usage and offensive responsibility as the key backcourt playmaker for Brooklyn. As the lead guard in new coach Kenny Atkinson’s fantasy-friendly, up-tempo scheme, Lin is a fine midtier pivot from the names above.
Tim Frazier, New Orleans Pelicans (DK: $5,600, FD: $5,300) vs. SA: Only Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul are averaging more frontcourt touches per game than Frazier on the young season. The Pelicans lead the NBA in pace through two games, and Frazier has averaged 10.5 assists and 14 shots as the team’s point guard. The most important metric might just be minutes, as Frazier has at least 34 minutes in each of the first two games and thus delivers a high floor for such modest pricing.
Cheap with upside
Matthew Dellavedova, Milwaukee Bucks (DK: $3,900, FD: $4,400) vs. BKN: Lin earned a negative defensive real plus-minus rate last season and “Delly” is due around 30 minutes as the complementary point guard to Antetokounmpo. That many minutes at punt pricing is difficult to find this early into the season, which makes Dellavedova a fine pivot to consider.
Shooting guard
High-priced stars
Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls (DK: $7,600, FD: $8,200) vs. IND: Shooting guard proves particularly thin on Saturday, especially among the expensive options. Butler stands above the positional market given a favorable matchup against Monta Ellis of the Pacers. We also like shares of his teammate Dwyane Wade and his high-usage profile, while Butler’s ability to produce from the stripe (12 free throw attempts in the opener) helps drive a strong spectrum of floor and ceiling.
Solid values
Monta Ellis, Indiana Pacers (DK: $5,500, FD: $6,100) @ CHI: If minutes are the key currency in fantasy hoops, it helps to consider Ellis has averaged 38.5 minutes over the first two games. With such bankable exposure, a reasonable projection around 28 fantasy points helps drive value for Ellis.
Avery Bradley, Boston Celtics (DK: $5,100, FD: $5,800) @ CHA: Similar to Ellis, Bradley is an affordable source of heavy minutes, as he’s averaged 37 over two games. With five assists in each game and upside in steals and even rebounds, this gifted combo guard is another high-floor pivot from the options on Chicago mentioned above.
Cheap with upside
Allen Crabbe, Portland Trail Blazers (DK: $3,800, FD: $4,300) @ DEN: Averaging 30 minutes and 14 points per game, Crabbe’s steady role as the third guard on Portland as a fixture of the second unit helps drive a high floor at low pricing. The Nuggets rate second in pace, albeit over a one-game sample. We admire Crabbe’s matchup against Denver’s young backcourt in a game with the slate’s highest point total.
Small forward
High-priced stars
Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs (DK: $8,900, FD: $8,400) vs. NO: Leonard attempted as many as 21 shots eight times last season, yet he’s taken as many in each game so far this season. We saw Leonard enjoy a 28 percent leap in point production from 2014-15 to last season and could be witnessing yet another sizable leap in output this year. Leading the league in steals and with the uptick in offensive workload, Leonard is a fine alternative to LeBron James, who played heavy minutes Friday against Toronto.
Paul George, Indiana Pacers (DK: $8,400, FD: $9,200) @ CHI: Averaging nearly 40 minutes and with rare offensive freedom, George is arguably my favorite building block of the entire slate. The Pacers are living up to their name, as they rank seventh in pace this season. With my rough projection for George sitting just above 40 fantasy points, we can net a nice combination of floor and ceiling here.
Solid values
Andrew Wiggins, Minnesota Timberwolves (DK: $6,600, FD: $6,600) @ SAC: The high-floor ingredients for this third-year standout are plentiful. The Kings allowed 106.4 points per 100 possessions last season -- among the most generous rates in the league. Wiggins has already attempted 20 free throws, driving a strong floor for points. With heavy minutes expected in a game with a healthy point total, Wiggins is a fine building block at a thin wing position this week.
Cheap with upside
Lance Stephenson, New Orleans Pelicans (DK: $3,300, FD: $4,100) @ SA: With injuries still affecting a depleted New Orleans roster, Stephenson has tallied 56 minutes in his first two games. The pitch for Stephenson is essentially rooted in cheap minutes and his ability to fill out the box score across multiple categories.
Justin Holiday, New York Knicks (DK: $3,000, FD: $3,800) vs. MEM: Listed at both shooting guard and small forward and DraftKings and solely shooting guard on FanDuel, we identify Holiday as a worthy punt play given his ability to earn around 25 minutes at such cheap pricing. Holiday played well in the preseason and has earned meaningful minutes in the regular season behind a struggling Courtney Lee.
Power forward
High-priced stars
Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans (DK: $10,700, FD: $10,800) @ SA: While the Spurs have been a tough matchup for opponents, Davis is enjoying historic production to begin the campaign. Davis is averaging an astounding 89.9 fantasy points on DraftKings this season and has a usage rate of 40.2 percent (a rate around 30 often challenges for the league lead). While the price is understandably high, it’s become downright dangerous to fade Davis in daily fantasy competition.
Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers (DK: $7,200, FD: $6,900) @ CHI: With 35 minutes and 15 shots per game on the young season, Turner’s breakout campaign is well supported by increased exposure and usage. A reasonable projection around 34 fantasy points also supports Turner’s price point across both markets.
Solid values
Gorgui Dieng, Minnesota Timberwolves (DK: $5,900, FD: $5,700) @ SAC: With the Timberwolves facing a generous defensive foe in the Kings, we identify the undervalued Dieng as choice pivot from the elite tier at the position. With an awesome rebounding rate dating back to last season and the Kings ceding among the highest shooting percentages in the paint last season, Dieng is in an ideal spot to meet cost.
Cheap with upside
Marvin Williams, Charlotte Hornets (DK: $4,900, FD: $5,100) vs. BOS: With increased responsibility in the rebounding department on a depleted Charlotte frontcourt, Williams could thrive on the glass once again thanks to heavy minutes for the Hornets.
Trevor Booker, Brooklyn Nets (DK: $4,300, FD: $4,900) @MIL: The Nets are a fine roster for value early this season, as guys like Booker are getting solid minutes at modest pricing. Without need for much offensive usage to net fantasy production, Booker is a hustle-driven fantasy asset with a nice floor for boards and defensive stats.
Center
High-priced stars
Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves (DK: $9,000, FD: $8,700) @ SAC: Even as efficiency from the field escaped him in the opener, it was emboldening to see Towns take 20 shots -- a feat he accomplished just seven times as a rookie. The Kings allowed the fifth-highest shooting percentage within 5 feet of the basket last season, helping support Towns’ bid for elite efficiency Saturday. Be mindful of the fact the Pelicans’ Davis is also eligible at center, so he’s also included in this tier at the position and could prove more valuable here given the position’s scarcity.
Solid values
Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies (DK: $6,000, FD: $7,200) @ NY: With several days off we can expect Gasol to near or top his helpful clip of 33 minutes in the opener. With the Grizzlies suddenly proving more up-tempo under a new coaching staff, Gasol could benefit from increased touches.
Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic (DK: $6,500, FD: $7,800) @ CLE: Even as the Cavs have been a tough matchup as a top rebounding team, Vucevic has averaged 23 rebounding chances per game (within 3.5 feet of an available board) this season. This rate ranks 10th in the NBA and supports a high floor for Vucevic against a veteran team on the second leg of a back-to-back.
Cheap with upside
Dewayne Dedmon, San Antonio Spurs (DK: $3,200, FD: $4,100) vs. NO: A strong rebounding rate as the team’s new Boban Marjanovic, Dedmom also has six blocks to help support his status as a sound sleeper at center. The Pelicans had the seventh-lowest rebounding percentage last season, while a potential blowout would afford Dedmon increased exposure.
Tyler Zeller, Boston Celtics (DK: $3,000, FD: $3,900) @ CHA: Facing his brother, Cody, we prefer Tyler of the Zeller clan for Saturday given his cheaper pricing and nearly identical usage pattern. With an expectation for around 16 fantasy points given his blend of minutes and opportunity, we can net some cost certainty near the pricing floor in Zeller.