Daily Fantasy

NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Nov. 28

FantasyPros walks through the best player values for DraftKings and FanDuel NBA DFS.

Joel Bartilotta, FantasyPros

Nikola Jokic may be the best cash game option in Monday’s games.

We have 10 games tonight and we have a ton of teams playing a back-to-back set. In fact, Atlanta, Brooklyn, Boston, Cleveland, Indiana, Minnesota, Orlando, Philadelphia and Washington are all playing the second half of a B2B set. That’s going to cause chaos close to the opening tip, and there’ll surely be numerous players rested in this spot. Just be sure to keep an eye on injury reports up until 7ET!

Injury Report

  • James Harden (foot) OUT
  • Tyrese Maxey (foot) OUT
  • Joel Embiid (foot) Questionable
  • Clint Capela (tooth) Questionable
  • Monte Morris (ankle) Questionable
  • LaMelo Ball (ankle) OUT
  • Gordon Hayward (shoulder) OUT
  • Dennis Smith Jr.(ankle) Questionable
  • Robert Williams (knee) OUT
  • Jayson Tatum (ankle) Questionable
  • Cole Anthony (oblique) OUT
  • Wendell Carter Jr.(foot) Questionable
  • Caris LeVert (ankle) Questionable
  • Pascal Siakam (groin) OUT
  • Scottie Barnes (knee) Questionable
  • CJ McCollum (protocols) Questionable
  • Alperen Sengun (groin) Questionable
  • Michael Porter Jr.(heel) Questionable
  • Bones Hyland (illness) Questionable
  • Lonzo Ball (knee) OUT
  • Mike Conley (Achilles) OUT
  • Chris Paul (heel) Questionable
  • LeBron James (foot) Questionable
  • Anthony Davis (everything) Questionable
  • Kyle Kuzma (back) Questionable
  • Lauri Markkanen (knee) Questionable
  • Brandon Ingram (toe) Doubtful

Core Plays

LeBron James (SF/PF- LAL): $10,900 DraftKings, $10,200 FanDuel
LeBron just returned from an adductor issue over the weekend, and he came back with a bang. James scored 64.3 DraftKings points in his most recent gem, putting his season average north of 50 fantasy points per game. His floor is fantastic, too, scoring at least 40 DK points every game this season. We’re not worried about him facing a 21st-ranked Indiana defense, with James sporting a 60-point average against them in their two meetings last season.

Tyrese Haliburton (PG/SG – IND): $9,400 DraftKings, $9,400 FanDuel
It’s difficult to understand why Haliburton remains below $10K on both sites. He has scored at least 37 DraftKings points in all but one game this season, is also generating a 47-point average and dropped a season-best 61 DK points in his most recent outing. That form should carry over against the Lakers, with LA ranked second in pace and 21st in points allowed. They’re also allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing point guards.

Zion Williamson (PF – NOP): $7,900 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel
It’s been an up-and-down season for Williamson, but it’s impossible to fade him in this spot. New Orleans will be without C.J. McCollum and Brandon Ingram, leaving Williamson to run the offense. We expect him to play 35-40 minutes, take 20 shots and lead the team in usage, which means he could be in line for 50 fantasy points. He’s already posting a 38-point average in a “down” year with those guys in the lineup, and we think he’ll go nuts against an OKC team owning a 28th OPRK against opposing forwards.

Cash Game Considerations

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $11,400 DraftKings, $11,200 FanDuel
The two-time reigning Kia MVP got off to a slow start this year, but he’s still the best cash game option on every slate. The big man has scored at least 40 DK points in all but a handful of games since 2020. No one else in the NBA can say that, with Jokic averaging over 60 fantasy points per game in that span. He’s been rolling recently, averaging 58 DK points per game across his last three outings. We also don’t mind that Houston ranks 24th in points allowed and 27th in defensive efficiency

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG/SG – OKC): $10,500 DraftKings, $10,600 FanDuel
Gilgeous-Alexander has been one of the best players in the NBA this season. The OKC point guard has scored at least 42 DraftKings points in 16 of 19 games, averaging over 51 fantasy points per game. He’s simply doing everything for this Thunder offense, and he shouldn’t have any issues against a shorthanded Pelicans team. In their last four matchups, SGA has scored at least 45 DK points in all of them!

Jaylen Brown (SG/SF – BOS): $8,500 DraftKings, $8,500 FanDuel
Brown was the top option on Sunday’s slate, and we’re going right back to the well for all the same reasons. He is leading the team with a 37% usage rate with Jayson Tatum off the floor and was brilliant without him last year. In fact, Brown averaged 51 DK points per game in the four games JT sat last season. Charlotte is a sensational matchup, too, owning a 21st OPRK against opposing wings.

GPP Targets

Myles Turner (PF/C – IND): $7,500 DraftKings, $7,900 FanDuel
Turner’s price is finally getting to where it belongs, but he’s still got one of the highest upsides on this slate. The big man is averaging a career-high 38 DK points per game, entering this matchup scoring 34 or more DK points in eight of his last nine outings. He’s taken over this offense with Domantas Sabonis shipped to Sacramento, and we want to keep trusting Turner until this price creeps closer to $9K. He should be motivated against the team who wants to acquire him, and we love that with LA surrendering the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing centers.

Jamal Murray (PG – DEN): $7,000 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel
It was a long recovery from ACL surgery for Murray, but he’s starting to find it. The bubble beast has scored at least 28 DraftKings points in 10 straight games, generating a 36-point average in that span. That’s all you can hope for from a $7K player, and we’ve seen him play at a five-figure level during the bubble. The best part is this matchup, though, with the Rockets surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing point guards.

Deni Avdija (SG/SF – WAS): $4,800 DraftKings, $4,400 FanDuel
Avdija has always been a talented player, and he’s finally getting a solid role right now. The winger has played at least 27 minutes in eight of his last nine games, scoring at least 27 fantasy points in seven of those. Getting 27 DK points from a $4,500 player is brilliant, and that’s just his floor in what’s looking like a breakout stretch. Minnesota is not a bad matchup either, playing at the third-fastest pace in the NBA.

Value Plays

Collin Sexton (PG/SG – UTA): $5,500 DraftKings, $5,100 FanDuel
These sites need to adjust Sexton’s pricing. He’s taken over the starting point guard duties in Utah with Mike Conley going down, playing 30 minutes a night in this expanded role. He actually averaged 35 DK points per game as the starting point guard in Cleveland and is right on par with that in this inflated role. It’s tough to get 30-35 minutes and double-digit shot attempts from a $5K player, especially one this talented.

Onyeka Okongwu (C – ATL): $4,300 DraftKings, $4,400 FanDuel
If Capela sits again here, OO is one of the best values on the board. He’ll start for Capela and likely play 25-30 minutes. He’s played at least 26 minutes eight times since the start of last season, averaging 34 DraftKings points per game in those outings. That’s ridiculous from a player in this price range, but it’s no surprise when you consider his elite per-minute averages. Philly is usually a challenging matchup, but it’s much easier with Joel Embiid sidelined at center.

Devonte’ Graham (PG/SG – NOP): $3,600 DraftKings, $3,500 FanDuel
There aren’t many players below $4K who are even usable, but Graham is in this spot. We already discussed how McCollum and Ingram are out, likely leaving Graham with the role we saw in the past. That’s about 25-35 minutes and 10-15 shots, which led to Graham being a $7K player in the past. The Pelicans need his scoring in the lineup with those two studs out, and they’ll undoubtedly send him out there for big minutes after scoring 33 or more DraftKings points in two of the last three games.

Advantageous Pricing

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Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.

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