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This article aims to highlight some of the best NBA DFS Plays at every position for your cash game lineups. Keep in mind that the following player write-ups were constructed earlier in the day, and sometimes injury/rest situations can alter the fantasy landscape. Monitoring our NBA News & Headlines Feed throughout the day will keep you in the loop while giving you the subsequent DFS consequences of each information piece.
We’ll take a look at Thursday’s 5-game slate starting at 7:00 ET.
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POINT GUARD
Chris Paul – Phoenix (vs. Houston) - DK: $8,500 / FD: $7,800 / Yahoo: $32
Paul is looking like the best combination of floor and upside for the price tonight, but it’s very close with SGA. I’m prioritizing Paul thanks to the matchup with the Rockets. Paul is averaging a double-double, with only one game this season without double-digit assists. He’s also averaging two steals per game, and Houston leads the league in turnover rate, part of the reason they are a top PG matchup for fantasy. Both of these teams play at Top 5 pace, which should create plenty of opportunities for Paul to create and score.
Also Consider: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Russell Westbrook, Trae Young, Mike Conley
SHOOTING GUARD
Seth Curry – Philadelphia (at Detroit) - DK: $5,900 / FD: $5,100 / Yahoo: $17
With Tobias Harris ruled out of the next few games, there are some open minutes and opportunities. Curry took advantage Wednesday night with a full 22-5-3 line as Joel Embiid also missed the game. The 76ers pulled off an impressive win over Chicago and will look to do it again in a much easier matchup tonight. Detroit’s young team offers a nice pace bump for Philly, while being inefficient on both sides of the ball. If you can fit Donovan Mitchell in along with or instead of Curry, I also think he’s in a terrific spot tonight, but Curry’s low salary affords me the star Lakers I’m really aiming for in tonight’s contests.
Also Consider: Donovan Mitchell, Tyler Herro, Marcus Smart
SMALL FORWARD
LeBron James – LA Lakers (vs. Oklahoma City) - DK: $10,400 / FD: $10,100 / Yahoo: $42
I don’t often go all in on the Lakers star forwards, but tonight’s small slate is one of those times. LeBron missed the first game with OKC, a surprising loss, but has generally been a lock for 45ish fantasy points when playing. He’s coming off his first double-double of the season, and should take advantage of a weak Thunder wing defense that will probably be without Luguentz Dort tonight. On the season, the Thunder are about the third-best forward matchup for fantasy while ranking last in rebounding rate. In another fast-paced game, there should be lots of opportunities for the Lakers stars to assert themselves tonight.
Also Consider: Jimmy Butler, Mikal Bridges, Jaylen Brown
POWER FORWARD
Anthony Davis – LA Lakers (vs. Oklahoma City) - DK: $10,300 / FD: $10,500 / Yahoo: $48
I basically made the case for both James and Davis above, but for his individual part, AD is having a great year. He ranks 14th in player efficiency rating while playing more minutes per game than anyone higher than he is. Davis is averaging a big double-double while chipping in about three assists and 2.5 blocks per game.
Also Consider: Jayson Tatum, Georges Niang, John Collins
CENTER
Frank Kaminsky – Phoenix (vs. Houston) - DK: $3,500 / FD: $4,400 / Yahoo: $12
If Deandre Ayton is out again with his calf contusion, look for Kaminsky to be widely rostered. Personally, I’m hoping this is the case, because Kaminsky’s salary really makes this build work. He put up almost 40 fantasy points without Ayton on Tuesday night, and gets a plus matchup with the Rockets tonight. As noted above, the Rockets play fast and loose, with the best DvP to centers on the slate tonight (fifth overall). If Ayton is active, you’ll need to be flexible here, maybe going up to Wood or Adebayo at C and coming down to Bridges or Niang at F.
Also Consider: Christian Wood, Bam Adebayo, Joel Embiid, Al Horford, Clint Capela
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Georges Niang (F – PHI) looks like the guy to roster while Tobias Harris is out. He has played 31 MPG in the last two games, scoring 18 and 21 real points while filling out his stat lines with a few rebounds and assists.
Jimmy Butler (G/F – MIA) is always on my radar and in my wish list, especially on small slates. He is the NBA’s fourth highest player in player efficiency rating so far, with five consecutive games over 50 fantasy points. He’s averaging about three steals per game. Boston is allowing the eighth-most overall fantasy points per game, and is playing on the second half of a back-to-back.
Mikal Bridges (F – PHX) has been a reliable and reasonably priced option that, like the other Suns I’ve mentioned, has some upside in a good matchup. He’s playing heavy minutes and scoring consistently in the 16 PPG range. He’s not an exciting play, but he does offer a solid floor if you need the salary to make other stars work for you tonight.
