NBA DraftKings Picks

I’ll be posting NBA Draft Kings picks here. These are all lineups I will be playing personally. I’ve won some big prizes in NBA DK contests this year, including one huge haul during the penultimate week of January, so I thought I’d share my lineups.

In NBA DFS, injury news is very important. It’s imperative to be in front of a computer to be able to make late swaps, especially after lock. Some players don’t do this, so being able to make late swaps can provide a big edge over some of the field.

Here’s the link to sign up for Draft Kings. Use promo code walterFootball for a bonus with your first deposit.



Friday, Oct. 9, 2020


Bam Adebayo didn’t work out so well on Tuesday. Let’s hope for better success tonight!

Here are my lineups for today’s main slate:



I like Rajon Rondo tonight, enough to play him at captain. He allows two studs and only one cheap scrub.

My GPP lineup features a more popular captain, but I’m keeping $2,000 off the table t be unique.






Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020


I feel like I would’ve played Jimmy Butler as captain in Game 3, had I known the game was actually taking place. Good job, NBA, going up against the NFL on Sunday. Derp dee derp dee doo.

Here are my lineups for today’s main slate:



Just GPPs tonight. I’m fading Jimmy Butler after his huge game. I like Bam Adebayo in his return, and I think Anthony Davis has a good chance of bouncing back from his dismal Game 3.





Friday, Oct. 2, 2020


It always sucks when players you roster get injured. We had no chance when our captain went down on Wednesday.

Here are my lineups for today’s main slate:



My first lineup is for cash games and high-stakes entries. Kelly Olynyk seems like a great option at captain tonight, as long as he starts for the injured Bam Adebayo. Having him there allows us to play LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro. Meyers Leonard is a punt, but he should get some run off the bench. He’ll also be on the court in the fourth quarter if this turns into a blowout.

My second lineup is for GPPs, which is why we’re leaving $2,100 on the table. Four Heat players makes sense, as everyone’s usage will increase with Adebayo and Goran Dragic injured.







Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020


DraftKings has $1 million to first. Good luck, everyone!

Here are my lineups for today’s main slate:



My first lineup is for cash games and high-stakes entries. I think the Lakers will have trouble with Bam Adebayo, much like they did with Nikola Jokic. I’m also fading LeBron James, as he tends to begin series lightly.

My second lineup is for GPPs, which is why we’re leaving $1,400 on the table. Jimmy Butler has the ability to take over a game. If he does, this will have a good chance of winning.





Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020


I can’t get the Boston backup center correct to save my life!

Here are my lineups for today’s main slate:



My first lineup is for cash games and high-stakes entries. The Nuggets are down 3-1, which means they have the Lakers right where they want them. It also means Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic will play more minutes.

My second lineup is for GPPs, which is why we’re leaving $800 on the table. It’s actually the same lineup, but with Anthony Davis instead of LeBron James.





Friday, Sept. 25, 2020


I committed the cardinal sin of NBA DFS last night. I didn’t check the starting lineups prior to tip-off. I was distracted by the NFL game, so that’s why I missed it. Had I seen that Dwight Howard was starting, I would have plugged him into both lineups.

Here are my lineups for today’s main slate:



My first lineup is for cash games and high-stakes entries. The Celtics are down 3-1, so their starters will play extra minutes in an attempt to avoid elimination. I love Jayson Tatum, who should rebound from the Game 4 dud in which he didn’t score a single point in the opening half. I have no doubt that he’s been hearing about that the past 48 hours.

My second lineup is for GPPs, which is why we’re leaving $1,500 on the table. Despite this, we still have Tatum at captain to go along with Jaylen Brown, Goran Dragic and Tyler Herro. We have to play a scrub and a highly volatile guy to make that happen, unfortunately.





Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020


Enes Kanter didn’t play, and yet we cashed our main lineup somehow. It just goes to show how important it is to play a scrub to get the studs in the lineup.

Here are my lineups for today’s main slate:



My first lineup is for cash games and high-stakes entries. It’s very difficult to play three studs tonight unless you use them in the utility spots. I’d prefer to get one in at captain because of the upside.

My second lineup is for GPPs. We’re only leaving $500 on the table, but we’re playing Mason Plumlee. He’ll do well if Nikola Jokic is in foul trouble, which is why Jokic is not in the second lineup.





Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020


Should have went with LeBron James over Anthony Davis yesterday!

Here are my lineups for today’s main slate:



My first lineup is for cash games and high-stakes entries. Bam Adebayo is my favorite play today. The Celtics just can’t stop him. Getting Adebayo, Jayson Tatum and Goran Dragic means we have to go super cheap at one spot. Hopefully Enes Kanter gets 10 DK points.

My second lineup is for GPPs, as we’re leaving $900 on the table. Five of the players I’ve included shoot lots of threes, so if they all hit their shots, this lineup could have a chance to win.



Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020


I wish the NBA would stop scheduling playoff games during NFL Sundays. That just seems like a poor decision.

Here are my lineups for today’s main slate:



My first lineup is for cash games and high-stakes entries. The Nuggets are in a 2-0 deficit, so I imagine that Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray will play more minutes than the two Lakers stars. That’s why I’m playing just one Laker.

My second lineup is for GPPs, as we’re leaving $700 on the table and playing Mason Plumlee. A Plumlee lineup should exclude Nikola Jokic, as he’ll do well only if Jokic is in foul trouble.



Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020


Our first lineup cashed yesterday even though JaVale McGee scored just one point. If McGee had done anything, we would’ve won tons of money. Ugh!

Here are my lineups for today’s main slate:



My first lineup is for cash games and high-stakes entries. The Celtics can’t stop Bam Adebayo right now, so I like him as the captain. You may have noticed that I have five Celtics in the lineup. This is because Gordon Hayward’s expected return screws up every Boston player’s usage.

My second lineup is for GPPs, as we’re leaving $700 on the table and playing Kelly Olynyk. If you play Olynyk, make sure not to use Adebayo because of the conflict. Olynyk will do well only if Adebayo is in foul trouble.



Friday, Sept. 18, 2020


Both lineups cashed yesterday, and the first one got me in fifth in a high-stakes entry.

Here are my lineups for today’s main slate:



My first lineup is for cash games and high-stakes entries. Dwight Howard and JaVale McGee barely played in the previous series, but they’ll be needed against Nikola Jokic. I’ll need to make sure McGee is in the starting lineup. If he is, I’m going with this in my high-stakes entry.

My second lineup is for GPPs, as we’re leaving $1,500 on the table to be unique. Michael Porter Jr. will be lowly owned, but he has amazing upside.



Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020


Nothing but showdown slates remaining, but maybe we can win big with one of them!

Here are my lineups for today’s main slate:



My first lineup is for cash games and high-stakes entries. I like Kemba Walker a lot, as he’s bound to bounce back from some horrible shooting performances. Bam Adebayo could dominate as well. I flip-flopped between the two for captain.

My second lineup is for GPPs, as we’re leaving $2,000 on the table to be unique. Duncan Robinson is a boom-or-bust player, so this lineup could win if he has a great outing.



Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020


It’s exciting to be back after a four-day hiatus!

Here are my lineups for today’s main slate:



I want Kawhi Leonard in a Game 7, and I want Nikola Jokic in a Game 7. I also want Kemba Walker now that he won’t be facing a box-and-one defense. The rest of the lineup is comprised of good and mediocre values.



Friday, Sept. 11, 2020


Last night’s main lineup did very well! Let’s keep it going.

Here are my lineups for today’s main slate:



The first entry is my main lineup. My top plays for today are Nikola Jokic, Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet and Jaylen Brown, and I’m fine using the other value.

The second entry is contrarian with tons of upside. Kawhi Leonard and Nikola Jokic could both hit 65-plus, while Lou Williams and Michael Porter Jr. are capable of reaching 45-plus. The latter two have low floors, but they make for great GPP options because of their ceilings.



Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020


If only I kept the Raptors guards in the lineup. If only…

Here are my lineups for today’s showdown slate:



Danuel House is out, so that opens up minutes and usage for Jeff Green and perhaps Ben McLemore. I’m playing both tonight, as well as three of the top four players in this game in addition to Rajon Rondo.



Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020


The Bucks were an utter disaster yesterday. Let’s rebound today in what could be the final two-game slate of the year.

Here are my lineups for today’s main slate:



I still love the Toronto-Boston guards. I wanted to get to all three, but I wanted to use Nikola Jokic instead.

The second lineup, which is contrarian, features two low-owned players – Lou Williams, Michael Porter Jr. – who have the potential to break the slate.

Update (6:23 p.m.):



I want more Celtics in my lineup, including Brad Wanamaker, as Brad Stevens has gone smaller.



Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020


We almost got there yesterday due to Nikola Jokic’s heroics, but the first game went so poorly.

Here are my lineups for today’s main slate:



I’m playing Giannis tonight if he’s in the starting lineup. There’s too much upside not to. This lineup will look much different if he’s out, however, so stay tuned.

Update (6:15 p.m.):



Giannis Antetokounmpo is out, so that makes Khris Middleton and at least one of Eric Bledsoe or George Hill must-plays.

Monday, Sept. 7, 2020


LeBron James took us into the money yesterday, so let’s have an even better outcome today.

Here are my lineups for today’s main slate:



I love the Boston-Toronto guards, as well as Paul George. Nikola Jokic could change this slate, however. He’s questionable with a wrist injury. I want to play him in at least one lineup. If he’s out, however, these are the adjustments I would make:



Mason Plumlee would become a must play in the wake of Jokic being sidelined. Jokic being out would open up some great value and prevent us from playing some of the crap Clippers value.

Update (6:24 p.m.):



I’m playing this lineup as my primary instead of the first one. I want Nikola Jokic in the lineup with the guards. If Jokic is ruled out, you can switch to Mason Plumlee, and then turn Paul Millsap into Kawhi Leonard.



Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020


Both lineups cashed yesterday. Nothing exciting, but I’ll take it.

Here are my lineups for today’s main slate:



LeBron James is coming off a loss and a poor showing, so there’s a good chance he goes off tonight, assuming he’s not crying about anything. I also love Russell Westbrook, Goran Dragic and Khris Middleton. I want two of those three in a lineup with James.

Also, it’s worth noting that Giannis Antetokounmpo may miss today’s game. If he’s ruled out, my lineups will be radically different.

Update (3:25 p.m.):



Quick update, but I still like the other lineups.



Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020


The second lineup cashed once again yesterday. Eric Bledsoe, unfortunately, prevented us from going two for two.

Here are my lineups for today’s main slate:



I want to play more Celtics and Raptors than Clippers and Nuggets because the night game will likely blow out again. That said, Paul George has a great matchup against the Nuggets, so I don’t mind getting to him.



Friday, Sept. 4, 2020


The second lineup cashed yesterday. In hindsight, I should’ve used it as the primary, as I thought Montrezl Harrell would see more playing time to combat Nikola Jokic.

Here are my lineups for today’s main slate:



Russell Westbrook is my favorite top guy today. He has a great history versus the Lakers, and he’s so much cheaper than everyone else. He allows a lineup comprised of Khris Middleton and Goran Dragic. Middleton could be Jimmy Butler, but I prefer the former by a hair. I’m using both in the latter lineup, which is riskier, but has more upside.



Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020


We cashed our primary lineup last night, which was nice. Unfortunately, I pivoted off Robert Covington, so the result could’ve been much better!

Here are my lineups for today’s main slate:



I want to play four Raptors tonight. This is “do or die” for them, so all of the starters will be on the court for 40 minutes. Meanwhile, Clippers-Nuggets could get ugly in Los Angeles’ favor, so I like one of Kawhi Leonard or Paul George paired with Patrick Beverley, who is way too cheap.



Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020


Wow, Jamal Murray and Donovan Mitchell sucked last night.

Here are my lineups for today’s main slate:



My core today is Goran Dragic, Khris Middleton and one of Bam Adebayo or Chris Paul, depending on how you think the games will go. I believe the Heat will win again, so I like Adebayo a bit more. The second lineup, by the way, projects either a blowout or a defensive grinder in the second game.

Update (6:23 p.m.):



I figured out how to get Dragic, Middleton, Adebayo and Paul into the same lineup. I also wanted Robert Covington, but I’d rather go with Paul’s upside.



Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020


I pivoted off a nice lineup into playing Giannis Antetokounmpo yesterday, which turned out to be a big mistake. That was unfortunate, so maybe we’ll have better luck tonight.

Here are my lineups for today’s main slate:



Jamal Murray and Donovan Mitchell will play 40-plus minutes in a must-win Game 7. They’ll have every opportunity to get to 65-plus fantasy points. Thus, they’re both in my primary lineup.

Of course, at least one of them could bust. The upper-right lineup anticipates Murray busting, while the lower-left lineup has Mitchell busting. The fourth lineup projects a low-scoring affair or blowout in the Denver-Utah game.



Monday, Aug. 31, 2020


Not a good performance yesterday, so let’s rebound!

Here are my lineups for today’s main slate:



I love Chris Paul, Bam Adebayo, Goran Dragic and Dennis Schroder today. There’s not much value, but George Hill and Lu Dort could get there.

The second lineup projects a Rockets-Thunder blowout. Something seemed off about the Thunder two days ago, so maybe that’s a sign of things to come today.

Update (6:25 p.m.):



Eric Bledsoe being sidelined allows us to get to Giannis Antetokounmpo in all lineups!



Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020


Last night went very well, as one of our lineups finished in the top 700.

Here are my lineups for today’s main slate:



The strategy here is to predict the blowout and play a scrub from that game. The first lineup prjects Clippers-Mavericks to be a blowout, while the second lineup projects a blowout in Raptors-Celtics (and a shootout in Clippers-Mavericks.)



Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020


I don’t blame any of you for not wanting to play after those dumb boycotts. If you’re still doing DraftKings like me, hopefully we make some money today!

Here are my lineups for today’s main slate:



This is basically the strategy I used Wednesday before the games were postponed. The first lineup assumes Lakers-Blazers is close and Bucks-Magic is a blowout. The second assumes Bucks-Magic is close and Lakers-Blazers is a blowout.

Update (3:20 p.m.):



George Hill is banged up, so I wanted to get him out of the first lineup. The second lineup is the same except I put in Markelle Fultz at point guard (not shown.)



Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020


I played the wrong side of Nikola Jokic/Jamal Murray, and Luka Doncic failed. Let’s rebound tonight.

Here are my lineups for today’s main slate:



There are two games in which the spread is at least 14. However, I think there’s a decent chance one of these games is close. The first lineup assumes Lakers-Blazers is close and Bucks-Magic is a blowout. The second assumes Bucks-Magic is close and Lakers-Blazers is a blowout.

Update (3:55 p.m.):



George Hill is out, so here’s the update.



Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020


The main lineup failed because of Malcolm Brogdon, but our contrarian lineup clashed yesterday.

Here are my lineups for today’s main slate:



Here are two lineups. Again, the first is chalky, and I’ll be using it in a high-stakes entry. The second is very contrarian.

Luka Doncic is a must-play today, given Kristaps Porzingis’ absence. We would have played him Sunday had we known about Porzingis being sidelined. My next-favorite play is Nikola Jokic, who should continue to dominate Rudy Gobert.

The contrarian lineup features Donovan Mitchell, who will be very low owned tonight. Mitchell is coming off a big game, but he’s $9,700, which is only a few hundred less than Kawhi Leonard. It’s very difficult to generate a lineup with Doncic, Leonard and Mitchell, so the latter will be left out of most lineups.

Update (6:05 p.m.):



We were waiting on Gary Harris news. He’s been ruled out, which means Monte Morris is in play for tonight.



Monday, Aug. 24, 2020


Fred VanVleet foul trouble sucked, but let’s be real: No one was winning without Luka Doncic and Jamal Murray.

Here are my lineups for today’s main slate:



Here are two lineups. Again, the first is chalky, and I’ll be using it in a high-stakes entry. The second is very contrarian.

There’s some important Steven Adams news coming. I’ll be at the Jersey Shore today, so I’ll tweet any updates. Follow me @walterfootball.



Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020


The James Ennis ejection was very tilting. We’ve had some bad luck the past few days, but I’m sure that will turn around soon.

Here are my lineups for today’s main slate:



Here are two lineups. Again, the first is chalky, and I’ll be using it in a high-stakes entry. The second is very contrarian.

The Luka Doncic news is crucial. I’ll have some major changes if he’s sidelined. One such change will be switching Nikola Jokic to Kristaps Porzingis.

The contrarian lineup features two guys who have failed recently. Jayson Tatum struggled in Game 3 due to foul trouble, while Paul George has shot poorly lately. Both could have big games today.

Update (2:50 p.m.):

Luka Doncic is playing, which is disappointing. Replace Seth Curry with Norman Powell.



Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020


Yesterday was so frustrating. Between Nikola Jokic not playing in the fourth quarter because of the blowout, and Jayson Tatum getting into early foul trouble, it was a nightmare.

Here are my lineups for today’s main slate:



Here are two lineups. Again, the first is chalky, and I’ll be using it in a high-stakes entry. The second is very contrarian.

I’m excited to play Bam Adebayo and LeBron James in bounce-back situations. This is made possible by the Orlando value we’re getting with Aaron Gordon out of the lineup once again.

The contrarian lineup is pairing Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Vucevic. I think if you play one, you have to play the other because the game could be a blowout.



Friday, Aug. 21, 2020


The main lineup didn’t cash yesterday because of Bam Adebayo’s foul trouble and LeBron James’ absence in the fourth quarter as a result of a blowout. Want to hear something more tilting? The contrarian lineup, which cashed, would’ve won $12,000 for me had James scored as many points as Anthony Davis. Feels bad man.

Here are my lineups for today’s main slate:



Here are two lineups. Again, the first is chalky, and I’ll be using it in a high-stakes entry. The second is very contrarian.

There’s good Nets value today as a result of Joe Harris’ absence. That allows us to play my favorite trio of Nikola Jokic, Jayson Tatum and Joel Embiid. The second lineup projects a closer game between the Raptors and Nets. I think it’ll be a blowout, but if not, Fred VanVleet and Caris LeVert could thrive.

Update (1:25 p.m.):

The lineups are the same, except I’m switching Dorian Finney-Smith with Royce O’Neale in the second lineup.



Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020


Both lineups cashed once again. Let’s keep it going!

Here are my lineups for today’s main slate:



Here are two lineups. Again, the first is chalky, and I’ll be using it in a high-stakes entry. The second is very contrarian.

The impending Aaron Gordon news is huge. If Gordon plays, that will destroy all value on the Magic, so adjustments will need to be made. If Gordon is active, I’ll switch the three Orlando guys to James Ennis-Alex Caruso-Hassan Whiteside, or something like that. Meanwhile, the second lineup has just one player prior to Milwaukee-Orlando, so switching around will be easy.



Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020


Both of our lineups cashed yesterday, which was nice. Nothing too crazy, but making money is better than losing money.

Here are my lineups for today’s main slate:



Here are two lineups. Again, the first is chalky, and I’ll be using it in a high-stakes entry. The second is very contrarian. I love Joel Embiid and Jayson Tatum today. I’m also a fan of Kristaps Porzingis once again. Hopefully he doesn’t get ejected in consecutive games!

The second lineup focuses on the Raptors-Nets game. I believe this will be a blowout, but if it’s not, we could see some high scores from the main cast, kind of like what we witnessed in the Bucks-Magic upset yesterday.

Update (1:20 p.m.):



Just a couple of minor changes, as I wanted to get OG Anunoby into the lineup as a good value play.

Update (8:20 p.m.):

Patrick Beverley is out. You can replace him with either Seth Curry or Reggie Jackson. I’m going with the former.



Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020


I’m kicking myself for not using the first lineup from yesterday. I would’ve won $2,500 in one contest I played had I gone with it. But as Cam Newton once said, hindsight is 50-50.

Here are my lineups for today’s main slate:



Here are two lineups. The first is chalky, and I’ll be using it in a high-stakes entry. The second is very contrarian. James Harden will be 50-percent owned today, and rightly so. However, if he has a horrible shooting night, gets into foul trouble or is kicked out of the game like Kristaps Porzingis, you’ll have a chance to win some good money with the second lineup, especially given that no one will be on Damian Lillard tonight.



Monday, Aug. 17, 2020


I turned out to be right about fading Damian Lillard. He scored 50 or so points, yet wasn’t in the winning lineup.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



The forward options suck today unless you pay up for Kawhi Leonard or Paul George. However, I love both centers as well as some of the guards, so I have to settle for scrubs at the position.

Update (1:25 p.m.):



NBA DraftKings Night Slate:



There’s $100,000 to first on the night slate, so here’s my lineup. I’m not playing Luka Doncic because it’s an extremely difficult matchup.



Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020


The Sixers screwed up everything last night, forcing me to play Chris Clemons instead of Kyle O’Quinn. Clemons couldn’t hit any of his shots, which is why he didn’t produce.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



If you’re going to play Damian Lillard at captain, you should have $1,000 or more in remaining salary or use some random, low-owned guy. I’m doing the former with this lineup.

You can also fade Lillard. If he scores just 40 fantasy points, he may not be in the winning lineup.



Friday, Aug. 14, 2020


Last night’s lineup cashed, albeit barely. It was still frustrating because I thought about swapping Carmelo Anthony with Josh Hart. Had I made the move to Hart, I would’ve won $2,000 in one tournament I played. Ugh.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



It’s the final day of the NBA regular season, which means we’ll be playing tons of scrubs. The lone exception besides Tyler Herro is James Harden. The Rockets play their starters extensively in the preseason, so there’s a good chance Harden will get his full run tonight.

Update (8:45 p.m.):

Why is Joel Embiid starting? Seriously. Brett Brown might be the dumbest coach in the NBA. Why is he putting his best player at risk when that player happens to be fragile? So dumb. Swap out Kyle O’Quinn with Chris Clemons.



Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020


Joel Embiid getting hurt was tilting, as was Jimmy Butler playing a half. Let’s move on with our lives.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



This is as “stars and scrubs” as you can get. I love the expensive guard trio, and putting all of them in the lineup is possible because of all the cheap value. I’m definitely playing Boban Marjanovic and Tony Bradley if they’re both announced as starters. I’m also interested to see the Bucks’ starting five.

Update (3:55 p.m.):



I’m going with one Milwaukee value player because the Bucks are starting Khris Middleton, Eric Bledsoe and Brook Lopez for some reason. I don’t think those three will play very much, but D.J. Wilson is at least starting at minimum price.



Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020


DeAndre Ayton was terrible yesterday, and Russell Westbrook was a bust, and yet we cashed. That was nice.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



There are going to be several changes, as always. I’m not sure if I’m playing Joel Embiid or Al Horford yet. Hopefully we’ll get some news on their minutes soon.

Update (6:20 p.m.):



I’m keeping in Joel Embiid, as the 76ers have said the starters won’t have a minutes limit. OK. I’m swapping in Chris Boucher, however, as he makes for a good play with Serge Ibaka sidelined.

Update (7:55 p.m.):





Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020


The DeAndre Ayton nonsense yesterday was frustrating. I’m sure we’ll see more nonsense in the final week of the “regular season.”

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



This slate will be wild. There will be players ruled out minutes prior to tip-off, and stars won’t play into the second half. I’m going to try to hold off slots until later in the slate, which is why I am not playing guys like Markelle Fultz. I’m not even sure about Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot. Also, Russell Westbrook is a big question mark for me. He’ll be great if he plays his regular minutes, but he may not do that. I may swap out Westbrook to preserve a key spot for one of the later games.

Update (1:40 p.m.):



I’ve decided to play Russell Westbrook. I’ve read that their coach doesn’t rest his starters if they’re playing, and Westbrook won’t be on the court tomorrow on a back-to-back. Again, I’m keeping some late spots open, so expect a couple more changes throughout the day. The next piece of news is concerning the 76ers game, as I may want to get Alec Burks back into the lineup.

Update (4:25 p.m.):



Ugh. I’m kicking myself for not fading Russell Westbrook. We can still cash this though. I’m playing Matisse Thybulle for value and Deandre Ayton in a great matchup.



Monday, Aug. 10, 2020


Nothing to say about yesterday aside from Oklahoma City hopefully getting fined.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



This slate is a mess! Everyone is out or questionable. There’s tons of value everywhere. If it’s announced that Khris Middleton won’t play, I’ll swap to Jimmy Butler.



Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020


I flip flopped between Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis yesterday. As it turned out, you needed Doncic to cash, so that was unfortunate.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



James Harden, De’Aaron Fox and Nikola Vucevic are three of my four favorite spend-up options today, with the other being Damian Lillard. Given the Nets’ lazy players, a lineup with Harden, Fox and Vucevic is possible.

Update (12:30 p.m.):

Ugh. The Nets players will play, and the two Oklahoma City centers are out. This happened last minute. I wonder what happened to the NBA’s rule about a 30-minute heads up about the lineup. Hopefully the Thunder are fined heavily.



Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020


Shai Guy killed us yesterday. We would’ve cashed had he hit his median projection.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



Kawhi Leonard is out, so Paul George is a must. Otherwise, we’re waiting on some major injury news for Indiana, Miami and Utah. Stay tuned!

Update (5:45 p.m.):



It’s a major bummer that all of the Indiana players will be on the court this evening. That took away some good value opportunities. Thus, we’ll pivot to using more players from the Miami-Phoenix game. We’re waiting on extremely important Goran Dragic news, so stay tuned for that.

Update (5:50 p.m.):



Goran Dragic is out. The Heat are so thin tonight that using four players is a viable option.



Friday, Aug. 7, 2020


Last night’s lineup was awesome, except for Anthony Davis. Had we played Damian Lillard instead, we would’ve won massive amounts of money.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



I’d love to play Joel Embiid and/or Ja Morant, but I can’t find good value for that at the moment. I’m going with a more balanced lineup for now.

Update (3:55 p.m.):



We have some value with Nerlens Noel, who will start for Steven Adams. Also, Brandon Clarke won’t start, so remove him from your lineup.



Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020


Yesterday looked promising until the Celtics-Nets game turned into a blowout. Five guys in yesterday’s lineup didn’t play in the fourth quarter!

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



Russell Westbrook is unlikely to play, so the Rockets value looks interesting. The same can be said of the Heat with Jimmy Butler sidelined. We’re waiting on some injury news concerning Malcolm Brogdon and Jamal Murray.

Update (3:50 p.m.):



LeBron James is out, so Anthony Davis is a must tonight. Luckily, we have good value to get both Davis and James Harden in the same lineup.



Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020


Yesterday was horrible, so let’s rebound!

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



As you can see, I like the Celtics. They’re in a great matchup, and Kemba Walker is out, so the usage for those three players will increase. Running it back with at least one of Jarrett Allen and/or Caris LeVert makes sense to me. I also like Shai Guy to rebound, as he was in foul trouble Monday.



Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020


I hope you guys enjoyed Michael Porter and T.J. Warren yesterday! Let’s keep it going.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



Some strange names. George Hill will see playing time in a blowout, especially when considering the injuries the Bucks have at guard. Trey Burke will see more playing time with Seth Curry sidelined. And that Mucus guy will play because the Nets are sitting everyone. This opens up an opportunity to play so many studs, including Russell Westbrook, who has beef with Damian Lillard.

Update (5:55 p.m.):



Jimmy Butler is out for some reason. Here’s an updated lineup, though George Hill and Trey Burke were major disappointments.



Monday, Aug. 3, 2020


Despite Shabazz Napier crapping the bed, we cashed both lineups posted yesterday. It’s a shame because had Napier and DeMar DeRozan hit median projections, it would’ve been a huge day.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



I was waiting for Jamal Murray news, and he was officially ruled out. This makes Michael Porter Jr. viable. Having him in the lineup allows us to play Joel Embiid, who has a dream matchup.



Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020


Yesterday’s lineup was looking good until the Clippers didn’t have to play in the fourth quarter because of the blowout.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



Sigh… Chris Chiozza. I know. However, his matchup today is so much easier than it was a couple of days ago. All he needs to do is score 17.5 points against the worst defensive team in the bubble to hit value. I think he can get there, and I’m even projecting him for 28 points. I might be kicking myself later, but I think he’s a good play today.

Update (1:46 p.m.):



Chris Chiozza is not starting, so we don’t have to play him. Phew!

Night Slate:

Shabazz Napier and DeMar DeRozan failed us today. Napier was especially brutal, while DeRozan at least salvaged his performance with a decent fourth quarter. Still, it was disappointing.

The good news is that we have a night slate to redeem ourselves. Here’s my lineup:



Frank Kaminsky is a punt, but all we need out of him is 15 points. He should get that, as Phoenix will need him to help defend Kristaps Porzingis.



Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020


The normal lineup was a disaster because of Chris Chiozza, but our night slate lineup cashed.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



I love the two Clippers guys today, as well as Jimmy Butler. Michael Porter Jr. is amazing value because he’ll be starting. I hate the matchup, but he’s only $3,000.



Friday, July 31, 2020


We cashed last night’s lineup despite Nicolo Melli’s incompetence. Let’s do it again, this time without any laggards.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



You almost have to play some Nets on this slate because of how thin they are. And speaking of thin, Jarrett Allen stands no chance against Nikola Vucevic, who is a top play today along with James Harden.

Update (2:10 p.m.):



A couple of minor changes. Chris Chiozza is now my favorite punt play. This still the same core though.

Night Slate:

Chris Chiozza sucks. I’m doing the night slate because it’s $100,000 to first. Here’s my lineup:



This is typical studs and scrubs. With the Spurs shorthanded, this strategy is definitely viable.



Thursday, July 30, 2020


The NBA is back! Granted, basketball should’ve been going before Memorial Day, but better late than never. DraftKings has a $4 entry contest tonight with $1 million to first, so let’s win some money!

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



The Lakers and Clippers are two of the best defensive teams in the NBA, and the former is way ahead in the standings and doesn’t need to win these seeding games. Thus, we’ll focus on the earlier game. My favorite play tonight is Donovan Mitchell, who should have a great performance in a very easy matchup.

Please note that we’re waiting on some very important Zion Williamson availability news, so there will almost certainly be at least one more update prior to tip-off.

Update (5:55 p.m.):



Zion Williamson will play tonight, but in “short, quick bursts.” He’s not someone I want in my big-money lineups, but I’ll certainly take some shots on him in the $4 tournament.



Wednesday, March 11, 2020


Last night was solid. We cashed our main-slate lineup. The night-slate lineup had a shot, but didn’t finish very well.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



Elfrid Payton failed yesterday, but you have to like him in this very easy matchup. The Atlanta players look appealing as well. Note that we’re waiting on Joel Embiid news, among other things, so the next update could look radically different.

Update (6:40 p.m.):



Jimmy Butler and Devonte’ Graham are out, so that has opened up some value in the Hornets-Heat game. That has allowed for a lineup comprised of Trae Young and Bam Adebayo.

Update (6:55 p.m.):



Rudy Gobert is out, so Tony Bradley is now a solid option.

Here’s my lineup for today’s night slate:



NOTE: RUDY GOBERT MAY PLAY. It was initially reported he’d be out, but now reports are saying he’s questionable. Stay tuned for updates.

Update (7:50 p.m.):



Tony Bradley will start, but you can use Boban Marjanovic instead, as he has the better matchup tonight. He’s my center in the new night-slate lineup.



Tuesday, March 10, 2020


Last night was a mess. And yet, it was glorious. I hope all of you saw the FantasyLabs update that the Bucks would be sitting their starters. I was fortunate enough to see this eight minutes prior to the 9 p.m. tip-off. I didn’t have any time to post an update here because I was panicking and trying to adjust my lineups. I didn’t get to all of them, but most of the ones I adjusted did extremely well.

I understand that some of you might be frustrated by this, but remember Littlefinger’s famous quote: “Chaos is a ladder.” If you avoided playing Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez and Donte DiVincenzo last night, you probably min cashed at the very least, or perhaps you made a ton of money. Those are the opportunities available in NBA DFS. You just have to be vigilant about finding those chances.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



I’m not sure about DeMar DeRozan with LaMarcus Aldridge probably set to return, but I love James Harden and Julius Randle tonight.

Update (6:45 p.m.):



I’m off DeRozan, as expected. I love the two Houston guards, and there’s great value to allow rostering them.

Here’s my lineup for today’s night slate:



The one caveat here is Deandre Ayton, whose status is up in the air. I love Ayton if he can play. If he’s announced out, I’ll have an update. As always, follow FantasyLabs on Twitter for the latest updates in case I can’t post an update in the event of an emergency.

Update (9:50 p.m.):



Here’s the updated night slate lineup. Deandre Ayton is out, which means some of the other Suns, as well as Hassan Whiteside, more appealing.



Monday, March 9, 2020


Ersan Ilyasova failed us last night, which was odd. Luckily, our night-slate lineup did somewhat well.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



Giannis Antetokounmpo is out again, opening up the obvious Khris Middleton and Eric Bledsoe plays. Otherwise, it’s tough not to like players from the Hawks-Hornets game. Targeting bigs versus Charlotte and guards against Atlanta has been great this year.

Update (6:45 p.m.):



Here are two lineups I’m running. I have to step out for the evening, so make sure you follow FantasyLabs on Twitter for injury information.

Here’s my lineup for today’s night slate:



Glad to see there were no injuries. You have to play numerous Bucks (3-4) in the night slate, and some of the Raptors players look appealing as well with Fred VanVleet sidelined.



Sunday, March 8, 2020


Last night failed, so let’s try to rebound today. There are two slates to play on Sunday.

Here’s my lineup for today’s early slate:



The Pelicans-Timberwolves game should be the highest-scoring contest on the slate, hence all the players from those teams in this lineup. Anthony Davis also seems like a great play against a weak Clippers interior defense.

Update (2:50 p.m.):



No changes. Here’s a second lineup I’m running. I like the first a bit more.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



The Bucks players are no-brainers with Giannis Antetokounmpo presumably out of the lineup. I like the three bigs at the bottom as well. Bam Adebayo is another center I like, but I prefer Nikola Vucevic and Aron Baynes a bit more.

Update (5:55 p.m.):

No changes yet, but there could be injury reports later in the evening.

Here’s my lineup for today’s night slate:





Saturday, March 7, 2020


Last night was looking great until the fourth quarter of the final game when Anthony Davis went nuts. We still cashed our lineup, but it could’ve been a better result.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



It’s possible that Trae Young will be ruled out again with his illness, making the other Hawks very appealing. I also love the Grizzlies and 76ers against some of the poor defenses today.

Update (6:50 p.m.):



Trae Young will play, which is a bummer. I still like some of the Memphis players, and we can still get to Nikola Jokic and Tobias Harris.



Friday, March 6, 2020


I hated last night’s slate. The stupid Clippers-Rockets game blew out, so we never had a chance.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



We have so much value tonight with Aron Baynes, Cheick Diallo and Jerome Robinson, so we can have a lineup comprised of Trae Young, Bradley Beal and Nikola Vucevic. The one caveat is that Young is questionable with an illness, so I’ll have an update later this evening.

Update (6:50 p.m.):



Trae Young is out, so all of the other Hawks are viable. My favorite Hawks when accounting for salary are Kevin Huerter and Jeff Teague. The Teague value allows for a lineup with three studs: Beal, Vucevic and Domantas Sabonis.



Thursday, March 5, 2020


It’s ridiculous how many injuries our players have suffered over the past several weeks. Kevin Porter went down early last night, and we finished just 10 points out of the money. Hopefully our variance will improve.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



Wow, this is one ugly slate. Getting to James Harden, Paul George and De’Aaron Fox forces us to play Patrick Beverley, P.J. Tucker and Jordan Poole. I’m hoping better value opens up in the evening once some players are ruled out with injuries. It’s also worth considering excluding Harden from the lineup so we don’t have to play so many scrubs.

Update (6:45 p.m.):



The only update thus far is Devonte’ Graham playing. I may have another update soon.



Wednesday, March 4, 2020


Our first lineup cashed last night. It was actually in FIRST PLACE (to win $100,000) in the $222 contest with Jamal Murray having a half remaining. Murray had 25 DK points at that juncture. Murray, however, did nothing in the second half. He finished with 27.5 DK points, and I ended up 29th in the contest. It was so tilting. Ugh.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



Mo Wagner seems like a must play tonight at his salary, as he’ll likely be starting with Thomas Bryant sidelined. He allows a lineup comprised of Hassan Whiteside, Jimmy Butler and Marcus Smart. We might get some more value later with whomever is starting at point guard for Detroit, so I’ll have an update later this evening.

Update (6:45 p.m.):



We now have three outstanding value plays on the slate with Wagner, Brad Wanamaker and Brandon Knight. I like the first two more, but Knight is a solid option as well.



Tuesday, March 3, 2020


What the hell happened to Trae Young yesterday? He was horrible, and so were his teammates. Memphis-Atlanta turning into a blowout killed our lineup.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



Five of the eight players in this lineup will be in games with more blowout potential than the others, but blowouts are very difficult to predict. I like the Pelicans players against Minnesota’s anemic defense, and running them back with Malik Beasley will work if the game stays close. Still, let’s hope for better value later in the day so we can get to LeBron James or Nikola Jokic.

Update (6:50 p.m.):





Monday, March 2, 2020


Our main-slate lineup cashed yesterday. It was a solid result, but it would’ve been so much better had Pascal Siakam not disappointed.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



The optimizer gave me a 3×1 Hawks-Grizzlies lineup. That makes sense because that should be the highest-scoring game on the slate. We’re also getting some good Cavaliers and Bulls value with Andre Drummond and Zach LaVine sidelined.

Update (6:40 p.m.):



Denzel Valentine will start for the Bulls, and that value has unlocked the ability to get C.J. McCollum, Trae Young and Jonas Valanciunas in the same lineup.



Sunday, March 1, 2020


I had Jakob Poeltl unchecked yesterday, meaning I was telling FantasyCruncher I didn’t want him in any lineup. I didn’t trust Gregg Popovich to start him. Poeltl was announced as the starter, and then I remembered to check him. “Phew, I almost forgot him,” I thought. And then, Poeltl got hurt four minutes into the game. Feels bad man.

Here’s my lineup for today’s early slate:



This slate begins at 3:30. I love the top two 76ers and Mavericks today. I also wanted to get to Kawhi Leonard, but that wasn’t possible.

Update (3:10 p.m.):



Luka Doncic’s birthday hangover will prevent him from playing today. I’ve moved up Prizingis and D’Angelo Russell as a result.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



Lock is at 6 p.m. We’re waiting on the statuses of De’Aaron Fox and Anthony Davis, plus the Warriors are always up to crazy shenanigans. As it stands now, I love James if Davis is out, and I’m interested in playing many Warriors and Bullets in what should be a very high-scoring game.

Update (5:45 p.m.):



The Raptors are down a couple of players, so Pascal Siakam looks appealing. Michael Porter Jr., meanwhile, seems like a good, cheap option with Paul Millsap sidelined. We’re still waiting for the Anthony Davis news.

Update (7:10 p.m.):



Anthony Davis is confirmed out of the lineup tonight, so here are some adjustments. They won’t matter unless Pascal Siakam starts trying hard for a change.



Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020


Yesterday was horrible. Rudy Gobert played like trash, Eric Bledsoe was barely on the court because of the blowout, and Jimmy Butler failed to hit 5x value. Only Markelle Fultz, Norman Powell and Tauran Prince weren’t disappointments.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



I wasn’t planning on a Blazers-Hawks game stack, but that’s what the optimal lineup is at the moment. I like C.J. McCollum and Hassan Whiteside, then running it back with De’Andre Hunter, who has been on fire lately.

Update (7:15 p.m.):



The optimizer is still giving me a 4×1 Blazers-Hawks stack, which I like. Atlanta-Portland should be the highest-scoring game of the night. The one change I could see happening is based on the statuses of Draymond Green and Deandre Ayton. Hopefully, we get that news soon.



Update (7:25 p.m.):



I’m moving to Devin Booker so I can appropriately late swap for any Ayton/Green news.



Update (7:35 p.m.):



I had Jakob Poeltl unchecked. Luckily, we can easily swap him in right now.



Friday, Feb. 28, 2020


Last night was so frustrating. We hit on most of the players we used, but Domantas Sabonis was sidelined the entire second quarter because he picked up three quick fouls. Then, we had to make a late swap because Andrew Wiggins was ruled out with lethargy, so we were able to pivot to Draymond Green. Unfotunately, Green was ejected nine minutes into the game. As this was happening, LeBron James was laughing at Green, perhaps because he knew Green had no interest in playing because he was also stricken with lethargy. Unreal.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



There aren’t any great values yet, but that will almost certainly change prior to lock. In the meantime, it’s very difficult to spend up for Trae Young, so our top options are Rudy Gobert, Jimmy Butler and Christian Wood, all of whom are very underpriced. Spencer Dinwiddie’s price is fair, but the matchup is too good to avoid.

Update (6:40 p.m.):



Khris Middleton, Fred VanVleet and Serge Ibaka have been ruled out, so that has opened up enough value to have a lineup that includes Gobert, Butler and Deandre Ayton.



Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020


I made a mistake yesterday when I uploaded the wrong image, so the final lineup was the exact same one as the second. It turns out that the second lineup cashed, while the final lineup didn’t, so I guess that worked out well!

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



LeBron James and Joel Embiid is out, so we have great value with the Laker and 76er players. This allows us to spend up for Anthony Davis, Domantas Sabonis, De’Aaron Fox and Tobias Harris.

Update (6:35 p.m.):



De’Aaron Fox is out, so I’m glad the Kings made that announcement so far ahead of time.

Update (10:05 p.m.):



Our lineup would look great right now if Domantas Sabonis hadn’t gotten into foul trouble so early in the game. Nevertheless, we can still cash, and that would require subbing out Andrew Wiggins, who has been declared inactive.



Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020


Another day, another injured player. This time, it was De’Aaron Fox, who missed a chunk of action with an injury. It wouldn’t have mattered this time because Nerlens Noel was awful, but it was still frustrating in real time.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



We’re waiting on some very important Jimmy Butler news. The Miami players, particularly Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic, will be very appealing if Butler is out again. If Butler plays, I’ll still have interest in Adebayo, but Dragic won’t make the lineup. Elsewhere, DeMar DeRozan and Deandre Ayton seem like obvious plays, given the injuries to their teammates (LaMarcus Aldridge and Kelly Oubre, respectively.)

Update (6:40 p.m.):



In an odd turn of events, Jimmy Butler will play, while Bam Adebayo could miss tonight’s game. I like Butler to go along with some Nets and the other players I mentioned earlier.

Update (6:55 p.m.):



Bam Adebayo is starting, and I want him in my lineup, so here’s an update.



Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020


Our final lineup cashed last night, but seeing Giannis Antetokounmpo in foul trouble all night was extremely frustrating. We would’ve had a huge night had Antetokounmpo just hit projections.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



I love Anthony Davis, De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis and Jaylen Brown tonight. I like some of our value as well, particularly Gary Trent Jr. Playing George Hill and Nerlens Noel isn’t ideal, so hopefully we get better value throughout the day.

Update (6:48 p.m.):



We have better value than George Hill. Unfortunately, that’s costing us Anthony Davis, but I like this lineup. It’s not ideal to have Steven Adams and Nerlens Noel together, but it’s a great matchup and both at least 6Xed in their previous game.



Monday, Feb. 24, 2020


Facebook friend Max G. recommended that I keep original lineups I have – making adjustments to injury – so I’m glad I listened to his advice because the first lineup posted yesterday was a monster. The second sucked because LaMarcus Aldridge took a dump on the basketball court. Despite his horrible showing, we almost hit the cutline.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



I never thought I’d have a lineup with Joel Embiid, Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo, but here we are. This is made possible by all the Philadelphia and Milwaukee value. Whether or not I keep this lineup depends on Tobias Harris. Unfortunately, Harris was upgraded from doubtful to questionable, so my next lineup may look much different.

Update (6:25 p.m.):



Tobias Harris will play, which is a bummer. My updated lineup has fewer 76ers and more Heat. Goran Dragic and Kendrick Nunn tend to perform well when Jimmy Butler is out, while Kelly Olynyk will be needed against Cleveland’s bigs.

If you still want to run a lineup with Embiid, Doncic and Antetokounmpo, here’s how I would do it:



You can even run the first lineup if you want, except I’d sub out Glenn Robinson for Josh Jackson.



Here’s one more update. Dennis Smith Jr. is starting, and he provides some nice value tonight.



Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020


Our lineup was dead when Jalen Brunson got hurt in the first quarter last night, and adding insult to injury, the second lineup posted (with J.J. Barea) would’ve won $10,000. Feels bad man. In the past four NBA slates, we’ve had Brunson getting hurt, Anthony Davis missing a quarter with a leg injury, Russell Westbrook being ejected and Paul George getting knocked out with an injury in the second quarter. Let’s hope variance goes our way tonight.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



Zach LaVine and C.J. McCollum are my favorite plays today, and getting to them, along with some great mid-tier options like Christian Wood and Brandon Ingram, is not very difficult. There are some decent cheap options available on the Bulls, Warriors and Timberwolves to make it happen.

Update (5:45 p.m.):



I’m more bullish on LaMarcus Aldridge now after some consideration. Not much else has changed, but I’ll be looking out for unexpected lineups later in the evening.



Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020


Our lineup cashed once again last night, but we missed out on some potential great winnings because Anthony Davis missed about a quarter with a leg injury. He still scored 66.75 DK points, but he may have reached 80-plus if it weren’t for the injury.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



I almost posted a lineup around 1:30 p.m. – it’s an hour later as of this writing – but Luka Doncic was ruled out, and I had to re-work everything. I initially planned a Doncic-Trae Young stack, but I now have interest in the other Dallas value. This includes Boban Marjanovic, who can exploit Atlanta’s horrible defensive interior. All of this Dallas value allows for a lineup comprised of Young, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Deandre Ayton.

Update (6:45 p.m.):



More value has opened up with Jimmy Butler sidelined. I’m not playing anyone in the lone 7 p.m. game, so I’ll have another update once we know what the Dallas and Miami starting lineups look like.

Update (7:15 p.m.):



We have Dallas’ starting lineup. Jalen Brunson is starting, so I’m going to use him and a couple of other Mavericks, pairing them with Young, Harden and some of the Miami value.



Friday, Feb. 21, 2020


We haven’t had good luck with players remaining in games, as Russell Westbrook was ejected last night. Despite this, our lineup cashed. Granted, it barely cashed, but I’ll take it with the Westbrook ejection.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



The Boston and Portland players look especially appealing today, given the Kemba Walker and Damian Lillard injuries. Anthony Davis is my favorite spend-up option, as he’ll be needed to play extensive minutes against Jonas Valanciunas.

Update (6:42 p.m.):



Very few changes were made, but I now have Gordon Hayward in the lineup over DeMar DeRozan. I still like DeRozan, but I prefer Hayward a bit more.



Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020


We went into the All-Star break with a bad taste in our mouths because Paul George suffered an injury in the second quarter, which ruined the Feb. 13 slate. I’m glad the NBA is back!

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



Jimmy Butler is my top player tonight in relation to his salary. He has 50-point upside, which is amazing at his $7,900 price tag. Pairing Butler with two of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Russell Westbrook and Joel Embiid is possible, given the value we’re getting with the injury-ravaged Bulls today.

Update (6:50 p.m.):



I’m far more interested in Joel Embiid now in the wake of Ben Simmons being ruled out. My top three guys to surround Butler with now are Embiid, Russell Westbrook and Trae Young.



Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020


Last night’s lineup couldn’t quite get there. It was close to cashing in tournaments. Not having D’Angelo Russell or Larry Nance was harmful.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



Paul George and Kawhi Leonard are the top players on the slate, and it’s possible to get both into the lineup. I especially like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lonzo Ball as other options.

Update (7:40 p.m.):



Jaylen Brown and Brandon Ingram are out, so that has opened up a bit of value elsewhere.



Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020


Last night’s lineup sucked because Joel Embiid got into foul trouble four minutes into the game, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was a major bust.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



We have lots of value today, thanks to the Deandre Ayton and Mike Conley injuries and the Rui Hachimura mispricing. That allows us to get to Trae Young, Karl-Anthony Towns and Devonte’ Graham.

Update (6:40 p.m.):



Towns is out, but that has just created more value with James Johnson. The trio of Johnson, Cheick Diallo and Dewayne Dedmon allow for a lineup that includes Trae Young, Devin Booker and some solid mid-range options like Serge Ibaka and Collin Sexton.

Update (6:48 p.m.):



Even more value has opened up with the $3,000 Bismack Biyombo starting for Cody Zeller. This new value has allowed for Devonte’ Graham and Nikola Vucevic to join Young.



Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020


The Raptors announced they’d be starting Rondae Hollis-Jefferson over Chris Boucher at the last second. If you saw it and made the change, congrats on cashing. If not, welcome to NBA DFS!

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



The Bulls are obvious plays today against Washington’s inept defense. I love Zach LaVine, Joel Embiid and C.J. McCollum. James Harden is extremely appealing as well, but I don’t know if I can get to him.



Monday, Feb. 10, 2020


We had a solid lineup last night, thanks to Ja Morant’s heroics. It would’ve been a great lineup had the stupid Clippers-Cavaliers game not blown out.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



Some of these Toronto players are appealing if Kyle Lowry is out. I will also likely have one Magic player against Atlanta’s poor defense, as well as a couple of Hornets and the still-too-cheap Christian Wood.

Update (4:55 p.m.):



I have an appointment at 5:30. I should be back by 6:45, but just in case I can’t make an update prior to lock, watch for the Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kyle Lowry statues. We might see good value open up as a result of them being sidelined.

Update (6:45 p.m.):



Kyle Lowry will play, while Giannis Antetokounmpo will be sidelined because his wife is giving birth. Antetokounmpo’s absence opens up great value with some of the Milwaukee players, allowing for a lineup with Lowry, Bam Adebayo and Christian Wood.



Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020


Last night’s lineup wasn’t great, but it cashed. Serge Ibaka was a big disappointment.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



Joel Embiid is the top option today. The game could be a blowout, but he could have 60 DK points through three quarters, which is highly appealing at his insanely cheap price. I’m also a fan of Paul George and John Collins (more so if Trae Young is out.)

Update (5:45 p.m.):



John Collins is out of my lineup because Trae Young will play this evening. I still love Embiid and George, and there are plenty of appealing mid-tier players as well, particularly in what should be a high-scoring Memphis-Washington game.



Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020


When I saw that we had 36.75 from Reggie Jackson, 37.75 from Enes Kanter and 47.75 from Kevin Huerter last night, I figured we might have a chance to win. We didn’t cash, however, because both James Harden and Kristaps Porzingis failed miserably. Sucks!

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



Karl-Anthony Towns failed us recently, but he can bounce back in a great matchup. Multiple Raptors should be used as well because of Kyle Lowry’s injury. Christian Wood is also an obvious choice because DraftKings hasn’t had time to price him up yet.



Friday, Feb. 7, 2020


Nothing exciting last night. Our lineup cashed, so that’s nice!

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



James Harden should be in most lineups because he has 90-point upside tonight. Luckily, we don’t have to sacrifice much, given the value available with the Celtics and Mavericks.

Update (6:20 p.m.):



Kristaps Porzingis will play tonight, and I want him in my lineup with Harden. We have value with the Celtics, Pistons and Heat to fit both of them without rostering any major scrubs.

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Update (6:45 p.m.):



Trae Young is likely out, so Kevin Huerter becomes much more appealing. I wanted to include him in the Harden-Porzingis lineup.

Update (6:52 p.m.):



I raised my projection on Kendrick Nunn, so that’s why he’s listed now.

Here’s my lineup for the late slate:



I’m usually against playing more than four guys from one team, but on a two-game slate, that’s definitely an option, especially when considering how much value we’re getting for Miami compared to the other teams.



Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020


The stupid Timberwolves all flopped last night. Here’s to tonight being much better.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



This is a stars-and-scrubs lineup. I love getting to the quartet of Zach LaVine, Anthony Davis, Nikola Vucevic and C.J. McCollum, and this is made possible with the Chicago value.

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Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020


Switching from Malik Beasley to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope cost me $49,000 in potential winnings. Feels bad man.

Here’s my lineup for today’s main slate:



Get as many Timberwolves in your lineup as possible because they have just eight active players for tonight’s game. Spencer Dinwiddie and Caris LeVert also seem like great plays because of Kyrie Irvin’g absence.

Update (6:50 p.m.):



I’m not playing anyone in the one 7 p.m. game, so our effective lock is 7:30. I’m eager to see what Minnesota’s starting lineup is. That will dictate whom I’ll be playing.

Update (7:23 p.m.):



No update on Minnesota yet, but the Warriors will trade Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson, so that has opened up some value with other players on that team.

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Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020


Congrats to those who followed yesterday! Paul George really came through in the fourth quarter:



There are only four games tonight, so I’m going to do a lineup for the main slate despite being on vacation:



There’s lots of value to be had tonight with the Rockets, so that allows for James Harden plus one of the other studs (Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Damian Lillard). It’s Jokic for now, but that may change closer to lock, which is at 7:30 tonight.

Update (7:15 p.m.):



The more I think about it, the more I like Khris Middleton tonight. I like pairing him with James Harden and Nikola Jokic. This is all made possible by the high-value scrubs available in the wake of the Nuggets and Rockets injuries.

Update (8:45 p.m.):



In a frustrating turn of events, both of the questionable Denver players will be on the court tonight. Thus, I’m switching Malik Beasley to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

Here’s the link to sign up for Draft Kings. Use promo code walterFootball for a bonus with your first deposit.



Monday, Feb. 3, 2020


Yesterday’s lineup looked great until the Raptors game turned into a blowout, and Serge Ibaka and Chandler Hutchison didn’t play in the fourth quarter. How tilting!

I’m on vacation this week, so I’m only doing the night slate tonight. With that in mind…

Here’s my lineup for the Feb. 3 night slate:



I’m big on the Kings tonight, as Minnesota plays awful defense. I also have interest in Sacramento’s center, but we’re not sure who that is just yet. Some of the cheapish Kings allow for LaMarcus Aldridge and Paul George, who should see his minutes revert to normal after playing more than expected in his first game back from his hamstring injury.

Update (9:50 p.m.):



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Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020


I’m glad not to have Dallas on the slate today. The Brunson-Barea nonsense is so tilting.

Here’s my lineup for the Feb. 2 main slate:



And yet, here we have another scrub point guard to use. Elie Okobo will be chalk, but he’s only $3,000, so he can’t really hurt you. Getting Okobo into the lineup allows for James Harden and Giannis Antetokounmpo, along with Brandon Ingram and Serge Ibaka.

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Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020


There’s plenty of Dallas value to be had tonight, which allows us to get to D’Angelo Russell, Kyrie Irving and maybe even Trae Young. I love all three tonight, as well as LaMarcus Aldridge (if he plays) and Terry Rozier. Hopefully we get the right Maverick starting point guard!

Here’s my lineup for the Feb. 1 main slate:



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Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020


There’s plenty of Dallas value to be had tonight, which allows us to get to D’Angelo Russell, Kyrie Irving and maybe even Trae Young. I love all three tonight, as well as LaMarcus Aldridge (if he plays) and Terry Rozier. Hopefully we get the right Maverick starting point guard!

Here’s my lineup for the Feb. 1 main slate:



Here’s the link to sign up for Draft Kings. Use promo code walterFootball for a bonus with your first deposit.



Friday, Jan. 31, 2020


The value players we rostered yesterday came through, particularly Dewayne Dedmon, but the spend-ups were disappointing.

Here’s my lineup for the Jan. 31 main slate:



I want LeBron James and James Harden in my lineups today. Luckily, we’re getting so much value between Jalen Brunson, Brandon Clarke and DeAndre Jordan that this sort of roster construction is possible.



Update (4:15 p.m.):



Anthony Davis will play, so he has risen in my projections. I still rank James Harden above him, but Davis is cheaper, so he allows Zion Williamson to enter our lineup. Williamson should see more than 30 minutes for the first time in his career tonight, and he figures to feast on an injury-ravaged Memphis frontcourt.



Update (7:25 p.m.):



J.J. Barea will start instead of Jalen Brunson! Thank goodness for late swap on DraftKings.

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Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020


The main slate lineup didn’t well yesterday, but because of some of the guys I liked, the night slate lineup did very well.

Here’s my lineup for the Jan. 30 main slate:



Bradley Beal and Joel Embiid are my top two projected players today, but Kemba Walker, Pascal Siakam, Devonte Graham and Tobias Harris aren’t too far behind, and they’re all much cheaper than Beal and Embiid.



Update (6:45 p.m.):



I’ve raised my projections on Ish Smith and Devonte’ Graham, so I can get to Joel Embiid now along with some of the other solid value guys. I’m high on Embiid and Tobias Harris tonight with Al Horford out and Ben Simmons dealing with an illness.

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Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020


The Bucks ended up being great plays. Unfortunately, everyone else had them as well. Jimmy Butler was a huge disappointment.

Here’s my lineup for the Jan. 29 main slate:



My goal today is to roster Russell Westbrook, plus two of the following: Domantas Sabonis, Julius Randle and De’Aaron Fox. I was able to get to just one as of the moment, but perhaps more value will be available later in the day.

Update (6:25 p.m.):





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Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020


Last night’s slate was ridiculous. Let’s just move on.

Here’s my lineup for the Jan. 28 main slate:



You’ll want at least three Bucks in your lineup because Giannis Antetokounmpo is sidelined. I’ll have more 76ers as well in the next update if Joel Embiid is ruled out as well.



Update (6:45 p.m.):



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Monday, Jan. 27, 2020


Welp, I should’ve stuck with my gut and kept Damian Lillard in the main lineup. Trae Young and Domantas Sabonis were as good as advertised though.

Here’s my lineup for the Jan. 27 main slate:



Luka Doncic has 80-point upside, so I want him in my lineups today. I’d also like to concentrate on the Cavaliers-Pistons and Rockets-Jazz game as other pieces in the lineup.

Update (12:30 p.m.):



The goal today is to get the best lineup with Doncic, Zach LaVine and one of LaMarcus Aldridge or Derrick Rose without having a terrible supporting cast.

Update (2:30 p.m.):



Changes made for Aldridge and Clint Capela being ruled out. James Harden upgraded to questionable also had an impact.

Update (6:43 p.m.):



I don’t like Luka Doncic as much anymore with the Chris Paul news.

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Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020


First of all, congrats to those who played Zach LaVine last night! I projected him for 52.22 points, as you can see on the graphic below, but he was even better than expected, scoring 72! Kyrie Irving and Tomas Satoransky were huge as well for a very profitable night.

Here’s my lineup for the Jan. 26 main slate:



My initial favorite players to pay up for are Damian Lillard (even with C.J. McCollum due back), Domantas Sabonis and Trae Young. My favorite mid-tier options are Jarrett Allen, Gordon Hayward, Kevin Huerter and Jrue Holiday.

I’ll have updates closer to the 6 p.m. Eastern lock. Some things will change. Yesterday, for example, my top two players in the morning were LaVine and Anthony Davis, but that changed to LaVine and Irving in the evening.

Update (5:37 p.m.):



I can’t get to Damian Lillard tonight. I’d rather slot in Jrue Holiday and rely on better players surrounding the core plays (Sabonis, Young and Holiday.)

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Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020


Here’s my lineup for the Jan. 25 main slate:



My pay-up targets today are Zach LaVine and Anthony Davis. The Cleveland backcourt doesn’t play any defense, so LaVine should be able to break out of his recent slump. Davis sat the entire fourth quarter in the previous game, perhaps in anticipation of the Philadelphia matchup. Davis is cheaper than LeBron James, yet both are great plays tonight.

Update (6:48 p.m.):



If I have time, I’ll provide an update closer to lock, if warranted.

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