Happy Hallowe’en! Tonight’s $100K Trick or Treat Special at DraftKings has a $27 entry fee but is limited to 4200 teams. Winner gets $15,000, second $7500 and there will be 840 cash prizes — even if it doesn’t fill. Love those overlays.
Only three days into the NBA season, there have been shocks. The Knicks, who looked awful 24 hours earlier, spoiled the Return of the King in Cleveland. Already missing Kevin Durant, the Thunder lost Russell Westbrook to a broken hand.
In real life, that’s disastrous for OKC. In traditional fantasy leagues, it’s a devastating blow and in daily fantasy, it ruined the chances of everyone who used Westbrook. However, DFS throws a hero up the pop charts for every one that lets us down. If you used Perry Jones III (recommended in yesterday’s Spin) there was no way to expect a career-high 32-point explosion.
Any lessons? It’s better to be lucky than good. My Cavaliers prediction — avoid the big guns because they would win by 30 — worked out, for entirely the wrong reason. Also, you never know when you’re going to win. A “safe” lineup was good enough for me to cash in five contests, recouping losses from the first two nights.
Tonight DK has big pools at the $12, $10, $5, $2, $1 and $0.25 levels if you’re not a high roller. Here is a free entry to the $30K Layup, with its $5,000 top prize, for anyone who opens an account. Normally a $2 ticket. Finish in the top 4,000 (from a maximum of 17,250 teams) and you win cash.
Of tonight’s six NBA games, CLE @ CHI is by far the most interesting, though perhaps low-scoring, like the MEM @ IND game — not good for anyone in DFS. SAS @ PHO might be most entertaining and LAC @ LAL will be most overhyped. Both are great sources of stats, and POR @ SAC has the potential for a track meet, but even the “ugliest” games can offer opportunities to profit.
The Bucks aren’t great. The Sixers are much worse. Larry Sanders $5700 is worth a look, Khris Middleton $4400 is starting and Jabari Parker $5400 will improve. Giannis Antetokuonmpo $5400 and O.J. Mayo $4500 are the best bets off the bench.
Competitive Roto and Head-to-Head leagues are geared toward big-picture thinking: season-long values and beyond. For one night, matchups, number-crunching and a bit of educated guesswork help select a team. Here’s one of my lineups.
As bad as the Kings looked on Wednesday, they could bounce back. I prefer the Blazers, whose rotation is predictable. LaMarcus Aldridge $9200, Damian Lillard $8100, Nicolas Batum $7300 and Wesley Matthews $6400 are very playable; Chris Kaman $3400 is a possible bargain.
Kobe Bryant $8000 is a one-man team and the best SG on a thin board. Tony Parker $7000 might be the best PG value unless you can afford Chris Paul $9500.
LeBron James $10500 will be determined after last night’s poor start but only a superb performance justifies that salary. Blake Griffin $10000 is probably worth the money, as the Lakers can’t stop anyone. Tim Duncan $7800 is simply more affordable.
Good luck with all your teams; see you at DraftKings.
The Fantasy Spin offers DFS advice every day. Follow Kent Williams @SheridanFantasy.