DraftKings, your paradise of DFS nirvana, has done it again with a new contest called NBA Starting 5. You select one point guard, one shooting guard, one small forward, one power forward and one center. There is no salary cap. The only stipulation is that you must select players from at least two different teams.
For Friday’s Starting 5 slate, there are seven games.
CHA is playing the second leg of a back-to-back.
As for injuries, Isaiah Hartenstein is available. Amen Thompson, Brandon Williams and Lonnie Walker IV are probable. Andrew Wiggins, Cole Anthony and Cason Wallace are questionable. Luguentz Dort and Corey Kispert are out. Keep track of all the pertinent injury updates at DK Live.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, there are two double-digit favorite: BOS -12.5 over UTA and MIN -13 over NOP. There is no game within 3 points. There are three games with a total of at least 230: PHI/SAS (240), DET/DAL (235.5) and CLE/PHO (239). There are two games below 220: ORL/WAS (215) and HOU/MIA (214.5).
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA Starting 5 $8K Zone [$2K to 1st].
Point Guard
Cade Cunningham has leveled up this season into the elite fantasy tier. He’s garnering a usage rate in the mid-30% range and contributing in every statistical category, even the defensive ones. Over the last five games, he’s gone over 60 FPTS twice and is always a threat to triple-double, as he did on Wednesday. Dallas is seventh in pace and 29th in defensive rating over the last 10 games, so the environment should be a good one.
Shooting Guard
I really, really like Stephon Castle, but I have to go with Quentin Grimes here, especially since there are no salary restrictions. Grimes is THE alpha on offense for Philadelphia. He’s put up at least 40 FPTS in each of the last five games with a high of 76.75 FPTS. San Antonio is dead-last in defensive rating with no Victor Wembanyama. 1 + 1 = 2.
Small Forward
My first thought was to go with Franz Wagner, especially since Orlando plays Washington, but the Wizards have been playing better defense, while Paolo Banchero has taken over alpha duties on offense. Zion Williamson is rarely playing over 30 minutes, but he’s been uber-productive regardless. It’s so crazy that everyone knows he can’t shoot and plays him to drive, but he gets to the paint and scores regardless. Williamson just put up 51.75 FPTS in 30 minutes against Minnesota on Wednesday.
Power Forward
Paolo Banchero has re-established himself as the alpha for the Magic offense. He’s gone for at least 40 FPTS in seven of the last eight games, with three over 60 and a high of 73.5 FPTS. Washington has been sixth in pace over the last 10 games and, while the defense has been better, the Wizards are still 18th in defensive rating.
Center
Alperen Sengun has three triple-doubles on the season, and he’s a threat to mess around on any given night. There’s a good chance he ends up in the 30-to-40 FPTS range, but he’s gone over 50 FPTS 20 times this season with two over 65 FPTS. Not sure any other player at the position can match or exceed that on this slate.
What is the DraftKings NBA Starting 5 Game Style?
- The Fantasy Sports NBA Starting 5 Game Style is a type of contest in which participants draft lineups by selecting one point guard, one shooting guard, one small forward, one power forward and one center. NBA Starting 5 is scored the same way as classic NBA DFS contests.
Important Information:
- Fantasy Sports NBA Starting 5 contests require no salary cap balancing.
- NBA Starting 5 contests span multiple games, and Fantasy Sports participants must select athletes from at least two different teams.
- Participants will see all five positions on the draft screen and must pick one athlete per position.
