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 Monday’s Starting 5 slate, there are seven games.
CHA, HOU and LAC are playing the second leg of a back-to-back.
As for injuries, As for injuries, Josh Giddey, Jaylen Brown, Isaiah Hartenstein, Chet Holmgren, Cole Anthony, Collin Sexton, Jaylin Williams, Cameron Johnson, Dereck Lively II are questionable. Lonzo Ball is doubtful. Andrew Wiggins, Walker Kessler, Kyshawn George, Jake LaRavia, Bennedict Mathurin, Kevin Huerter, Noah Clowney, Brandon Williams are out..
On DraftKings Sportsbook, there is one double-digit favorite: OKC -13.5 over CHI. There are two games within three points: UTA -2 over CHA and LAC -1.5 over ORL. There are three games with a total of at least 230: SAC/IND (235.5), BOS/MEM (234.5) and CHI/OKC (239.5). There are two games with a total at 220 or below: LAC/ORL (214.5) and MIA/WAS (220).
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA Starting 5 $8K Zone [$2K to 1st].
Point Guard
Since there are no salary concerns, I’m going to go with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He’s one of the most unstoppable offensive forces in the league and now gets a matchup against a Bulls team that has been playing at the fastest pace over the last 10 games.
Shooting Guard
Tyler Herro doesn’t garner a massive usage rate like many of the other first options in the league, but that has more to do about team philosophy than anything else. The usage rate is still a respectable 28% on the season and Herro is the No. 1 option. He’s put up at least 45 FPTS in three of the last four games and faces a Wizards team that is third in pace and 26th in defensive rating over the last 10 games.
Small Forward
Coby White has put up over 40 FPTS in each of the last five games with a high of 54.75 FPTS. The matchup isn’t great, as OKC is stifling on defense, but Josh Giddey is questionable, so White could see an uptick in usage rate. There’s risk for sure, but definite upside, especially since not many will click on White’s name.
Power Forward
Jayson Tatum is the alpha for the Celtics on offense, putting up at least 40 FPTS in 10 of the last 11 games, with a high of 87.5 FPTS! No one can match that floor/ceiling combo at the position. This should be a competitive game with tons of chances for fantasy goodies. DK Sportsbook has Boston -4 on the road with the total at 234.5.
Center
This is another place where I feel comfortable differentiating. Most will click on Domantas Sabonis, but I like Ivica Zubac. Sabonis is tied for first with 54 double-doubles, but Zubac is only four behind. Sabonis racks up more assists, but I think both players can put up close to 50 FPTS.
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.
