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 nine games.
As for injuries, Karl-Anthony Towns, Joel Embiid, Kyrie Irving, RJ Barrett, D’Angelo Russell, Ben Simmons, Kelly Oubre Jr., Miles McBride, Haywood Highsmith, Andre Jackson Jr., Josh Minott and Kyle Lowry are questionable. Desmond Bane and Josh Richardson are doubtful. Cam Thomas, Cameron Johnson, Jaden Ivey, Jimmy Butler, Luke Kennard and Royce O’Neale are out. Keep track of all the pertinent injury updates at DK Live.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, there is one double-digit favorite: NYK -10 over ORL. There are three games within 3 points: PHI -3 over PHO, SA -1.5 over CHI and SAC -2.5 over MIA. There is one game with a total of at least 230: SA/CHI (236.5). There are two games with a total at 220 or below: ORL/NYK (209) and LAC/MIN (213.5). Log into DK Sportsbook for the updates.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA Starting 5 $8K Zone [$2K to 1st].
Point Guard
Cade Cunningham was already the alpha for the Pistons, but with the injury to Jaden Ivey, he’s had to shoulder more of the offensive load. And he’s obliged, posting 63.5 FPTS on Saturday. Portland is 27th in defensive efficiency so the environment should be a fantasy-friendly one.
Shooting Guard
I was very tempted to go with Devin Vassell due to the matchup with Chicago, but I couldn’t deny Devin Booker his due. The floor and ceiling are a tick higher than for Vassell due to his playmaking ability. Booker has 50-FPTS upside, which I don’t think Vassell can get to, unless he scores like 40 points. There is a chance that both Booker and Vassell score in the 30s, but I will lean with the upside here.
Small Forward
Deni Avdija has been on quite the run lately. Over the last five games, he’s exceeded 40 FPTS three times with a high of 50. Those 40-FPTS games have come in the two most recent contests, as he grabbed 14 and 10 rebounds while dishing out four assists in each while racking up steals. He played a whopping 43 minutes on Saturday and 36 minutes on Thursday.
Power Forward
Giannis Antetokounmpo has a Q next to his name but he is probable. He has the highest floor/ceiling combo at the position. Giannis has failed to hit 50 FPTS six times this season, but those were all in the 40s. He’s exceeded 70 FPTS seven times with a high of 97.5 FPTS. Toronto is fifth in pace and 26th in defensive efficiency.
Center
Victor Wembanyama has finished with over 60 FPTS in each of the last two games against Nikola Jokic. He’s stuffed the stat sheet with ridiculousness: 20 points, 23 rebounds, three assists, four blocks and a steal in one while putting up 35 points, 18 rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal in the other. He’s put up two games with over 80 FPTS and it wouldn’t surprise if he starts contributing 100 FPTS games on the regular. Monday’s matchup is an enticing one because the Bulls are fourth in pace and 22nd in defensive efficiency. There should be plenty of opportunities to rack up those juicy fantasy goodies.
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.
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook, lines and odds subject to change.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is sontzu) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
