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 three games.
POR is playing the second leg of a back-to-back.
As for injuries, Yves Missi is probable. LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, Caris LeVert and Santi Aldama are questionable. Evan Mobley, Joel Embiid and Andre Drummond are out. Keep track of all the pertinent injury updates at DK Live.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, CHA is -4.5 over POR at home with the total at 221.5. CLE is -9.5 over PHI on the road with the total at 227.5. MEM is -11 over NOP at home with the total at 240.5. Log into DK Sportsbook for the updates.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA Starting 5 $8K Zone [$2K to 1st].
Point Guard
Tyrese Maxey has been a beast over the last eight games, putting up over 50 FPTS in five of those contests. With no Joel Embiid, the usage rate has been in the 32% range and he’s playing close to 40 minutes a night. And minutes are half the battle. Yo, Joe! Cleveland hasn’t been as good on defense without Evan Mobley in the lineup, and he’s already been ruled out for Friday.
Shooting Guard
CJ McCollum has feasted on Utah over the last two games, putting up 42.25 and 68.5 FPTS. Prior to that, though, he was sub-30 FPTS in three straight. Memphis plays fast, though, and has been second in pace over the last 10 games. They have also been 21st in defensive rating. In two games against Memphis this season, McCollum has put up 41 and 49.25 FPTS.
Small Forward
The matchup should be a fantasy-friendly one for Trey Murphy III. Just read what I wrote above in the McCollum section. In two games against Memphis, Murphy put up 36.75 and 48.25 FPTS. Over the last 13 games, Murphy has contributed at least 40 FPTS nine times with two of those over 50 FPTS.
Power Forward
Jaren Jackson Jr. has 60-FPTS upside if everything breaks right, but more often than not, he’s going to end up in the high-30 FPTS range, especially since Memphis doesn’t play their guys a ton of minutes. That said, New Orleans is light in the front court and JJJ put up 40 and 57.75 FPTS in two games against them this season.
Center
Mark Williams is healthy and feasting for fantasy. Since being unleashed, he’s received 36, 33, 30 and 33 minutes, contributing at least 54 FPTS in three of those contests. I don’t think anyone in the position can match his production 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.
