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 Saturday’s Starting 5 slate, there are three games.
No teams are playing the second leg of a back-to-back.
As for injuries, Ziaire Williams is probable. Anthony Edwards, Derrick White, D’Angelo Russell, Ben Simmons, Klay Thompson and Jaden Hardy are questionable. Cameron Johnson, Dereck Lively II and Naji Marshall are out. Keep track of all the pertinent injury updates at DK Live.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, DEN is -2.5 over MIN on the road with the total at 229.5. BOS is -7 over DAL on the road with the total at 220.5. MIA is -9.5 over BKN on the road with the total at 210.5. Log into DK Sportsbook for the updates.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA Starting 5 $3K Zone [$1K to 1st] (Early).
Point Guard
Tyler Herro was often scoring in the 40-to-50 FPTS range, but then Jimmy Butler returned and he came back down to the high-30s. On Thursday, he only finished with 39.75 FPTS with Butler out, but the game was a blowout and he shot only 6-of-19 against a Bucks team that has been third in defensive rating over the last 10 games. The usage rate was a robust 29.7%, though. On Saturday, he faces a Nets team that has been 27th in defensive rating.
Shooting Guard
Anthony Edwards is the class of the position, but he’s questionable due to an illness. If he’s unable to go, then I’ll side with Payton Pritchard, which tells you everything you need to know about the shooting guard pool. Pritchard hasn’t been shooting well recently and likely won’t play 30 minutes, but he can also get hot and put up 30-to-40 FPTS.
Small Forward
This is where I will try and differentiate. Jaylen Brown has the highest usage rate at the position, but his range of outcomes is fairly wide, as he can finish with 20 FPTS or 50. Jaden McDaniels isn’t a high-usage player and is primarily out there for his defense, but he can get some buckets, providing double-digit points in five straight, with 27 points on Wednesday. While he will likely finish in the 20-to-30 FPTS range, he did pop off for 50.5 FPTS last game and 40 FPTS isn’t out of the question.
Power Forward
Jayson Tatum put up only 35 FPTS on Thursday, but I expect him to get back to the 40-to-50 FPTS ways. The back-to-back set in Los Angeles is usually a brutal one, as the LA nightlife is undefeated.
Center
Nikola Jokic is on the slate so you play him. Don’t get cute. He has the highest floor/ceiling combo in the game. Period. Jokic has triple-doubled in five straight and just put up 99 FPTS on Thursday.
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.
