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 four games.
DAL, DET and LAC are playing the second leg of a back-to-back.
As for injuries, Tyler Herro, Haywood Highsmith are questionable.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, MEM is -1.5 over DET on the road with the total at 239.5. MIN is -14.5 over PHI on the road with the total at 225.5. MIL is -1.5 over MIA on the road with the total at 214.5. The DAL/LAL is not on the board yet.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA Starting 5 $6K Zone [$2K to 1st].
Point Guard
Ja Morant is definitely rejuvenated. Is it from being healthy after missing games due to injury? Or is it because the wicked Taylor Jenkins is no longer in town? Who knows, but what is apparent is that Morant is balling out. The usage rate has spiked 5%, as Memphis has been using more pick-and-roll action.
Shooting Guard
Anthony Edwards truly is a super hero. He gets injured, goes to the locker room, then always returns as if nothing happened. He’s also one helluva basketball player and is a professional getter of buckets. There is blowout risk in this one, but Edwards will have likely been a big reason why. Philadelphia is 26th in defensive rating over the last 10 games.
Small Forward
I love Ausar Thompson on this slate. He will likely be low owned, but I think he can put up a 50-burger. He stuffs the stat sheet and this environment should be a fantasy-friendly one, as Memphis is first in pace over the last 10 games.
Power Forward
I do think there’s a chance that Miami can keep Giannis Antetokounmpo in the 50-FPTS range, something they’ve done twice this season. The thing is, though, that’s his floor, while it’s the ceiling for most of the others at the position. With no salary considerations, I have to go with the floor/ceiling combo of Giannis.
Center
Rudy Gobert has put up over 40 FPTS in five of the last six games, with two of those over 50 FPTS. Not only is Philadelphia 26th in defensive rating over the last 10 games, but it has no one in the middle to neutralize Gobert in the paint. Another 50-burger is well within the range of outcomes.
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.
