DFS NBA FanDuel Starting 5 Lineup Advice 12/23/17
If you haven’t noticed, FanDuel released a new contest style called “Starting 5”. You only have five spots to fill, two guards, two forwards and a center — basically a starting 5.
Pricing is a bit different to account for the fewer positions and the strategy is a little different as well. I’ve played this contest over the last few days, and I’ve cashed in all of them, so I figured I would pass along what I’ve learned and how I choose my lineups.
First, the over/under in games is much more important than in the classic contests. Because you only have five players, you need to have exposure to higher scoring games because you won’t be able to overcome a player scoring 20 or 25.
Second, you don’t need to “punt” as much. You’re better off having a balanced roster i which all your players are capable of putting up 40-to-50 points, which is entirely possible to do. My lineup the other night consisted of Kyle Lowry ($12,000), DeMar DeRozan ($12,000), Ben Simmons ($14,000), Dario Saric ($10,000) and Marc Gasol ($11,500). Simmons was the only player that did not get at least 40 points, but he is at least capable of putting up 50-plus. Had he put up 50-plus, I would have won a lot more money.
With these strategies in mind, here are some of my picks for tonight…
Guards
There are three games with an over/under 215 or higher; Nets @ Pacers (215), Timberwolves @ Suns (216.5) and Warriors @ Nuggets (219.5). Building a lineup I really liked today was difficult, and I had to take two players that could really kill this lineup. Normally I try not to “punt”, but today it seemed like it was necessary.
Victor Oladipo $14,400 vs BKN
Oladipo is the best player from this game and the cheapest of all the “studs” in the three games I mentioned. Dipo had just under 40 FanDuel points against the Nets just a few short days ago, and he is one of the few players on tonight’s slate not on a back to back. He can easily put up 50-plus Fanduel points in what should be a high-paced game.
Shabazz Napier $8,000 @ LAL
Here my first “punt” in this lineup and really my first “punt” since I’ve started playing the Starting 5 contests. Napier will once again start for the injured Damian Lillard after he put up 35.3 Fanduel points last night in 37 minutes against the Nuggets. The Lakers give up 45.32 FanDuel points per game to point guards over the last four weeks, ranking them in the bottom quarter of the league.
Also considering: Tyreke Evans $13,000, Eric Bledsoe $12,500
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Forwards
Jimmy Butler $14,000 @ PHO
Truth be told, I don’t like playing Butler in the classic contests, but in the Starting 5 contests, he meets my criteria. He is playing in one of the high over/under games on the slate (216.5) and he has 40-to-50 FanDuel point upside. He didn’t play particularly well in his last game against the Suns (28.2 FD points), but he a monster game against them in late November (48.3 FD points). The last game was the exception, not the rule, and I look for him to have 45-plus FanDuel points tonight. The Suns have given up 40.68 FanDuel points to small forwards over the last four weeks.
Jordan Bell $8,000 vs DEN
My second “punt” is Bell. Despite the return of Draymond Greem, Bell still got the start and played 24 minutes and registering his first double-double in his young career. He put up 41.5 FanDuel points, filling up the box score with 20 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal. He “technically’ starts at center, and only the Pelicans have given up more points to opposing centers than have the Denver Nuggets. The blowout potential of this game shouldn’t affect Bell either, as I would expect HC Steve Kerr to keep his rookie on the court in junk time.
Also Considering: Kyle Kuzma $12,000, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson $12,000
Centers
Karl-Anthony Towns $15,500 @ PHO
Outside of the game against the Trailblazers, KAT has put up 48-plus FanDuel points in six straight games, including one game over 60 and one over 70. The Suns give up 51.85 FanDuel points to centers over the last four weeks and Towns has had games of 55.2, 51.4, and 43.4 in games against the Suns this season.
Also considering: Nikola Jokic $13,500, Jusuf Nurkic $12,000
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