DFS Basketball Opening Day Must-Starts

NBA basketball is upon us which means, FANTASY BASKETBALL is here! I’m sure you already had your season-long leagues down but what adds to the excitement is daily fantasy basketball.

So who gets the nod on the first day at the office? Here are some DFS basketball opening day must-starts that you should look at:

Paul George, SF, OKC Thunder

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Russell Westbrook will not be playing so it will be the PG13 show for the Thunder on Opening Day. George hasn’t had a bad statistical game in the preseason where he only plays somewhere in the low 20’s so imagine what could happen if he pushes 40 minutes? I know you’re salivating right now.

Fanduel: $9,000

DraftKings: $8,000

Yahoo: $35

Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers

Image result for joel embiid 2018
USA Today

The Sixers will be facing a very good defensive team in the Celtics but Embiid’s size and skill may be too much for Boston. In the playoffs against the C’s, Embiid averaged 23 points and 14 rebounds with almost 4 assists and a block. They weren’t on very good percentages but my point is, this is NOT the playoffs. It’s opening day and Embiid should run amok on this one.

FanDuel: $10,400

DraftKings: $8,800

Yahoo: $41

Dennis Schroder, PG, OKC Thunder

Image result for dennis schroder okc
Essentially Sports

As previously mentioned, Russ is not playing and PG is not going to get 100% of the touches. That means you need Dennis Schroder on this one. Schroder was actually really good against the Warriors last season, averaging 21.5 points, four rebounds, and eight assists with 47% FG shooting in two games.

FanDuel: $6,100

DraftKings: $6,300

Yahoo: $27

The Bargains

GSW’s Big Man Trio

Image result for kevon looney jordan bell
Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press

Still without DeMarcus Cousins, the defending champions are approaching their big man rotation by committee. That means there will be minutes for Jordan Bell, Kevon Looney, and Damian Jones and there will be opportunities for each man to be fantasy relevant. Bell and Looney were rotation guys in the playoffs so they might be showing up in the pecking order first but Jones is capable as well with much of the attention going to the Big 4.

Marcus Morris, PF, Boston Celtics

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AP Photo/Steve Dykes

Celtics will be going small in their starting lineup leaving Morris, the only real power forward in the rotation with a bench role. That shouldn’t be taken as a negative, however. Morris can still get the job done against opposite benches. A projection of about 16 points, eight rebounds, two assists, with modest defensive stats is not in the realm of impossibility for Marcus.

FanDuel: $4,500

DraftKings: $4,200

Yahoo: $16

TJ McConnell, PG, Philadelphia 76ers

Image result for tj mcconnell sixers
USA Today

The Sixers rotation is still short with Mike Muscala and Wilson Chandler possibly out in the opener. That should thrust McConnell into playing more minutes especially against a very guard-heavy Boston lineup.

FanDuel: $3,600

DraftKings: $3,200

Yahoo: $12

Featured Image: Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP

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