Daily Fantasy Basketball 2015: NBA DFS Must-Starts for Each Position November 25
The top rule in daily fantasy NBA is to avoid breaking the bank on a player when a much cheaper player can get you the same production, and that's where we start Wednesday's DraftKings must-start picks.
Phoenix Suns point guard Brandon Knight won't generate the same level of interest as a Russell Westbrook ($11,300) or Rajon Rondo ($9,300), but he might be the best play at $8,200. While Westbrook's numbers won't be as gaudy with Kevin Durant returned and Rondo goes up against the No. 1 unit against the position (Milwaukee Bucks), Knight's due for another breakout outing.
Not only is Knight going up against a New Orleans unit ranking 30th versus PGs with no strong defensive guards, but he's on a tear as of late. He's put up DK totals of 78 and 68.75—which is downright insane—over his last five games.
Take a look below for must-starts at every other position along with an optimal lineup, although we'll leave the utility spot open for you to decide.
DraftKings Optimal Lineup for Nov. 25
| PG | Brandon Knight (Suns) | vs. New Orleans | 38.8 | $8,200 |
| SG | Andrew Wiggins (Timberwolves) | vs. Atlanta | 31.8 | $7,100 |
| SF | Kevin Durant (Thunder) | vs. Brooklyn | 46.3 | $9,600 |
| PF | Kristaps Porzingis (Knicks) | at Orlando | 31.2 | $7,000 |
| C | Zaza Pachulia (Mavericks) | at San Antonio | 29.6 | $5,800 |
| G | Jeremy Lamb (Hornets) | vs. Washington | 22.6 | $4,600 |
| F | Luis Scola (Raptors) | vs. Cleveland | 21.2 | $4,800 |
SG: Andrew Wiggins, Minnesota Timberwolves ($7,100)
Whether you want to look at his last game or the most recent one against Wednesday's opponent, Andrew Wiggins is cooking for his matchup with the Atlanta Hawks.
He dominated in Minnesota's last meeting with Atlanta earlier this month, going 15-of-22 with 33 points—good for 47.25 DK points. He was even better the last time out, nearly hanging 50 DK points on Philadelphia, and should be in line for a similar outing Wednesday at home.
SF: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder ($9,600)
Durant's return was everything Thunder fans could've hoped for Monday, as he put up more than 45 in DK and shot 10-of-13 from the field.
Meanwhile, Westbrook's numbers remained strong but did come back down to earth. That indicates Durant is getting right back to his usual level of production, which should continue against the hapless Brooklyn Nets.
PF: Kristaps Porzingis, New York Knicks ($7,000)
The Latvian can do no wrong. Rookie Kristaps Porzingis is on fire, putting up 59.5 and 47.5 DK points in consecutive games while posting at least 20 points and 14 rebounds in each.
His New York Knicks face an Orlando Magic defense that has been troubled as of late, and Porzingis should be intent on keeping his hot streak going as his confidence—and salary—continues to rise.
C: Zaza Pachulia, Dallas Mavericks ($5,800)
This marks the only value pick among the five must-starts, but it doesn't really feel like it considering Zaza Pachulia's recent outings. He's put up a double-double in four straight games, and is now averaging that on the season.
Although his minutes are currently below 30 per game, that number should rise a bit as he'll be leaned on to slow the San Antonio Spurs frontcourt and snatch many rebounds.
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