Daily Fantasy Basketball 2015: DraftKings Breakout DFS Rookies and Sleepers
Thanksgiving sucks. There are no NBA games.
Fortunately, we'll be treated to a massive 12-game slate Friday while we recover from our tryptophan-induced comas. Here are some young guys (and one not so young) to consider as you build your DraftKings lineup Friday morning.
Nikola Jokic ($4,600) vs. Spurs
Jokic just ascended to the top of Hollinger's rookie PER rankings. That's right; he's more efficient than Karl-Anthony Towns and New York's apparent savior Kristaps Porzingis. Also, due to some injuries in Denver's frontcourt, he's averaged 31.25 fantasy points per game over his last four, per DraftKings.
He'll also catch a break that the Spurs are leaving Tim Duncan in San Antonio. According to Basketball-Reference.com, Duncan currently ranks second in the league with a defensive rating of 91.7.
After playing a relatively uptempo system for the past several years, San Antonio has fallen way back in the pack with its pace of play. Maybe with Duncan and fellow old guy Manu Ginobili out of the lineup, the Spurs will try to open up the engine a little bit in Denver.
Joffrey Lauvergne, another Denver big, might return from injury Friday night. If so, Jokic's value drops a little bit.
Karl-Anthony Towns ($7,300) and Andrew Wiggins ($7,100) @ Kings
Per Basketball-Reference.com, the Sacramento Kings have allowed 116 points or more in three of their last four games. If DeMarcus Cousins is ruled out again (he missed overtime Monday and all of Wednesday's game), this matchup gets even tastier. The Kings' team defense is terrible when Cousins doesn't rest:
Towns is coming off of two terrible outings. He combined for just 30 fantasy points against Atlanta and Philadelphia. I'm hoping that will scare enough people away from playing him. He is wholly prepared for an up-and-down fast-break fest in California's capital.
Wiggins is also on a bit of a slide. He's only reached value in one of his past three outings. But Sacramento allows the most fantasy points per game to opposing shooting guards. Wiggins should roast his fellow Kansas alumnus Ben McLemore; everybody else in the league does.
*If Cousins doesn't play, Kosta Koufos and Rudy Gay become extremely valuable as well.
Jason Terry ($3,000) vs. Sixers
You're telling me I can play a starting point guard against the 0-16 Sixers for minimum value? Yes, please.
Terry stepped into the starting role in place of the struggling Ty Lawson. He's been serviceable in the past, and he shoots a comfortable percentage from downtown. That's all Rockets GM Daryl Morey asks of his role players.
Terry will exceed value so long as he plays 25 minutes.
Also, for the record, Thanksgiving is awesome.
Enter the DraftKings $35K Sharpshooter contest this weekend. Use the promo code BLEACHER REPORT when you sign up.
