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FanDuel Daily Picks: Fantasy Basketball Lineup For October 28

By Brendan Galella

Oct 20, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) dunks the ball during the second quarter of a basketball game against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 20, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) dunks the ball during the second quarter of a basketball game against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New Orleans Pelicans are completely reliant on the production of Anthony Davis, making him a must-start player in daily FanDuel NBA leagues.

Forget about being just the fourth player ever to pour in 50 points on opening night, joining Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor; Anthony Davis accomplished something no player in league history ever has during his epic performance Wednesday against Denver.

The 50-point, 16-rebound, seven-steal, five-assist, performance was truly one of a kind.

Prior to Davis, no player had ever totaled 50 points, 15 rebounds, five steals and five assists in the same game dating back to the 1973-74 season, when the league officially began tracking steals.

Only two players, Charles Barkley (1988) and Vince Carter (2001) had ever posted a game with 40 points, 15 rebounds, five steals and five assists before Wednesday night.

For good measure, Davis managed to swat away four shots, sank 16-of-17 free throw attempts and converted 50 percent of his attempts from the field.

Even though he contributed in every way imaginable, the Nuggets still pulled off a 107-102 victory.

New Orleans simply can’t afford to rest Davis, a good thing for FanDuel NBA players, as he accounted for at least half of the team’s points , blocks, steals and defensive rebounds on the night.

Throughout his career, Davis has played well against Golden State, the Pelicans’ opponent Friday night. In 11 career appearances agains the Warriors, Davis is averaging 20.6 points, 11.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game.

During the season opener, Davis posted an incredible 95.7 fantasy points, enough to tilt any FanDuel NBA matchup.

No reason to pass over him as New Orleans seeks its first victory of the season.

Top Four Point Guards

  1. Russell Westbrook ($12,000) vs. Phoenix Suns
  2. Eric Bledsoe ($7,400) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
  3. D’Angelo Russell ($6,400) vs. Utah Jazz
  4. Jeff Teague ($6,300) vs. Brooklyn Nets

Rationale:

  • A blowout loss to the Kings forced Phoenix coach Earl Watson to pull his starters early, resulting in just 29 minutes for Eric Bledsoe. Even in the limited time on the floor, he logged 16 points, six rebounds, five assists and a steal. Bledsoe’s ability to contribute in a multitude of ways makes him a perfect addition to any FanDuel NBA roster.
  • Jeff Teague adapted quickly to playing in front of his hometown crowd. The Indianapolis native debuted with 20 points, eight assists, three steals and two rebounds. Even though he connected on just 5-of-15 attempts from the field, Teague still poured in a lofty point total by continually forcing his way to the foul line, resulting in 13 free throw attempts.
October 26, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) moves the ball against the defense of Los Angeles Lakers forward Nick Young (0) during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
October 26, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) moves the ball against the defense of Los Angeles Lakers forward Nick Young (0) during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Top Four Shooting Guards

  1. James Harden ($11,300) vs. Dallas Mavericks
  2. DeMar DeRozan ($7,800) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
  3. Monta Ellis ($6,100) vs. Brooklyn Nets
  4. Evan Fourneir ($5,800) vs. Detroit Pistons

Rationale:

  • The first regular season appearance for James Harden since being named the point guard for the Rockets yielded 34 points, a career-high 17 assists, eight rebounds and a steal. The ball was in his hands for 9.1 minutes, second highest in the league to begin the year, providing him ample chances to rack up the points in daily FanDuel NBA leagues.
  • The most overlooked statistics in fantasy basketball is the amount of time spent on the floor. Monta Ellis spent 44 minutes on the floor in the season opener, a figure propped up by an overtime session against Dallas, but the Pacers are playing with perhaps the tightest rotation in the league, giving their players additional value. Ellis responded by producing 19 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals in the 130-121 victory.

Top Four Small Forwards

  1. LeBron James ($9,900) vs. Toronto Raptors
  2. Kevin Durant ($9,300) vs. New Orleans Pelicans
  3. Michale Kidd-Gilchrist ($5,600) vs. Miami Heat
  4. Harrison Barnes ($5,100) vs. Houston Rockets

Rationale:

  • Clearly a 29-point defeat wasn’t the debut Kevin Durant was seeking in Golden State, but he still managed to produce an impressive stat line. Any daily FanDuel NBA team could use 27 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, two steals, two blocks and a made three-pointer from the small forward position.
  • Lost amid the fantastic performances from the first few days of the NBA was the 23 points and 14 rebounds Michael Kidd-Gilchrist managed against Milwaukee. A newfound aggressiveness, as he attempted a career-high 18 shots, produced just the fifth 20-point outing in 203 career appearances for the second overall pick of the 2012 NBA Draft.

Top Four Power Forwards

  1. Anthony Davis ($10,800) vs. Golden State Warriors
  2. Kevin Love ($7,100) vs. Toronto Raptors
  3. Tobias Harris ($6,200) vs. Orlando Magic
  4. Enes Kanter ($5,300) vs. Phoenix Suns

Rationale:

  • The Cavaliers offense was flowing in the season opener, as Kevin Love tallied 23 points, 12 rebounds, three steals and two assists in just 25 minutes. Cleveland boasts the NBA’s oldest roster, but managed to find plenty of rest for its starters. That’s a luxury that likely won’t be available Friday against the Raptors, meaning Love could have additional opportunities to produce.
  • The Pistons found numerous ways to include Tobias Harris throughout the season opener. The 6-foot-9 forward spent 36 minutes on the floor and attempted 13 shots — both were the second highest figures for Detroit. The result was 22 points, five rebounds, a steal and an assist. If he is highlighted in the offense again, he provides solid contributions for a player on a below average salary in FanDuel NBA leagues.

Top Four Centers

  1. Hassan Whiteside ($8,500) vs. Charlotte Hornets
  2. Rudy Gobert ($7,000) vs. Los Angeles Lakers
  3. Myles Turner ($6,900) vs. Brooklyn Nets
  4. Clint Capela ($4,700) vs. Dallas Mavericks

Rationale:

  • Hassan Whiteside is out to prove the Heat made the right decision to sign him to a maximum contract over the summer. The type of impact he can provide, such as the 18 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks he registered against Brooklyn in the season opener, isn’t widely seen across the league. Any daily FanDuel NBA lineup can benefit from the consistent shot blocking he provides along with a likely double-double each night.
  • Clint Capela is quickly morphing into one of the most dominant rebounders in the league. After posting 10 performances with 10 or more rebounds a season ago, Capela has been even more effective under new coach Mike D’Antoni. The 6-foot-10 center finished 11th in preseason play in rebounding and collected nine in the season opener, six defensive and three offensive. At a relatively low price, Capela is an intriguing option for just $4,700, as he should be considered a nightly double-double threat for Houston.

Next: 2016-17 NBA Power Rankings: Week 1

Final Lineup

PG Jeff Teague ($6,300)

PG D’Angelo Russell ($6,400)

SG Monta Ellis ($6,100)

SG Evan Fournier ($5,800)

SF Kevin Durant ($9,300)

SF Harrison Barnes ($5,100)

PF Enes Kanter ($5,300)

PF Anthony Davis ($10,800)

C Clint Capela ($4,700)

Total Cost $59,800