If you've never played daily fantasy basketball before, it's time to start. Unlike traditional leagues, you're able to select the players you want on that specific day only, giving you a different squad to root for each and every NBA night.
Today's lineups can be found here. The information below is to help you understand why particular players are being picked, because we don't want you going into the night completely blind. We want to help you. Keep in mind, however, that things often change up until tip-off, so make sure you're refreshing the optimal lineups as close to the start of games as possible.
Let's get to it.
The Best of the Best
Stephen Curry - Curry has not just been the best player in the league through the first month of the season, but he has absolutely blown away the competition. The reigning MVP currently leads the NBA in scoring (33.4 points per game), Player Efficiency Rating (35.4), Win Shares per 48 minutes (.398) and ranks number one overall in our player power rankings with an absurd 34.4 nERD, which is an efficiency stat that gives an estimate of how many games above or below .500 a league-average team would win with that player as one of their starters. To put this number in perspective, Blake Griffin ranks second in our player power rankings with a 17.3 nERD, nearly half of Curry's total. Although he draws a relatively tough matchup against Kyle Lowry, the Warriors' star has proven to be matchup proof and should have little trouble posting another huge game in what Vegas expects to be the highest scoring game on tonight's slate.
Anthony Davis - While he hasn't gotten off the to the dominant start many people projected, Davis has still been a fantasy monster this season. He's averaging 25.5 points, 9.3 boards, 2.8 blocks, 2.3 dimes and 1.3 assists with a 30.5% Usage Rate in 36.1 minutes per game and, when healthy, has been forced to carry the load for the banged up Pelicans. The Brows' price tag has dipped all the way down to $10,900 on FanDuel and $10,800 on DraftKings and with a matchup against the defensively-challenged Nuggets, tonight is a perfect buy low opportunity. Davis should absolutely dominate the paint against Denver's porous interior defense -- especially if Kenneth Faried is unable to suit up -- and is as close to a must play as it gets tonight. Fade him at your own risk.
Top Mid-Range Values
Otto Porter - Wizards' star shooting guard Bradley Beal is expected to miss his second consecutive game. With Beal out of the lineup, Porter will be forced to play a much larger role than usual. Although it is important to note that this is a small sample size, in the two games that the Wizards' star shooting guard has missed this season, Porter's Usage Rate climbed from 14.8% all the way up to 18.3%. His ability to fill up the stat sheet keeps his floor high and the added usage with no Beal gives him nice upside as well. Porter should see minutes in the mid-30s and should hit value easily against a Bucks' defense that has given up the ninth most fantasy points per game to opposing small forwards and the third most over their last seven games. Porter is dollar for dollar one of my favorite players on the board tonight.
Brook Lopez - Despite a major injury scare earlier this month, Lopez has gotten off to a fantastic start to the 2015-16 season, scoring 19.2 points to go along with 8.5 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 1.4 assists in 34.5 minutes per game. The Nets' big man has shown an inability to stay healthy which makes him a risky player to own in season long fantasy, but as long as he is on the court he makes a great daily fantasy play. Lopez seems to be perfectly fine following his foot injury and draws a matchup against a Hawks' defense that has given up the most fantasy points per game to opposing centers in the NBA this season. He makes a strong play in all formats tonight.
Basement Ballers
Dennis Schroder - Both Jeff Teague and Kent Bazemore will miss tonight's game against the Nets, which means Schroder will slide into the Hawks' starting lineup and should see all the minutes he can handle. Although he is still coming off of the bench, the Hawks' young guard has been outstanding when on the floor this season, averaging 17.9 points, 6.8 assists, 3 rebounds and 1.3 steals on a per-36 minute basis. Additionally, he has posted 15 points, 5 assists and 4.7 rebounds with a 25.5% usage rate while playing 31.6 minutes per game in three starts this season, but two of those three starts came at the shooting guard position where he played alongside the aforementioned Teague. With Teague out, Schroder's Usage Rate should skyrocket tonight in a strong matchup against a Nets backcourt that has allowed the 11th most fantasy points per game to opposing shooting guards on the season. The Hawks' point guard is an absolute steal at just $4,800 on FanDuel and $4,600 on DraftKings.
Marvin Williams - P.J. Hairston has already been ruled out for tonight's tilt against the Knicks, which means Williams will draw the start at small forward. Williams has looked great playing mostly at power forward this season, amassing 10.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 blocks in 32.4 minutes per game, but should thrive at his more natural small forward tonight. With Hairston out, look for Williams to see an increase in both playing time and usage in what should be a very competitive game against a revitalized Knicks' squad. With his salary still at just $5,200 on FanDuel and $5,500 on DraftKings, the Hornets' forward makes a strong play in all formats tonight.