Coming off a small four-gamer on Thursday, we double the fun on Friday with an eight-game NBA slate to kick off the weekend. Using Stokastic’s NBA DFS Boom/Bust tool, let’s dive into the player pool to discuss the best NBA DFS contrarian picks on DraftKings this evening, including De’Aaron Fox and P.J. Washington.
NBA DFS Contrarian Picks — Plays For Today
Contrarian Stud — De’Aaron Fox: Sacramento Kings-Indiana Pacers
Fresh off an All-Star snub, De’Aaron Fox again looks like one of the best differentiators on the slate. He is averaging 27.2 points, 5.5 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 2.0 stocks per game, solidifying himself as one of the elite up-and-coming guards in the league. Despite his nightly production, however, Fox was left off the Western Conference All-Star team just like he’s getting left off rosters tonight on DraftKings.
As of this writing, Fox is only projected to be in 2.40% of lineups on DraftKings. With an optimal percentage of more than double that at 5.40%, it’s clear the field isn’t getting to Fox at nearly the rate they should be. Although Fox is fairly priced for his median outcome, he has a ton of upside in a matchup with the fast-paced Pacers, and he’s underpriced for his considerable upside in this spot. With both Fox and Domantas Sabonis failing to get an All-Star bid, expect the absolute best the Kings have to offer in a reunion of sorts against Sabonis’ old running mates.
Contrarian Mid-Tier — P.J. Washington: Charlotte Hornets-Oklahoma City Thunder
P.J. Washington is playing a big role for a Charlotte team that no longer has the services of Terry Rozier and is currently missing LaMelo Ball, Gordon Hayward and Mark Williams. Washington still isn’t properly priced for his current role, and despite a tough matchup in Oklahoma City against the Thunder, he currently grades out as one of the top leverage plays on the board.
Washington is projected to be optimal 14.50% of the time this slate plays out on DraftKings, yet he is only projecting for 9.40% ownership. Washington is playing big minutes for a shorthanded Hornets frontcourt right now, and if Charlotte can somehow keep this game competitive, he has tournament-winning upside at $5,900.
Contrarian Value — Ausar Thompson: Los Angeles Clippers-Detroit Pistons
It’s never fun getting to anyone on the Pistons these days, but Ausar Thompson is the highest graded leverage play in Stokastic’s tools. Thompson has had an up-and-down rookie season, but he is averaging a solid 22.4 DraftKings points per game. With cheap value potentially at a premium, Thompson is projected to be optimal 18.00% of the time this slate plays out on DraftKings despite projecting for only 21.18 fantasy points.
While he clearly stands out as one of the best overall value plays on the slate, the field is completely missing the boat on Thompson, as he’s only projected to be in 9.60% of lineups. With Isaiah Stewart and Mike Muscala out in the Pistons’ frontcourt, Thompson should continue to have a nice role off the bench, and his salary offers a ton of value in terms of roster construction.
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