Preseason Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks For Thursday 10/6

After a quiet Wednesday night that showcases just three NBA preseason games, daily fantasy basketball preseason action returns at full bore with a full 7-game Thursday slate.

We’re starting to see teams play their top players a little more, especially with certain teams needing to improve chemistry due to new coaches, systems and/or players. Not every team will follow suit and we still need to keep close tabs on injuries and lineup news, but that provides optimism for some big names to deliver some hefty NBA DFS performances, despite in being preseason.

Last night we saw that, as the Utah Jazz played some of their starters almost 30 minutes and we even got solid run out of the main Clippers stars. Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and Rudy Gobert all got awesome run for preseason play and if you used them, you certainly were not disappointed.

It still works the other way, however, as guys like Kay Felder and Jordan McRae went nuts for the Cavaliers. Those cheap options are still quite important, as they help us piece together the best possible daily fantasy basketball preseason roster with the top stars still being pretty pricey.

With a nice slate welcoming us on Thursday, let’s run through each position and asses our favorite NBA DFS preseason picks:

Point Guard

• Stephen Curry – Warriors ($8.5k)
• Isaiah Thomas – Celtics ($7.5k)
• Dennis Schroder – Hawks ($6.7k)
• Jeff Teague – Pacers ($6.4k)
• Jeremy Lin – Nets ($5.8k)
• Trey Burke – Wizards ($5k)
• J. McConnell – 76ers ($4.8k)
• Ish Smith – Pistons ($4k)

Reggie Jackson and John Wall are out tonight, which should give Ish Smith and Trey Burke some solid run. Burke was OK in a spot start the other night and deserves consideration, but is an inefficient scorer who really isn’t very reliable. He’ll need a ton of run to make serious sense.

Smith might get a ton of run considering he’ll be Detroit’s new starting point guard to start the new (until Jackson returns from a knee injury).

Ish Smith will start Thursday vs. Brooklyn https://t.co/SV7TGNyYAY

— Rotoworld Basketball (@Rotoworld_BK) October 6, 2016

He obviously needs to master the system and mesh with Detroit’s starters, so that process could begin tonight with a start and good minutes. He gets assists easily and can score, but he’s got a weak jumper and can be inconsistent. That being said, the role could be spot on for his insanely low price at DraftKings tonight.

There really isn’t a ton of NBA injury or lineup chatter early in the day, so with everything we say here, take it with a grain of salt and make sure you keep tabs on player statuses and expected roles.

That being said, McConnell and Lin are two more value plays, as they should start. Jerryd Bayless is likely out again with a hand issue and McConnell was solid as the starter in Philly’s first preseason game. He helps you save to get some stars on your NBA DFS preseason team but Lin might make more sense.

Lin is one of those guys who has some game and may need some good preseason run to adapt to his new system and teammates. There isn’t any word yet on the Nets starters’ minutes, but he figures to play a bit and possibly return solid value.

You can also consider intermediate guys like Rajon Rondo and others, but as we work our way up, our favorites point guards are Jeff Teague, Isaiah Thomas and Stephen Curry. Curry is still pretty cheap for what he’s capable of doing in a small amount of time. You’re paying a premium for IT2 based on preseason run, but he also can drop a ton of points in a small window. Teague represents solid value potentially, too, as he and the Pacers continue to try to feel each other out.

Dennis Schroder is a bit pricey considering we haven’t seen him a lot in a full-time starting role, but the guy can score and dish the rock. If the Hawks want to get a long look at him in his new role tonight, he could be worth the price.

Overall, Ish Smith feels like a must-play unless we hear he’s getting super low minutes and Curry looks like the best elite value, provided he’s out there for at least 15-20 minutes.

Shooting Guard

• Jimmy Butler – Bulls ($7.8k)
• Klay Thompson – Warriors ($6.5k)
• Dwyane Wade – Bulls ($6.1k)
• Bojan Bogdanovic – Nets ($4.8k)

No clear value picks stand out yet, but as we learn more about injuries and lineups through Thursday night, that all will reveal itself.

For now, word is the Chicago starters will get more run than they did in their preseason opener. Butler is a little expensive for preseason play, but the guy can explode and he does so many things that he just might be worth it tonight.

The same goes for new teammate D-Wade, as these guys need to find their timing and could see a little more run tonight. Wade is mostly a scorer, but he’s been known to dish out dimes and rack up other stats, plus coach Hoiberg has suggested he take more three’s.

Klay Thompson remains a good price for NBA DFS preseason play despite going ablaze for 30 points the other day. Golden State could easily rest him, but they’re another team that probably wants to keep working on their chemistry. If he’s out there, he looks like a solid play. Just keep in mind he doesn’t do a whole lot more than score and he does have some pretty big names to share the rock with.

Shooting guard isn’t amazing tonight (no James Harden, and all), but there is still some value here. That specifically could come via Bojan, who was a monster at the Rio Olympics this summer and promises to have a big scoring role for the Nets.

It’s unclear how much he’ll play in Brooklyn’s first preseason game, but he should start and can really fill it up as a scorer. At his low price, he’s probably our favorite SG play on tonight’s NBA DFS preseason slate.

Small Forward

• Kevin Durant – Warriors ($9.4k)
• Paul George – Pacers ($8.8k)
• Rudy Gay – Kings ($6k)
• Robert Covington – 76ers ($5.7k)
• Doug McDermott – Bulls ($4.9k)
• Stanley Johnson – Pistons ($4.8k)
• Jaylen Brown – Celtics ($4.5k)
• Ben Simmons – 76ers (single tear)

We don’t need to emphasize lineup and injury news every second, but KD is a good example one last time. He dropped 21 points in limited action in his second preseason game, so if the guy starts and can get 20+ minutes, he is a good play. The same goes for Paul George, who didn’t find his shot in Indy’s opener and could score the ball a little better tonight if he suits up.

Rudy Gay wasn’t great in his debut, either, and he should play more than the 13 minutes we saw in Sacramento’s first preseason game. He’s facing the Dubs, though, so I’m not exactly enamored with him.

Covey, Dougie Buckets and Stanley Johnson are all worthy of cursory glances.

Covington can rack up stats quickly, hits the outside shot and Philly is down a ton of bodies. He could start and get decent run tonight. McDermott can score and that’s all he really does, but if the Bulls sit anyone or limit their starters again, he could have a big night. Johnson is a very athletic and versatile forward. He probably won’t start but he should play a good deal, unless SVG randomly runs his starters into the ground.

Jaylen Brown is super cheap and should see good minutes as he tries to prove he can handle a big role as a rookie. The sooner he does, the sooner Jae Crowder becomes expendable. Brown is raw, but he played 21 minutes in his pro debut and delivered a decent 8-4-4-1 line. If he can do that again at this price, he’ll be worth rostering.

I just tossed Ben Simmons in there out of sadness and despair. Don’t use him. Dude broke his foot.

Power Forward

• DeMarcus Cousins – Kings ($9.2k)
• Draymond Green – Warriors ($6.4k)
• Thaddeus Young – Pacers ($6.1k)
• Dario Saric – 76ers ($5.1k)
• Trevor Booker – Nets ($4.9k)
• Kris Humphries – Hawks ($4.3k)

Boogie is always worth a mention, even at a high price and in limited action. It’d be nice to see him get 20+ minutes tonight, though, so I’d really only pay up for him if you’re confident he can stay out there for a good amount of time.

Green has been the odd man out in two Warriors preseason games, but we know he is as versatile as they come and at this price could represent strong value. His offense tends to be a little shaky but if he can play 20+ minutes he should do enough to crush this price tag. The same goes for Thad, who should get solid run again after a strong opener. No Myles Turner should aid his cause.

Dario Saric put up 10 points and 6 boards in his pro debut earlier this week and he should start and get solid run again tonight. He needs more time to get used to the NBA, but he already looks pretty darn good. Fire him up, as he boasts solid value and upside tonight.

The same could go for Booker, who figures to get the start at power forward for the Nets. It’s unclear how much run Brooklyn’s guys are getting, but since he’s new to the team it could be fairly substantial.

K-Hump is a risk, but he’s cheap and Paul Millsap isn’t playing tonight.

Report: Paul Millsap, Jarrett Jack to miss preseason opener with injury https://t.co/Qd2rB8bKXC pic.twitter.com/gDAcEVV57P

— Peachtree Hoops (@peachtreehoops) October 4, 2016

Mike Scott missed practice Wednesday and also could be out. That could give Humphries some decent minutes and the guy can rebound and shoot, so he’s worth a try.

Center

• Andre Drummond – Pistons ($7.9k)
• Dwight Howard – Hawks ($7.2k)
• Brook Lopez – Nets ($7.1k)
• Al Horford – Celtics ($7k)
• Marc Gasol – Grizzlies ($6k)
• Frank Kaminsky – Hornets ($5.1k)
• Al Jefferson – Pacers (4.9k)
• Boban Marjanovic – Pistons ($4.4k)

I actually would rather spend my cash on more versatile talents like Curry, PG13, KD or Boogie tonight, but if they’re in, Drums, Dwight, Lopez and Horfy all could make plenty of sense.

The real value here might be Gasol, however. He didn’t play much in the first preseason game, but if he can start and see decent run tonight he could easily top his price tag.

I’m also mildly into Frank the Tank, Big Al and Boban, all of which should get solid run and can certainly produce. Tank was decent in the Charlotte opener, Jefferson dominated in just 18 minutes in Indy’s opener and we’ve all seen what Boban can do in very limited action.

As you can see, there are a ton of great daily fantasy basketball preseason picks to consider tonight. Keep in mind guys who end up being active or any injuries and you should do fine piecing together your NBA DFS preseason squad. Good luck in your leagues tonight!