September 29, 2023
NBA

Don't Sleep on These NBA Draft Picks

These players might not be on everyone's hot list
Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) reacts during the first quarter of Game 5 against the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals on May 25, 2023. (Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports)

Believe it or not, the NBA season tips off Oct. 24 with the Lakers at Nuggets and Suns at Warriors on a TNT doubleheader. The season is less than a month away and fantasy draft season is officially upon us.

There are few things better than NBA opening night. Your team’s record is unblemished, there is nothing but hope and excitement in your future and maybe there aren’t a bunch of red crosses littering your roster.

Sleepers in fantasy hoops are becoming a thing of the past as managers have a ton of information at their fingertips. Reaching for guys we like is becoming more prevalent. In any case, here’s my attempt at unearthing some sleepers that may not be on everyone’s hot list.

Nikola Jokic DEN C - Just kidding.

Mikal Bridges BKN SG/SF

I’m not sure he qualifies as a sleeper after he blew up in Brooklyn last season. This is not as much of a sleeper alert as it is a note of caution. Bridges averaged 26.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.6 blocks and 2.5 3-pointers in 27 games with Brooklyn last season. But in 56 games with Phoenix he averaged just 17.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.6 dimes, 1.2 steals, 0.8 blocks and 1.2 triples. He’s determined to play all 82 games again, and he’ll build on the confidence he gained last year and continue to dominate in Brooklyn.

However, Kevin Durant was hurt for a big chunk of his run, I’m not really sure Bridges can score more than he did last year, and his steals aren’t anything to write home about. I love his game, and while I’m hoping to draft him heavily this season there is a chance that he’s going to go earlier than he should. In fact, he ranked at No. 27 in eight-cat for his time in Brooklyn last season. The point is that taking him in Round 2 is a definite reach and after some lengthy discussion and more thought, I’m not going to grab him until Round 3.

James Harden PHI G

Harden’s a tricky one after he blasted Daryl Morey this summer and said he won’t play another game for the 76ers. The rant cost him $100,000 and it doesn’t sound like the Sixers have much interest in moving him to another team.

Is Harden going to cave and play, or sit out and force Morey’s hand again? The good news is that probably means you can get Harden late in Round 2 or even in Round 3.. And despite his advanced age (34) Harden was still the No. 17 player in eight-cat last year.

If you can get a guy like Harden in Round 3 of your draft he has some serious steal/sleeper potential and while he probably will also be in a future Risk vs. Reward column that I’ll write, he’s going to be a very tough call on draft night. For me, there are just too many question marks to take a gamble on him. But if you like to gamble and want to get a potential first-round player in the third, it makes sense to take a flier on him.

Cade Cunningham DET G

Cunningham played in just 12 games in his rookie season, averaging 19.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.6 blocks before being shut down and having surgery on his left shin. He should be fully healthy entering the season and while he’ll play for the lowly Pistons, they’re going to build around him and have him be the focal point of the offense.

Going all in on a guy who has played 12 NBA games in the third round is another risk vs. reward call but Cunningham has the potential to be a Top 30 player if he can stay healthy. And if he replicates or builds on last season’s small sample size of stats, he could even be Top 20. I think he’s worth a third-round fantasy pick and even better if you can get him in Round 4. Either way, he’s all upside and should be primed for a big season if he can stay healthy.

OG Anunoby TOR SG/SF

Anunoby isn’t flashy and doesn’t appear in the TV highlights all that often but he quietly returned Top 30 fantasy value last season and may be available in the fourth or fifth rounds of drafts this year. He’s only 26 years old, averaged 16.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.9 steals, 0.7 blocks and 2.1 3-pointers for the Raptors last season. He won’t hurt you anywhere (career-high 83.8% from the line last season), is an elite stealer of the ball and one of the more underrated players in the league. Add in the fact that Fred VanVleet is now in Houston and Anunoby will probably be asked to do more offensively this season and you’ve probably got a very nice sleeper option in Round 5 of your draft.

Franz Wagner ORL SG/F

The 22-year-old Wagner took a nice step in year two by averaging 18.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.6 3-pointers with solid shooting percentages, returning ninth-round fantasy value. His lack of blocks hurts him a little but you’re not necessarily looking for them from a wing player in Orlando. He jumps up to Top 90 value if you throw out blocks and he played in 80 games for the Magic last season. The Magic are not going to be a great team and Wagner should lead the offense. If he takes another leap forward in year three (he should) he could easily be a Top 50 player and he will be available in Round 6 in many fantasy drafts. He’ll need to bump up his scoring, rebounds and assists to make it happen but all the tools are there and if nothing else, he’ll be a safe mid-round pick either way.

Tyrese Maxey PHI G

With all the Harden drama in Philly Maxey’s got a chance to be special this season, especially if Harden doesn’t play. Even with Harden around for part of the time last season Maxey was an early fifth-round value and he wasn’t taken until Round 6 in the industry mock I wrote about earlier. I don’t see how he’s worse than a fifth-round value this year and if you can get him in Round 6 or 7, you’ve got a potential steal on your hands. And if Harden is MIA for most of the season, the sky’s the limit on Maxey. The 22-year-old played in 60 games and averaged 20.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 0.8 steals and 2.7 3-pointers last year and needs to boost those dimes and steals to enter elite territory.

Devin Vassell SAS SG/SF

Vassell was a sixth-round value last season and is just 23 years old. He averaged 18.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.1 steals and 2.7 3-pointers but played in just 38 games due to a left knee injury that required surgery. It sounds like Keldon Johnson could be moved to the bench and Vassell could have an even bigger role this season, despite the addition of Victor Wembanyama to the Spurs. Vassell’s game is very fantasy friendly and if he can stay healthy, he could take a big step forward this season. And he should be available in Round 6 or 7 of most drafts. But staying healthy will be the key to his success or failure.

Cameron Johnson BKN F

Johnson came on in his 25 games in Brooklyn, averaging 16.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 2.3 3-pointers while shooting it well from everywhere. He was helped by Kevin Durant’s injury woes last season and Durant is now in Phoenix, clearing the way for a full CJ breakout. He’s nothing but upside and could even challenge Mikal Bridges to lead the team in scoring. Round 6 or 7 sounds about right for Johnson.

Derrick White BOS G

Marcus Smart is in Memphis and White should be the team’s starting point guard this season. He lit the league up for 19.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.7 blocks and 28 3-pointers in 11 March games last season and should be a fun fantasy point guard to roster this season. Especially if he can play like he did last March for most of the season. He’s a solid sixth-round fantasy target.

Tyus Jones WAS PG

Jones has been trapped behind Ja Morant in Memphis for the last four seasons but will be given the keys to the Wizards’ offense this year. Yeah, he’ll have to fight Jordan Poole off to keep the ball in his hands, but Jones looks like a near lock as a breakout candidate with his new starting role for the Wiz. I’m drafting him everywhere I can.

Miles Bridges CHA F

Bridges missed last season with legal woes but is back and should be one of LaMelo Ball’s preferred passing destinations this year. Bridges broke out in 2021-22 when he played 80 games and averaged 20.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.8 dimes, 0.9 steals, 0.8 blocks and 1.9 3-pointers. He’s going to be trying to make up for lost time and is a great complement to LaMelo, making him a very intriguing sleeper pick. He was a third-round fantasy value in that season, and he was taken in Round 7 in the mock draft I keep referring to. If you can handle drafting a guy who’s gone through the things Bridges has over the last two years, he could pay off in a huge way. In fact, I don’t see how he returns less than third-round value again this season.

Marcus Smart MEM PG

Ja Morant (suspension) is out for the first 25 games and Smart can get things done on both ends of the court. There are several sleeper point guards available in the middle rounds of drafts this season and Smart is one of them. And even when Morant is ready to play, Smart can play minutes at shooting guard and share the court with him. This looks like the perfect year to draft Smart in fantasy.

De’Anthony Melton PHI G

Melton’s game is built for fantasy hoops (just ask Jonas Nader) and this whole Harden mess only helps his cause. Both Melton and Maxey should be really fun to roster this season and Melton was worthy of a seventh-round pick last season. If Harden’s out, Melton is going to rack up a ton of rebounds, steals and 3-pointers and should score more than the 10 points he averaged last season. I got Melton at the end of Round 8 in the mock draft and I might have been able to get him in Round 9 or 10. And I love him there.

Mark Williams CHA C

Williams is one of the worst-kept secrets in fantasy and should be ready to fully breakout after a solid rookie season. He only played in 43 games and made 17 starts, averaging 9.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, 0.7 steals and a block. And while he’s not a great free throw shooter, he won’t hurt you there too badly (69.1% as a rookie). He’s a dominant field goal percentage guy (63.7%) and he averaged 11.6 points, 9.8 boards and 1.1 blocks in those 17 starts last season. The Hornets are about to fully unleash him on the league and he should be available in Rounds 8-10 in most leagues. The sky’s the limit.

Tre Jones SAS PG

I took Jones in Round 9 in the mock and he returned late eighth-round fantasy value last season. He averaged 12.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.7 triples in year three and should try to take a step forward this season. He’ll have a big target in the form of Wembanyama and I’m betting that he’ll improve his numbers across the board again this season. He hit just 28.5 percent of his 3-pointers last season but if he worked on his shot, I could see him hitting one per game this year. He’s another up-and-coming point guard you can get later in your draft.

John Collins UTA PF

Collins was a disaster in Atlanta but still had some serviceable seasons and is a good player. He never lived up to the hype iand a change of scenery could be just what the doctor ordered. He’ll have to compete with Jordan Clarkson, Walker Kessler and Lauri Markkanen for touches but getting Collins at the end of your draft instead of burning a fourth-round pick on him should be a pleasant experience. I think he’s going to bounce back in his new digs.

Zach Collins SAS PF/C

Collins quietly had a mini-breakout season with 11.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.8 blocks and 0.9 3-pointers for the Spurs. He’s a solid free throw shooter, should hit 50 percent from the floor and it sounds like he’ll start at center with Wemby playing forward more often than not. We’ll have to see if he can coexist with Wemby but if you need a center late in your draft, you could certainly do worse than Collins.

Bruce Brown IND G/SF

The Pacers paid Brown a lot and while he’s not listed as a starter in most depth charts, he’ll get there sooner than later. And if he doesn’t, he’ll play a big role off the bench. Brown won’t blow you away with big stats, but he does a little bit of everything and won’t hurt you anywhere. He's a very safe way to spend a late-round pick.

Dennis Schroder TOR PG

Fred VanVleet is in Houston and Schroder is the default point guard for the Raptors, as of now. The potential arrival of James Harden would crush our dreams but if it doesn’t happen, Schroder could be running the point all season. Schroder’s career averages are 14 points, 2.9 rebounds, 4.7 dimes, 0.8 steals and 1.2 3-pointers and if he’s in fact given the keys to the offense, he shouldn’t have trouble beating them.

James Wiseman DET C

There are too many centers in Detroit for my liking but Wiseman is a former No. 2 overall pick. As a starter last season he averaged 13 points, 8.1 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 22 games. He’s a serviceable free throw shooter and if he can get enough playing time while dealing with Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart, he could be a solid fantasy center. There’s nothing wrong with taking a last-round flier in order to see what happens in Detroit this season. And if he doesn’t pan out, you just hit the waiver wire and find a better player.

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With the 2023-24 NBA regular season set to tip off Oct. 24, it’s an excellent opportunity to look at award futures on DraftKings Sportsbook. Most basketball bettors enjoy betting on awards such as MVP, Rookie of the Year, Most Improved Player, Defensive Player of the Year, etc., because of the value that can be had throughout the regular season.

Last season, we saw Joel Embiid win MVP for the first time in his career, Paolo Banchero run away with Rookie of the Year, and Lauri Markannen win Most Improved Player of the Year. We will see a new set of contenders compete for these various league awards this season.

Below, we’ll look at some of my award futures in the Association and why bettors should consider wagering on them before Opening Night.

1. Regular season MVP – Devin Booker (PHX SG, +1800)

It’s never easy to make a prediction on MVP, as a lot of things can happen during the regular season. Joel Embiid could repeat as league MVP under new 76ers head coach Nick Nurse or Nikola Jokic could win his unprecedented third league MVP as Denver looks to defend its crown.

Jokic is the favorite to win MVP (+450), but I believe there’s value in betting on Devin Booker at 18/1 odds (+1800). He didn’t receive a single vote last season after finishing fourth in voting in the 2021-22 season. Last season, Booker averaged 27.6 points (career-high), 5.5 assists, and 4.5 rebounds. He also shot 49.4% from the field and 35.1% from three-point range.

Heading into this season, Booker will be a part of a Phoenix team that features Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Jusuf Nurkic. With their collection of talent and a new head coach (Frank Vogel), the Suns will try to get the Suns back to the Western Conference finals.

For Booker to win MVP, Phoenix must finish with a top-3 record out West, and he has to lead the team in scoring. There’s always a possibility that Booker and Durant (+1400) split votes because the Suns’ success will largely rest on their shoulders.

However, with Chris Paul at Golden State, Vogel could look for Booker to be a facilitator while still getting his points. If Phoenix gets off to a fast start, Booker’s odds could quickly shorten as they try to get back to the top of the West.

2. Rookie of the Year – Chet Holmgren (OKC PF, +300)

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama is currently the favorite to win Rookie of the Year (+100), but do not write off Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren.

Holmgren missed his rookie season with a Lisfranc injury but is healthy and ready to help the Thunder reach the postseason. The former Gonzaga star is looking to join Ben Simmons and Blake Griffin as rookies who missed their first seasons in the NBA but won Rookie of the Year the following year.

The 21-year-old big man had an impressive Summer League in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas, averaging 16.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks in 29.8 minutes per game. If the Thunder can build off what they did last season with Holmgren, he will have a compelling case to win ROY.

3. Most Improved Player of the Year – Alperen Sengun (HOU C, +2000)

Sengun is quietly being underrated in the MIP race after what he did last season with the Rockets. The 21-year-old center posted career highs with 14.8 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. Sengun also started in 72 out of 75 games last season – a noticeable improvement from his rookie season.

We should expect Sengun’s play to improve as he will be playing with veteran point guard Fred VanVleet, who hasn’t played with a center of Sengun’s caliber. He played alongside Pascal Siakam in Toronto, who is one of the better power forwards in the NBA. I like Sengun’s chances of winning MIP, especially if he averages a double-double and continues to show that he can get others involved.

4. Sixth Man of the Year – Chris Paul (GSW PG, +2000)

It’s weird to think about Chris Paul winning Sixth Man of the Year after all the things he’s accomplished over his career. However, he’s likely not a starter in Golden State but could be the perfect candidate to lead their second unit. Last season, Paul averaged 13.9 points, 8.9 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game.

The 2022-23 season was a noticeably down year for Paul, but maybe coming off the bench could get him back to the point guard we’ve seen over the last few years.

However, if you still don’t think the multiple-time All-Star guard has a chance to win it, here’s something to keep in mind. Over the last 10 years, nine guards have won the Sixth Man of the Year award. The only time a guard didn’t win was Montrezl Harrell in the 2019-20 season.

5. Defensive Player of the Year – Evan Mobley (CLE PF, +600)

After finishing third in the DPOY voting last season, Mobley has a good chance this season. He and reigning winner Jaren Jackson Jr. are the favorites.

Last season, Mobley was stellar on the defensive end, averaging 1.5 blocks per game (ninth in the NBA) and was first in defensive wins shares (4.8). He also had a defensive rating of 108, fifth in the NBA.

The former USC standout did a fantastic job anchoring the Cavaliers’ defense last season with Jarrett Allen. Cleveland finished first in Defensive Rating (110.6) and opponents’ points per game (106.9).

Allen receives a majority of the attention in Cleveland’s frontcourt for his shot-blocking prowess and rebounding, but we shouldn’t forget about the 22-year-old Mobley, who is still coming into his own.

Schedule

Philles at Braves, Game 2, 6:07 p.m. ET

Diamondbacks at Dodgers, Game 2, 9:07 p.m. ET

Weather Report

There doesn’t appear to be anything that should prevent either of Monday’s games from being played.

Injury Report

Kyle Wright, Braves RHP, shoulder: Wright’s season was already over after being placed on the 60-day injured list, but multiple outlets have reported that he’s likely to undergo surgery that will cause him to miss the 2024 season. It’s a disappointing development for a pitcher that was so good in 2022 -- 3.19 ERA, 21-5 record -- but now will have essentially two missed seasons.

Top Priced Starting Pitchers (DraftKings)
  • Zack Wheeler @ ATL: $8,800
  • Zac Gallen @ LAD: $8,500
  • Max Fried vs. PHI: $8,000
  • Bobby Miller vs. ARI: $6,900

If Wheeler and Gallen pitch up to their potential, there’s a very good chance they’ll lead their respective teams to 2-0 leads despite playing the first two contests on the road.

Both hurlers have faced their respective opponents multiple times in 2023, with Wheeler posting a 3.32 ERA with a 21/6 K/BB in three starts against Atlanta, while Gallen struggled against the Dodgers with a 9.90 ERA and four homers in two outings and 10 innings. The sample is relatively small, but it’s a easier to have confidence in Wheeler.

Fried was a very effective option when healthy (2.55 ERA, 1.13 WHIP), but he was limited to 14 starts and 77 2/3 innings because of injuries and hasn’t started a game since Sept. 21 because of a blister on his left index finger.

That adds more risk on top of the Phillies having plenty of quality right-handed hitters -- and good lefties, too -- but Fried is worth roster consideration based on his track record. That and the limited options, of course.

Miller is making his first postseason start, which is a little scary, but his success in the second half of the season makes him arguably the most intriguing arm going. Over his last 10 starts, the rookie right-hander has a 3.25 ERA over 61 innings, held hitters to an OPS of .575 and registered a 57/15 K/BB ratio.

There’s no denying the Diamondbacks have looked fantastic so far in the postseason -- a bit weird considering how poor they looked at the end of the regular season -- but Miller makes an awful lot of sense to pair with a pitcher like Wheeler or Fried; whomever you like to win that game.

Stack Attack

Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks (Gallen)

  • C Will Smith: $4,500
  • 2B Mookie Betts: $6,200
  • 3B Max Muncy: $4,200
  • OF J.D. Martinez $4,300

So far, I’ve been about as wrong as it gets when picking against the Diamondbacks, but I’ll try one more time. The Dodgers have done a very nice job of bouncing back from losses over the past few postseasons, and they appear to pick the baseball up well against Gallen based on their numbers.

This is a borderline must-win game for LA. It’s not impossible to come back from an 0-2 hole in a five-game series, but it’s awfully hard -- and I’ll (literally) bet on them coming out hot after their absolute disaster of a Game 1 on Saturday.

Veterans aren't the most exciting players to draft in fantasy basketball, but sometimes the boring and safe picks hit more often than chasing upside too early. And some veterans are aging like fine wine and often find themselves cheaply priced in drafts, making them solid values overall.

Here are several NBA senior citizens who are still getting the job done at a high level.

DeMar DeRozan

Chicago’s roster looks almost identical to last season, making DeRozan a very easy player to project for fantasy. He's still very much in his prime at age 34, with his last two seasons being the most impressive stretch of his career. Chicago’s point guard rotation is a mess, so that means we can expect to see plenty of DeRozan with the ball in his hands.

Chicago is in good hands, however. DeRozan ranked in the 89th percentile in pick-and-rolls last season. And unlike other players at his age, DeRozan doesn’t take many nights off and averaged 75 games over the past couple seasons. That’s unlikely to change with the Bulls looking to get back into the playoffs in 2023-24. You cannot go wrong with taking DeRozan in the fifth round, and if you’re already punting 3s, he’ll be even more valuable.

LeBron James

You’d think LeBron would be declining rapidly after 20 seasons, but he operates under a different set of rules when it comes to Father Time. LeBron has been held back by a very serious foot injury for the past couple years, but now he claims to be fully healthy again and he looked very spry to open training camp, moving around like someone a decade younger.

He has publicly said he’s ready to turn the spotlight over to Anthony Davis, but at the end of the day, he’s still LeBron James and he’s still going to eat. Despite playing on one leg last year, he managed a second-round finish in 9-cat. His 3-point shot is trending down as he settles for more bad looks and his defensive output isn’t what it used to be, but LeBron can still go out there and get 25 points, eight assists and eight rebounds in his sleep.

Chris Paul

Chris Paul has lost a step, and then another. He'll be 39 years old when the playoffs roll around. But it sounds like the Warriors are going to start him next to Steph Curry, and if that happens it means his minutes should stay north of 28.

Paul’s ADP of 72 in Yahoo is actually a couple spots cheaper than it was a few weeks ago, so he’s relatively affordable in fantasy drafts.

Assists are one of the most valuable categories in fantasy basketball because it’s not a category you can make up ground in during the middle and late rounds, so that really helps Paul’s case.

Curry said the addition of Paul has been a “seamless” fit so far, and those two were getting in a ton of reps together well before training camp started. Plus, the Warriors will have a focused Andrew Wiggins back in the mix this season, and hopefully a motivated Jonathan Kuminga to give Paul two really nice cutters and lob threats.

Klay Thompson

After a few years of horrendous injury luck, Klay surprised a ton of people when he played 69 games in 2022-23. He averaged 21.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and a career-high 4.4 triples on a 41% clip.

The addition of Chris Paul can only help Klay, as he now has another elite playmaker creating easy looks for him on the perimeter. It’s no secret the Warriors don’t have as much frontcourt depth, so there’s been a lot of talk of Klay possibly playing the 4 for stretches. A bump in rebounding and defensive stats is suddenly on the table with this news, making him a reasonable selection with an ADP of 78.

Brook Lopez

Let’s not kid ourselves. Brook Lopez probably isn’t going to have another second-round campaign in 9-cat like he did in 2022-23, as that was pretty much the perfect storm with so many injuries in Milwaukee.

The Bucks enter the season at full strength, with the exception of Khris Middleton, who is still on the mend. Giannis Antetokounmpo will likely find more minutes at center after playing a career-high 41% of his minutes there last season. Lopez is also going to see his block rate come back to earth after registering a 6.7% compared to his career average of 4.9%. His ADP of 65 on Yahoo is not cheap, but often times you will see him fall to the end of the middle round with so many managers chasing youth and upside over safe and “boring” veterans.

Draymond Green

Dray is coming off his worst fantasy season since 2013-14, and although the Warriors paid him the big bucks, he’s clearly at the tail end of his career. The addition of Chris Paul also complicates things, as Paul taking the ball out of Green’s hands even more neutralizes one of his last few remaining strengths.

There’s another way to look at this though. With less offensive responsibility, maybe we can see Green put together one or two more elite defensive seasons in which we see his steal/block rates climb to the levels we were once spoiled with.

The Warriors have very little frontcourt depth and won’t be able to load manage Green as much as Steve Kerr was probably hoping to, so that should help keep Green’s games played up. With an ADP just shy of 100, Green is very cheap and can still be useful in the right punt builds.

Mike Conley

After looking “washed” with the Jazz early on in 2022-23, a trade to Minnesota rejuvenated the veteran in a big way. He averaged14.0 points, 5.0 assists, 3.1 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 2.4 triples on a 46/42/86 shooting line while playing 31 minutes per night.

Conley ranked in the 98th percentile on pick-and-rolls, making him a tremendous fit alongside Minnesota’s two stud centers in Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns. He was also the second-best corner 3-point shooter, and that will be something that Anthony Edwards will be constantly looking for on his frequent drives. With a dirt-cheap ADP on most sites, Conley is a no-brainer pick and clearly has a lot left in the tank.

Al Horford

I wasn’t initially on board with Horford in what will be his age-37 season, but the Celtics are extremely thin up front and had to trade away Robert Williams in order to acquire Jrue Holiday. Sure, the Celtics have Kristaps Porzingis, but he’s not exactly Mr. Durable.

After that, we’re look at a group that consists of Luke Kornet and Wenyen Gabriel. Not ideal.

Horford will almost certainly have some maintenance days this season, but how many of those can the Celtics afford with this shallow of a roster? Horford was a 6th-round fantasy value in 9-cat last season and finds himself in an ideal situation to repeat his success.

Gordon Hayward

This might be a reach, but hey, Hayward has to have some good injury luck at least one time in five years, right? Charlotte’s roster is underwhelming yet again, and Hayward is an odd fit on a roster that’s destined to find themselves at the front of the tank race of 2024.

There’s been some talk of Hayward possibly coming off the bench in a sixth man role which honestly might suit him the best, and the Hornets have every incentive to play him in order to get his market value back up for the trade deadline. Hayward is still a very good player on the few occasions he’s healthy enough to play, most recently averaging 14.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.0 triples.

This is one of the most exciting rookie classes in recent memory, but not all of them are going to make a splash right away. With preseason ramping up, there will be a handful of additions to this list. But for now, there are eight rookies from the 2023 draft class that could make serious noise this season.

Victor Wembanyama

I don’t normally draft rookies aggressively, but Wembanyama is the exception. Wemby already has pro experience coming from a highly respected league in France, averaging 20.9 points on 47/27/82 shooting with 10.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 3.0 blocks. The last rookie to produce a first-round fantasy campaign was Karl-Anthony Towns in 2015-16, but Wemby has an even better stat profile and will be San Antonio’s top offensive option the second he takes the floor.

I’m going to have a ridiculous amount of Wemby shares if his ADP remains in the third round.

Scoot Henderson

Unlike Charlotte, I think it’s painfully obvious that Scoot Henderson should’ve come off the board at No. 2. We haven’t seen a point guard with this frame and athletic build since Russell Westbrook or prime Derrick Rose. Scoot has a lightning-quick first step and can get to the rim at will, but he can also stop on a dime and showcase his outstanding mid-range game. He also has a 6-9 wingspan and monstrous hands, something that will allow him to generate heaps of steals and blocks.

The Blazers did Scoot a solid and got rid of the distractions caused by the Damian Lillard saga, and Malcolm Brogdon is expected to be flipped. That leaves Scoot and Anfernee Simons with the keys to the offense. I would target Scoot aggressively in points leagues, but in 9-cat I think it would be better to acquire him later on in his rookie season when he has a chance to learn the ropes.

Rookie PGs are notorious for struggling with efficiency and turnovers, and it doesn’t help Scoot’s case that he doesn’t have a 3-point shot to fall back on when teams start crowding the paint.

Amen Thompson

Amen was in the top three of my rookie board and will be a 99th percentile athlete in the NBA right out of the gate. And with Kevin Porter Jr. out of the equation in Houston, Amen suddenly has an even better path to playing time. He’ll likely be ready as a floor general and primary playmaker someday, but Fred VanVleet will handle that role in the meantime while the rookie learns the ropes.

Amen has the size and strength to be used all over the floor, and the Rockets will be relying heavily on his defense early. He averaged 2.3 steals and 0.9 blocks for Overtime Elite, and while he doesn’t have a reliable jumper yet, his FG% could be very appealing because of his ability to generate points in the paint.

But just like Scoot, I like the idea of trading for him before the second half of the season as opposed to spending a draft pick on him since he’ll have some early bumps in the road as he figures out his role.

Ausar Thompson

You can argue that Amen may have the higher ceiling, but Ausar may have a better shot at extended minutes right away in Detroit. In fact, he’s already drawing rave reviews from head coach Monty Williams and may even win a starting job. “We think he’s gonna be phenomenal and we think he’s going to be an integral part of our team. There’s a chance that can happen right away, based on what we’ve seen this summer and in camp.”

Just like his brother, Ausar has steal/block rates that are through the roof with 2.4 steals and 1.1 blocks per game with Overtime Elite. He’s also a very capable playmaker, so it will be interesting to see how much freedom he’ll have to create while playing next to a ball-dominant Cade Cunningham.

Brandon Miller

It’s no secret that I’m not a big Miller fan, and being from Charlotte, I can promise you I’m not in the minority here. However, in fantasy basketball, opportunity is sometimes more important than talent and that’s exactly the case here.

Miller will likely step into a sizable role right away, helped by the fact that Miles Bridges is suspended for the first 10 games. On paper, Miller is supposed to be a good fit next to LaMelo Ball for his floor spacing ability, but the issue here is that Miller has been ice cold since the end of his college career.

During the Summer League alone, Miller shot a mediocre 38%.

Miller does have decent steal/block rates to fall back on, and he’s a solid rebounder and secondary playmaker. I’m not writing him off by any means just because the Hornets drafted him too high, but if he finds his footing he’ll have all the opportunities in the world on a really underwhelming Charlotte roster.

Jarace Walker

Jarace Walker is a defensive-minded forward who projects to be a utility player right away for the Pacers. Obi Toppin is standing in his way as the Pacers open camp in what should be an exciting battle for the starting power forward role, so it will be interesting to see which direction Rick Carlisle goes.

Walker struggled with his shot during the Summer League and hit 34% from the field and 44% from the field, but his counting stats of 14.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.3 blocks, 1.3 steals and 1.3 triples were certainly intriguing. I won’t be drafting Walker in standard 9-cat leagues, but I do see him becoming a quality waiver-wire pickup at some point during his rookie season.

Dereck Lively

Jason Kidd starting a rookie? Can it be? It certainly seems headed that way, as Kidd has been talking up Lively quite a bit. Kidd gave Lively the starting nod in the preseason opener, although he didn’t do so hot with two points, five rebounds, one block and four fouls in 15 minutes.

But still, the Mavericks are desperate for a ceiling raiser, and they might as well see if they can Lively up to speed quickly since their alternatives consists of Dwight Powell, Richaun Holmes and Maxi Kleber.

Lively is going to have a steep learning curve and I don’t see myself drafting him just yet, but his shot-blocking ability gives him a great shot of being relevant in category leagues this season – he averaged 4.7 blocks per 40 minutes at Duke.

Taylor Hendricks

One of my favorite rookies, Hendricks reminds me of Jaden McDaniels in so many ways. He’s already an elite shot-blocking forward with 1.7 per game in college, but his 3-point shot is much further along than Jaden’s was during his rookie season.

The issue here is that Utah’s front court is very crowded, as they have Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler, John Collins and Kelly Olynyk. Hendricks’ long-term potential is through the roof, and I will be drafting him aggressively in dynasty formats, but a potential lack of playing time at the beginning of his rookie season gives me pause in redraft leagues.

My brother turned 40 this weekend, and I’m not too far off myself. Young people, take a moment. 40 is a big number. It was when my brother and I were kids. It is now. Every time I hear an announcer talk about how old a player is when they might have just turned 30, I cringe a little bit.

But I’ve been thinking about the good times that have filled those years. My brother and I weren’t the best of friends when we were little kids. We grew extremely close when I got to college, however, and our bond has only gotten stronger since.

One of the main reasons is fantasy football. We joined our first league together after I graduated, and we share four different ones now. I root for him, I try to beat him, and I even sometimes give him some waiver advice.

It sounds silly, but this is a silly game we play, and I love every second of it. I love that I’m able to text him at any time about a player going off for three touchdowns or putting up a goose egg. I can always count on him to shoot back with a meme telling me I’m an idiot.

He beat me in a league championship last year and even our parents were super invested in the outcome. It’s the little things that make this game so great. It’s brought so many people together and hopefully you have a similar experience of joy and togetherness.

But sorry for the sappy intro, ya jabronis, on to the week 5 recap!

10 Studs
  1. DJ Moore, Bears WR – 8 rec. 230 yds. 3 TDs
  2. Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals WR – 15 rec. 192 yds. 3 TDs
  3. George Kittle, 49ers TE – 3 TDs
  4. Travis Etienne Jr., Jaguars RB – 184 total yds. 2 TDs
  5. De’Von Achane, Dolphins RB – 165 total yds. 1 TD
  6. Zack Moss, Colts RB – 195 total yds. 2 TDs
  7. Breece Hall, Jets RB – 194 total yds. 1 TD
  8. Dallas Goedert, Eagles TE – 8 rec. 117 yds. 1 TD
  9. Cooper Kupp, Rams WR – 8 rec. 112 yds.
  10. George Pickens, Steelers WR – 6 rec. 130 yds. 1 TD

*Honorable Mention* Sam LaPorta, Lions TE – 3 rec. 47 yds. 2 TDs

We don’t usually do the Thursday guys because some time has passed, but DJ Moore’s day was too good to ignore -- 230 yards and three touchdowns, and it probably should have haven four. Where did he step out of bounds? He paced the league through Sunday. He’s gone over 100 yards three out of five weeks and he’ll have plenty more opportunities to keep that going with a Bears defense that has given up the most passing yards through five weeks.

Is Ja’Marr Chase always freaking open? He sure seemed like it Sunday, with 192 yards and three touchdowns. This was either a “launchpad game” for the Cincinnati Bengals OR they lit up an Arizona Cardinals team that also got lit up by the lousy New York Giants. Cincy will get Seattle before a bye and might really be able to get the offense turned around. Stay tuned!

Three catches. Three scores. That’s how George Kittle’s night went. The connection he had with Brock Purdy at the end of last season made him a top-five tight end. It hasn’t been the norm this season, but it’s clear the chemistry is still very much there. Kittle’s first career three-touchdown game put him right back near the top of fantasy tight end point scorers.

Travis Etienne, Jr. tweeted that he played himself in fantasy this week. I’m glad he didn’t go easy. His first game going over 100 yards on the ground carried the Jaguars to a win. His 35-yard touchdown at the end of the game sealed the deal. He’s a top-five runner and the Jags would be smart to keep that train rolling.

What more can we say about De’Von Achane? He’s leading the NFL in rushing in basically three games on about half as many attempts as the guys behind him. To say he makes the most of his touches is an understatement. And even when the game might be in hand, the Dolphins are more than happy to keep running their offense.

Zack Moss doesn’t care that you have Jonathan Taylor on your fantasy team. He was the feature back in the Colts’ offense as they work Taylor back in. Listen, Taylor got paid and we know what he’s capable of. But if you believe in preseason games being needed to get up to game speed, then Taylor will need about a month to figure it out. Moss will continue to have value and at worst will be the best handcuff in fantasy leagues if Taylor goes down.

They said, there are no limitations on Breece Hall. Yes, the Broncos’ run defense is basically Swiss cheese, but that doesn’t matter. Hall will likely be the focal point of the Jets’ offense going forward because of Zach Wilson’s limitations at quarterback.

Dallas Goedert put his slow start all the way behind him against the Rams. He powered the Eagles’ offense on the first drive and didn’t look back. He runs routes on 80 percent of Eagles pass plays and hopefully Sunday was a sign that Jalen Hurts is noticing.

The kids say it’s cuffing season. I say it’s Kupping season. I’m so hip. Welcome back to the man, the myth, the weapon Cooper Kupp after a stint on the IR. He didn’t miss a beat while leading the Rams in targets, catches and yards. The big question: can the Rams support both Kupp and Puka Nacua? Puka had 71 yards and a touchdown, a BIG BOY touchdown at that, so I think Los Angeles (and fantasy owners) are happy to have them both running routes.

Raise your hand if you benched George Pickens this week. My hand is up, I hate that it’s up, and I wish I could put it down. The Ravens hadn’t allowed a 100-yard receiver all season. I was playing the odds, but it will be the last time I bench Pickens, who is clearly in synch with Kenny Pickett.

Lions rookie tight end Sam LaPorta, our Honorable Mention, has three touchdowns this season. The Lions offense is a monster and I want every part of it. I’ll be bold: LaPorta will finish as a top-3 player at the position this season. Trade for him if you can!

The Duds

Texans WR Nico Collins continued his good game-bad game trend for the Texans by posting only 38 yards. Rams RB Kyren Williams barely did anything against a tough Philly front. Basically every Giants player continued to play like they were on the Giants. And Derrick Henry looked like anything but a King against Indy.

But even though this is a duds section, I do want to talk injuries. Anthony Richardson plays in a way that is seemingly conducive to injuries. His throwing shoulder injury forced him out of the game and could force him to miss time. Cardinals RB James Conner looked good before going down with a knee injury. And the first overall pick in many a fantasy draft, WR Justin Jefferson, couldn’t finish the Vikings game because of a hammy issue. See if Jordan Addison is still somehow on your waiver wire or even consider K.J. Osborn if you’re in a bind.

A brutal day for some stars, yeesh.

In perhaps the best matchup thus far this season, Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys take on Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara for Sunday Night Football. Let’s look at the game:

San Francisco 49ers vs. Dallas Cowboys, 8:20 pm ET
Betting Odds (DraftKings)
  • Line: 49ers -3.5, Cowboys +3.5
  • Moneyline: 49ers (-184), Cowboys (+154)
  • Over/Under: 45
Team Ranks (2023)

49ers

  • Points for: 31.3 (3rd)
  • Points Allowed: 14.5 (T3rd)

Cowboys

  • Points For: 31 (4th)
  • Points Allowed: 10.3 (1st)
Key Injuries to Watch

49ers

RB Elijah Mitchell (Knee) – Out

Cowboys

TE Peyton Hendershot (Ankle) – Out

These injuries aren't game altering. Deebo Samuel has been nursing knee and rib injuries for a couple of weeks now, and it's being reported he won't be 100 percent. He played 87 percent of the snaps last week but failed to receive a single target. He’s not listed on the injury report. Mitchell will miss his second consecutive game which led to a few extra snaps for Jordan Mason.

Captain Prices (DraftKings)
  • Christian McCaffrey, RB $17,700
  • Tony Pollard, RB, $15,300
  • CeeDee Lamb, WR, $15,000
  • Dak Prescott QB, $14,400
  • Brock Purdy, QB, $14,100
  • Brandon Aiyuk, WR, $12,600
  • Deebo Samuel, WR, $11,400
Flex Prices (DraftKings)
  • Christian McCaffrey, RB $11,800
  • Tony Pollard, RB, $10,200
  • CeeDee Lamb, WR, $10,000
  • Dak Prescott QB, $9,600
  • Brock Purdy, QB, $9,400
  • Brandon Aiyuk, WR, $8,400
  • Deebo Samuel, WR, $7,600

According to the Contrarian Edge Optimizer, McCaffrey is projected to be the most-owned Captain (43%) on the slate at DraftKings. The next closest projected in ownership is Brock Purdy at 9.5%. Regarding flex positions, it's projected to be much more balanced. In Showdown, 9 players are projected to be owned in over 30% of lineups. This includes both team defenses.

McCaffrey has scored a touchdown in 13 straight games as a 49er, surpassing the legendary Jerry Rice. CMC found paydirt a career-high four times in San Francisco's 35-16 win over the Arizona Cardinals last week.

Entering Week 5, McCaffrey is the highest non-QB in NFL MVP future odds at +1800. Before Week 4, he was +4800 to win MVP. He is the No. 1 scoring running back in fantasy this season, and the Cowboys have allowed the sixth-most explosive runs this season.

The current Vegas total is 45 points, which might be tough to reach as the Cowboys are the fourth slowest, and the 49ers are the slowest in neutral pace. This will be a physical game from start to finish. Last season, the 49ers defeated the Cowboys 19-12 in the divisional round of the playoffs. Both teams have top-five offenses and defenses so far in 2023.

Captain Option

George Kittle, $9,600

The 49ers tight end projected ownership in the captain slot is just 0.6%! He would be a solid contrarian play on Sunday night and a less expensive option you can deploy. On paper, the matchup with the Cowboys offense doesn't look great, but Kittle is set up to produce on primetime after a deeper dive.

The Cowboys play man-to-man most of any NFL team. Brandon Aiyuk leads the 49ers in target share when facing man at 28.6%, and Kittle is second on the team at 20.5%. Aiyuk will have tough matchups against Daron Bland and Stephon Gilmore on the outside.

The Cowboys’ linebackers are aware of McCaffrey and the SF run game. They will likely stack the box to try to slow down CMC, which will let Kittle get open over the middle on play action, leading to big chunk plays and possibly a touchdown.

Fade

Dak Prescott, Cowboys

The Cowboys QB has been a glorified game manager through the first four weeks. His average depth of target is the second lowest of any quarterback so far this season at 5.9 yards, and the 49ers’ defense has held opposing quarterbacks to the second-lowest yards per attempt. Opposing quarterbacks are averaging a measly 12.8 fantasy points per game against the Niners’ defense.

Cheaper Option

49ers Defense/Special Teams $4,000

San Francisco's defense has dominated this season. They have more interceptions than touchdown passes thrown against them through the season's first month. Their run defense should slow down Tony Pollard and the Dallas running game. They have allowed the second-least explosive runs so far.

Prescott threw for just 206 yards and had 2 interceptions in the playoff loss last year in Santa Clara. Most importantly, for the 49ers defense to pay off, they need to get out to an early lead. Prescott has the best quarterback rating playing with a lead, but he drops to 26th when he's playing from behind.

Prediction

There's no doubt this is the most intriguing matchup so far in 2023. Both sides have Super Bowl aspirations and belong in the conversation. Prescott and the Cowboys’ offense is healthy, so I expect them to perform much better in this game than in the playoff loss last year.

The Cowboys lead the NFL in pressure rate, but Purdy has yet to fold when he's under pressure in the pocket. Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan know each other's tendencies well. I expect the 49ers to win, but the Cowboys will keep it close and gain plenty of respect around the NFL.

Final Score: 49ers 23, Cowboys 20

We have been very successful with our ‘Value Finder’ series this season. The Fantasy Sports Optimizer has helped me compile a list of players that should exceed expectations at cost. Here are my top values in Week 5:

QB: Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams (DK: $5,600, FD: $6,800)

The way to win a DFS contest is to be contrarian. The Philadelphia Eagles’ defense is one of the top units in the NFL, but Fantasy Sports Contrarian Optimizer and I believe they have an area that can be exploited — the secondary.

Through four weeks, the Eagles’ secondary has given up the seventh-most passing yards in the league. They have also given out two separate QB2 finishes for the week (Mac Jones and Kirk Cousins) and a QB12 to Sam Howell last week.

Stafford has had a rough start to the season and has not topped QB15 yet. But he’s a gunslinger and gets his top weapon back in wide receiver Cooper Kupp. That will open things up for Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell. This is a great week to get a contrarian, value option at quarterback.

RB: Breece Hall, New York Jets (DK: $5,400, FD: $6,500)

I love a great narrative story that is supported by facts. It feels like telling the future. Here is the narrative here:

Almost a year ago to the day, Hall tore his ACL in the first half of their game at Denver. He was potentially on his way to an Offensive Rookie of the Year award, and it was all over just like that. Now, here we are back at Denver, and the Broncos have given up the most rushing yards to running backs so far this season.

To top it off, the Broncos head coach last season was Nathaniel Hackett, who is now the offensive coordinator for the New York Jets. And did you catch what Sean Payton said about Hackett in the off-season?

This is a great matchup for Hall in a game that will have a roller coaster of emotions. The Jets have come out and said Hall is no longer being managed and will receive a full workload. The Fantasy Sports Contrarian Optimizer and I have Breece Hall as a great, sneaky play this week that could find himself as one of the top RBs of the week.

WR: DeAndre Hopkins, Tennessee Titans (DK: $5,700, FD: $6,100)

I know. I know. I know. DeAndre Hopkins has not looked as advertised for this offense. It’s been very tough sledding for the former All-Pro wideout. His best weekly finish this season is WR36. But this matchup versus the Indianapolis Colts is interesting.

The Colts are giving up the eighth most fantasy points to wide receivers. This is a game that is going to start in the trenches with Derrick Henry and he is going to take the pressure off Hopkins. If there is ever a boom week for Hopkins, it’s this one. He’s scored in five straight games versus the Colts.

TE: Hayden Hurst, Carolina Panthers (DK: $3,300, FD $5,000)

We have repeat customer to the article! We hit big with Hurst in Week 1 and I love him again in this spot. This Detroit Lions defense’ has been really solid in defending wide receivers while giving up the most receiving yards to tight ends.

This should be a dominant game for the Lions and I’m expecting any work Bryce Young supplies to be in garbage time. This Lions defensive line should pressure Young into making quick throws and I believe Hurst can benefit. Hurst could have a nice PPR day and cap it off with a garbage time touchdown. Very cheap option with high upside for Week 5.

Quarterback:
RankChangeNameTeamWeek 5
1 Patrick MahomesKC@MIN
2 Jalen HurtsPHI@LAR
3 Josh AllenBUFJAX
4 Anthony RichardsonINDTEN
5 Tua TagovailoaMIANYG
6 Kirk CousinsMINKC
7 Lamar JacksonBAL@PIT
8 Justin FieldsCHI@WSH
9 Jared GoffDETCAR
10 C.J. StroudHOU@ATL
11 Jordan LoveGB@LV
12 Russell WilsonDENNYJ
13 Daniel JonesNYG@MIA
14 Joe BurrowCIN@ARI
154Matthew StaffordLARPHI
16 Brock PurdySFDAL
17 Sam HowellWSHCHI
18 Jimmy GaroppoloLVGB
19 Dak PrescottDAL@SF
20 Zach WilsonNYJ@DEN
21 Joshua DobbsARICIN
22 Trevor LawrenceJAX@BUF
23 Derek CarrNO@NE
24 Bryce YoungCAR@DET
25 Desmond RidderATLHOU
26 Ryan TannehillTEN@IND
27NEWKenny PickettPITBAL
28 Mac JonesNENO
29 Aidan O'ConnellLVGB
30 Jameis WinstonNO@NE
31 Tyler HuntleyBAL@PIT
32-5Mitchell TrubiskyPITBAL
33 Kyle AllenBUFJAX
34 Gardner MinshewINDTEN
35 Tyrod TaylorNYG@MIA
36 Andy DaltonCAR@DET
Running back:
RankCHANGENameTeamWeek 5
1 Christian McCaffreySFDAL
2 Bijan RobinsonATLHOU
3 Tony PollardDAL@SF
4 Josh JacobsLVGB
5 Travis EtienneJAX@BUF
6 Devon AchaneMIANYG
71Breece HallNYJ@DEN
8-1Kyren WilliamsLARPHI
93David MontgomeryDETCAR
10 Alvin KamaraNO@NE
11 Isiah PachecoKC@MIN
125Jonathan TaylorHOU@ATL
13 D'Andre SwiftPHI@LAR
14-4Saquon BarkleyNYG@MIA
15 Derrick HenryTEN@IND
16 James CookBUFJAX
17 James ConnerARICIN
18 Brian RobinsonWSHCHI
19 Joe MixonCIN@ARI
20-2Aaron JonesGB@LV
21 Jaleel McLaughlinDENNYJ
22 Alexander MattisonMINKC
23 Raheem MostertMIANYG
24 Miles SandersCAR@DET
25 Rhamondre StevensonNENO
26 Jaylen WarrenPITBAL
27 Dameon PierceHOU@ATL
28 Tyjae SpearsTEN@IND
29 Khalil HerbertCHI@WSH
30 Cam AkersMINKC
31 Najee HarrisPITBAL
32 Latavius MurrayBUFJAX
33 Kenneth GainwellPHI@LAR
34 Zack MossINDTEN
35 Roschon JohnsonCHI@WSH
36 Chuba HubbardCAR@DET
37 Samaje PerineDENNYJ
38 Melvin GordonBAL@PIT
39 Gus EdwardsBAL@PIT
408Emari DemercadoARICIN
41 Tyler AllgeierATLHOU
42 Ezekiel ElliottNENO
43 Rico DowdleDAL@SF
44 Justice HillBAL@PIT
45 Clyde Edwards-HelaireKC@MIN
46 Devin SingletaryHOU@ATL
47 Jerick McKinnonKC@MIN
48 Damien HarrisBUFJAX
49 Tank BigsbyJAX@BUF
50 A.J. DillonGB@LV
51 Gary BrightwellNYG@MIA
52 Dalvin CookNYJ@DEN
53 Antonio GibsonWSHCHI
54 Ty ChandlerMINKC
55 Michael CarterNYJ@DEN
56 Kendre MillerNO@NE
57 Ronnie RiversLARPHI
58 Deuce VaughnDAL@SF
59 Mike BooneHOU@ATL
60 Matt BreidaNYG@MIA
61 Ameer AbdullahLVGB
62 Zamir WhiteLVGB
63 Trayveon WilliamsCIN@ARI
64 Chase BrownCIN@ARI
65 Jordan MasonSFDAL
66 Chris BrooksMIANYG
67 Trey SermonINDTEN
Wide Receiver:
RankCHANGENameTeamWeek 5
1 Tyreek HillMIANYG
2 Justin JeffersonMINKC
3 Davante AdamsLVGB
4 Ja'Marr ChaseCIN@ARI
5 CeeDee LambDAL@SF
61Stefon DiggsBUFJAX
7-2Puka NacuaLARPHI
8-1Devonta SmithPHI@LAR
9 D.J. MooreCHI@WSH
10 A.J. BrownPHI@LAR
11 Tank DellHOU@ATL
12-5Chris OlaveNO@NE
13 Marquise BrownARICIN
14 Adam ThielenCAR@DET
15 Jerry JeudyDENNYJ
16 Christian WatsonGB@LV
17 Nico CollinsHOU@ATL
18 Calvin RidleyJAX@BUF
19NEWCooper KuppLARPHI
20 Deebo SamuelSFDAL
21 Garrett WilsonNYJ@DEN
22 Jaylen WaddleMIANYG
23 George PickensPITBAL
24 Zay FlowersBAL@PIT
25 Christian KirkJAX@BUF
26 Michael PittmanINDTEN
27 DeAndre HopkinsTEN@IND
28 Romeo DoubsGB@LV
29 Tutu AtwellLARPHI
30 Brandon AiyukSFDAL
31 Terry McLaurinWSHCHI
32 Gabriel DavisBUFJAX
33 Drake LondonATLHOU
34 Tyler BoydCIN@ARI
35 Alec PierceINDTEN
36 Wan'Dale RobinsonNYG@MIA
37 Terrace MarshallCAR@DET
38 Josh ReynoldsDETCAR
39 Courtland SuttonDENNYJ
40 Rondale MooreARICIN
41 Jakobi MeyersLVGB
42 Brandin CooksDAL@SF
43 Marvin MimsDENNYJ
44 Curtis SamuelWSHCHI
45 Jayden ReedGB@LV
46 Rashee RiceKC@MIN
47 Michael ThomasNO@NE
48 Robert WoodsHOU@ATL
49 Michael WilsonARICIN
50 DeMario DouglasNENO
51 Jordan AddisonMINKC
52 Allen LazardNYJ@DEN
53 Calvin AustinPITBAL
54 Nelson AgholorBAL@PIT
55 DeVante ParkerNENO
56 Marquez Valdes-ScantlingKC@MIN
57 Nick Westbrook-IkhineTEN@IND
58 Braxton BerriosMIANYG
59 Skyy MooreKC@MIN
60 Andrei IosivasCIN@ARI
61 John MetchieHOU@ATL
62 Darnell MooneyCHI@WSH
63 Josh DownsINDTEN
64 D.J. CharkCAR@DET
65 Jahan DotsonWSHCHI
66 Michael GallupDAL@SF
67 K.J. OsbornMINKC
68 Justin WatsonKC@MIN
69 Brandon JohnsonDENNYJ
70 Samori ToureGB@LV
71 Rashid ShaheedNO@NE
729Jameson WilliamsDETCAR
73 Equanimeous St. BrownCHI@WSH
74 Darius SlaytonNYG@MIA
75 Kalif RaymondDETCAR
76 Kendrick BourneNENO
77 Jalen TolbertDAL@SF
78 Chris MooreTEN@IND
79 Kadarius ToneyKC@MIN
80 Jalin HyattNYG@MIA
81 Dyami BrownWSHCHI
82 Van JeffersonLARPHI
83 Allen RobinsonPITBAL
84 Mack HollinsATLHOU
85 KaVontae TurpinDAL@SF
86 Hunter RenfrowLVGB
87 Olamide ZaccheausPHI@LAR
88 Khadarel HodgeATLHOU
89 Laviska ShenaultCAR@DET
90 Trent SherfieldBUFJAX
91 Ray-Ray McCloudSFDAL
92 Randall CobbNYJ@DEN
93 Trenton IrwinCIN@ARI
94 Zach PascalARICIN
95 Deonte HartyBUFJAX
96 Devin DuvernayBAL@PIT
97 Tyler ScottCHI@WSH
98 Cedrick WilsonMIANYG
99 Juju Smith-SchusterNENO
100 Ronnie BellSFDAL
Tight End:
RankChangeNameTeamWeek 5
1 Mark AndrewsBAL@PIT
2 Travis KelceKC@MIN
32Sam LaPortaDETCAR
4 T.J. HockensonMINKC
5 Evan EngramJAX@BUF
6 George KittleSFDAL
7 Darren WallerNYG@MIA
8 Tyler HigbeeLARPHI
9 Hunter HenryNENO
10 Hayden HurstCAR@DET
11 Zach ErtzARICIN
12 Luke MusgraveGB@LV
13-2Drew OgletreeINDTEN
14 Darnell WashingtonPITBAL
15 Jake FergusonDAL@SF
16-2Kyle PittsATLHOU
17 Dalton SchultzHOU@ATL
18 Dallas GoedertPHI@LAR
19 Jonnu SmithATLHOU
20 Dalton KincaidBUFJAX
21 Durham SmytheMIANYG
22 Chig OkonkwoTEN@IND
23 Logan ThomasWSHCHI
249Jimmy GrahamNO@NE
25 Noah GrayKC@MIN
26 Irv SmithCIN@ARI
27 Cole KmetCHI@WSH
28 Tyler ConklinNYJ@DEN
29 Kylen GransonINDTEN
30 Mo Alie-CoxINDTEN
31 Dawson KnoxBUFJAX
32 Brevin JordanHOU@ATL
33 Luke FarrellJAX@BUF
34 C.J. UzomahNYJ@DEN
35 Nate AdkinsDENNYJ
36 Drew HudsonCIN@ARI
37 Chris ManhertzDENNYJ
38 Robert TonyanCHI@WSH
39 Josiah DeguaraGB@LV
40 Josh OliverMINKC
41 Josh WhyleTEN@IND
42 Jeremy RuckertNYJ@DEN
43 Tucker KraftGB@LV
44 Mitchell WilcoxCIN@ARI
45 Trey McBrideARICIN
46 Mike GesickiNENO
47 Taysom HillNO@NE
48 Austin HooperLVGB
49 John BatesWSHCHI
50 Tommy TrembleCAR@DET
Schedule
  • Rangers at Orioles, ALDS Game 1, 1:03 p.m. ET
  • Twins at Astros, ALDS, Game 1, 4:45 p.m. ET
  • Phillies at Braves, NLDS Game 1, 6:07 p.m. ET
  • Diamondbacks at Dodgers, NLDS Game 1, 9:20 p.m. ET
Weather Report

Rangers at Orioles is delayed, but weather shouldn’t be an issue for any of the other three Game 1 options in the LDS Saturday.

Injury Report

Max Scherzer – The Rangers LHP was left off the roster as he hasn’t made enough progress from the shoulder issue that has sidelined the future Hall-of-Famer since the middle of September. The Rangers hope he could be back as an option if the team advances to the ALCS.

John Means – The Orioles LHP was left off the roster as he recovers from soreness in his left elbow. The southpaw pitched well in his four starts after returning from injury this summer, and there’s a very good chance he’ll return if the O’s reach the ALCS.

Gabriel Moreno – The Diamondbacks catcher was hit in the head in the Game 2 win over the Brewers when Brice Turang’s bat swing hit his helmet. The backstop passed concussion protocol, however, and appears to be ready to roll for Game 1. Keep in mind is the late game, so there’s a smidgen of risk keeping Moreno in the lineup.

Top Priced Starting Pitchers (DraftKings)
  • Spencer Strider vs. PHI: $11,200
  • Clayton Kershaw vs. ARI: $9,100
  • Justin Verlander vs. MIN: $8,400
  • Bailey Ober @ HOU: $8,000
  • Merrill Kelly @ LAD: $7,800
  • Kyle Bradish vs. TEX: $7,500
  • Ranger Suarez @ PHI: $6,100
  • Dane Dunning @ BAL: $5,800

Strider struck out 281 batters and won 20 games for the best team in baseball but had a 5.60 ERA in five September starts. He did win all four decisions, however, and had 11 strikeouts and gave up three runs in seven innings in his last outing against the Phillies. Long story short, it’s easy to justify Strider in the lineup if you’re feeling it, but there’s more risk than reward.

Stack Attack

Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks (Kelly)

  • C Will Smith: $4,400
  • 2B Mookie Betts: $6,200
  • SS Miguel Rojas: $2,600
  • OF Jason Heyward: $3,100

Kelly has enjoyed a strong 2023 season, so this is more about belief in the Los Angeles lineup. He did struggle in his last outing against LA, giving up 12 hits and seven runs over five innings. This stack gives fantasy players a mix of big names like Betts and Smith with cheaper options like Rojas and Heyward. It’s easy to imagine the Dodgers getting off to a strong offensive start Saturday, with all due respect to Kelly and the D-Backs staff.

After a successful week of longshots, check out my favorite touchdown picks of the week!

Jalen Hurts (PHI QB)/Cooper Kupp (LAR WR) +364 TD (FanDuel)

Going with a same game parlay in the Eagles-Rams game (4:05 p.m. ET Sunday). There is already nice value here, with this being priced at +238 on DraftKings. Hurts and Kupp are their team’s best redzone weapons, and the total of this game is currently set at 50.5.

Hurts, the king of the tush push, has all the goal line carries on lockdown and should have plenty of chances with an implied team total higher than four touchdowns.

This is also a good price for Kupp in his return. When healthy, he has been a redzone demon. The Rams are expected to be trailing, and QB Matthew Stafford will throw a lot against the Eagles’ strong run defense. They are especially weak against the slot, and that’s where Kupp will do a lot of his work.

Reports out of LA are that Kupp won’t be limited. I like his chances in a high-octane game.

De'Von Achane (MIA RB) 2+ TD’s +700 DK
Achane 2+ TD’s/David Montgomery (DET RB) 2+ TD’s +3420

Rookie Achane has six touchdowns over his last two games, showing next-level efficiency. He’s also out-snapped fellow Dolphin RB Raheem Mostert in back-to-back weeks, posting a 60-percentr snap rate to Mostert’s 44 percent last week.

The Dolphins are 12-point favorites against a miserable Giants defense, and we’ve really seen Achane blossom in the redzone. Miami had plenty of creative uses for him, and we’ve seen this Dolphins offense run up the score before (ask the Broncos about that).

Additionally, DraftKings has Achane priced much differently than the rest of the market, with his 1+ touchdown currently at +105 vs -125 to -175 everywhere else. For 2+ touchdowns, the next best price is +450, showing inherent value on these numbers.

Alec Pierce (IND WR) +430 & Kylen Granson (IND TE) +430 FanDuel

I like targeting longshot touchdown scorers in a game where Colts QB Anthony Richardson will be tasked with beating the Titans through the air. Tennessee’s excellent rush defense will focus on limiting RB Jonathan Taylor and thereby testing Richardson’s passing.

AR-15 has been inconsistent, but he’s also made very nice downfield throws. Pierce will get an opportunity or two downfield, and I like taking that chance against a defense struggling with explosive plays.

Granson really popped last game. He led the Colts TE group in snaps and was consistently involved on third downs. Richardson likes keying in on his tight ends, and Indy will be forced into more of a pass heavy game script.

Richardson will have a boom or bust game; I want some exposure if he can take advantage of this bad pass defense.