NBA DFS Expert Survey: Thursday, October 29th

by Justin Bailey (Jbails26)

Created Oct 29, 2026

Last Updated 2026-10-29 21:40:37 Premium Content Part of the product NBA DFS

Our panel of experts is here to give you their insights on NBA DFS today for the 10/29 main slate on DraftKings and FanDuel. They’re ready to answer key questions that will assist you in making those crucial lineup-building decisions. Curious to know who our experts have as their favorite tournament play? Or perhaps you’re wondering about their favorite salary saver? Read their thoughts below!

NBA DFS Picks: DraftKings & FanDuel Expert Survey for Thursday, October 29

Who is your favorite player to spend up for in cash games?

Notorious: Darius Acuff Jr.
headChopper: Jalen Johnson
tcsmith031: Deni Avdija

How do you plan to beat the field of opponents in the tournaments you will be playing? What tactic or strategy will set you apart?

Notorious: I’m taking a stand against the Cavaliers and Hawks. It’s the worst game environment on the slate, as both teams are above the league average in defensive rating. They are also both playing on the second half of a back-to-back and have played 3 games in 4 nights. And on top of all that, both teams are expected to have all of their key players available. I’m hoping a full fade of that game will be enough to differentiate me in small-field tournaments.

headChopper: On a 3-game slate, the chalk is going to be heavily concentrated, so I’m not trying to be different just for the sake of it. Jalen Johnson, Saddiq Bey, and Darius Acuff Jr. are all going to be heavily owned, and I’m fine being right there with the field on most of that group. The injury news in New Orleans is the big storyline, as Yves Missi and Jordan Poole are both day-to-day and projected to miss the second night of a back-to-back, opening up minutes for Bey and the Pelicans’ frontcourt. I’ll be monitoring both situations closely right up until lock. Where I want to separate is Memphis, which is projected to be the lowest-owned team on both sites despite a Portland matchup that grades out well for the Grizzlies wings and bigs in the NBA matchup tool. I’m also comfortable being underweight on Atlanta’s guards, who all draw bottom-10 matchups against Cleveland.

tcsmith031: I think the MEM/POR game has some shootout potential, and neither team is projected to generate a ton of ownership overall. The Blazers and Grizzlies rank 3rd and 4th in the league, respectively, in pace early on. Both are also undefeated, though Memphis’ 25th-ranked defense suggests their success may not be so sustainable. Deni Avdija and Damian Lillard have both been excellent, while we’re getting a cheap salary on Donovan Clingan amid a slow start. On the Memphis side, Ty Jerome has elite usage (33%) and per-minute production (1.43 DK). Cameron Boozer has also played well (1.1 DK FP/minute) despite shooting under 30% from the field and 3-point range to this point. The salaries make it easy enough to build a game stack.

Who is your favorite contrarian play (when considering price, matchup, roster construction, etc.) on the board and why?

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