Welcome to the first NBA Hot Sheet for the 2018-19 season! I will once again be providing you with the Hot Sheet matrix that assigns a score to each position for each team that is based on a variety of data metrics that impact fantasy production. Early on in the season, the data is primarily derived from last year’s numbers so player movement during the offseason won’t be reflected until we start to get a few games in this year. With that, I usually provide recommendation more based on feel over the first week or two of the season.
I plan to write this article every weekday that has at least four or five games on the slate. Recommendations are more geared toward DraftKings but can be used on other sites. This week’s articles will be free but will become part of our premium subscription going forward so be sure to sign up for a FREE 7-day trial to get all of our great content here at DailyOverlay including NBA, NFL, CFB and PGA.
The grid below is a snapshot of today’s slate that shows the overall rating for each position for each team. The numbers highlighted in red are the positions that are in the top 25% of their position for the slate and indicate good plays. Meanwhile, the numbers highlighted in blue are the positions that are in the bottom 25% of their respective position for the slate and are positions to avoid.
Hot Sheet for October 17th
Droppin’ Dimes
Anthony Davis (NO) – If there is one high-priced stud that I’m going to pay up for on Wednesday’s slate it will be Davis. Davis should see his usage spike all season with DeMarcus Cousins out of town and the Pelicans are involved in the game with the highest Vegas total on the slate against the Rockets.
LaMarcus Aldridge (SA) – The Spurs offense could be a little different this season with DeMar DeRozan in the fold in San Antonio. However, look for Aldridge to continue to have the ball flow through him on offense. He’ll face a Timberwolves team that he averaged 26.3 points and 10.0 rebounds against in three meetings last season.
Kyle Lowry (TOR) – Speaking of DeRozan his departure from Toronto and the addition of Kawhi Leonard will also change up the dynamics for the Raptors. Look for Leonard to defer to Lowry early in the season including their opener against the LeBron-less Cavaliers who had trouble stopping opposing PGs last season.
Marc Gasol (MEM) – Gasol and the Grizzlies had a year to forget last season, but they will look for a fresh start this year as they open the season against the Pacers. In two meetings with the Pacers last year, Gasol averaged a robust 29.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.5 blocks per game. He will once again be the focal point of the Grizzlies offense and welcomes his PG Mike Conley back to feed him the rock.
Josh Richardson (MIA) / Kelly Olynyk (MIA) – These two Heat players will benefit from a variety of injuries for the team heading into their opener against the Magic with including Dion Waiters, Wayne Ellington, Justise Winslow and James Johnson. With the lack of depth due to injury, both Richardson and Olynyk should see 30+ minutes in a favorable matchup against the Magic wings and post players.
Tyreke Evans (IND) – Evans will face his old team the Grizzlies in the season opener on Wednesday. Evans produced his highest average since his rookie season last year and has the ability to stuff the stat sheet in points, rebounds, assists, steals and three-pointers. He should benefit from playing alongside a playmaker like Victor Oladipo.
Trey Burke (NYK) – With Emmanuel Mudiay and Courtney Lee ruled out of Wednesday’s opener against the Hawks, Burke will start and play a lot of minutes in the Knicks backcourt. He’ll face an up-tempo Hawks squad that allowed top five production to opposing PGs in rebounds, assists and steals last season.
Wesley Matthews (DAL) – Matthews should get plenty of minutes on Wednesday with Harrison Barnes out and gets a plus-plus matchup against the Suns who play an up-tempo pace and allowed the most points per game to their opposition last season. He now also has multiple playmakers to feed him for threes with the addition of rookie Luka Doncic.
Cody Zeller (CHA) – With Dwight Howard out of Charlotte, Zeller is expected to slide into the starting center spot for the Hornets. They will face a Bucks team that struggled to contain opposing big men last season and only added the defensively-challenged Brook Lopez down low. Zeller has double-double potential at a very low salary.
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