Mike Conley among sweet Daily Fantasy Basketball bargains on Halloween

By Sasha Yodashkin
RotoWire Basketball Writer

Saturday’s six-game slate should satiate the appetites of those for whom Halloween candy just doesn’t do the trick. Balancing preseason projections with early season returns is tricky, and some major treats are available at bargain prices as a result. It’s important not to be spooked by some star players’ early struggles, but that doesn’t mean you should turn a blind eye on the potential fantasy studs emerging from the shadows.

[Play Yahoo Daily Fantasy and get a 100% deposit bonus with your first deposit]

GUARD C.J. McCollum, POR vs. PHX ($28) – One of those potential studs is McCollum. The third-year man out of Lehigh probably won’t drop 37 like he did in Portland’s opener against the Pelicans, but he should see plenty of volume facing a Suns team that finished third in the NBA in pace last season. His early returns in an increased role have been encouraging, and McCollum is still underpriced despite the hype surrounding him.

Mike Conley, MEM vs. BKN ($30) – Conley is like that guy who buys exclusively Skittles for every Halloween — it’s boring because you know exactly what you’re going to get, but you keep coming back every year because skittles are a valuable addition to any trick-or-treat bag. Well, Conley could finally be upgrading to the Skittles value pack this season. With Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol both another year older, the point guard should take on more offensive responsibilities in a contract year. Plus, he’s facing the lowly Nets, and it’s unfair to expect Jarrett Jack to keep up with Conley’s quickness while nursing a hamstring injury.

Guard to Avoid:

Jose Calderon, NYK at WSH ($16) – Calderon has just five points and two assists through two games, and has been vastly outplayed by both Langston Galloway and rookie Jerian Grant. Even though he’s the nominal starter in the Big Apple, Calderon plays only 18 minutes per game and should be avoided even at the seemingly modest price of $16.

Others to Avoid: Monta Ellis ($27), Rajon Rondo ($19), Shane Larkin ($16)

FORWARD

Meyers Leonard, POR vs. PHO ($14) – Leonard is an absolute steal at just $14. The 23-year-old averaged 5.9 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting more than 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from deep in about 15 minutes per game last season. His 7-foot-1 height allows him to grab plenty of boards, and early indications point to Leonard seeing more than twice as much playing time this year. It’s only a matter of time until his price skyrockets. Grab Leonard at a discount while you still can.

Kristaps Porzingis, NYK at WSH ($15) – Many doubted Porzingis’ NBA-readiness when the Knicks took him third overall in the 2015 draft, but he has been productive out of the gate with 13.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game through two contests. With a silky-smooth jumper all the way out to the three-point line to go awith his 7-3 frame, the 19-year-old has many ways to exploit a head-to-head matchup against mediocre power forward Kris Humphries. If Porzingis’ shot is falling, Humphries will have little chance at defending the Latvian.

Forward to Avoid:

Markieff Morris, PHX at POR ($27) – Morris doesn’t seem to have his head on straight following his twin brother’s offseason departure, and it has affected his play. The Blazers look like an exploitable matchup, but $27 is a lot to pay for a low-floor option, especially playing in a notoriously tough road environment at the Moda Center. If you’re looking specifically in this price range, ponying up the extra dollar to grab Derrick Favors against a questionable Pacers frontcourt could go a long way.

Others to Avoid: Gordon Hayward ($30), Paul Pierce ($19), Jeff Green ($18), Rondae Hollis-Jefferson ($16)

CENTER

Rudy Gobert, UTA at IND ($30) – The Pacers just don’t have the personnel to match up with Gobert inside. Neither Ian Mahinmi nor Myles Turner can go toe-to-toe with the Frenchman on the glass, and Gobert is pretty much a guarantee to stuff the stat sheet as far as hustle stats are concerned. The 23-year-old was an automatic double-double after the Enes Kanter trade last season, so don’t let one poor scoring performance to open 2015-16 scare you away. Poor free-throw shooting a non-issue in DFS, play Gobert with full confidence and reap the benefits of his lanky inside presence.

Center to Avoid:

DeAndre Jordan, LAC vs. SAC ($33) – DeMarcus Cousins draws a lot of fouls, and Jordan will have to defend him often. Chances are DeAndre will be just fine, but there’s a higher than normal chance that he gets in early foul trouble, and $33 is a heavy investment for a player who could see less minutes than usual. Jordan’s lack of scoring upside caps his ceiling, and the other centers in his price range have at least equally as high a floor.

Others to Avoid: Robin Lopez ($19), Andrea Bargnani ($18), Brandan Wright ($15)

Get a FREE RotoWire 10-day trial (no credit card required) at RotoWire.com