This article is part of our DFS College Basketball series.
Top Players
Paolo Banchero, F, Duke ($9,200 DK, $8,100 FD)
His services don't come cheap, but it's hard to argue with what he's done so far. He was hyped up as much as any freshman entering the season and hasn't disappointed. I'm expecting continued domination in today's game because he's going against one of the weakest defenses on the slate, as Gardner Webb's defensive adj. efficiency rating is ranked No. 245 in the country per KenPom. Not only does it have a suspect defense, but Gardner Webb's tallest player is listed at 6'9, a welcome sight for the 6'10 Banchero. The Duke phenom might be one of the priciest options on the slate, but he should be worth every dollar if not more.
Editor's Note: There have been rumors of a possible Banchero arrest that could cloud his status for Tuesday night. Stay tuned to the RotoWire news feed and follow @RotoWireCBB on Twitter for all the latest updates. Banchero is the team's current usage leader, and a potential absence could open the door for many more Blue Devils players to see increased opportunities.
Alonzo Verge Jr., G, Nebraska ($7,700 DK, $7,500 FD)
Although he's new to the team, Verge is establishing himself as the team's primary go-to player. He's currently leading the team in usage rate, taking nearly 40 percent of his team's shots when on the court. But not only that, Verge is proving to be a certified stat stuffer. After posting the seventh-highest assist rate in Pac-12 conference games last year with Arizona State, Verge collected 13 rebounds in Nebraska's first game this season. He's also scored 93 total points in his last four games played. And I can't forget to mention, he had the fourteenth-highest steal rate among all Pac-12 players during conference play last season. Verge clearly brings a lot to the party, making him a great pick all-around.
Middle Tier
Brady Manek, F, North Carolina ($6,600 DK)
KenPom is projecting North Carolina to score the most points of any team on tonight's slate, so you'll want to check out the Tar Heels if you're playing DraftKings. Brady Manek currently leads the Tar Heels in usage rate and has also played the second-most minutes on the team, an intriguing combination considering the matchup and salary. More reason for optimism, Manek has yet to find his stroke from behind the arc this season, an elite skill that he demonstrated during his entire four-year career at Oklahoma. The former Sooner has a long, consistent track record of production, and I'm expecting another great showing in today's contest.
Alex Lomax, G, Memphis ($5,500 DK, $4,300 FD)
The starting senior point guard is working with a loaded team this year, giving us a reason to think he'll continue racking up assists. Last year Lomax recorded the second-highest assist rate, second-highest steal rate, and second-highest offensive efficiency rating among all American Athletic players during conference season. In the past, the only issue with selecting Lomax was his sporadic playing time. The other point guards on last year's team are no longer on the roster so that should no longer be an issue. Memphis played against two of the worst teams in D1 in its first two games of the season, effectively extra exhibition games, so Lomax and other key starters didn't play as many minutes as we'd expect in a more balanced contest.
Zach Edey, F, Purdue ($5,300 DK, $7,800 FD)
I keep looking at the numbers and I don't understand Edey's salary on DraftKings. He had a double-double in his last game and came one rebound short of a double-double in the season-opener. Edey currently has the third-highest offensive rebounding rate in the country while drawing an absurd 11 fouls per 40 minutes, the tenth-highest rate in the country. What's just as amazing, he's made nearly all of his free throws this season (14-of-17). If that's not enough, Edey is currently ranked number four on KenPom's official "Player of the Year" standings. Edey probably won't play 30 minutes in today's game, but don't let that stop you from taking advantage of the friendly DraftKings salary.
Value Plays
Landers Nolley II ($4,700 FD, compared to $7,000 DK)
If you're only playing FanDuel, then I'd suggest Landers Nolly II, who's noticeably cheaper on FanDuel compared to DraftKings. Nolley was a prominent player for Memphis last season, and an excellent shooter I should note, so he figures to provide a nice floor in today's contest.
Ryan Nembhard, G, Creighton ($4,200 DK, $5,400 FD)
According to 247Sports, since they started tracking recruiting, Nembhard is the second-highest-rated recruit all-time to commit to Creighton. It's too early to tell if he'll live up to that kind of expectation, but the young point guard has already played 73 minutes combined in the first two games of the season, scored double figures in both contests and tallied 10 assists in his first game, suggesting a bright future. Nebraska loves to run and push the pace, so Nembhard should get plenty of opportunities in today's game. Also worth noting, Nebraska has one of the lowest-rated adj. defensive efficiency ratings in the Big Ten.
