This article is part of our DFS College Basketball series.
Top Players
Nate Watson, F, Providence ($8,400 DK, $7,800 FD)
Entering today, Sacred Heart projects as the worst defense of any team on the slate and it's not close, per KenPom's adjusted efficiency ratings. With this in mind, we'll want to target a Friar or two, and Watson is a great bet. Last season, Watson easily had the highest offensive efficiency rating on the team while also taking nearly a quarter of his team's shots when on the court. Watson also played 80 percent of his team's minutes during conference season last year, cementing his high floor. Watson predictably led his team in scoring in the season opener, so there's little reason to doubt that he can do it again. Efficiency and volume don't always go hand-in-hand, but Watson checks both boxes. I'll gladly take him.
Qudus Wahab, F, Maryland ($7,900 DK, $7,000 FD)
George Washington's defense, while not as bad as Sacred Heart's, has the dubious distinction of being the second-worst defense on the slate, per KenPom's adjusted efficiency ratings. And unfortunately for the Colonials, Maryland boasts the highest-rated offensive attack on the slate. Wahab is a great DFS candidate because he's primed for a significant role with Maryland this season. While playing at Georgetown last year, Wahab recorded the second-highest offensive rebounding rate in Big East conference games as well as the eighth-highest defensive rebounding rate. He also had the fourth-highest block rate during Big East conference season. Wahab dominated in Maryland's first game of the season, scoring 17 points in just 17 minutes of playing time. Wahab should normally play more minutes, but Maryland jumped out to a big lead in their first game and never let up, thus all of Maryland's starters played noticeably less than we'd otherwise expect. Now's the perfect time to buy low on Wahab before his stock takes off.
Middle Tier
Luther Muhammad, G, Arizona St. ($5,600 DK, $5,300 FD)
New point guard Marreon Jackson will receive a lot of attention, but Muhammad is the player I have my eyes on. In Arizona State's first game of the season, Muhammad scored double figures while collecting seven rebounds in 30 minutes, the second-most minutes on the team. Muhammad led the team in shot attempts in the first game Tuesday, and while I doubt that will happen every game, it's a good sign that Muhammad intends to establish his presence on his new squad. If the first game is any indication, Muhammad will play a pivotal role for the Sun Devils this year.
Ryan Davis, F, Vermont ($6,400 DK)
Arguably Vermont's most prolific player, Davis returns for his junior year after leading the team in scoring and rebounding last season. How good is Ryan Davis? Well, he had the highest offensive efficiency rating of any player in the American East conference last season, regardless of usage rate, per KenPom. The usage rate is noteworthy because he managed to have the highest efficiency rating while also taking the highest percentage of his team's shots among all American East players. As for his matchup, the Panthers are thinner on the frontcourt and not as long, with nobody on the roster listed over 6-foot-9. All things considered, the upside is hard to ignore. Davis has a solid chance at giving us a superstar performance without a superstar salary.
Value Plays
James Bishop, G, George Washington ($5,100 DK, $5,100 FD)
Last season, Bishop played over 90 percent of his team's minutes while recording the highest usage rate of all players in the Atlantic 10 Conference. In both of George Washington's A-10 tournament games this past spring, Bishop played all 40 minutes while scoring 29 points in the final game. And if that's not enough, Bishop scored 20-plus points in 11 of 17 games played last year. So, we can only wonder, why is Bishop's salary so low? Well, Bishop didn't have a great performance in the opening game and it seems Joe Bamisile, a transfer from Virginia Tech, will have a greater role, possibly reducing Bishop's workload. In any event, Bishop still led the team in minutes in the first game of the season and should once again play a critical role on the team. Maryland has a tough defense, but I'm trusting Bishop's volume will be enough to provide value in this spot.
Zyon Pullin, G, UC Riverside ($3,800 DK, $4,900 FD)
Pullin, the Highlanders' starting point guard, returns for his third year after starting all of last season. Pullin recorded the fifth-highest assist rate in Big West conference games last year while also ranking No. 20 in terms of his offensive efficiency rating. Pullin played 37 minutes in the team's opener, making it clear that he's once again his team's primary facilitator. Pullin didn't have a great stat line in the first game on Tuesday, but I'm not concerned mainly because they faced a tough San Diego State team that always has an elite defense, and this year is no exception with the current team ranking seventh in the country in terms of adj. efficiency rating. It's hard to imagine Pullin having less production than he had in the first game, and thankfully his salary is so low that the risk-to-reward ratio makes this an easy gamble. Also, Arizona State loves to run and push the pace, so that should help our cause as well. Overall, this is a great bounce-back spot for Pullin.
