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Squad Up Daily NBA Fantasy Dose: Be cavalier by investing in Cleveland

Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

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Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NBA fantasy picture for Tuesday, October 25:

Dynamic Duos

  • PG Kyrie Irving (74K) & SF LeBron James (93K), Cavaliers (vs. Knicks): The Cavaliers may not be the same team in the regular season as in the playoffs, but the home opener against what could be a messy Knicks defense makes the lofty price tag worth investing in.
  • SG Rodney Hood (64K) & C Rudy Gobert (80K), Jazz (at Trail Blazers): Not the scoring prototype you would normally target, Hood and Gobert will be front and center with several other top names dealing with injuries. Anticipate the first unit to be busy. Portland was among the least efficient defensive teams last season, putting Hood in a good situation.

Bargain Plays

  • PG Brandon Jennings (38K), Knicks (at Cavaliers): On a short slate, this is a bargain with few options listed near the bottom. Jennings will come off the bench behind PG Derrick Rose, but that shouldn't limit his minutes terribly. Jennings had a fantastic preseason and should return multi-category production from the second unit.
  • PF Boris Diaw (25K), Jazz (at Trail Blazers): Diaw is purely a depth play for the Jazz, but with starting PF Derrick Favors dealing with a lingering knee issue that could keep him sidelined, Diaw is in a position to play more minutes. His ceiling is very low, but the renaissance man can help fill the void alongside pricier selections.

Contrarian Picks

  • SG C.J. McCollum (71K), Trail Blazers (vs. Jazz): While it's difficult to wholly endorse anyone against the Jazz's defense, McCollum is worthy of consideration as he continues his rise. He broke out in a big way in 2015-16 and had two 30-point affairs against Utah in the process.
  • SF Kevin Durant (83K), Warriors (vs. Spurs): Durant's first regular season game couldn't come against a tougher opponent. Durant, though, is generally matchup-proof. The concern is with the uncertainty surrounding the Warriors' offense and how heavily they'll lean on him. With question marks scaring others away, take him as a tournament flier.

Fades

  • SF Kawhi Leonard (87K), Spurs (at Warriors): Leonard is an incredible player, but his top skills don't translate as well to fantasy as others of his caliber. He's priced like a top fantasy performer, which he'll be on occasion, but the Spurs also play a more democratic style and he can't be expected to lead the team in scoring.
  • PF Kristaps Porzingis (82K), Knicks (at Cavaliers): The sophomore forward will be overmatched by the Cavaliers. Porzingis will be a popular choice based on name recognition and general excitement over his solid rookie season, but an opening night showdown in Cleveland is too risky.

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