3 NBA DraftKings Studs to Target on 10/16/18

Paul George, F, Oklahoma City Thunder

DraftKings Salary: $8,000

*Editor's Note: Russell Westbrook has since been ruled out for tonight's game against the Warriors.

For this year's opening day, there is so much uncertainty regarding injuries that trying to make picks even a day early seems like a fool's errand. There are potential injuries to Ben Simmons, Shaun Livingston, Steven Adams, and -- as if anybody has forgotten -- Russell Westbrook.

Fortunately for us, the Oklahoma City Thunder seem to have tipped their hand early on Tuesday when they released their game notes for the opening game against the Golden State Warriors. The long and the short of it is that Westbrook is listed as out. If you're reading this after shootaround and that's changed...well, c'est la vie. If he does sit out, however, then nobody benefits more than Paul George.

George played only two games without Westbrook last year, but the differences were more than noticeable. His 25.5% usage rate skyrocketed to 41.4%, while his points jumped from 21.7 to 31.0, his assists from 3.3 to 5.5, and his DraftKings points per game from 39 to 53.

George is a solid play tonight no matter what, but if we do get further confirmation that Russ isn't playing, then George is the first person you should lock into your lineups.