Thursday features a five-game slate starting at 7 p.m. ET.
Let’s dive into some of the top plays using the FantasyLabs Tools and metrics.
Also, don’t forget that for large-field tournaments, you can utilize our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 150 lineups, or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.
Note: Projections and Leverages Scores/Ratings may change throughout the day after this article is posted. The NBA DFS landscape changes quickly. Consult the Player Models directly for any updates as we get closer to lock.
Point Guard
Stud
Russell Westbrook has been the scapegoat for the Lakers’ disastrous season, but he’s played well recently. His efficiency has been way up over their past seven games, and he’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in four of his past six on DraftKings. There’s a chance that Anthony Davis will return to the lineup on Thursday – which would hurt Westbrook’s usage – but he will likely be limited even if he’s active. LeBron James also remains sidelined, so Westbrook should still see a higher usage rate than usual overall. Westbrook represents a solid savings compared to the other top point guards on the slate, but he has the potential for similar production.
Westbrook is an even stronger target on FanDuel, where he leads the position with 12 Pro Trends and owns a Bargain Rating of 91%.
Value
Killian Hayes has started to gain some traction with the Pistons. The No. 7 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft has struggled to find his footing for most of his first two seasons, but he’s scored at least 31.5 DraftKings points in three of his past four games. He’s posted an average Plus/Minus of +8.43 over his past 10 games on DraftKings, where his $4,300 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 96%. Hayes could also see a few additional minutes if Cory Joseph is ruled out (currently questionable).
Fast Break
Malik Monk is another potential option for the Lakers. He’s scored at least 32.0 DraftKings points in three straight games, and the team will need him with LeBron sidelined. He’s increased his production to 0.90 DraftKings points per minute in 19 games without James this season, and he’s projected for 33 minutes in our NBA Models.
Kyrie Irving has been hit or miss recently. He’s scored at least 60.4 FanDuel points in three of his past seven outings, but he’s scored 38.9 or fewer in three others. That makes him a better target for GPPs than cash games, and he has some appeal on FanDuel given his Bargain Rating of 96%. The Nets’ implied team total of 122.75 is also the top mark on the slate.
Shooting Guard
Stud
When the Bucks are at full strength, Khris Middleton never seems to get the attention he deserves in DFS. He was rostered at just 7.5% across DraftKings tournaments in his last game, and he’ll likely fly under the radar once again on Thursday. However, Middleton has increased his production to 1.25 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and the matchup between the Bucks and Nets should be chock-full of fantasy goodness. The total currently sits at 243.5 points, and no other game on the slate is above 230.0. Middleton has historically thrived in games with a total of at least 240 points, posting an average Plus/Minus of +4.77 over 16 previous occurrences (per the Trends tool).
Value
Caris LeVert is a bit more expensive than the typical “value” option, but he’s undoubtedly one of the best values on the slate. His minute restriction was recently lifted, and LeVert is coming off nearly 38.4 minutes in his last outing. He responded with 46.0 DraftKings points, and LeVert has averaged 1.01 DraftKings points per minute this season. The Cavs should continue to lean on him heavily with Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley sidelined, so he has the potential for a repeat performance vs. the Hawks.
Fast Break
If you’re looking to go cheaper with the Cavs, Isaac Okoro is one possibility. He’s not nearly as impactful as LeVert on a per-minute basis, but he’s projected for 34 minutes at just $3,900. Historically, players with comparable salaries and minute projections have averaged a Plus/Minus of +4.29.
Ayo Dosunmu’s role has decreased with the Bulls closer to full strength recently, but he’s still logging about 30 minutes per game. He’s averaged 0.70 FanDuel points per minute this season, making him a reasonable option at the near minimum on FanDuel.
Small Forward
Stud
The Nets are almost assuredly headed to the play-in tournament, but they still have plenty to play for. They can finish anywhere between seventh and 10th, and there’s a massive incentive to earn one of the top two spots. The No. 7 and No. 8 teams will get two shots at a postseason berth, while Nos. 9 and 10 will need to win two consecutive games. That’s a huge difference.
With that in mind, expect Kevin Durant to continue to carry a massive workload. He’s recently played as many minutes as anyone in the league, racking up at least 39.4 in three of his past four. Durant can do plenty of damage with that much playing time. He’s increased his production to 1.44 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s scored at least 62.25 DraftKings points in three of his past five games.
Value
The Clippers have the potential to be a bit thinner than usual on the wing. Marcus Morris and Nicolas Batum are both listed as questionable, and the team has no incentive to play them since they’re virtually locked into the No. 8 seed.
That could open up a few additional minutes for Luke Kennard. Kennard has already seen a decent workload of late, and he’s coming off 24.75 DraftKings points over 34.8 minutes in their last outing. He’s averaged 0.76 DraftKings points per minute this season, and he’s dirt cheap at just $3,800 on both DraftKings and FanDuel.
Fast Break
Zach LaVine hasn’t been asked to do all that much for the Bulls recently. He’s coming off just 20.0 DraftKings points in his last outing, and his 21.7% usage rate was well below his season average. That’s caused his price tag to decrease across the industry, making him a reasonable buy-low option vs. the Clippers.
Saddiq Bey continues to stand out as underpriced on FanDuel, where his $5,700 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 97%. He’s averaged 0.86 FanDuel points per minute this season, and he should benefit from the absence of Jerami Grant and Hamidou Diallo.
Power Forward
Stud
Every once in a while, Giannis Antetokounmpo likes to remind us that he’s the best player in the league. He did that in his last game, finishing with 40 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, one steal, and three blocks, resulting in 75.0 DraftKings points. He was the clear best player on the floor in a game that also included leading MVP candidate Joel Embiid and former MVP James Harden.
Thursday’s matchup vs. the Nets is another big one, and the Bucks still have the top spot in the East well in their sights. If Giannis sees another expanded workload in this matchup, no one on the slate can match his upside.
Value
Even if Davis returns for the Lakers on Thursday, Stanley Johnson should still see another large workload. He’s logged at least 35 minutes in two of his past three games, and he’s racked up at least 31.25 DraftKings points in both outings. Johnson has increased his production to 0.75 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, so he’s a massive value at just $3,800.
Fast Break
Tobias Harris hit a rough stretch after the team acquired Harden, but he’s officially turned things around. He’s coming off a massive performance in his last contest, and he’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in four of his past five games. He has gotten a bit more expensive, but his $6,500 salary on FanDuel still comes with a Bargain Rating of 83%.
Marvin Bagley has seen a nice spike in production since joining the Pistons. He disappointed in his last game, but he’s still averaged 0.97 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. He’s expected to see around 30 minutes on Thursday, and he can definitely pay off his current price tag with that much playing time.
Center
Stud
Embiid was overshadowed by Giannis on Tuesday, but he put together another strong fantasy performance. He’s scored at least 59.5 DraftKings points in three of his past four games, and he’s managed to retain most of his fantasy value following the acquisition of Harden. He’s averaged 1.62 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, which trails only Antetokounmpo’s average of 1.83 on Thursday’s slate.
Embiid should be able to do some serious damage vs. the Pistons. They rank just 24th in defensive efficiency this season, and they allowed the ninth-most points in the paint per game. There are some blowout concerns in this spot – the 76ers are 9.5-point road favorites – but the Pistons have been surprisingly frisky of late. They’re 15-2-2 against the spread over their past 19, and they’re undefeated as underdogs in March. Don’t be surprised if this game is closer than expected.
Value
All of the Cavaliers’ frontcourt injuries have allowed Moses Brown to enter the rotation. Brown has delivered when given the opportunity of late, averaging 1.24 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s currently projected for 20 minutes in our NBA Models. He racked up 22.75 DraftKings points over 21 minutes in his last outing, and that’s probably on the low side of what you can expect with a similar workload vs. the Hawks. He’s one of the best values of the day at $3,200 on DraftKings.
Fast Break
Andre Drummond is another excellent value option on DraftKings, where his $6,000 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 93%. Drummond has started each game as a member of the Nets, and his playing time is trending upwards. He’s currently projected for 32 minutes, and he’s averaged 1.32 DraftKings points per minute this season.
Nikola Vucevic continues to provide excellent value on FanDuel. He’s posted an average Plus/Minus of +5.32 over his past 10 games, yet his salary remains reasonable at just $7,700. It results in a Bargain Rating of 87%, and he leads the position with 12 Pro Trends.
