Sunday features a four-game main slate starting at 6:00 p.m. ET.
Let’s dive into some of the top plays on the slate using the FantasyLabs tools and projections.
Also, don’t forget that for large-field tournaments, you can utilize our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 300 lineups or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.
You can also use our SimLabs Lineup Generator, a tool that creates the most user-friendly lineup generation process.
Note: Projections and Leverages Scores/Ratings may change throughout the day after this article is posted. The NBA DFS landscape changes quickly.
Consult the NBA Player Models directly for any updates as we get closer to lock.
Stud
Sunday’s slate is small and lacks the top DFS options we typically rely on as studs. Fortunately, James Harden should continue to provide a bit more value than usual for the Clippers. The team is still without Norman Powell, and Harden has increased his usage rate by a team-high +5.12% with Powell off the floor. He’s averaged 1.37 DraftKings points per minute in that scenario, and he’s coming off 50.0 DraftKings points sans Powell in his last outing.
He did that despite shooting just 5-18 from the field, which has become a recurring issue for Harden. He’s shooting just 36.5% from the field and 31.1% from 3-point range this season, so he has the potential for even more production with some better shooting numbers moving forward.
Value
Sticking with the Clippers, Kevin Porter Jr. makes sense as a value play at $4,300. Porter’s role with the team has grown recently, playing at least 24.8 minutes in three of his past five outings. KPJ has always been a strong per-minute producer – he’s averaged 1.04 DraftKings points per minute for the year – so he doesn’t need a ton of playing time to potentially return value. He’s currently projected for 21 minutes in our NBA Models, and he leads the position in projected Plus/Minus.
Fast Break
Ben Simmons has decided to play basketball for the time being, which is a nice change of pace. He’ll be back on the sidelines soon enough, but while he’s in the lineup, he’s worthy of some fantasy consideration. He’s averaged right around 1.00 DraftKings points per minute for the year, and he’s started four straight games for Brooklyn. He’s projected for 25 minutes vs. the Kings, and if he gets to that threshold, he’ll have a decent chance to return value.
Tyler Herro has been a strong producer for the Heat this season, posting an average Plus/Minus of +8.22 over his past 10 games. He’s coming off a poor showing in his last outing, but he was only needed for 31.9 minutes in a blowout win over the 76ers. He should see a few additional minutes on Sunday, especially if Jimmy Butler is ultimately ruled out. Herro has averaged 1.27 DraftKings points per minute with Butler off the floor this season, so make sure to keep an eye on the injury report before lineup lock.
Don’t forget to check out our NBA SimLabs Lineup Generator to create advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation:
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
The best matchup of the day belongs to the Cavaliers. They’re taking on the Raptors, who are 23rd in defensive efficiency for the year. The Cavs have been one of the best offenses in basketball this season, and they’re implied for 123.5 points in this matchup. No one else has an implied team total above 116.75, so the gap between Cleveland and everyone else is pretty massive.
That puts Donovan Mitchell squarely on the DFS radar. Mitchell played less than 20 minutes in the team’s last outing, but he had scored at least 50.5 DraftKings points in his previous four contests. He had at least 60.5 in three of them, so he has one of the higher ceilings on the slate.
Value
Quentin Grimes has gotten the opportunity to play a bit more than usual for the Mavericks of late, and he’s taken full advantage. He’s scored at least 28.5 DraftKings points in back-to-back games, and he should continue to see a few additional minutes with Luka Doncic out of the lineup. He’s currently projected for 29 minutes in our NBA Models, and players with comparable salaries and minute projections have historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +2.41 (per the Trends tool).
Fast Break
Speaking of the Mavs, don’t forget about Kyrie Irving. He doesn’t grade out particularly well from a projection standpoint for Sunday’s matchup vs. the Heat, mainly because his price has skyrocketed to $9,900. Still, he clearly has upside without Doncic. He’s increased his usage rate by +2.99% and his assist rate by +3.07% with Doncic off the floor, and he’s coming off more than 38 minutes in his last outing.
Cam Thomas is the definition of a boom-or-bust GPP play. He’s going to bust pretty frequently – he has a negative Plus/Minus in five of his past six games – but his booms have the potential to break slates. He had 55.5 DraftKings points vs. the Knicks three games ago, and he had a 37.8% usage rate in his last outing. When he goes off, few people in this price range can match his ceiling.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
R.J. Barrett is up to $9,000 for the Raptors, and that might cause a bit of sticker shock. He started the year at below $7,000, and that’s the price that we’re accustomed to paying for him.
However, Barrett is in the midst of a breakout for Toronto. He’s scored at least 31 points in back-to-back games, and he’s posted a usage rate of at least 30.0% in three straight games. As a result, he’s scored at least 48.75 DraftKings points in all three contests.
Barrett should continue to serve as the team’s clear offensive focal point with Immanuel Quickley out of the lineup. He’s increased his usage rate to nearly 32% with Quickley off the floor this season, resulting in an average of 1.37 DraftKings points per minute.
The matchup vs. the Cavaliers isn’t ideal, with the Raptors currently listed as 12-point road underdogs. There’s definitely some blowout potential, but if the Raptors can keep this game competitive, Barrett has the chance for another big outing. The Cavs haven’t been quite as dominant defensively as they have in years past, ranking 10th in defensive efficiency and 12th in pace.
Value
Amir Coffey doesn’t provide much in terms of upside, but he’s a decent bet to pay off his modest salary. He’s priced at just $4,200, and he’s expected to see around 30 minutes for the Clippers on Sunday. Even with his average of 0.70 DraftKings points per minute, that would still give him a chance to return value.
Fast Break
If Butler is able to go, he’s an interesting GPP option for the Heat. He was excellent in his last outing, scoring 54.0 DraftKings points in 33.7 minutes vs. the Pacers, and he’s priced at a slight discount at $7,400. He’s been priced as high as $8,000 for the year, and he’s historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +1.27 with a comparable price tag.
Cameron Johnson has posted a positive Plus/Minus in four straight games, and he has at least 47.25 DraftKings points in his past two. He’s increased his usage rate to around 30% in both contests, and if he’s going to continue to shoot that much, he has more upside than his current salary suggests. He’s also projected for less than 20% ownership on this slate and has eligibility at both forward spots.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
DeMar DeRozan is a professional scorer. I know you can technically say that about every NBA player – they all get paid literally to score – but very few can score it like DeRozan. He’s on pace for his 12th straight season with at least 20 points per game, spanning four different teams in the process.
His usage rate is down slightly in his first year with the Kings, but he’s made up for it by shooting better than 50% from the field. He’s managed to score at least 35.5 DraftKings points in seven of his past 10 games, and he’s had at least 40 DraftKings points in six of them.
DeRozan’s price tag has come down just a hair for Sunday’s matchup vs. the Nets after posting a negative Plus/Minus in back-to-back games. However, one of those was a blowout where he played less than 20 minutes. He’s projected for 36 minutes in our NBA Models, making this an ideal buy-low opportunity.
Value
Derrick Jones is yet another value option to consider for the shorthanded Clippers. Without Powell, Jones has logged at least 26.3 minutes in back-to-back games. He’s responded with at least 23.5 DraftKings points in both, which is more than enough to pay off his $3,500 salary. Jones has averaged 0.79 DraftKings points per minute for the year, so he’s a bit more productive than some of the other Clippers’ wings on this slate.
Fast Break
Guerschon Yabusele entered the starting lineup for the 76ers in their last outing. The team was without both Paul George and Joel Embiid, and both players will be out of the lineup again on Sunday. Yabusele logged 31.1 minutes in that outing, and he finished with a double-double and 33.75 DraftKings points. Yabusele was extremely impressive for the French National Team during the Olympics this summer, and he’s averaged just under a fantasy point per minute in his return to the NBA.
P.J. Washington has returned to the Mavericks’ lineup after missing a few games with an injury, and he’s been scorching hot. He has at least 45.25 DraftKings points in two of his past three games, and he has the chance for another big performance sans Doncic on Sunday. He’s seen a team-high +5.65% usage bump with Doncic off the floor, resulting in an average of 1.42 DraftKings points per minute.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Ivica Zubac is getting the opportunity to play some of the most consistent minutes of his career this season. He’s averaged 33.7 minutes through his first 17 games after never averaging more than 28.6 minutes in a season. He was at just 26.4 minutes per game last year with the Clippers, so it represents a tremendous increase in opportunities.
Zubac has always been a strong per-minute producer, so it’s no surprise that he’s taken advantage of the extra playing time. He’s averaged a +3.11 Plus/Minus for the year, and he’s scored at least 36.25 DraftKings points in four straight games.
Zubac is averaging 1.1 DraftKings points per minute for the year, and he should be able to do some damage on the interior vs. the 76ers. They’re 26th in team rebound rate and 20th in points in the paint allowed per game, so it’s an excellent matchup.
Value
Despite Embiid being mostly out of the lineup this season, Andre Drummond has yet to really get going. He’s lost his spot in the starting lineup for the time being, and he played just 16.9 minutes without Embiid in his last outing.
Still, Drummond doesn’t need a ton of minutes to potentially do damage. He’s averaged 1.16 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and that number is below his typical average. He’s the type of player who can average closer to 1.50 DraftKings points per minute, giving him multiple paths to relevance moving forward. If he sees more minutes than expected or increases his efficiency, he has a chance to smash his $5,100 salary.
Fast Break
Jarrett Allen isn’t the most exciting DFS center, but he’s typically pretty reliable. He’s scored at least 39.25 DraftKings points in three of his past four outings. That includes his most recent contest, despite playing just 21.1 minutes in a blowout win. His average of 1.20 DraftKings points per minute is one of the top marks among Sunday’s centers, so he’s a reasonable choice at $7,200.
Jakob Poeltl looks very similar to Zubac on the surface. Both guys have been elite per-minute producers in the past, and both are getting the opportunity to play extended minutes this season. Peoltl’s matchup on Sunday is a bit risky, but he also has immense upside. He’s averaged 1.26 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s scored at least 52.5 DraftKings points in three of his past four games.
