The NBA Player Models are the base of our NBA product here at FantasyLabs. They house our projections for each player, but that’s just the beginning of what you’ll find inside. You’ll also find our Trends and On/Off tool, Vegas Dashboard, and so much more.
Let’s dive into our models for NBA DFS going position by position, looking at guys with some of the best projections and players standing out as values with our predictive Projected Plus/Minus metric.
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 teams.
You can also use our SimLabs Lineup Generator, a tool that creates the most user-friendly lineup generation process.
Note: Projections, Ownership projections and Leverage Scores/Ratings may change throughout the day as news comes out after this article is posted. Consult the Player Models directly for any updates.
NBA DFS Point Guard Picks
Top Ceiling: Cade Cunningham vs. Portland Trail Blazers – $9,700 DraftKings
Pistons’ point guard Cade Cunningham is coming off a season-high 40 points where he shot 15-for-29 from the field, including 4-for-8 from behind the arc. He added nine assists and six rebounds for 63.5 DraftKings points while posting a 38.8% usage rate. Cunningham’s backcourt mate, Jaden Ivey, is out for the foreseeable future with an injury, which has put more pressure on Cunningham. With Ivey out of the lineup this season, Cunningham has a +2.41% usage rate and a 47.3% assist rate (per our Trends tool).
The Pistons are 6.5-point home favorites in a favorable matchup against the Trail Blazers. The Pistons have won six of their last seven games, while the Trial Blazers are going in the opposite direction. The Trail Blazers rank 27th in defensive rating while allowing opponents to shoot 48% from the field. Cunningham has seen a salary decrease over the past two weeks and his $9,700 price tag is resulting in a great value.
Top Value: D’Angelo Russell vs. Indiana Pacers – $5,500 DraftKings
Since being acquired by the Nets, D’Angelo Russell had 22 and eight assists in his first game and an 11-point, 12-assist double-double in his second game. However, last game was forced to leave due to injury and is listed as questionable for tonight’s action. Keep an eye on his status, but if Russell is able to play he is an elite value play in all formats. He currently has the second-highest projected Plus/Minus on the slate.
The Pacers continue to be a favorable matchup for opposing guards. They rank seventh in pace and 22nd in defensive rating. The Nets are double-digit home underdogs mainly due to their injury list. Cameron Johnson and Cam Thomas remain out, while Ben Simmons is also questionable. Russell has averaged a 25.2% usage rate in his 2.5 games played for the Nets and is projected for the same if he is able to play.
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
Top Ceiling: Anthony Edwards at LA Clippers – $8,500 DraftKings
Anthony Edwards went shot for shot with Cade Cunningham last game, accumulating 53 points on a 42.1% usage rate. He shot a ridiculous 16-for-31 from the field and 10-for-15 from behind the arc. Hopefully, that is a sign of things to come because this has not been a great season for the Timberwolves or Edwards. He has posted just two ceiling games with a positive Plus/Minus in his last 12 contests.
In order for the Timberwolves to get back on track, it will need to be the Edwards show. He is a boom-or-bust fantasy producer, which is perfect for tournaments. He has the highest projected ceiling at the shooting guard position, and the Timberwolves are 2.5-point home favorites against the Clippers. This is a relatively difficult matchup for Edwards, but his ceiling makes him an intriguing play for tournaments.
Top Value: Cole Anthony at New York Knicks – $4,900 DraftKings
Leading the slate in projected Plus/Minus is Magic guard Cole Anthony. The Magic are without their top three players, which will provide Anthony a great opportunity at his sub-$5,000 salary. With Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs off the floor this season, Anthony has a +3.96% usage rate increase and a +3.2 DraftKings Plus/Minus. Anthony is the best value on this eight-game slate tonight.
In his last two games playing starter minutes, Anthony has been productive, averaging 10.5 points, 5.5 assists, four rebounds, and 27.5 DraftKings points per game. Projected to start and get around 30 minutes tonight, Anthony will have plenty of time to pay off his cheap price tag. He is also projected for a slate-high 60% ownership making him a staple in cash games and a phenomenal value in tournaments tonight.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Top Ceiling: Zach LaVine vs. San Antonio Spurs – $8,200 DraftKings
The Bulls have won three of their last four games and Zach LaVine is the main reason for their success. In their three victories, LaVine averaged 34 points, seven assists, five rebounds, and 50.8 DraftKings points per game while shooting 59.1% from the field and 56.5% from behind the arc. His tendency is a boom-or-bust fantasy producer, but LaVine is streaky and worth targeting in this home matchup against the Spurs.
The Bulls are three-point home underdogs while this is the best game environment on the slate with a total of 236 points. Given the Bulls ranking third in pace, they love to up-tempo which has benefited LaVine. He is averaging 4.7 transition possessions per game with a 74.3% effective field goal percentage. Given how well he has played recently and with a favorable matchup, this is a fantastic spot for LaVine.
Top Value: Jake LaRavia vs. Dallas Mavericks – $5,000 DraftKings
The Grizzlies are another team that is decimated by injuries. Ja Morant, Marcus Smart, and Santi Aldama are all out, while Desmond Bane is doubtful to play. Despite missing three starters for this game, the Grizzlies are still five-point home favorites against the Mavericks, who are also without both Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. This matchup has a 231.5-point total, which is tied for the second-highest on the slate.
Third-year pro-Jake LaRavia is coming off his best game of the season. He recorded a double-double with 17 points, 10 assists, and four rebounds in 32 minutes off the bench. His 37.5 DraftKings points last game was a great value at his mid-range $5,000 salary. LaRavia may draw his first start of the season, but even if he does not, expect heavy minutes for the versatile forward. He is a strong play in all formats tonight.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Top Ceiling: Giannis Antetokounmpo at Toronto Raptors – $11,300 DraftKings
The most expensive player on the slate who is leading in ceiling projection is Bucks’ star Giannis Antetokounmpo. He continues to lead the league averaging a career-high 32.3 points per game paired with a 36.3% usage rate. Despite back-to-back losses, the Bucks have climbed back up to fifth in the Easter Conference standings from the Giannis emergence. His consistency and ceiling make him a formidable play every given night. Despite his $11,300 salary, Giannis has a 25% ownership projection.
The Raptors held Giannis to only 23 points in their last matchup in the middle of November, but that is unlikely tonight, given how well Giannis has played recently. The Raptors have allowed 50.5 points per game in the paint this season, which is tied for the fifth-highest in the league. Giannis is an incredible pay-up option.
Top Value: Brandon Clarke vs. Dallas Mavericks – $3,900 DraftKings
Another Grizzlies value forward who is popping in our models is Brandon Clarke. Like LaRavia, Clarke will likely come off the bench again but is still projected for 24 minutes with the fourth-highest projected Plus/Minus on the slate. His power forward and center eligibility make it easy to fit Clarke into all lineup builds. He has recorded a positive Plus/Minus in four straight games and in eight of his last 11 contests.
In his last two games, Clarke has scored double-digit points in each game while also averaging seven rebounds per game and shooting 61.5% from the field. The Mavericks are a strong matchup for opposing big men. They are a below-average rebounding team and rank 23rd in points per game allowed in the paint. Priced under $4,000, Clarke does not have to do much to exceed his salary-based expectations.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Top Ceiling: Victor Wembanyama at Chicago Bulls – $11,100 DraftKings
Right behind Giannis in ceiling projection is Spurs’ center Victor Wembanyama. He has recorded a positive Plus/Minus in seven of his last 10 games, and his salary remains reasonable at $11,100. He ranks third in usage rate at 33% and leads the league with an incredible 3.9 blocks per game. Wembanyama is averaging a career-high in points and rebounds this season with 25.7 points and 10.7 rebounds per game.
In his last two games, Wembanyama has been a monster on the glass, averaging an absurd 20.5 rebounds per game. This matchup sets up perfectly for the young superstar. The Bulls are allowing a league-high 56.5 points per game in the paint and rank 22nd in rebounding percentage at 48.9%. This is a fantastic opportunity for Wembanyama to continue his ceiling performances against a weak interior Bulls defense.
Top Value: Naz Reid vs. LA Clippers – $4,700 DraftKings
With power forward and center eligibility, Timberwolves’ backup center Naz Reid has the third-highest projected Plus/Minus at this position. He has posted double-digit positive Plus/Minus games in two of his last three games and is started to play much better from where he started the season. Reid is third on the team in scoring behind Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle despite only getting 24.7 minutes per game.
Reid was inefficient in the Timberwolves loss to the Pistons last game shooting 2-for-7 from the field but has shot 52.4% from the field in his previous seven outings. The Clippers present defensive challenges, but the Timberwolves need Reid to be productive in order to win games. If he is playing well, expect his minutes to rise. He is an ideal tournament value play that is only projected for 15% ownership tonight.
