Tuesday features a 10-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
It’s impossible to ignore what Luka Doncic is doing at the moment. He’s been forced into a monster workload with Kristaps Porzingis and Tim Hardaway Jr. sidelined, increasing his production to 1.67 DraftKings points per minute. He’s scored at least 71.0 DraftKings points in three of four games with both players sidelined, with the lone exception coming in his last outing. Doncic struggled with foul trouble in that contest, which ultimately limited him to just 27.7 minutes. However, he still racked up 53.5 DraftKings points despite his reduced playing time, so his production remained elite on a per-minute basis.
Doncic should return to his usual workload on Tuesday – he’s currently projected for 37 minutes in our NBA Models – giving him an elite ceiling vs. the Pistons. They rank just 20th in defensive efficiency.
Value
Kevin Porter Jr. has officially been removed from the Rockets’ injury report, so he should be a full go Tuesday vs. the Pelicans. That game stands out as one of the best of the day from a fantasy perspective given the 229.0-point total.
Porter also stands out as one of the best values of the day on DraftKings. He’s priced at just $5,600, resulting in a Bargain Rating of 94%, and Porter has averaged a Plus/Minus of +2.13 with a comparable salary this season (per the Trends tool).
Fast Break
Doncic isn’t the only member of the Mavs who has seen a boost in value recently. Jalen Brunson has also taken advantage of the team’s injuries, posting a positive Plus/Minus in six of his past seven games on FanDuel. His salary remains very reasonable at just $5,800, resulting in a Bargain Rating of 96%, and he owns one of the top individual matchups given his Opponent Plus/Minus of +2.44.
The Pacers have officially shifted into rebuild mode after trading away Caris LeVert, so expect rookie Duane Washington to grab plenty of playing time moving forward. Washington has logged at least 28.2 minutes in back-to-back games, and he’s responded with 22.5 DraftKings points in both contests. Washington has averaged 0.82 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, so he’s capable of paying off his minimal salary with a comparable workload vs. the Hawks.
Shooting Guard
Stud
The Blazers made a big move on Tuesday, shipping C.J. McCollum and Larry Nance Jr. to the Pelicans in exchange for Josh Hart, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and a first-round pick. However, none of the new acquisitions will be available to play vs. the Magic.
That means Anfernee Simons should be asked to carry the load. He’s played in six games without McCollum and Damian Lillard this season, and he’s averaged a whopping 45.21 DraftKings points in those contests. He’s particularly appealing on FanDuel, where his $6,500 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 89%.
Value
Kevin Huerter is an appealing value option on DraftKings at just $4,300. He’s logged plenty of minutes recently for the Hawks, and he’s currently projected for 33 minutes in our NBA Models. Historically, players with comparable salaries and minute projections have averaged a Plus/Minus of +3.44.
Fast Break
The Timberwolves’ injury report is jam-packed on Tuesday. They have five players currently listed as questionable, including D’Angelo Russell and Patrick Beverley. If either of those players are ruled out, Anthony Edwards would be asked to carry a larger role than usual. That would make him very appealing at just $7,400 on FanDuel given his Bargain Rating of 95%.
Small Forward
Stud
Brandon Ingram is an outstanding option for the Pelicans on Tuesday. He’s been priced up aggressively on DraftKings, but his $7,800 salary on FanDuel represents a tremendous value. It results in a Bargain Rating of 97%, and Ingram has averaged a Plus/Minus of +9.20 over his past 10 games on FanDuel. Ingram has flashed improved upside as a distributor recently – he has 12 dimes in back-to-back games – and that gives him an elite ceiling when combined with his scoring potential. Ingram racked up 62.6 FanDuel points in his last outing, and he has similar upside vs. the Rockets.
Value
Dorian Finney-Smith is playing all the minutes he can handle for the shorthanded Mavericks. He’s logged at least 38.8 minutes in each of his past four games, and he’s had two games with at least 41.9 minutes. Finney-Smith is a mediocre per-minute producer – he’s averaged 0.70 FanDuel points per minute this season – but that’s simply too much playing time to ignore at his current salary. He’s priced at just $4,200 on FanDuel, and players with comparable salaries and minute projections have historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +5.66.
Fast Break
Chris Duarte is another Pacers’ rookie who should be extremely busy down the stretch. He’s coming off 35.7 minutes in his last outing, and he responded with 35.0 FanDuel points. He’s increased his usage rate by a team-high +5.0% with LeVert, Malcolm Brogdon, and Myles Turner off the floor this season, resulting in an average of 0.4 FanDuel points per minute.
James Harden has been ruled out for the Nets, which is going to leave the team extremely shorthanded. Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and LaMarcus Aldridge are also sidelined, leaving the team without arguably their four best players. With that in mind, Patty Mills is going to have to carry a monster workload. He’s increased his usage rate by +11.7% with all four players off the court this season, resulting in an average of 0.99 DraftKings points per minute.
Power Forward
Stud
With the Pelicans, Blazers, and Nets all significantly shorthanded, it becomes a clear stars and scrubs night in DFS. At power forward, Giannis Antetokounmpo is the clear target if you’re looking to pay up. Giannis hasn’t been quite as dominant recently, posting a negative Plus/Minus in three of his past four games, but that’s been due more to a lack of playing time than anything else. He’s been limited to 30.8 minutes or fewer in three of his past four games, but he exploded for 75.75 DraftKings points the last time he exceeded that threshold. Overall, Giannis has averaged 1.83 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, so his fantasy production should bounce back as soon as his minutes do.
Value
Justise Winslow is priced at the absolute minimum on DraftKings, and he should step into a sizable role for the Blazers on Tuesday. He’s currently projected for 32 minutes in our NBA Models, and Winslow has averaged a stout 0.97 DraftKings points per minute this season. That makes him a very tough fade vs. the Magic.
Fast Break
Jaxson Hayes is another player that becomes more appealing following the Pelicans-Blazers trade. His minutes should be solidified with Hart out of the lineup, and Hayes has been excellent recently with increased playing time. He’s scored at least 33.75 DraftKings points in three of his past four games. Hayes has averaged 1.00 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, so he should continue to thrive with a healthy minute count.
Bobby Portis continues to stand out as one of the better values at the position on FanDuel. His $6,200 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 87%, and he’s racked up at least 41.7 FanDuel points in back-to-back games. Portis has averaged 1.09 FanDuel points per minute this season, and he’s routinely playing around 34 minutes in competitive contests.
Center
Stud
The top of the center position features a showdown between Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid. Both players have been elite fantasy producers recently – Jokic has averaged 1.86 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, Embiid 1.83 – but neither player has a particularly good matchup. Jokic is taking on the Knicks, who have played at the slowest pace in the league, while Embiid faces the Suns’ elite defense.
Ultimately, our Models give Jokic a clear edge in this battle. His median projection is roughly eight points higher, and his ceiling projection is close to 10.
Both players have gotten extremely pricy on DraftKings, but both own a Bargain Rating of at least 95% on FanDuel.
Value
Alperen Sengun has been excellent on a per-minute basis during his rookie season, averaging 1.13 DraftKings points per minute. His playing time has also started to trend in the right direction. He’s racked up at least 24.5 minutes in three straight games, and he’s scored at least 23.5 DraftKings points in each game. As long as he continues to see that much playing time, he’s underpriced at $4,500.
Fast Break
The Magic have been blown out in back-to-back games, which has limited Wendell Carter Jr.’s playing time. That snapped an impressive three-game stretch where WCJ scored at least 37.0 DraftKings points in three straight games. He’s averaged 1.15 DraftKings points per minute this season, so he has excellent upside at $6,800 on DraftKings if he sees more playing time on Tuesday.
Jonas Valanciunas is priced at just $7,200 on FanDuel, resulting in a Bargain Rating of 96%. His matchup vs. the Rockets also results in an Opponent Plus/Minus of +2.93, and he could see a few additional minutes following the trade. Expect him to be one of the most popular options at the position on FanDuel.
