Tuesday features a five-game NBA slate starting at 7:30 p.m. ET.
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
Fred VanVleet is carrying one of the largest workloads in basketball at the moment. He’s logged at least 38 minutes in three of his past four games, and he’s likely looking at a ton of run again on Tuesday. OG Anunoby and Khem Birch have already been ruled out, and Gary Trent Jr. is questionable. VanVleet is currently projected for 37 minutes in our NBA Models, and he’s averaged 1.09 FanDuel points per minute over the past month.
VanVleet also benefits from one of the better matchups on the slate. The Grizzlies have played at the 11th-fastest pace this season, and they rank dead last in defensive efficiency.
Value
On the other side of that matchup, Tyus Jones stands out as massive value at just $4,600 on FanDuel. He’s taken over as the Grizzlies’ starting point guard with Ja Morant out of the lineup, and Jones is a capable fantasy producer when given the opportunity. He’s averaged 0.94 FanDuel points per minute this season, and he should see at least 30 minutes in a competitive contest. He was limited to just 23.8 minutes in his first game without Morant – a blowout win over the Kings – but he still finished with 21.6 FanDuel points.
Fast Break
The Blazers have yet to release their injury report for Tuesday’s matchup vs. the Pistons, but they were without Norman Powell in their last game. If he’s out once again, Damian Lillard figures to be one of the biggest beneficiaries. He didn’t take advantage of his first game without Powell, but he was limited to 31.2 minutes in a blowout loss vs. the Jazz. His matchup on Tuesday is much friendlier, with the Pistons ranking 22nd in defensive efficiency.
The Knicks are going to be an important team to monitor today. Head coach Tom Thibodeau recently told reporters that Kemba Walker would be out of the rotation moving forward, and they also have a jam-packed injury report. Derrick Rose and R.J. Barrett are both listed as questionable, and their absences would create a ton of value.
Immanuel Quickley would benefit if either player is ruled out. He’s coming off 30.6 minutes in his last game, and he’s averaged 0.95 DraftKings points per minute over the past month.
Shooting Guard
Stud
I’m not sure there’s ever been a quieter 16-game winning streak than the one the Suns are on currently. They’ll finally get the attention they deserve on Tuesday thanks to a matchup vs. the league-leading Warriors.
Devin Booker stands out as a nice option at just $7,900 on FanDuel. His salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 91%, and Booker has historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +3.72 with a comparable price tag.
Value
If Trent is ruled out, Svi Mykhailiuk would become one of the best value options on the slate. He’s particularly underpriced on DraftKings, where his $3,800 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 93%.
Mykhailiuk started the Raptors’ last game with Anunoby and Trent out of the lineup, and he responded with 32.0 DraftKings points over 37.9 minutes. Mykhailiuk has now started three games this year, and he’s logged at least 34.6 minutes in all of them. That gives him plenty of upside if he draws another start on Tuesday.
Fast Break
Dillon Brooks is going to get up oodles of shots with Morant out of the lineup. He’s increased his usage rate to a massive 35.8% with Morant off the court this season, giving him elite scoring upside. He racked up 35.7 FanDuel points in his first game without Morant this season, and he did it in just 21.2 minutes of playing time. Brooks might be capped at around 30 minutes in this contest, but he can do a lot of damage in those minutes. He’s a steal at $5,800 on FanDuel.
C.J. McCollum is another potential beneficiary if Powell is ruled out. He’s actually seen a larger usage bump than Lillard with Powell off the court this season, and he’s averaged more fantasy points per minute. He’s significantly cheaper than Lillard across the industry, so he could be the preferred target in the Blazers’ backcourt.
Small Forward
Stud
LeBron James hasn’t been at full bore for most of the year, but he’s put together a nice stretch recently. He’s scored at least 50.9 FanDuel points in three straight games, and he’s scored at least 59.5 in two of them. He’s also playing tons of minutes at the moment, and he’s currently projected for 36 in our NBA Models.
The Lakers are in one of the best spots of the day vs. the Kings. Both of these teams rank in the top nine in pace, and the Kings rank just 26th in defensive efficiency. The total on this game sits at a slate-high 226.0 points, and the Lakers’ implied team total of 115.0 also ranks first.
Value
Alec Burks has been named the Knicks’ starting point guard moving forward, and he did not disappoint in that role on Sunday. He finished with 23 points, seven rebounds, and three assists, resulting in 40.75 DraftKings points over 39.1 minutes. Burks would also get a boost if either Rose or Barrett is ruled out, but he should have fantasy relevance either way.
Fast Break
Otto Porter is coming off his best game of the season in his last outing. He finished with 40.0 DraftKings points over 25.8 minutes, both of which represented season highs. Porter has always been an elite per-minute producer, and he should be looking at another expanded workload on Tuesday. Andre Iguodala and Damion Lee have both been ruled out, and Porter should be one of the biggest beneficiaries.
Buddy Hield owns a Bargain Rating of 94% on FanDuel, and he should see a few additional minutes and shot attempts on Tuesday. Harrison Barnes is doubtful, and Hield has averaged 1.03 FanDuel points per minute with Barnes off the court this season.
Power Forward
Stud
There are more expensive power forwards on today’s slate, but Jaren Jackson Jr. stands out as my favorite. He’s averaged 1.17 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and that figure increases to 1.37 with Morant off the court. His usage rate increases to 31.7% in that situation, which puts him just behind Brooks for the team lead. Jackson scored 32.25 DraftKings points in his first game without Morant, but he was limited to just 22.2 minutes. His ceiling is astronomic for his price tag if he can get closer to 30 minutes on Tuesday.
Value
Richaun Holmes has been removed from the Kings’ injury report, which means he should return to the lineup vs. the Lakers. That said, Chimezie Metu’s role should be safe. He’s been excellent for the Kings this season, averaging 0.95 DraftKings points per minute, so he doesn’t need a ton of playing time to pay off his $4,100 salary.
Fast Break
Kyle Anderson is another potential option for the Grizzlies. His playing time is a bit more erratic, but he’s averaged a solid 0.95 FanDuel points per minute this season. He’s also very affordable across the industry.
Scottie Barnes has posted a positive Plus/Minus on FanDuel in four straight games, and he should continue to provide big value with Anunoby out of the lineup. He’s coming off 37.3 minutes in his last outing, and he’s averaged just under a fantasy point per minute with Anunoby off the court.
Center
Stud
Jusuf Nurkic’s minutes have been inconsistent this season, but he remains one of the best fantasy centers in the league on a per-minute basis. He’s averaged 1.33 DraftKings points per minute, which puts him in the same ballpark as Anthony Davis at the position. His playing time would be a bit more secure if Powell is ruled out, making him a very intriguing option.
Value
Precious Achiuwa is another member of the Raptors who gets a bump given their current injury situation. He didn’t take advantage in their last outing, finishing with just 17.75 DraftKings points, but he did play a season-high 36.5 minutes. Achiuwa has averaged 0.88 DraftKings points per minute this season, so there should be bigger games ahead with that much playing time. He’s a steal at just $4,400 on DraftKings given his Bargain Rating of 86%.
Fast Break
Where would the Nets be this season without LaMarcus Aldridge? That’s not a sentence I expected to type in 2021, but he’s been a vital part of this team’s success. He’s also provided a ton of fantasy value recently, posting an average Plus/Minus of +6.31 over his past 10 games on FanDuel. He’s also averaged 1.17 FanDuel points per minute this season. Aldridge draws a nice matchup Tuesday vs. the Knicks, resulting in an Opponent Plus/Minus of +2.55, and he’s underpriced across the industry.
Isaiah Stewart is another center who seems underpriced on DraftKings. He’s priced at just $4,600, but he’s averaged a respectable 0.85 DraftKings points per minute this season. He’s currently projected for 27 minutes in our NBA Models, so that should be enough for Stewart to return value.
