NBA DFS Breakdown (Sunday, May 9): Expect Marvin Bagley to Bounce Back

The FantasyLabs NBA DFS Breakdown offers data-driven analysis using FantasyLabs Tools and metrics to highlight notable players.

Sunday’s NBA DFS slate features six games and locks at 7:00 p.m. ET.

Point Guard

Stud

Despite the meteoric salary increase, Delon Wright is a top-five overall ranked player regardless of position. De’Aaron Fox is expected to miss tonight’s game due to COVID-19 protocols, leaving Wright with the starting point guard minutes for Sacramento against Oklahoma City. The Kings have the second-highest projected team total at home.

Value

Cole Anthony has one of the better matchups against Ricky Rubio when using Opponent Plus/Minus. The Magic-Timberwolves contest has the highest projected game total with both teams looking to play their youth as they wind down their seasons. Anthony has an 87% Bargain Rating on FanDuel.

Eric Bledsoe has scored at least 26 DraftKings points in four straight games for New Orleans. With Zion Williamson out and Brandon Ingram doubtful, Bledsoe appears set for another 30-plus minute game. His salary jumped $600 but still retains value considering the Pelicans’ injury situation.

Fastbreak

The Balls square off in Charlotte tonight, and each carries value according to our NBA Model. Lonzo rates better than LaMelo on DraftKings, while the Rookie of the Year favorite tops his brother on FanDuel. LaMelo is tied with three other point guards with eight Pro Trends on FanDuel. Both are strong leverage plays on DraftKings.

Luka Doncic will be asked to carry the Mavericks again with Kristaps Porzingis out. He finished the Mavs’ win against the Cavaliers Friday with an insane 47.1% Usage Rate in only 23 minutes.

Chris Paul is projected to have only 9-12% ownership on FanDuel and DraftKings. Target Paul against what is left of the Lakers’ backcourt as injuries have depleted their guards.

Shooting Guard

Stud

Terry Rozier continues to be the main offense cog for Charlotte. He has attempted 20-plus field goals in three of the past five games and leads shooting guards on FanDuel with 12 Pro Trends.

Zach LaVine is playing catch-up for having two weeks off due to COVID and has no minutes restrictions. If Detroit rests players for the second of a back-to-back, LaVine could try to carry Chicago as they cling to their playoff hopes.

Value

Svi Mykhailiuk is in line for increased playing time again if Ty Jerome sits out with a calf strain. Several Thunder players saw increased time yesterday against Golden State, and with injuries and rest on tap tonight, look for Mykhailiuk to top projections at the minimum price on DraftKings.

Fastbreak

Naji Marshall is in line to start for the Pelicans and if not for Svi, would have been the value to target at shooting guard. He also avoids Miles Bridges (COVID), so he should not end up on a poster or be completely shut down offensively.

Make sure to use the Labs Insider tool to get the latest injury news and player notes ahead of tip-off.

Terence Davis played over 30 minutes for the second time as a member of the Kings Friday and rewarded DFS players with 35.75 DraftKings points. His best games have come when he got extended playing time, including last week against the Thunder. He is $5,100 on both platforms and is projected to be lower owned.

Small Forward

Stud

Injuries have left little to get excited about at small forward. Anthony Edwards is the top option without an injury designation. I prefer him to Buddy Hield because Hield’s price has jumped due to injuries in Sacramento, while Edwards has worked his way towards to top of pricing. Edwards should see a lot of Dwayne Bacon and the two could put up big fantasy numbers in Orlando. Bacon should see half the ownership of Edwards and is a top leverage option at small forward.

Value

James Johnson will see his ownership toward the top of the position with Brandon Ingram out. He leads all threes in Projected Plus/Minus and Points Per Salary on DraftKings and is only $3,800. Johnson is listed at power forward on FanDuel and is only $4,400. He is a top-two option at his positions on both platforms.

Fastbreak

Jalen Brunson is the usual benefactor of Porzingis being out, but that designation has gone to Tim Hardaway Jr. for this current stretch. He has scored at least 20 points in three straight games and put up a 42-spot just 10 days ago.

Mo Harkless is another cheap option that has benefitted from injuries. He has entered a larger role in the Kings rotation with an abductor injury to Harrison Barnes and Tyrese Haliburton expected to miss the remainder of the season. Harkless has played 35-plus minutes the past two games and has contributed five steals over that time, a nice boost to his fantasy totals.

Power Forward

Stud

Prior to Friday’s dud, Marvin Bagley III had played no fewer than 30 minutes, grabbed seven rebounds, and attempted 15 field goals in three straight games. Bagley is a top-five option on both sites. I have zero doubts that he bounces back against the Thunder.

Value

Dean Wade continues to be the Create-a-Player who produces. He has been productive on Cleveland’s second unit and can take advantage of Dallas’ frontcourt issues because of injuries. Wade contributes offensively and defensively and does not need to shoot the ball a lot to get to value. His top price is $3,700 on FanDuel and is a top-10 play at power forward.

Fastbreak

Jerami Grant is the top-rated power forward on FanDuel against Chicago, but I would not be surprised if he sits with Detroit resting players often. If Grant and Mason Plumlee sit in the second of their back-to-back, it will be Isaiah Stewart SZN.

Anthony Davis is probable with a calf strain, but with all his injuries mounting, I have a hard time trusting him to finish a game. There is leverage to playing him if you can handle the injury tilt.

Saturday was the first game in nearly two weeks that Darius Bazley did not make a 3-point attempt. He will continue to shine tonight against Sacramento and has an 85% Bargain Rating on FanDuel.

Center

Stud

I am here for Karl-Anthony Towns versus Mo Bamba, assuming Wendell Carter Jr. is out again for Orlando. Bamba has double-digit rebounds in four of his past five, four blocks in three of five, and two double-doubles in that span. KAT is a real test for him, but both could top 40 fantasy points based on their roles.

Value

Jaxson Hayes has seen the majority of the center minutes for New Orleans with Steven Adams out (toe). Hayes put up 16 shot attempts Friday and has a chance to do similar damage against Charlotte. I doubt Bismack Biyombo and/or Cody Zeller slow Hayes. Hayes vaults towards the top of my center options if Adams is out.

If Wendell Carter Jr. does get his usual workload, he is only $5,100 on FanDuel.

Fastbreak

Despite the overall good matchup for the Suns against the Lakers, I am fading Deandre Ayton. He should run laps around Andre Drummond, but I think both do little in a game that has a chance to get out of hand in a hurry.

Richaun Holmes is the top-rated center on both platforms and the top-rated overall on FanDuel. He has top-30 fantasy points in only three of his last seven contests. He also failed to hit that threshold against Oklahoma City five days ago. Holmes may be the safest option to meet and exceed projections below $7,000, which says a lot about the position on this slate.

Daniel Theis has been one of the more important Bulls since being traded there. Their reliance on him defensively has given him more minutes and has earned him starts. Theis has averaged over 10 points, seven assists, one steal and 3-pointer made, and nine field goal attempts per game in May. He is center eligible on DraftKings and is in range for 30 fantasy points if the Pistons sit their usual starting frontcourt.

Photo Credit: Michael Reaves/Getty Images.

Pictured: Marvin Bagley III.