If you’re looking for a solid foundation on which to build your DFS lineup tonight, look no further than DeRozan and the Nets. If you’re looking to have a song stuck in your head all day, simply sing that core lineup to the tune of Elton John’s Benny and the Jets. You’re welcome.
This article features a ton of players from the Bulls/Spurs game (234 over/under) and the Nets/Kings matchup (depleted Brooklyn roster) as these two games should offer the best combination of upside and value.
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
Dejounte Murray has been an absolute stud this season, and he’s in a prime position to provide elite numbers on tonight’s slate. He’s averaged 31.5 points, 13.5 assists, 8.5 rebounds, 3.0 steals over his last two games, and tonight he’ll face Chicago in a game that has a ridiculous 234-point total. When these two teams met back on Jan. 28, San Antonio won 131-122, and Murray put up 29 points, 12 assists, nine rebounds and three steals.
Value
Patty Mills has struggled mightily over his last three games, and his price has gone way down as a result. Mills is in line for a sizable workload tonight as a leader of Brooklyn’s depleted offense.
Brooklyn plays at home, so there’ll be no Kyrie Irving, and Ben Simmons is not ready to make his Nets debut. Mills is just $4,800 on DraftKings and $5,000 on FanDuel with a ceiling above 35 fantasy points. That means he can provide 6x or 7x value on the slate.
Fast Break
Mills will likely be in the starting lineup alongside Seth Curry, one of Brooklyn’s newest Nets. Curry is ready to make his Brooklyn debut, and he should make an immediate impact after averaging 15.0 points, 4.0 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 2.2 triples with Philly before being traded.
Shooting Guard
Stud
Cam Thomas, the walking bucket out of LSU, has averaged 23.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.2 triples in 31.8 minutes across his last five games. He’s taken full advantage of Brooklyn’s absences and will be needed to lead the team on offense tonight.
With no Kyrie or Simmons, Thomas’ usage rate could soar after averaging a 28.9% usage rate over his last five. His matchup with the Kings has a 225.5 over/under, one of the highest on the slate. He’s priced way up at $7,100 on FanDuel but comes in at just $5,700 on DraftKings, making him a stud and value on that site.
Value
Ayo Dosunmu has been highly productive as of late, averaging 13.0 points, 9.5 assists, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals in 41 minutes over his last two games. He’s topped 35 fantasy points in three of his previous five games and cracked 40 fantasy points in four of his 18 starts. His highest-scoring game is 50 fantasy points, and he could be in for a big line with Zach LaVine out tonight.
Fast Break
Donovan Mitchell gets an incredible matchup with the Rockets tonight and should be in consideration after averaging 24.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 3.8 triples and 1.8 steals across his last four games.
C.J. McCollum went off for 36/11/5 in his last game out, and he’s led the Pelicans in shot attempts in each of his first two games with the team. He’s got a middle-of-the-road matchup with Toronto tonight.
Small Forward
Stud
DeMar DeRozan has scored at least 35 points in five straight and at least 31 in six straight. Over his last five, he’s averaged 37.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.0 steals.
DeRozan went for 32 points, eight assists and six boards in his first meeting with his former team, and he stands out again given the projected game environment. DeRozan is one of the hottest players in the league right now, and he’ll be playing without Chicago’s second-leading scorer in LaVine.
Value
Justise Winslow’s fantasy value has shot up since his trade to Portland. He’s averaged 12.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.3 steals, 1.0 blocks and 1.0 threes across 34.3 minutes in three straight starts for the Blazers. The team is absolutely gutted after multiple moves at the deadline, and Winslow has virtually no competition for minutes. He’s $6,000 on FanDuel and just $5,600 on DraftKings, making him a quality value on both sites.
Fast Break
Conversely, Brandon Ingram’s stock is down following New Orleans’ moves at the deadline. Over his last two with McCollum in the lineup, BI has averaged just 18.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists. His scoring has taken a slight hit, but his peripherals are way down. He’s not a recommended play.
Power Forward
Stud
Julius Randle averaged 29.2 points, 12.8 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.4 triples and 1.4 stocks across his last five games, good for 54.5 fantasy points in that span. After a rough stretch of games in January, Randle looks like he’s back to 2020-21 form, and he’s in an excellent spot tonight.
He’s got an enormous Pace Differential and big Opponent Plus/Minus against a Thunder team that’s given up a ton of production to opposing bigs this season. Randle’s price has crept back up to $9,600 on DraftKings and $10,000 on FanDuel, so his ownership may be depressed at that elevated salary. Take advantage of the pivot opportunity in tournaments.
Value
Zach Collins has averaged 19.2 points and 15.7 points per game in three appearances this season. He missed the Spurs’ last game with an ankle injury, but he should be available tonight in a favorable game environment. Collins is just $3,100 on DraftKings and $4,000 on FanDuel. He’s projected for 16 minutes in our NBA Models, and a guy who averages 1.23 fantasy points per minute can rack up value quickly at that low price point.
Fast Break
Domantas Sabonis has averaged 41.5 fantasy points since joining the Kings, and tonight he faces a Nets frontcourt that’s dealing with injuries in a game with a healthy over/under. Expect him to have another solid performance in this one.
Center
Stud
Nikola Vucevic has averaged 25.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.0 stocks and 1.3 3-pointers over his last seven games. In that span, he has two games with at least 54 fantasy points, a 60-point outing and a 70-point outing. As evidenced by his recent string of solid performances, he can do a bit of everything in the box score, making him a phenomenal play in a game with the slate’s highest over/under.
Value
Thomas Bryant has averaged 29.6 fantasy points across his last two games, and while his minutes in that span haven’t increased, he’s got far less competition for minutes after the trade deadline. Montrezl Harrell is now a Hornet, Daniel Gafford is out, and Kristaps Porzingis isn’t available to debut. Bryant is in line for a solid Opponent Plus/Minus and a huge Pace Differential. His lack of big minutes makes him a guy to avoid in cash lineups, but if you want to take a chance in tournaments, he’s priced at just $4,500 on DraftKings and $4,900 on FanDuel.
Fast Break
After two relatively unproductive games in a row, Hassan Whiteside has averaged 12.0 points, 17.5 rebounds, 4.5 blocks, 1.0 steals and 50.8 fantasy points over his last two games. Whiteside is still coming off the bench behind Udoka Azubuike, but as long as Rudy Gobert remains out, Whiteside is worth a look in tournaments.
