Sunday features a five-game main slate starting at 7 p.m. ET.
Let’s dive into some of the top plays on the slate 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
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10,400) has scored over 30 points in four of the last five games. In the lone game he didn’t, he scored 29. The usage rate has been in the mid-30% range, and he’s gone for 49.75, 49.25, 67.25, 60.5, and 39.5 DraftKings points. Josh Giddey has been out and will miss Sunday’s game as well. Shai will get all the usage he can handle. There’s risk of blowout since the Thunder are 13.5 underdogs, but OKC has lost by over 20 points in three of the last five games and Shai has played at least 30 minutes in all of them.
Value
Theo Maledon ($3,400) has played 19, 20, 19, and 25 minutes in the last four games due to all the injuries. He should see a similar workload on Sunday. The usage rate has been above 21% in three of those games, and he’s gone for 25, 22.75, 19.25, and 18 DraftKings points.
Fast Break
De’Anthony Melton ($4,500) likely won’t play more than 24 minutes, but he’s gone over 20 DraftKings points in nine of the last 11 games with five above 25. In the two games he didn’t score 20 DraftKings points, Melton produced 19.25 and 18.75. He plays a Rockets team that is first in offensive pace and dead-last in defensive efficiency.
Shooting Guard
Stud
Donovan Mitchell ($9,300) only scored 22 DraftKings points on Friday as the Jazz lost by 34 points to the Pelicans. I do not expect a repeat performance. Mike Conley is out on Sunday, so Mitchell will slide down to point guard and garner all the usage he can handle.
Value
Alec Burks ($5,700) has started the last four games and received 34, 34, 31, and 36 minutes of run. The usage rate has only been in the teens, and he’s scored fewer than 30 DraftKings points in three of those contests. That said, he did go for 41.25 DraftKings points against the Suns and now faces a Clippers team that, although it is eighth in defensive efficiency, boosts the FPPM to point guards by a league-leading 15.27%.
Fast Break
Tre Mann ($5,500) isn’t cheap, but he’s playing over 30 minutes per contest and has 40-DraftKings-points upside if things break right. He’s a walking bucket and can get his own shot any time. What’s been most encouraging is the contributions on the glass, the willingness to dish out assists, and the penchant for racking up steals.
Small Forward
Stud
Brandon Ingram ($8,300) looks to have figured out things playing alongside CJ McCollum. He’s gone over 40 DraftKings points in three of the last four games. The other game was 39.75. The usage rate has been 30.6%, 32%, and 33%, and the Pelicans have scored 123, 125, and 124 points. Denver is 15th in defensive efficiency.
Value
Cedi Osman ($4,200) has played 29, 29, 20, and 32 minutes over the last four games because Caris LeVert and Rajon Rondo have been out. They are doubtful for Sunday’s game as well. Over that span, Osman has contributed 24.5, 16.25, 32.75, and 33 DraftKings points.
Fast Break
Kyle Anderson ($4,600) is a low-usage player, but he contributes a little something in every statistical category. Over the last four games, he’s played over 25 minutes only once but has produced 20.5, 30.25, 31.75, and 29.75 DraftKings points. Now he gets a matchup against a Rockets team that is the crème de la crème for fantasy.
Power Forward
Stud
Julius Randle ($9,200) is the best of the worst at the power forward position today. Randle has triple-double upside on any given night, and he went for at least 60 DraftKings points three times in February. The Clippers are stout against small forwards, so RJ Barrett could run into some difficulty, which could lean the offensive workload more towards Randle.
Value
Jaxson Hayes ($5,300) has started the last five games and gone for at least 22 DraftKings points in four of those contests. The matchup against the Nuggets is a good one, as they boost the FPPM to power forwards by 14.34%.
Fast Break
Brandon Clarke ($4,300) averages 1.14 FP/Min. Unfortunately he only plays around 20 minutes per game, but he gets to face a Houston team that is first in offensive pace and dead-last in defensive efficiency.
Center
Stud
Nikola Jokic ($12,600) averages a ridiculous 1.82 FP/Min and has the highest floor/ceiling combo in the game. He’s scored fewer than 50 DraftKings points only nine times all season while going over 70 DraftKings points 11 times, with a high of 93! He’s triple-doubled 16 times this season, and in three games against the Pelicans this season, Jokic has gone for 72.75, 67.25, and 58.5 DraftKings points.
Value
Isaiah Roby ($5,400) has started the last two games and played 34 and 37 minutes because both Derrick Favors and Mike Muscala have been out. They are both out Sunday as well. Roby got busy against Karl-Anthony Towns and Jokic in the last two games, but now he has to face Rudy Gobert. That said, his ability to shoot from downtown could give Gobert problems.
Fast Break
Rudy Gobert ($8,500) could feast against the smaller Roby, especially on the glass.
