Sunday features a three-game main slate starting at 6 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
Cade Cunningham ($7,500) is my guy at the position today. He’s $3,500 cheaper than Russell Westbrook and could come close to matching the fantasy output. The Lakers are first in offensive pace, and the last time these teams met, Cunningham posted his first career triple-double and went for 50.5 DraftKings points. On the season, he’s averaged a +4.49 Plus/Minus and exceeded point expectations 60% of the time.
Value
De’Anthony Melton ($3,700) was playing close to 30 minutes per game to open the season. Then the Grizzlies got healthy and he went back to playing around 20 minutes. Ja Morant is out, so Melton could see a slight uptick in playing time, but the biggest increase could be in the usage rate. In 86 minutes with Morant off the court, Melton has seen a usage rate differential of 8.2% on the season. This game is the best environment on the slate, as both teams are top 10 in offensive pace and bottom five in defensive efficiency.
Fast Break
Tyus Jones ($4,800) will likely start in place of Morant and get the bulk of the minutes at point guard. Jones averages 0.93 DraftKings points per minute.
Shooting Guard
Stud
Fred VanVleet ($8,100) has averaged a +0.96 Plus/Minus on the season and exceeded point expectations 50% of the time. The shooting efficiency is his main bugaboo, which causes volatility in the scoring output. That said, he plays in the 35-to-40 minute range, and minutes are half the battle. Yo, Joe! VanVleet has attempted double-digit shots in every game this season and has gone for at least 40 DraftKings points in six games, with two above 50.
Value
Josh Richardson ($3,800) is the definition of meh, as he averages 0.69 DraftKings points per minute. That said, he’s gone for at least 20 DraftKings points in four games this season and could see an uptick in playing time with Dennis Schroder already ruled out and Jaylen Brown questionable.
Fast Break
Talen Horton-Tucker ($4,700) is averaging a +2.1 Plus/Minus on the season but has exceeded point expectations only 33% of the time. That’s because he absolutely blew up for 42 and 52 DraftKings points when LeBron James was out and garnered a usage rate in the 25% range. When the Lakers are at full strength, the usage rate plummets to the 15% range and the DraftKings production follows suit to the teens. LeBron James is questionable for this one. If he’s out, then Horton-Tucker could feast on the Pistons.
Small Forward
Stud
Jerami Grant ($7,100) went for 49.5 DraftKings points the last time he faced the Lakers. A repeat performance is well within the range of outcomes, as the Lakers boost the FPPM to small forwards by 9.6%.
Value
Kyle Anderson ($4,300) only played 17 minutes last game, but that was due to a blowout. In the two prior games, he played 25 and 24 minutes while contributing 21 and 26.5 DraftKings points. Mr. Anderson has gone for at least 20 DraftKings points in 10 games this season with a high of 36.25. He does have two games below 10, but this game should be an up-and-down affair with plenty of possessions and opportunities for fantasy goodies.
Fast Break
Saddiq Bey ($5,700) isn’t cheap, and he’s contributed less than 25 DraftKings points in five of the last six games with two of those below 20. That said, he does have two games this season over 40 DraftKings points and he could be primed for another 40-burger in this one. The Lakers are first in offensive pace and boost the FPPM to small forwards by a whopping 15.6%.
Power Forward
Stud
Jayson Tatum ($9,900) has a 32% usage rate on the season. When both Dennis Schroder and Jaylen Brown are out, that number spikes to 43%. Schroder has already been ruled out, while Brown is questionable. The shooting efficiency has been the big bugaboo for Tatum this season, as he’s shooting 40% from the field after converting at least 45% of his attempts in the last four seasons. He has five games with at least 50 DraftKings points this season with a high of 64.75. That said, he has provided fewer than 40 in five games with two below 30.
Value
Chimezie Metu ($3,900) has had a crazy season. He was out of the rotation to start the season then started five games and performed well. Then Luke Walton was fired and Metu disappeared from the rotation. Well, Harrison Barnes got injured and is doubtful for Sunday’s game, so Metu could make his second consecutive start. Metu has shown the ability to score, grab rebounds, and provide defensive stats. He also has garnered a usage rate over 20% in three games this season.
Fast Break
Jaren Jackson Jr. ($6,500) sees a 6.6% usage rate bump to 34.1% with Morant off the court this season. This game should be a juicy one for fantasy purposes, as the Vegas Dashboard has it as the highest total on the board at 222.5. The game opened up at 214.5.
Center
Stud
Anthony Davis ($10,800) went for 70 DraftKings points in the last meeting against the Pistons. Granted, LeBron James missed a significant portion of that game, but he’s questionable for this one. Regardless, the ceiling is always high because Davis can score from all three levels and contribute defensive stats. The consistency hasn’t always been there though, and there’s blowout risk, but he’s gone for at least 50 DraftKings points in seven games this season with four above 60.
Value
Alex Len ($3,500) will likely make his third consecutive start, as Richaun Holmes has already been ruled out. Len did play 37 minutes in the last game, but that was an overtime affair. He received 17 minutes in the prior start, so somewhere in the 20-minute range is a reasonable expectation for playing time. Len averages 1.01 DraftKings points per minute, so if he gets at least 20 minutes, there’s a good chance he exceeds salary expectations. Len is averaging a +2.73 Plus/Minus on the season and has exceeded point expectations 70% of the time, and the matchup is a good one as the Grizzlies boost the FPPM to centers by 12.0%.
Fast Break
Grant Williams ($3,900) will likely make his eighth start of the season with Robert Williams out. In the prior seven starts, he averaged 28.2 minutes and 22 DraftKings points. He went for at least 30 DraftKings points in two of those contests.
