Thursday features a seven-game slate starting at 7 p.m. ET.
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
It’s a great day to pay down at point guard. There are many strong value options to choose from, and using at least one of them seems like the preferred strategy.
Trae Young stands out as arguably the strongest option if you want to spend up. He’s played some excellent basketball of late, averaging 1.49 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. That’s the top mark among Thursday’s point guards.
The matchup between the Bulls and Hawks also stands out as one of the best of the day. It owns the second-highest total at 239.0 points, and the Bulls are listed as 3.5-point home favorites. That suggests a high-scoring, back-and-forth affair.
Value
The Cavaliers will be without Darius Garland and Caris LeVert on Thursday, leaving the team without their top two playmakers. That should benefit Rajon Rondo. He’s currently projected for 26 minutes in our NBA Models, and he’s averaged 0.90 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. Rondo has historically owned a comparable salary and minute projection in 14 previous games, and he’s averaged a Plus/Minus of +5.12 in those contests (per the Trends tool).
The Pistons are also a strong matchup, ranking 28th in defensive efficiency over their past 10 games.
Fast Break
Aaron Holiday is another excellent value option at the position. Chris Paul is expected to miss the next 6-8 weeks with an injury, and Holiday played 20 minutes off the bench in their last game. He’s the leading candidate to replace CP3 in the starting lineup, and he’s averaged 0.85 DraftKings points per minute over the past month.
Steph Curry put on a show during the All-Star game, drilling a record 16 3-pointers. He’s in a great spot to keep the good times going on Thursday. He’s taking on the Trail Blazers, who rank 28th in defensive efficiency this season. Curry also stands out as one of the best pure values at the position on FanDuel, where his $9,300 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 95%.
Shooting Guard
Stud
Devin Booker should get plenty of attention for the Suns on Thursday. He figures to be one of the biggest beneficiaries with Paul sidelined, especially with Cameron Payne also out of the lineup. Booker has increased his usage rate by +2.2% and his assist rate by +9.8% with both players off the floor this year. Overall, Booker has averaged 1.23 DraftKings points per minute in that situation, and he played more than 43.2 minutes in his last outing.
Value
Gary Payton II has PG/SG eligibility on DraftKings, and I recommend using him as a shooting guard on Thursday. He’s averaged 0.96 DraftKings points per minute this season, and he should continue to see a few additional minutes with Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala out of the lineup. He’s currently projected for 25 minutes in our NBA Models, and that should be enough for him to return value. “The Mitten” is simply too cheap at $3,400, resulting in a Bargain Rating of 86%.
Fast Break
Cade Cunningham has missed some time recently, but he is poised for a big second half. He’s averaged 1.12 FanDuel points per minute over the past month, and he earned the MVP during the Rising Stars game over the All-Star break. If he can continue that level of per-minute production, he has the potential to smash his current salary. He’s priced at just $6,000 on FanDuel, resulting in a Bargain Rating of 91%.
The Nets are still extremely shorthanded for the time being. Kevin Durant and Ben Simmons remain out of the lineup, while Kyrie Irving will sit during Thursday’s home game. Seth Curry will have to pick up the slack in his absence. He racked up 38.75 DraftKings points in his first game without Irving as a member of the Nets.
Small Forward
Stud
Thursday’s game between the Timberwolves and Grizzlies should be outstanding for fantasy. It leads the slate with a 239.5-point total, and the Grizzlies are just 1.5-point road favorites. Overall, both squads own a top-three implied team total on Thursday’s slate.
With that in mind, targeting Anthony Edwards makes sense at $7,500 on DraftKings. Edwards has historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +4.16 with a comparable salary, so this is an excellent opportunity to buy low on him. His salary also comes with a Bargain Rating of 79%.
Value
Isaac Okoro is a pretty uninspiring fantasy option. He’s averaged just 0.62 DraftKings points per minute this season, and that number has dropped to 0.56 over the past month.
That said, he has the potential to pay off his current price tag through sheer volume. He’s projected for 31 minutes at just $3,300 on DraftKings, and players with comparable salaries and minute projections have historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +4.95. Okoro also has a chance to improve his per-minute productivity with Garland and LeVert sidelined.
Fast Break
Jaylen Brown is often overshadowed by Jayson Tatum, but he deserves some consideration on FanDuel. He’s priced at just $7,900, resulting in a Bargain Rating of 91%, and he leads the position with 10 Pro Trends.
The Thunder have a pair of intriguing small forward options. Aaron Wiggins is the safer bet of the two. He’s a very similar player to Okoro, averaging just 0.66 DraftKings points per minute this season, but he has the potential to approach 30 minutes. Aleksej Pokusevski is the wild card. He’s much more productive on a per-minute basis, but his playing time is a bit more volatile. Ultimately, he owns a significantly higher ceiling at just a slightly higher price tag.
Power Forward
Stud
Power forward lacks a truly desirable stud option on Thursday. DeMar DeRozan has been incredible of late, but he loses some luster with Zach LaVine returning to the lineup.
That makes paying down for Jerami Grant a reasonable alternative. The Pistons decided to keep Grant despite significant interest at the deadline, and he’s been a capable fantasy producer when on the floor this season. He’s averaged 0.99 DraftKings points per minute, and he’s expected to see around 30 minutes vs. the Cavs. That makes him underpriced across the industry.
Value
Sticking with the Pistons, Marvin Bagley has been given a new lease on life in Detroit. He fell out of favor in Sacramento, and he’s going to live in infamy as the player drafted ahead of Luka Doncic.
However, Bagley is typically a productive fantasy asset when allowed to play. He’s averaged 0.93 DraftKings points per minute this season, and he should see more playing time than he did with the Kings. He’s currently projected for 23 minutes, and that’s more than enough to potentially return value at $3,400 on DraftKings.
Fast Break
Lauri Markkanen and Kevin Love should both see some additional offensive responsibilities given the Cavs’ current injury situation, and both players stand out as elite values on FanDuel. Love owns a Bargain Rating of 94%, while Markkanen checks in at 96%. Both players are also positively correlated, so using them in the same lineup is reasonable.
James Johnson missed the Nets’ last game, but he racked up 30.75 DraftKings points over 31.8 minutes two games ago. That makes him very appealing at just $3,500 given his Bargain Rating of 94%.
Center
Stud
Nikola Jokic was relatively quiet during the All-Star Game, and he told reporters that he doesn’t know how to fit in with so much talent around him. That makes sense when you look at the Nuggets’ current roster. It is the polar opposite of an All-Star game roster, so Jokic has to put forth a herculean effort to keep his team competitive on a nightly basis.
Jokic has averaged 1.83 DraftKings points per minute this season, and he’s increased that figure to 1.86 over the past month. He’s been one of the most consistent producers in fantasy of late, and he possesses one of the highest ceilings, as well. He racked up 70.75 DraftKings points in his last regular season contest, so he’s an elite option if you can afford him.
Jokic is a particularly tough fade on FanDuel, where his $11,400 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 96%.
Value
The Blazers have officially entered tank mode. After trading away C.J. McCollum and Norman Powell before the All-Star break, Jusuf Nurkic has now been shut down with an injury.
Trendon Watford is expected to take over as the Blazers’ starting center, and he’s an exciting option at $3,400 on DraftKings. He’s averaged 0.90 DraftKings points per minute this season, and he’s currently projected for 27 minutes in our NBA Models.
Fast Break
John Collins remains out of the lineup for the Hawks, which should result in a few additional minutes for Clint Capela. Capela hasn’t taken advantage of his extra playing time of late, but he’s still averaged 1.12 DraftKings points per minute this season. He remains one of the highest upside players in this salary range.
Karl-Anthony Towns is an interesting pivot off Jokic in tournaments. He should check in with a fraction of the ownership, and he’s significantly cheaper across the industry. The expected game environment between the Timberwolves and Grizzlies is also highly appealing.
