Thursday features a two-game slate starting at 7:30 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
Thursday’s slate is only two games, but there are a handful of stud options to choose from. Steph Curry headlines the point guard position, although he hasn’t really played like a stud recently. He’s posted a negative Plus/Minus in 12 of his past 14 games on DraftKings, and he’s posted an average Plus/Minus of -13.34 over his past 10.
That said, his price has decreased to a reasonable $10,300 for Thursday’s matchup vs. the Timberwolves. He has some buy-low appeal at that number. The Timberwolves have played at the fourth-fastest pace this season, and the Warriors’ implied team total of 117.5 is the top mark on the slate.
Value
Patrick Beverley has missed the past two games for the Timberwolves, and he’s currently questionable vs. the Warriors. However, he stands out as an excellent value on DraftKings if he’s able to suit up. His $4,200 price tag comes with a Bargain Rating of 96%, and Beverley has been fantastic on a per-minute basis this season. He’s averaged 1.00 DraftKings points per minute on the year, including a mark of 1.13 DraftKings points per minute over the past month.
Fast Break
The 76ers are a bit shorthanded at the moment, with Seth Curry out of the lineup and Danny Green questionable. Tyrese Maxey has already commanded a massive workload for most of the year, and he’s played even more minutes recently. He’s averaged over 40 minutes over his past three games, and Maxey has averaged 0.85 DraftKings points per minute this season. He also owns the top Opponent Plus/Minus at the position in our NBA Models.
Russell Westbrook has been very hit or miss in his first season with the Lakers, but he’s worth some consideration on FanDuel. He’s been priced down to just $7,800, resulting in a Bargain Rating of 92%.
Shooting Guard
Stud
Shooting guard is one of the weaker positions at the top on Thursday. Only two players are priced above $5,400 on DraftKings: Anthony Edwards and D’Angelo Russell.
Of the two, Russell owns the clear edge in our NBA Models. He’s been a better per-minute producer than Edwards over the past month, averaging 1.23 DraftKings points per minute. He’s capable of racking up both points and assists, and he’s handed out at least 10 dimes in five of his past nine games. Russell also leads the position with eight Pro Trends on DraftKings.
Value
Furkan Korkmaz has been getting plenty of run for the 76ers of late. He’s played at least 36.5 minutes in three straight games, and he should be looking at another sizable workload on Thursday. Korkmaz is currently projected for 33 minutes in our NBA Models, and he’s been a reliable producer with that much playing time (per the Trends tool). He’s logged at least 30 minutes in 11 previous games this season, and he’s averaged 26.43 DraftKings points in those contests. You’ll gladly take that production at his current salary.
Korkmaz stands out as an even better value on FanDuel, where his $4,500 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 85%.
Fast Break
Klay Thompson’s playing time is slowly trending upwards. He’s coming off a season-high 25.6 minutes in his last outing, and Thompson has averaged 1.10 DraftKings points per minute this season. That means he has the potential to pay off his $5,300 salary vs. the Timberwolves.
Malik Monk has seen fewer minutes as the team has gotten healthier, but he’s capable of doing damage quickly. He’s averaged 0.95 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, which is an excellent mark considering his $4,500 salary. He’s coming off 36.25 DraftKings points in his last outing, so he has some upside on nights where his shot is falling.
Small Forward
Stud
LeBron James is the highest-priced option at small forward by a wide margin, and he continues to dominate in his 19th NBA season. He’s averaged 29.1 points per game this season, which is his highest mark since the 2009-10 season with the Cavaliers.
LeBron’s scoring burden should be eased as Anthony Davis gets reintegrated to the rotation, but Davis’ return didn’t have a significant impact on LeBron in his last game. He finished with 61.75 DraftKings points thanks to 33 points, seven rebounds, six assists, three steals, and two blocks. Davis played less than 25 minutes in that contest, and he will likely be limited again on Thursday.
Value
Matisse Thybulle is priced at just $3,600 on DraftKings, resulting in a position-high Bargain Rating of 83%. He returned to the lineup in the 76ers’ last game and was immediately called upon for 33.2 minutes. Thybulle is a mediocre per-minute producer, but that’s simply too cheap for someone with the potential for that much playing time. His role would likely be reduced if Green is able to suit up, but he should still see enough minutes to potentially return value.
Fast Break
If you need to go even cheaper at SF, Damion Lee could be worth some consideration. The Warriors are currently without Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala, and Lee has seen a slight bump in playing time in their absence. He’s logged at least 23.9 minutes in back-to-back games, and he’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in both contests.
Edwards has more appeal today on FanDuel than DraftKings given his Bargain Rating of 94%. He’s also coming off a massive performance in his last outing, finishing with 67.8 FanDuel points and a 36.8% usage rate. He’s a legitimate stud target at just $7,300.
Power Forward
Stud
Joel Embiid has gotten most of the attention for the 76ers recently – and rightfully so – but Tobias Harris has been a steady source of fantasy value. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in four straight games, and he’s coming off one of his best games of the season on Tuesday. He torched the Pelicans for 33 points and 11 rebounds, resulting in 57.25 DraftKings points.
I wouldn’t expect a repeat performance vs. the Lakers, but he’s underpriced at just $7,300. His price tag comes with a Bargain Rating of 86%, and Harris has displayed the ability to pay off a comparable salary in the past.
Value
Jarred Vanderbilt has developed into a strong option alongside Karl-Anthony Towns. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in three straight games, and he finished with 44.75 DraftKings points in his last outing. He’s also racked up at least 31.5 minutes in three of his past four games, and Vanderbilt has averaged 1.03 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. Vanderbilt is expected to see a similar workload on Thursday, making him an appealing target at just $5,500 on DraftKings.
Fast Break
Otto Porter is another strong value on DraftKings, where his $5,100 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 79%. Porter continues to see a few additional minutes with Green and Iguodala out of the lineup, and he’s capable of taking advantage. He’s averaged 1.06 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he has the potential to play upwards of 30 minutes vs. the Timberwolves.
I don’t blame you if you want to cross Anthony Davis off your list on Thursday, but he deserves some consideration on FanDuel. His $8,900 price tag comes with a Bargain Rating of 95%, which is the top mark at the position. Davis should also check in with minimal ownership for a two-game slate, and he’s talented enough to pay off his current salary in reduced minutes.
Center
Stud
Embiid has been hotter than the sun for the better part of the past month, but he’s taken things to another level recently. He’s been a usage monster over his past five games, averaging an unreal 47.0% usage rate in those contests. He’s been at least 42.1% in each, and he’s scored at least 65.5 DraftKings points in four straight games.
With that in mind, I have no problem shelling out $11,400 for him on Thursday. He’s averaged an insane 1.84 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and the Lakers don’t seem like the team that will slow him down. They rank 16th in defensive efficiency, but they’ve allowed the fifth-most points in the paint per game.
Value
Kevon Looney is another member of the Warriors who has benefitted from the absence of Green. He’s seen a sizable spike in playing time recently, logging at least 28.2 minutes in three of his past four games. He’s scored at least 31.5 DraftKings points in two of those contests, and he’s averaged 0.99 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. That makes Looney reasonable at just $4,700.
Fast Break
Andre Drummond is Embiid’s backup, which doesn’t leave him much playing time on most nights. Still, Drummond is one of the best per-minute producers at the position. He’s averaged 1.40 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, so he doesn’t need a ton of playing time to pay off his $3,800 salary.
Towns has been a disappointment for most of the year, but he’s a viable pivot off Embiid in FanDuel tournaments. His $9,300 price tag comes with a Bargain Rating of 73%, and he leads the position with nine Pro Trends. He should also check in with a fraction of the ownership of the 76ers’ star big man.
