Tuesday features a six-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
The Mavericks have been rolling recently, winning seven of their past nine games, and the play of Luka Doncic has been a big reason why. He’s averaged 34.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game over that stretch, and he’s scored at least 64.5 DraftKings points in eight of his past 12 games. Doncic has increased his production to 1.77 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s currently projected for a position-high 37 minutes in our NBA Models.
Doncic also gets an exploitable matchup vs. the Lakers. They’ve played at the fifth-fastest pace this season, making this a significant pace-up spot.
Value
The Wizards are another team with a strong matchup on Tuesday. They’re taking on the Pistons, who rank 25th in defensive efficiency this season. They also have plenty of minutes and shots available losing Bradley Beal to injury and Spencer Dinwiddie to the Mavericks.
Ish Smith has carved out a solid role since arriving in Washington. He’s averaged 0.98 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in five of his past six games. He’s a nice source of value on DraftKings, where his $4,200 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 79%.
Fast Break
The Clippers have arguably the best matchup on the slate. They’re taking on the Rockets, who rank first in pace and dead last in defensive efficiency. It’s hard to beat that combination, and the Clippers’ implied team total of 117.5 ranks first on the slate.
Reggie Jackson is coming off a massive performance vs. the Rockets in his last outing, racking up 40.8 FanDuel points over 38.1 minutes. He’s been priced up significantly on DraftKings, but he remains very affordable at $7,000 on FanDuel.
It’s getting hard to ignore Russell Westbrook. He’s down to just $6,600, which would have been unfathomable at this point last year. His recent play warrants this price tag, but Westbrook still has the potential for a monster performance. He’s averaged 1.11 FanDuel points per minute this season, and he has more upside than usual with Anthony Davis out of the lineup.
Shooting Guard
Stud
As usual, shooting guard is one of the weaker positions on Tuesday’s slate. Fred VanVleet is one of the premier options at the position, but he’s officially questionable after missing the Raptors’ last game. However, VanVleet did rack up 44.75 DraftKings points over 34.6 minutes in his last outing, and his 30.7% usage rate was higher than usual. VanVleet has averaged 1.12 DraftKings points per minute this season, and he leads the league with an average of 38.2 minutes per game.
Value
The Warriors have the potential to be a nice source of value on Tuesday. Klay Thompson remains out of the lineup with an illness, and they have an excellent matchup vs. the Timberwolves.
Moses Moody drew the start in place of Thompson in their last outing, and he remains priced at the minimum on DraftKings. Moody has been a mediocre producer this season, averaging 0.63 DraftKings points per minute, but any minimum-priced starter is going to warrant consideration. He’s currently projected for 23 minutes in our NBA Models, and min-priced players have historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +2.60 with a comparable minute projection (per the Trends tool).
Fast Break
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope isn’t quite as cheap as Moody, but the extra salary might be worth it. He’s been a strong value recently, posting a positive Plus/Minus in four of his past five games, and he’s displayed significant upside over that time frame as well. He’s scored at least 36.75 DraftKings points in two of his past four games, and very few players in this price range have that much potential.
Anthony Edwards has been priced down to $6,600 on FanDuel, and he has serious buy-low appeal at that number. He’s owned a comparable price tag in 19 previous outings, and he’s averaged a Plus/Minus of +8.20.
Small Forward
Stud
LeBron James has had to carry a king-sized workload for the Lakers recently (pun intended). He’s gotten very little help from his teammates with Davis out of the lineup, so LeBron has had to pick up the slack. He’s still capable of putting up massive numbers in his 19th professional season, and he’s increased his production to 1.55 DraftKings points per minute in 21 games without Davis. LeBron has a brutal matchup vs. the Mavericks, who have played at the slowest pace in the league this season, but he still owns one of the top ceiling projections in our NBA Models.
Value
The Hawks are expected to be without John Collins once again on Tuesday, which opens up a few additional minutes for the rest of the forwards on the roster. That includes De’Andre Hunter, who is currently projected for 35 minutes vs. the Celtics. Hunter has averaged just 0.71 DraftKings points per minute this season, but he’s coming off 27.5 DraftKings points in his last outing.
Fast Break
Scottie Barnes went absolutely nuts in his last game, finishing with 65.5 DraftKings points in his last outing. That said, his price has remained largely unchanged. He would be worth heavy consideration if VanVleet and OG Anunoby are sidelined again vs. the Nets.
Andrew Wiggins is another potential option for the shorthanded Warriors. He’s increased his usage rate by +1.9% with Thompson off the court since returning to the lineup on Jan. 9, giving him a bit more scoring upside than usual. His $5,500 salary on FanDuel comes with a Bargain Rating of 92%, and his 10 Pro Trends rank third at the position.
Power Forward
Stud
It’s time to start taking Kyle Kuzma seriously as an everyday stud. He has been incredible recently, scoring at least 58.75 DraftKings points in three of his past four games, and there’s no reason to expect much regression. He’s taken over as the Wizards’ clear top option offensively, increasing his usage rate by +4.9% and his assist rate by +8.2% in seven games without Beal and Dinwiddie. Kuzma has also had the best rebounding year of his career, averaging 8.8 boards per game.
Value
Marcus Morris has taken a backseat to some of the other Clippers’ options of late, but his fantasy outlook remains strong given the team’s injury situation. He’s increased his production to 0.92 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s scored at least 35.0 DraftKings points in two of his past four games. He’s one of my favorite ways to get exposure to the Clippers and their elite matchup on Tuesday.
Fast Break
Jonathan Kuminga has flashed as a rookie, and he’s averaged 1.00 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. His playing time has also been up recently, and he’s responded with an average Plus/Minus of +5.09 over his past 10 games. He should continue to see a few additional minutes with Thompson joining Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala on the sidelines.
Al Horford’s playing time has been volatile this season, but his minutes have been up recently. He got the night off in the Celtics’ last contest, but he played at least 31.8 minutes in each of his previous three games. Horford has increased his fantasy production to 1.13 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, so he can do serious damage with that much playing time.
Center
Stud
Karl-Anthony Towns stands out as the top center option, but he has not been worth his salary for most of the year. He’s posted an average Plus/Minus of -3.57 on DraftKings this season, including an average of -5.01 over his past 10 games. Things don’t figure to get any easier for Towns vs. the Warriors, who have been the best defensive team in basketball this season.
I’m fine with fading Towns on DraftKings, but he’s worth some consideration on FanDuel at $9,300. His salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 94%, and his 11 Pro Trends are tied for the most at the position.
Value
Daniel Gafford has started each of the past two games for the Wizards, and he’s provided excellent value in those contests. He’s scored at least 24.25 DraftKings points in both, and you’ll definitely take that kind of production at just $3,600. Gafford has averaged 1.05 DraftKings points per minute this season, so he’s simply too cheap as a member of the starting lineup.
Fast Break
Dwight Howard is not the same player that he was in his prime, but he’s still capable of providing solid per-minute production. He’s averaged 1.07 DraftKings points per minute this season, and he’s increased that figure to 1.38 over the past month. Howard has also seen a spike in playing time following the injury to Davis, and he exploded for 44.5 DraftKings points two games ago. That gives him plenty of upside at his current salary.
Christian Wood’s salary is down to $7,200 on FanDuel, and he’s posted a negative Plus/Minus in seven of his past eight games. However, he has some buy-low appeal at his current salary. It results in a Bargain Rating of 95%, and Wood has averaged a Plus/Minus of +8.43 with a comparable salary this season.
