Sunday features a six-game slate starting at 6 p.m. ET on DraftKings.
Meanwhile, FanDuel’s slate features seven games, but also 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 300 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 NBA Player Models directly for any updates as we get closer to lock.
NBA DFS Point Guard Picks
Stud
After scoring 41 points against the Trail Blazers in a 29-point rout, Luka Doncic sat the second leg of their back-to-back in the rematch. He is still questionable to play Sunday, but it is hard to see him missing this contest against the Timberwolves. Make sure to monitor his status throughout the day. If Doncic were to sit, Kyrie Irving would be the immediate beneficiary.
The Timberwolves lead the league in defensive rating, allowing a league-best 107.4 points per game. However, when it comes to studs like Doncic, they are simply matchup-proof. In the one game that Doncic played against the Timberwolves this season, he finished with 39 points and 13 assists while shooting 15-for-27 from the field. Doncic has also scored 39-plus points in five of his last six games while averaging 70 DraftKings points per game. If Doncic is a go, he’s a great option.
Value
Staying in the same game, Timberwolves veteran point guard Mike Conley is one of the best values on the slate. Conley leads all point guards with the highest projected Plus/Minus on DraftKings and the third-highest on FanDuel. In his second season with the Timberwolves and playing nearly 30 minutes a night, Conley leads the team in assists with 6.2 per game and is shooting a career-high 45.1% from behind the arc. Conley has a limited ceiling, but he is a strong play in cash games.
Since adding Kyrie Irving, the Mavericks have been a below-average defense, especially on the perimeter. They are allowing opponents to shoot 36.4 3-pointers per game, which is the ninth-most in the league. With value being hard to find on this slate, Conley looks even better. He is projected for a slate-high 40% ownership on DraftKings and 30% on FanDuel.
Fast Break
Not only is Draymond Green out for another week, but Chris Paul suffered a fractured hand during Friday night’s win over the Pistons. With more bodies falling for the Warriors, that will put even more pressure on Stephen Curry to carry the load. Due to his recent struggles, Curry’s salary has been kept in check across the industry. Priced at only $8,700 on FanDuel with a 93% Bargain Rating, Curry is projected for the second-highest ownership. He will be a popular pay-up option Sunday.
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
After four consecutive games scoring over 30 points with 22.3 field-goal attempts per game, Anthony Edwards took a little bit of a back seat in the Timberwolves’ 27-point victory over the Rockets. He scored 24 points and shot only 8-for-17 from the field. In what should be a more competitive game against the Mavericks with the Timberwolves favored by three points, expect Edwards to get back to his ceiling. He has the fourth-highest usage rate in the league at a career-high 32.9%.
Edwards has struggled shooting the ball in his two meetings with the Mavericks at 35.7% from the field. However, he is still averaging 26.5 points, 7.5 assists, and 2.5 steals per game in those contests. Edwards leads all shooting guards on this slate with the highest projected ceiling. It helps that he is also projected for a slate-high 37.01 minutes in this matchup.
Value
Jalen Suggs has been extremely aggressive on offense recently, scoring 20-plus points in four of his last six games with a 24.4% usage rate. He has made 13 total 3-pointers in his last two games while shooting 61.9% from behind the arc. Suggs is always a threat defensively to have multiple steals, which is why he looks so much better on FanDuel than DraftKings. Priced in the lower mid-range at $6,300 on FanDuel, Suggs is projected for the fourth-highest ownership on the slate.
The Magic are coming off a huge road victory against the Nuggets and now return home where they are 12-4 this season. Despite their great home record, the Magic are two-point home underdogs against the Hawks due to so many injuries. Franz Wagner is out, while there are several players listed questionable, including guards Markelle Fultz and Anthony Black. Suggs is projected to play 30 minutes in this fast-paced game environment that has a slate-high 239-point total.
Fast Break
Priced under $5,000 on DraftKings and FanDuel, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is another shooting-guard value worth getting exposure to. The Nuggets are a slate-high 16.5-point home favorites against the Pistons, who still have the worst record in the league at 3-32. Caldwell-Pope is a cheap way to get exposure to the Nuggets, and his salary mitigates the potential blowout. Similar to Suggs, prioritize Caldwell-Pope on FanDuel, where he has the second-highest ownership at this position.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Small forward is arguably the weakest position on the slate, especially on DraftKings since the late game is not available. For FanDuel, the Battle of LA is on their seven-game slate, which immediately puts LeBron James in the mix. The Lakers are in desperation mode after losing nine of their last 11 games. However, James has been solid during their losing stretch with a positive Plus/Minus in eight of those 11 games. He will do whatever he can to keep this team afloat and in the race.
The Clippers are going in the opposite direction, winning 12 of their last 14 games, and they are five-point favorites Sunday. James went nuclear in their only matchup this season that went into overtime. He finished with 35 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists while shooting 13-for-19 from the field. At $10,300 on FanDuel, James is a contrarian pay-up option worth getting to.
Value
Sticking with the Lakers, Austin Reaves has been fantastic in his last three games. Over that time, Reaves is averaging a near double-double with 21 points, 9.6 assists, and 43.8 FanDuel points per game. He has posted a double-digit Plus/Minus in each game and is playing heavy minutes since moving into the starting lineup again. The Lakers are keeping a very tight rotation since they are struggling, which solidifies the playing time for Reaves, who is projected to play 36 minutes Sunday.
Similar to James, Reaves is only available on FanDuel. However, he is impossible not to mention with his 30% projected ownership. D’Angelo Russell has been upgraded to questionable, but given how well Reaves has played lately, expect him to stay in the starting lineup. At $7,600 on FanDuel, Reaves has 10 Pro Trends and is a strong value play in all formats.
Fast Break
Bojan Bogdanovic is an inconsistent option, but he can make his way into the optimal lineup like he did Wednesday night. Bogdanovic erupted for a season-high 36 points and nearly 60 DraftKings points. It was the second time this season he scored over 30 points. It will be difficult for the Pistons to keep this game competitive, but Bogdanovic is still projected for nearly 30% ownership on DraftKings. The small forward position is weak, which makes Bogdanovic look even better Sunday.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Paolo Banchero is coming off his first ever triple-double against the Nuggets with 32 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds. It was the fifth-straight game that Banchero has put up a massive Plus/Minus. In that five-game stretch, Banchero is averaging 31.2 points per game with a 34.7% usage rate. With Franz Wagner off the floor, Banchero is leading the team with a 4.33% usage-rate increase and a 4.41 DraftKings Plus/Minus. Despite the rising salary, Banchero is one of the best plays on the slate.
In his second year in the league, Banchero has been the key factor in the Magic’s team success. He leads the Magic in basically all statistics and is averaging a career-high across the board in points, rebounds, and assists per game. The Hawks rank 28th in defensive rating this season at 120.6, making this a fantastic spot to take the Magic’s best player.
Value
Despite a disappointing last game against the Pacers, it is difficult not to go right back to Hawks forward Jalen Johnson. In the best game environment on the slate, Johnson looks like a great play in the mid-range. The Hawks got blitzed in their last game, losing by 34 points. Johnson played fine with 12 points and eight rebounds, but his ceiling was cut short due to the blowout. In his previous four games, Johnson averaged a double-double with 19.5 points and 11 rebounds per game.
Projected for just over 10% ownership on both DraftKings and FanDuel, Johnson is going to be a great option Sunday. He has taken the starting forward position for the Hawks and ran with it, averaging a career high in points, rebounds, and assists while shooting 58.8% from the field and 40.4% from downtown. He is a cheap way to get exposure to the Hawks.
Fast Break
With so many injuries for the Magic, forward Chuma Okeke is popping as an elite value play on both sites. Make sure to monitor the status of the Magic forwards, but Okeke is projected to play around 28 minutes. His usage rate is historically low, but Okeke is impossible to ignore on FanDuel, where he is projected for over 60% ownership. His $4,000 salary on FanDuel mitigates his inconsistencies and makes him a strong play in all formats.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Nikola Jokic has been rather disappointing lately, but he still has the highest projected ceiling in our NBA Model for both DraftKings and FanDuel. In a projected blowout, Jokic has proven he can still reach his ceiling in limited time. His salary has come down a little bit on DraftKings to $11,200, where he now has a 91% Bargain Rating. He also has the second-highest projected Plus/Minus on DraftKings. If more value opens up throughout the day as expected, Jokic will look even better.
The Pistons have been playing more competitive recently, but they still have the fourth-worst defensive rating in the league. They are allowing the fifth-most points in the paint at 54.1 per game and are an average rebounding team. They will have their hands full with Jokic. With the status of Doncic up in the air, Jokic is the clear-cut best pay-up option on the slate.
Value
Dario Saric is another Warriors player who will benefit from the absences of Draymond Green and Chris Paul. He has recorded back-to-back games with a positive Plus/Minus playing 22 minutes per game. Over that time, he is averaging 15 points and five rebounds per game, while shooting 64.7% from the field. Priced under $5,000 across the industry, Saric is projected for 20% ownership on both sites. His power-forward and center eligibility makes him easy to fit into all lineups.
The Warriors need scoring from other players behind Curry. In his first season with the team, Saric is averaging double-digit points while shooting 47.8% from the field and 39.6% from behind the arc. It is the first time since the 2019-’20 season that Saric is averaging over 10 points per game. He is a good value power forward and center with all of the Warriors’ injuries.
Fast Break
Karl-Anthony Towns is another power-forward and center eligible player who looks like a strong option. Due to his recent poor play, Towns has seen his salary dip to $7,400 on DraftKings. That is way too low in this matchup against the Mavericks frontcourt. They rank 28th in rebounding percentage at 47.6%, making this a great chance for Towns to record another double-double. The Mavericks have a plethora of injuries to their big men, which could make Towns look even better Sunday.
