Sunday features a seven-game slate starting at 7 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.
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NBA DFS Point Guard Picks
Stud
Another slate, another decision at the top between Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic. Doncic had one of the best shooting games of his career Friday night, as he went 17-for-21 from the field and 6-for-9 from behind the arc. He finished with 44 points, six rebounds, and six assists as the Mavericks scored a season-high 144 points. Playing at a much faster pace than year’s past, the Mavericks-Pelicans game total has risen to 234 points, with the Mavericks being a 2.5-point favorite.
Doncic is averaging a league and career-high 32.9 points per game this season with a 34.2% usage rate. This is the first year in which Doncic has shot over 50% from the field and over 40% from downtown. His peripherals remain high as well, averaging over eight rebounds and assists for the fifth-straight year. As more value opens up, Doncic will look even better.
Value
It remains to be seen if Jimmy Butler will play Sunday due to personal reasons, but what we do know is that Tyler Herro is out for the foreseeable future, which will provide a big boost to Kyle Lowry. When Herro left the game early in Memphis, Lowry exploded for a near triple-double with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists. He has recorded a positive Plus/Minus in six-straight games on FanDuel and is projected for the second-highest projected Plus/Minus at the point guard position.
Keep an eye on the status of Butler, but with at least Herro off the floor this season, Lowry has a +4.21% usage-rate increase and a +7.11 Plus/Minus. This is the second leg of a back-to-back for the Heat, who have won four-straight games. They are road favorites against the Spurs who rank last in defensive rating and have allowed 124.9 points per game.
Prioritize Lowry on FanDuel at his $5,800 salary and 86% Bargain Rating.
Fast Break
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has picked up right where he left off last season, shooting 51.8% from the field and scoring a team-high 28.8 points per game. Through eight games, Gilgeous-Alexander is also averaging career highs in both rebounds and assists, as he has a 32% usage rate. The Thunder play at the fifth-fastest pace in the league, and the versatile point guard is one of the best pay-up options on the slate. Gilgeous-Alexander leads all point guards on DraftKings with nine Pro Trends.
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
Shaedon Sharpe‘s salary continues to skyrocket across the industry, but now the Trail Blazers will also be playing without Malcolm Brogdon. They are running out of bodies in their backcourt with Scoot Henderson and Anfernee Simons still out. In his second year, Sharpe has been thrust into being one of the Trail Blazers’ most important players. He has taken that role and ran with it, averaging career highs across the board with 19.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game.
A key to Sharpe’s success is that he simply doesn’t come off the floor. Since moving into the starting lineup, Sharpe is averaging a ridiculous 40.6 minutes per game. He is projected to play 39 minutes in this juicy matchup against the Lakers, who rank 22nd in defensive rating. Prioritize Sharpe on FanDuel with shooting-guard and small-forward eligibility, as he is only $7,200 with a 94% Bargain Rating.
Value
With point-guard and shooting-guard eligibility on DraftKings and FanDuel, D’Angelo Russell looks like one of the best values on the slate. Russell struggled to shoot the ball to start the season, but he has found his stroke recently, shooting over 50% from the field in all but one of his last six games. He is averaging 33.9 DraftKings points per game while playing a career-high 33.9 minutes per game. Projected for 34 minutes, Russell looks great on both sites at his sub-$7,000 salary.
As previously mentioned, the Trail Blazers continue to get struck by the injury bug to their backcourt. However, the Lakers are also playing without backup point guard Gabe Vincent, which secures Russell’s playing time. The Lakers are double-digit home favorites implied for 115 points. At his price tag, Russell is too cheap given how well he has played lately.
Fast Break
At only $6,800 on DraftKings, Bradley Beal is projected to be one of the highest-owned players on the slate. After playing 24 minutes in his first game back from injury, Beal saw a big bump last game with 32 minutes and shot 9-for-17 from the field for 24 points. Devin Booker is still out, and Beal is projected to play 32 minutes again Sunday. With how quickly the Thunder play, Beal will have plenty of opportunity to outperform his cheap salary. He looks incredible at his mid-range salary on both sites Sunday.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
LeBron James at sub-10% projected ownership on DraftKings and FanDuel is always a player worth mentioning, as he is averaging a team-high 25.2 points per game. Projected for a 33% usage rate, James will have no problem stuffing the stat sheet against a depleted Trail Blazers team. James has flirted with a triple-double in a few games already this season and is second on the Lakers in rebounds and assists per game. Projected to play 36 minutes, James is a strong contrarian option.
As a double-digit home favorite, James has nine Pro Trends on both sites. A lot is pointing to James in this matchup, but he is questionable with a calf injury. If for some reason James can’t play, immediately look to Anthony Davis, who is also in a great spot against the Trail Blazers frontcourt. The matchup is too good to ignore; just make sure that James is able to play.
Value
Matisse Thybulle had to be unleashed last game, and the same will on the table Sunday with all of the Trail Blazers’ injuries. Thybulle played a season-high 34 minutes last game and finished with 13 points, four steals, two rebounds, and one assist. Playing that many minutes, Thybulle is going to fall into fantasy points because he is constantly around the ball with his tenacious defense. The Lakers allow 8.2 steals per game, making this an elite defensive spot for the aggressive Thybulle.
Projected to play 28 minutes, Thybulle has the second-highest projected Plus/Minus on FanDuel and the fourth-highest on DraftKings at the small forward position. Prioritize Thybulle on FanDuel at his $3,900 salary. This is a very difficult position to fill, and Thybulle is a cheap way to get exposure to the Trail Blazers. Filling him in makes it easy to fit in the studs.
Fast Break
DeMar DeRozan has back-to-back games with over 40 DraftKings points. DeRozan and Zach LaVine both have small-forward eligibility on DraftKings and are projected around the similar ownership. DeRozan is more consistent and is the preferred option in cash, while LaVine is best served as a boom-or-bust tournament play. The Bulls are in a great bounceback spot as 7.5-point home favorites against the Pistons. It is worth getting exposure to one of DeRozan or LaVine on Sunday.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Kevin Durant has been ultra-aggressive over his last few games, attempting 27 field goals in two of his last three games. Over that time, Durant has averaged 55.5 DraftKings points per game with a 33.2% usage rate. Durant does most of his damage scoring the ball, but this season he is also averaging 6.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. With the third-highest projected ceiling on DraftKings, Durant is worth getting exposure to in tournaments with his cheaper projected ownership.
Despite a 5-4 record, the Thunder rank below-average in defensive rating and 27th in rebounding percentage at 47%. Durant has a great chance at a double-double against this small Thunder frontcourt. The Suns are only a 2.5-point home favorite, but they have the highest implied total on the slate at 119 points. Durant is a fantastic contrarian pay-up option Sunday.
Value
Staying with the Suns, Keita Bates-Diop has served as a strong role player, playing 30-plus minutes in back-to-back games. Last game, Bates-Diop attempted a season-high 11 field goals, including six 3-pointers. At $4,500 on both DraftKings and FanDuel, Bates-Diop looks like an incredible value if he is going to attempt double-digit field goals again Sunday. There is not a lot of value thus far on this seven-game slate, but Bates-Diop is too cheap, even at a modest 28-minute projection.
As previously mentioned, the Thunder have a small frontcourt and have been a poor rebounding team to start the season. That will also benefit Bates-Diop, who has at least five rebounds in three-straight games. He also has sneaky defensive-stat upside with six blocks and four steals in his last four games. It may be uncomfortable, but Bates-Diop is a strong value.
Fast Break
Jerami Grant went on a scoring frenzy last game with a season-high 38 points while shooting 12-for-25 from the field, including five made 3-pointers. Grant has increased his scoring in five-straight games, starting at 22 points nearly two weeks ago. Taking on a new scoring role has been beneficial to Grant, who has a 27.7% usage rate, which is the second-highest in his career. Attempting 22-plus field goals in three consecutive games, Grant looks great at his mid-range salary on both sites.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Without Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokic has scored 35 points in back-to-back games with a 36.1% usage rate. Jokic continues to be a monster on the glass, averaging 12.9 rebounds per game, which is the second-highest in the league. He has recorded a double-double in every game, including three triple-doubles. Priced at $12,500 on FanDuel and $12,000 on DraftKings, Jokic is the highest-priced player on both sites and has the highest projected ceiling.
Jokic has a positive Plus/Minus in four consecutive games and leads the league with 62.5 DraftKings points per game. The decision between Jokic and Doncic is always difficult, but Jokic does get the benefit of increased usage without Murray. The Rockets have been strong defensively, allowing only 44.3 points per game in the paint, but Jokic is a different beast.
Value
With Jalen Duren out, Isaiah Stewart will get a nice boost, as he has stuffed the stat sheet averaging 14.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and four assists per game without Duren this season. With an outside shot of a double-double, Stewart looks strong on both sites as a value. Priced at $5,500 on DraftKings and $5,600 on FanDuel, Stewart is in a great spot, especially considering he is power-forward and center eligible on both sites. He is impossible to ignore on this slate at those price tags.
Nikola Vucevic is not a great defender and is sporadic with his rebounding. As a team, the Bulls rank 28th in rebounding percentage, so Stewart has a great shot at double-digit rebounds Sunday. The flexibility Stewart provides on both sites make him easy to fit in all lineup builds. He is projected around 20% ownership on both sites, making him a strong cash option.
Fast Break
Deandre Ayton is another Trail Blazers player worth targeting with the plethora of injuries to their guards. Ayton has been dominant on the glass, averaging a career-high 12.9 rebounds per game. His career-low 11.4 points per game will likely need to rise for the Trail Blazers to keep this game competitive. This is a surprisingly great matchup for Ayton against the Lakers, who rank 25th in rebounding percentage and have allowed the ninth-most points in the paint at 52.4 per game.
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