Sunday features an seven-game slate 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.
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NBA DFS Point Guard Picks
Stud
Averaging a career-high 25.9 points and 8.6 assists per game, LaMelo Ball has displayed a ceiling that is worth tapping into on this seven-game slate. In his last nine games, Ball is averaging 32.3 points and 58.1 DraftKings points per game with a 34.8% usage rate. However, he played all nine of those games without backcourt mate Terry Rozier, who is probable to play Sunday. Rozier is likely to be on a minutes restriction, but that may still hamper the incredible ceiling Ball has had lately.
Ball remains the clear-cut point guard to pay up for, as he has four-straight games with 34-plus points. The Hornets have won back-to-back games against the Celtics and Wizards, as Ball played 40-plus minutes in both contests. He is still priced under $10,000 on FanDuel, which is resulting in a 91% Bargain Rating. It is impossible to ignore how well he is playing recently.
Value
The Celtics will be playing without Kristaps Porzingis, while Jrue Holiday is also in danger of missing his second-straight game, as he is questionable to play. Keep an eye on Holiday’s status, because that would make Derrick White look even better. With Porzingis off the floor, White has posted a team-high +5.83% usage rate and a +5.42 DraftKings Plus/Minus. Those statistics increase to a +10.64% usage rate and a +9.35 Plus/Minus, when Holiday is also off the floor this season.
Despite the injury concerns, the Celtics are still eight-point home favorites against the Hawks, implied for a slate-high 122.25 points. Priced at $6,500 on both DraftKings and FanDuel, White is going to be a staple in cash games if Holiday is ruled out. He has point-guard and shooting-guard eligibility on both sites and is currently projected for the second-highest ownership on FanDuel at 42%.
Fast Break
With Markelle Fultz still out for the Magic, both Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs will see increased usage and production in the backcourt. They are projected for the highest and second-highest ownership on DraftKings for Sunday’s slate. That is mainly due to this elite matchup against the Hornets, who rank 28th in defensive rating and 10th in pace this season. Priced under $6,000 on DraftKings, both Anthony and Suggs are worth getting exposure to, and they can even be played together.
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
Another injury situation we need to monitor is the Suns with Kevin Durant questionable. Bradley Beal is already ruled out, but if Durant is also out, that would make Devin Booker one of the easiest plug-and-plays on the slate. Serving as the Suns’ point guard, Booker has averaged a career-high 29.6 points and 8.6 assists per game, while shooting 51.3% from the field and 45.2% from behind the arc. He is coming off a 40-point game against the Grizzlies where he shot a ridiculous 15-for-21.
The Suns have a difficult matchup in Madison Square Garden against the slow-paced Knicks, who rank fifth in defensive rating. However, it won’t matter for Booker if Durant misses, as he has a +5.62% usage rate with Durant and Beal off the floor this season. Even if Durant suits up, Booker has displayed an upside playing alongside him, especially without Beal.
Value
Nickeil Alexander-Walker remains too cheap on FanDuel at $4,200, which is resulting in a 91% Bargain Rating. He has the second-highest projected Plus/Minus at the shooting guard position behind Derrick White and has recorded a positive Plus/Minus in four-straight games and nine of his last 11. Alexander-Walker is projected to start for the Timberwolves and play around 26 minutes. His shooting-guard and small-forward eligibility on both sites make it easy to fit him into all lineups.
The Timberwolves are still playing without Jaden McDaniels and backup point guard Jordan McLaughlin, which solidifies the playing time for Alexander-Walker. They are seven-point road favorites against the 3-12 Grizzlies, implied for just over 111 points. Alexander-Walker can stuff the stat sheet in a variety of ways, which helps his value specifically in this matchup.
Fast Break
If the Grizzlies can stay close to the Timberwolves, it will be due to Desmond Bane. With Marcus Smart still sidelined, Bane has to do everything for this Grizzlies team, as he is averaging a career-high 24.3 points and 5.1 assists per game with a 29.5% usage rate. The Timberwolves are a phenomenal defensive team, but Bane’s usage rate and cheap salary negate the matchup. He is projected for over 20% ownership on both DraftKings and FanDuel at his mid-range price tag Sunday.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Jayson Tatum will also benefit from Porzingis and potentially Holiday being out. Tatum continues to lead the Celtics in scoring, rebounding, and usage rate this season while shooting a career-high 49.8% from the field. He has been a little inconsistent lately, but a matchup against the Hawks is a great spot to bounce back and post a potential slate-breaking score. Priced just over $10,000 on DraftKings and FanDuel, Tatum has the highest projected ceiling at small forward Sunday.
The Hawks rank 25th in defensive rating and play at the third-fastest pace in the league. They are allowing opponents to score 121.7 points per game while shooting nearly 50% from the field. During the playoffs last season, Tatum averaged a double-double with 27.2 points and 10 rebounds per game against the Hawks. He is a strong pay-up option for this slate.
Value
Franz Wagner has recorded over 30 DraftKings points in seven of his last eight games while posting a positive Plus/Minus in all seven games. He has been a huge reason why the Magic have won seven of those eight games, including victories against the Bucks, Celtics, and Nuggets. Priced at $7,000 on both sites, Wagner has the highest projected Plus/Minus at the small forward position. He is averaging a career-high 18.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game with a 25.6% usage rate.
Wagner looks like an elite cash-game play on FanDuel, where he is projected for 35% ownership. Getting exposure to the red-hot Magic in this matchup is a necessity on this seven-game slate. They are seven-point home favorites, implied for 117.5 points. Expect the Magic to continue their six-game winning streak and Wagner to be a big piece of the puzzle Sunday.
Fast Break
Scottie Barnes is an easy way to get different on this slate, as he is projected for sub-5% ownership on both DraftKings and FanDuel. This line has significantly moved in favor of the Raptors, as they are now only a one-point road underdog. With 10 Pro Trends on both sites, Barnes has triple-double upside, as he is averaging a career-high in points, rebounds, and assists this season. He doesn’t project well in this difficult matchup against the Cavaliers frontcourt, but Barnes does have a ceiling.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
The top pricing tier of the power forward position is relatively weak, but Karl-Anthony Towns has been a key factor in the Timberwolves’ 11-4 record this season. Towns doesn’t lead the team in any category, but he is averaging a near double-double with 22 points and nine rebounds per game, while joining the 50-40-90 shooting percentage club. A price of $8,500 on FanDuel is great value for Towns, who has averaged a +10 DraftKings Plus/Minus per game over his last eight games.
With all of the Grizzlies’ frontcourt injuries, it shouldn’t be surprising that they rank 22nd in rebounding percentage this season. Towns has recorded back-to-back games with double-doubles, averaging 25 points and 11 rebounds per game. He has a great chance to make it three-straight games with a double-double against the Grizzlies with their lack of interior size.
Value
Aaron Gordon had arguably the worst game of his career Friday night, as he played 39 minutes and shot 0-for-12 from the field, 0-for-4 from downtown, and 2-for-4 from the free-throw line. It was the first time Gordon failed to capture double-digit points in 11-straight games. In those previous 10 games, Gordon averaged 14.9 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. Expect a bounceback performance from Gordon, who has the highest projected Plus/Minus on the slate for FanDuel on Sunday.
At $6,600 on FanDuel, Gordon is projected for a slate-high 45% ownership. He has 10 Pro Trends, and his salary is resulting in an 86% Bargain Rating. Playing against the Spurs is the absolute perfect matchup for the Nuggets, as they rank 27th in defensive rating and fourth in pace. Friday night was rough, but expect a bounceback game from Gordon in this matchup.
Fast Break
The Spurs have lost 11-straight games, but Victor Wembanyama has lived up to the hype. He has scored 22 points in back-to-back games, while averaging 12 rebounds, 3.5 assists. 2.5 rebounds, and one steal per game over that time. His ceiling is massive, and priced under $9,000 on both DraftKings and FanDuel, Wembanyama is worth getting exposure to. The Spurs are double-digit road underdogs, but if they can keep this game competitive, Wembanyama will have a big game.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Nikola Jokic is the obvious pay-up option on this seven-game slate. No one comes close to his ceiling on DraftKings and FanDuel. Jamal Murray remains out for the Nuggets, which boosts Jokic’s ceiling even higher. Jokic is coming off a massive game where he recorded 38 points, 19 rebounds, eight assists, and three steals, as he attempted a season-high 31 field goals. He is basically projected for a triple-double in fantastic matchup against a very weak Spurs frontcourt Sunday.
The Nuggets have a 120-point implied team total as they are 12-point home favorites. Not only are the Spurs a terrible defensive team, but they also rank 26th in rebounding percentage. They are also allowing 51.6 points per game in the paint this season. Don’t overthink it. Jokic is an incredible cash-game play and has an untouchable ceiling for tournaments.
Value
Jokic has the highest projected Plus/Minus on both sites, but with him already out of the way, Al Horford looks like a strong value on FanDuel. Horford is $1,100 cheaper on FanDuel than he is on DraftKings, and he has the second-highest projected Plus/Minus and is one of the best options in lineups that do not have Jokic. Horford is projected to start and play around 30 minutes for the Celtics. His FanDuel salary has a 97% Bargain Rating, as Horford is projected for 25% ownership Sunday.
Horford is a boom-or-bust fantasy option, as shown in his last two games. Horford played 30-plus minutes in back-to-back games, finishing one game with 32.6 FanDuel points and the other with 12.5 points. He is a little too risky for cash games, but he makes for a strong value tournament play. Prioritize Horford on FanDuel on Sunday at his very cheap price tag.
Fast Break
In the same matchup as Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert is fourth in the league in rebounds with 11.7 per game. Over the last four games, Gobert is averaging 14.5 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks per game. Now against the weak Grizzlies frontcourt, Gobert will dominate the paint. He is way too cheap on DraftKings at $6,800, as he has a 78% Bargain Rating.
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