Let’s dive into some of the top plays on the slate using the FantasyLabs tools and projections.
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.
You can also use our SimLabs Lineup Generator, a tool that creates the most user-friendly lineup generation process.
Note: Projections and Leverage 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
The OKC Thunder have wrapped up the top seed in the Western Conference but have shown no signs of resting players or slowing down. They have won 18 of their last 19 games, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is trying to leave no doubt for the MVP race. He continues to lead the league in scoring with a career-high 32.8 points per game, while shooting 52% from the field. His price tag has skyrocketed to $11,600, but Gilgeous-Alexander leads this seven-game slate in projected ceiling and is a great pay-up option tonight.
The Thunder are 6.5-point road favorites against the Rockets, who are currently the second-best team in the Western Conference. The Rockets have a top five defense, but Gilgeous-Alexander has had no trouble in this matchup. In their four previous meetings, Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 36 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 58.8 DraftKings points per game. He is shooting 55% from the field and 46% from deep.
Value
Veteran Chris Paul has recorded back-to-back ceiling performances for the depleted Spurs. In his last two games against the Magic and Nuggets, Paul stuffed the stat sheet, averaging 13.5 points, 7.5 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 steals, 1.5 blocks, and 37.8 DraftKings points per game. In those games, Paul has combined for a +36.27 DraftKings Plus/Minus. Projected to play 26 minutes, Paul leads the point guard position in projected Plus/Minus by a comfortable margin. At his $4,300 price tag, Paul is simply a little too cheap.
The Spurs are 13-point home underdogs against the Cavaliers, who still hold the best record in the East. They only lost by eight points in their matchup last week on the road, and Paul provided another game with a positive Plus/Minus. He is old, and the matchup is difficult, but Paul is still a strong value option.
Fast Break
Josh Giddey is $1,700 cheaper than Gilgeous-Alexander but only projected for three fantasy points less. Since the All-Star Break, it is hard to find a better player than Giddey. He is averaging a near triple-double with 21 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game, while shooting 50.2% from the field and 47.1% from behind the arc. Giddey has captured nine double-doubles and three triple-doubles in his last 16 games. Drawing a matchup against the Trail Blazers, Giddey is one of the best pay-up options available.
Don’t forget to check out our NBA SimLabs Lineup Generator to create advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation:
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
Trying to fend off the Celtics in the Eastern Conference, the Cavaliers have won five of their last six games, and Donovan Mitchell has been a major key to their recent success. He has posted four straight games with a positive Plus/Minus, averaging 28.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 55.8 DraftKings points per game. His salary has jumped to $9,300, but that is more than reasonable after his flurry of ceiling games.
The Cavaliers are massive favorites against the Spurs and have the highest team total on the slate at 127.25 points. With many injuries and nothing left to play for this season, the Spurs rank 28th in defensive rating since the All-Star Break. Mitchell leads all shooting guards in projected ceiling and ranks fifth on the slate. He has four consecutive games with 50+ DraftKings points and a great chance to make it five.
Value
In his third year in the league, Johnny Juzang has been a valuable asset for the Jazz. With starters Jordan Clarkson, Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler, and John Collins out, Juzang draws a massive increase in usage rate and projected output. He has recorded a positive Plus/Minus in seven of his last eight games, averaging double-digit points and 18.5 DraftKings points per game during that time. Juzang is still priced under $4,000 with shooting guard and small forward eligibility, making it easy to fit him into all formats.
The Jazz have the worst record in the league at 16-61 and are the biggest underdog on the slate. Despite a potential blowout, Juzang will get his playing time and is projected for 25 minutes. The Pacers are an average defense and play at the eighth-fastest pace in the league, making this a great game environment.
Fast Break
With Kevin Durant still sidelined, Devin Booker immediately gets put into the conversation to be one of the best plays on the slate. Booker is coming off a massive double-double with 39 points and 11 assists. He attempted an absurd 32 field goals with a 39.3% usage rate. That was Booker’s fourth double-double in his last six games. The Suns are on the road against the Celtics, who rank fifth in defensive rating. Even in a difficult matchup, Booker’s 34.7% projected usage rate is impossible to ignore in this spot tonight.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Opposite of Booker in this matchup is Celtics’ star Jayson Tatum, who has the third-highest projected ceiling on this seven-game slate. Tatum and the Celtics were awful against the Heat Wednesday night, losing 124-103. He finished with 32.25 DraftKings points, which was the lowest over the last two months. Expect a bounce-back game from Tatum, especially if Jaylen Brown, who is questionable, is unable to play.
With Brown off the floor this season, Tatum has a team-high +5.2% usage rate increase (per our Trends tool). His usage rate jumps to 36.6% with a fairly large sample size of 1,071 minutes without Brown. The Suns rank 27th in defensive rating this season and below average in rebounding. Tatum leads the Celtics in points, rebounds, and assists per game. This is a fantastic spot for Tatum if Brown is out tonight.
Value
Another veteran value Spurs’ player that is worth getting exposure to tonight is forward Harrison Barnes. Similar to Paul, Barnes has posted back-to-back ceiling performances. He has averaged 22 points and 33.9 DraftKings points per game in his last two contests. During that time, Barnes is shooting an impressive 58.6% from the field and 53.9% from behind the arc. Even with a 25-minute projection, Barnes is drawing around 25% projected ownership. Priced under $4,000, Barnes is a great value player to get exposure to.
Barnes has recorded a positive Plus/Minus in five of his last six games. Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, and Jeremy Sochan are all out for the Spurs, solidifying the playing time for Barnes. His size on the wing will be needed against a taller Cavaliers frontcourt. He is another value play that is simply too cheap.
Fast Break
Coby White has also been an incredible post All-Star Break contributor for the Bulls. Most of his fantasy production comes from scoring the ball, where he is averaging a team-high 25.3 points per game since the break. He also has 42+ DraftKings points in five of his last six games and will have no trouble filling it up against a weak Trail Blazers team that ranks below average defensively. With Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan leaving at the trade deadline, White has needed to step up and has in the scoring department.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Leading the slate in projected ownership is Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija. The last two games have been pure domination for Avdija, who is averaging 29 points, 15 rebounds, eight assists, two steals, one block, and 66.5 DraftKings points per game. It is safe to say that Avdija has had a successful first year with the Trail Blazers. He is averaging a career-high across the board in points, rebounds, and assists per game.
The Bulls are a great matchup for Avdija, who has been filling up the stat sheet in a variety of ways. The Bulls rank third in pace, which is why this matchup has the second-highest total on the slate at 236.5 points. Expect plenty of scoring with not much defense. Avdija has seen a price hike to $9,400 but has paid that off and then some. He has posted a positive Plus/Minus in eight straight games and is not slowing down.
Value
Another Jazz value option to target tonight is dual forward eligible Brice Sensabaugh. He has several ceiling performances added to his resume this season despite only drawing 10 total starts. Sensabaugh is averaging double-digit points per game for the first time in his career and is shooting 42% from behind the arc. Exactly 60% of his field goals attempted have been from downtown this season, which provides value on DraftKings. The Pacers have been a tough perimeter defense, but Sensabaugh will let it fly.
Since the All-Star Break, Sensabaugh has made at least two 3-pointers in 19 of his last 21 games, while averaging 2.9 3-pointers made per game and shooting 49.2% from distance. It will not take much for Sensabaugh to return value at $4,700, especially with all of the injuries to the Jazz rotation tonight.
Fast Break
Cavaliers newly acquired forward De’Andre Hunter has had spurts of ceiling games since joining his new team, but has mainly been a defensive specialist. He is attempting less than double-digit field goals for the first time in his career, but has been efficient shooting 49.3% from the field and 43.2% from deep and averaging 13.8 points per game. He has scored double-digit points in each of his last seven games and is another player who can easily return value at $4,100. He is a cheap way to get exposure to the Cavaliers.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Projected for slightly less than 10% ownership is Kings’ center Domantas Sabonis. He is a great way to differentiate lineups tonight and doesn’t break the bank at $10,100. Sabonis seemingly gets better year in and year out and is averaging a massive double-double with 19 points and a league and career-high 14 rebounds per game. He has become a lock for a double-double with triple-double upside this season.
The Hornets have surprisingly been a difficult interior defensive team led by Mark Williams. The young center has kept opposing big men from scoring and off the glass but will have his hands full with the league’s leading rebounder. Sabonis leads all centers by a wide margin in projected ceiling and has a fantastic opportunity to differentiate the slate. It is recommended to get overweight Sabonis tonight.
Value
Arguably, the best value on the slate is Spurs’ center Sandro Mamukelashvili. He is coming off a huge game against Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets, recording a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double in only 23 minutes. He shot 5-for-11 from the field, including 2-for-5 from behind the arc, and even added one steal, accumulating 32.5 DraftKings points. It was his second game in his last three where Mamukelashvili recorded over 30 DraftKings points. However, his inconsistency recently has also kept his salary in check.
The Cavaliers frontcourt of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen will force the Spurs to give Mamukelashvili more playing time. He is projected to only play 23 minutes tonight, but that could easily rise. Even with limited playing time, Mamukelashvili has power forward and center eligibility, making him an elite value.
Fast Break
With so many injuries to the Jazz frontcourt, Pacers’ center Myles Turner will have no trouble dominating the paint. Turner has had an up-and-down season but has stepped up in the scoring department recently, averaging 15.9 points per game in his last seven games. His rebounding numbers have also crept up, and this is an incredible matchup on the glass. The Jazz since the All-Star Break rank 23rd in rebounding percentage at 49.1%. They have no interior defense that will keep Turner from scoring and off the glass.
