Sunday features a six-game main slate starting at 6 p.m. ET.
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 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.
Stud
The Magic are still without Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, which means Jalen Suggs is going to have to continue to carry the load offensively. He’s seen a massive spike in usage in two games without both players this season, increasing his usage rate by +7.78%. He owns a team-best 33.79% usage rate in those contests, and he’s responded with more than 45 DraftKings points per game.
Suggs is coming off 54.25 DraftKings points in his last outing, and he’ll square off with the Knicks on Sunday. New York isn’t an ideal matchup, playing at the fourth-slowest pace so far this season. However, they have taken a step back defensively. They’re merely 17th in defensive efficiency after ranking ninth in that department last year.
Ultimately, Suggs is simply too cheap for the type of upside he brings to the table for the shorthanded Magic.
Value
The same can be said for Anthony Black. Black is currently projected for 25 minutes vs. the Knicks, and he’s increased his production to 0.95 DraftKings points per minute in two games without Wagner and Banchero.
He also has upside if he plays a bit more than expected. That’s what happened in the team’s last contest. Black finished with 32.3 minutes, and he racked up 35.5 DraftKings points. That gives him a nice combination of floor and ceiling at just $4,300.
Fast Break
Jrue Holiday is down to $5,100 for the Celtics, but he’s been fantastic for them recently. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in three straight games, scoring at least 30.25 DraftKings points in each. Holiday has historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +3.87 with a comparable price tag, and he’s increased that figure to +5.06 as a member of the Celtics (per the Trends tool). There’s definitely some blowout concern with the Celtics on Sunday – they’re massive 17-point favorites vs. the Wizards – but they also have big offensive upside: their 125.5 implied team total is the top mark on the slate by a wide margin.
Payton Pritchard is also in play for Boston. He’s been on a tear recently, posting a positive Plus/Minus in seven of his past eight games, and he’s gone for at least 40.25 DraftKings points in four of them. That includes 51.5 DraftKings points in his last contest. His minutes shouldn’t be as impacted if this game turns into a blowout, so he’s one of the safer options on the squad.
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
Derrick White rounds out the trio of Boston guards, and he might be the best of the bunch. He leads all shooting guards in projected Plus/Minus, and he grades out higher than both Holiday and Pritchard at point guard as well.
White has been the most consistent producer of the trio all season. He’s averaged 1.04 DraftKings points per minute, and he’s projected for 34 minutes in our NBA Models. His nine Pro Trends rank second at the position, and he’s showing up in the optimal lineup simulations at the highest rate at shooting guard. Ultimately, there’s not much more to say about him; he’s simply a good basketball player in a really good matchup.
Value
The Warriors are going to be a really important team to monitor Sunday. They currently have some key players listed as questionable, including Steph Curry. If he’s ruled out, it’s going to open up a ton of value with the rest of the roster.
Buddy Hield has already been playing well recently. He’s started the past two games for the Warriors, and he’s racked up 31.0 and 44.0 DraftKings points. He’s finished with at least 34.5 minutes in both outings, and he’s averaged 1.08 DraftKings points per minute for the year.
That makes him a viable option regardless of Curry’s status. However, he would become one of the best values of the day if he’s ultimately ruled out. Hield has seen a usage bump of +2.43% with Curry off the floor this season, which is the second-highest mark on the team.
Fast Break
Klay Thompson has posted a positive Plus/Minus in back-to-back games, and he’ll return to Golden State for the second time since leaving this offseason. He was excellent in his first game vs. the Warriors, racking up 33.5 DraftKings points in 33.6 minutes, and it’s possible he has a little extra juice for these matchups. His projected ownership is also significantly lower than his optimal lineup rate, making him an excellent tournament option.
Shaedon Sharpe has hit a bit of a cold stretch recently, posting a negative Plus/Minus in six of his past eight games. That’s caused his salary to come down just a tick for Sunday’s matchup vs. the Suns. He’s still averaged 0.87 DraftKings points per minute for the year, and he’s currently projected for 32 minutes. He’s a solid buy-low option.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Paying up at small forward means you’re essentially deciding between the two Jays: Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Brown is available at a solid discount, but Tatum stands out as the preferred option in our NBA Models. His median projection is roughly nine points higher, while the gap in ceiling projection is closer to 10.
Tatum has finished All-NBA First-Team in three straight years, but he’s arguably having his best season. He’s averaging 28.2 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game, good for an average of 1.45 DraftKings points per minute. He’s gone for at least 54.0 DraftKings points in three of his past five games, and while there’s definitely some blowout risk here, there’s also plenty of upside.
Value
I’m going to continue to ride the Justin Champagnie train for as long as humanly possible. The Wizards are still without Kyle Kuzma, Malcolm Brogdon, Kyshawn George, and Corey Kispert, which should keep his spot in the starting lineup pretty safe. Champagnie has started three straight games for the Wizards, and he’s racked up 42.5, 34.0, and 32.5 DraftKings points. That’s excellent production for someone who is priced at less than $5,000, and his current salary comes with an 89% Bargain Rating on DraftKings.
Fast Break
Jaden McDaniels is coming off a huge performance in his last outing, finishing with 43.25 DraftKings points vs. the Lakers. He’s now played at least 36 minutes in back-to-back games, and if he’s going to continue to play that much, he’s undoubtedly underpriced at $4,200. Historically, players with comparable salaries and minute projections have averaged a Plus/Minus of +3.24.
Bilal Coulibaly is another strong target for the Wizards. He’s one of their top prospects, so getting him as much development as possible is key for them this season. He’s logged at least 39.8 minutes in two of his past three games, with the exception being a 28-point loss to the Grizzlies. Still, he managed to get to 32.25 DraftKings points in that outing, and he’s had at least that many in three straight games. He has big upside if this game stays competitive, and he’s proven he can return value even if it doesn’t.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Kevin Durant is back for the Suns, and he’s picked up basically right where he left off before his injury. He’s returned positive value in three of his past four games, including 50.25 DraftKings points vs. the Jazz in his last outing. He played just under 34 minutes in that contest, and he’s averaged 1.33 DraftKings points per minute over the past month.
Durant is down at just $8,700, which is extremely cheap for a player of his caliber. He’s historically averaged just under 44 DraftKings points in games with a comparable salary and minute projection, giving him plenty of appeal in a great matchup vs. the Blazers. They’re merely 23rd in defensive efficiency for the year, and the Suns trail only the Celtics in terms of implied team total.
Durant might also have to do a bit more than usual offensively. Bradley Beal is officially questionable vs. the Blazers, and Durant has seen a team-high +2.31% usage bump with Beal off the floor.
Value
Jonathan Kuminga continues to stand out as one of the top overall options in our NBA Models. He’s moved into the starting lineup for the Warriors and is routinely playing 30-plus minutes a night. As long as that continues to happen, he’s simply too cheap at $5,700. He’s scored at least 32.75 DraftKings points in four of his past five games, and he’s eclipsed 40 DraftKings points in two of them.
Kuminga has also seen the largest usage bump on the team with Curry off the court this season, resulting in an average of 1.12 DraftKings points per minute.
Fast Break
LeBron James is questionable for the Lakers on Sunday, and Rui Hachimura has been playing all the minutes he can handle in his absence. He’s logged at least 38.9 minutes in three straight games, and he’s averaged 0.81 DraftKings points per minute over the past month.
Brandon Clarke doesn’t play nearly as much as Hachimura, but he makes up for it with his per-minute production. He’s always been a fantastic contributor when on the floor, and he’s averaged 1.02 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. He’s projected for 23 minutes Sunday, which is enough to keep him viable at $4,300.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Most of the top pay-up options on this slate don’t stand out as particularly strong values. Luka Doncic, Victor Wembanyama, and Karl Anthony-Towns are all projected for a Plus/Minus of -4.61 or worse, which makes them tough to roster.
Fortunately, Anthony Davis is a reasonable alternative. He’s putting together his best season as a member of the Lakers, and he’s averaged 1.51 DraftKings points per minute. He’s coming off a disappointing showing in a tough matchup vs. the Timberwolves, but he had at least 60.75 DraftKings points in his prior two outings.
The matchup vs. the Grizzlies is also elite. They’ve played at the second-fastest pace this season, and Davis owns a +8.03 Opponent Plus/Minus. He would be the clear top pay-up option on the slate if James were ultimately ruled out, but he’s a viable target even with LeBron back in the lineup.
Value
Dereck Lively has been a bit of a disappointment of late, but there have been some encouraging signs for his prospects moving forward. His playing time has been way up, logging at least 31.0 minutes in two of his past four outings. Lively has averaged just 23.5 minutes for the year, so that represents a significant improvement.
He’s projected for 28 minutes on Sunday’s slate, and if he gets to that level, he has the potential to be an elite value. Lively has averaged 1.11 DraftKings points per minute for the year, and he’s priced at just $5,100.
Fast Break
Goga Bitadze is another player who is simply too cheap at the moment. He’s seen a sizable usage bump with Wagner and Banchero off the floor this season, and he’s already a strong per-minute producer to begin with. He’s averaged 1.12 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s scored at least 41.0 DraftKings points in two straight games. He logged more than 38 minutes in his last outing, and he has massive upside if he approaches that figure again.
Finally, Kristaps Porzingis is another potential target for the Celtics. Al Horford is out of the lineup on Sunday for rest purposes, so Porzingis could pick up a few additional minutes. He’s already been an elite source of value recently, posting a positive Plus/Minus in four straight games, so that’s a really appealing outcome. If not for the blowout concerns, he’d be one of the strongest options on the slate.
