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 Cavaliers continue to absolutely roll. They’re currently sitting at 33-4, which gives them an outside chance of besting the 2015-16 Warriors for the best record in history. That team went 73-9, so while they still have a lot of work to do, they’re roughly on pace.
The Cavaliers don’t have a particularly star-laden lineup, but they have a lot of players who are capable of going off on a nightly basis. That includes Darius Garland at point guard. He put that on display in his last outing, finishing with 60.5 DraftKings points in a win over the Raptors. Overall, Garland has averaged a +5.81 Plus/Minus over his past eight games, and he’s averaged 1.34 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. Among Sunday’s PGs, only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and LaMelo Ball have been better on a per-minute basis over that time frame, and both players are significantly more expensive.
Garland also draws a fantastic matchup Sunday vs. the Pacers. They rank seventh in pace and 21st in defensive efficiency for the year, and the Cavaliers are implied for a massive 124.5 points in this spot.
Value
There are a lot of strong value targets at point guard Sunday, but it’s hard for me to look past Cole Anthony. He’s not quite as cheap as some of the other “values,” but he has significantly more upside for the shorthanded Magic. Orlando is currently playing without Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs, leaving Anthony as one of their top offensive options. He’s seen a 2.41% bump to his usage rate with both players off the floor this season, resulting in an average of 1.17 DraftKings points per minute.
Anthony is currently projected for 30 minutes in our NBA Models, but that feels on the conservative side. He’s played at least 35.3 minutes in two of his past three outings, and if he can get back to that level, he’s undoubtedly underpriced at $5,700. He’s scored at least 36.25 DraftKings points in both of those outings, so he provides a nice combination of floor and ceiling.
Fast Break
The Jazz are another team playing without a few of their usual top options at the moment, which has allowed Isaiah Collier to move into the starting lineup. He’s not nearly the same offensive threat as Anthony, as he’s averaging 0.74 DraftKings points per minute for the year, but he’s still scored at least 22.75 DraftKings points in four of his past five games. He’s currently projected for 28 minutes at just $4,000, and players with comparable salaries and minute projections have historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +2.73 (per the Trends tool).
Gilgeous-Alexander hasn’t provided a ton of value recently, and there’s a chance that the Thunder wipe the floor with the Wizards on Sunday. They’re listed as 16-point favorites, so SGA could spend the fourth quarter resting on the bench. However, that should keep his ownership in check, and he has massive upside if the game is more competitive than expected. The Wizards are fourth in pace and dead last in defensive efficiency, and OKC is implied for 123.5 points in this contest. That makes him an intriguing option for tournaments, and his $10,700 salary comes with an 89% Bargain Rating.
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
Collin Sexton has gotten a bit pricy at $7,000, but he’s been a phenomenal source of value recently. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in 10 of his past 12 outings, and he’s averaged a Plus/Minus of +4.60 over his past 10 games.
Jordan Clarkson and Keyonte George are both currently sidelined for the Jazz, which has allowed Sexton to serve as the team’s primary backcourt option. John Collins has been among the team’s usage leaders this season, and he’s also been out of late. With all three players off the floor this season, Sexton’s usage rate climbs over 30%, and he’s averaged 1.20 DraftKings points per minute in that split.
Sexton still isn’t playing a ton of minutes — he’s projected for 30 on Sunday’s slate – but it’s enough to keep him on the radar in a solid matchup vs. the Nets.
Value
Cason Wallace has been massively underpriced all season, and Sunday’s matchup vs. the Wizards is no exception. He’s down at just $3,700 on DraftKings, resulting in a 93% Bargain Rating.
Wallace is currently projected for 30 minutes in our NBA Models, and he’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in five of his past six games. He doesn’t bring a ton of upside to the table, but it’s hard to find a better combination of minutes, salary, and matchup Sunday.
Fast Break
Isaiah Joe’s minutes aren’t quite as secure as Wallace’s for OKC, but he makes up for it with superior per-minute production. He’s averaged 0.83 DraftKings points per minute for the year, and as a 3-point shooting specialist, he offers plenty of upside. His minutes are also trending upward, logging 24.9 and 30.3 in his past two outings. There’s no guarantee he plays that much again Sunday, but if he does, he’s going to be an elite value at just $3,600.
Grayson Allen is another elite perimeter shooter whose minutes are on the rise. The Suns have shaken up their rotation a bit recently, and Allen is seeing more minutes as a result. He’s logged 26.9 and 30.5 in his past two contests, and he’s responded with at least 28.5 DraftKings points in both. He’s averaged 0.86 DraftKings points per minute this season, so he’s another potentially undervalued target at $4,600.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Sunday doesn’t stand out as a great slate to pay up at small forward. There are only a handful of players priced at around $8k or higher, and none of them stands out as a particularly strong value in our NBA models.
However, Tyrese Martin is someone who could provide a solid ceiling at just $5,000. The Nets are dealing with a bunch of key absences at the moment, with D’Angelo Russell, Cam Thomas, and Cameron Johnson all currently out with injuries. They also traded Dennis Schroder to the Warriors, so they don’t have any proven scorers at the moment.
Martin has seen a 3.29% usage bump with all four players off the floor this season, and he’s averaged 0.99 DraftKings points per minute in that split. He’s logged at least 30.4 minutes in three straight games, and he’s scored at least 30.0 DraftKings points in his past two. Add in a strong matchup vs. the Jazz, who are 29th in the league in defensive efficiency, and Martin has the potential to do some damage.
Value
Lu Dort is another player who stands out as underpriced for the Thunder on Sunday. He saw just 22.8 minutes in his last outing, but that stands out as a bit of an outlier. He had played at least 32.5 minutes in each of his prior three contests, and he’s projected for 32 minutes on Sunday’s slate.
If he gets back to that threshold, he should be able to pay off his $4,300 salary. Dort has historically had a comparable salary and minute projection in 51 previous contests, and he’s averaged a healthy +2.55 Plus/Minus.
Fast Break
Jayson Tatum isn’t grading out as a strong target in our NBA Models, but the weakness of the position still makes him worth considering. His ceiling projection is more than 10 points higher than every other SF, and he’s showing up in the optimal lineup simulations at the second-highest frequency at the position. He’s projected for less than 20% ownership, which the simulations believe is too low.
Max Strus has posted a positive Plus/Minus in five straight games for the Cavaliers despite failing to eclipse 26.3 minutes in any of those contests. His salary has remained reasonable at $3,900, so he’s another potential value option on this slate.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Evan Mobley is another reason for the Cavaliers’ improvement this season. He’s taken a big step forward in his fourth professional season, particularly of late. He’s averaged 1.37 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s racked up at least 47.75 DraftKings points in three of his past four games. Mobley’s salary has crept up to $8,400, but that still might not be high enough in a strong matchup vs. the Pacers.
Value
Kenrich Williams is only projected for 19 minutes in our NBA Models, but that’s still enough to make him one of the best values of the day. He leads all players in projected Plus/Minus, thanks in part to his average of 0.99 DraftKings points per minute. Unlike the rest of the Thunder, he also shouldn’t be too impacted if this game turns into a blowout. If anything, he might pick up a few additional minutes, giving him a bit more upside than usual.
Fast Break
Noah Clowney is another potential target for the shorthanded Nets. He erupted for 47.0 DraftKings points two games ago, though he dipped back to just 25.75 in his last contest. That was still enough to pay off his $5,000 salary, and he’s only $100 more expensive for Sunday’s matchup vs. the Jazz. He’s averaged 0.86 DraftKings points per minute for the year, so he provides a solid floor and an outstanding ceiling for his price tag.
Paolo Banchero returned to Orlando’s lineup Friday, and he finished with 54.25 DraftKings points in just 26.5 minutes. He probably won’t continue to average more than 2.00 DraftKings points per minute moving forward, but he should be a bit better than usual on a per-minute basis with Wagner and Suggs sidelined. His playing time should also increase as he gets further removed from injury, so he has a few different ways to potentially provide value.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Like the rest of the Cavaliers, Jarrett Allen stands out as a strong target Sunday. He’s scored at least 40.75 DraftKings points in four of his past five games, including three straight. That includes 57.25 DraftKings points two games ago in a difficult matchup vs. the Thunder, so he has a much higher ceiling than his current salary suggests. Allen also stands out as one of the best pure values at the position on DraftKings, where his $6,600 price tag comes with a Bargain Rating of 92%.
Value
Kyle Filipowski has had the opportunity to play a bit more for the Jazz of late, and he’s projected for 22 minutes Sunday vs. the Nets. That’s not a ton, but it’s enough for him to potentially return value at just $3,700. He’s averaged 0.86 DraftKings points per minute for the year, and he’s gone for at least 24.25 DraftKings points in two of his past four games. The Nets are one of the best possible matchups for centers, with Filipowski leading the position with a +5.9 Opponent Plus/Minus.
Fast Break
Mark Williams has failed to return value in back-to-back games, snapping a streak of six straight with a positive Plus/Minus. However, he was limited to just 21.5 minutes in his last outing. He had been playing closer to 30 minutes per game before that, and he’s expected to get back to that threshold Sunday. He’s averaged an outstanding 1.34 DraftKings points per minute for the year, so he’s a strong bounce-back candidate.
Jonathan Isaac is another player who stands out as underpriced at the moment. He has a wide range of outcomes, but his ceiling is very strong for a $3,400 player. He’s an excellent per-minute producer, and he’s played at least 20.1 minutes in two of his past three outings. He’s gotten to at least 24.0 DraftKings points in both of those contests, so he has some upside if he plays a bit more than expected vs. the 76ers.
