Sunday features a six-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 150 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. Use our FanDuel promo to get three months of free NBA League Pass.
NBA DFS Point Guard Picks
Stud
Despite the expected return of Damian Lillard tonight, Ja Morant is still the top point guard option on the slate. The Grizzlies are 13-9, led by Morant, who is averaging a career-high 28.2 points, 7.3 assists, and 6.4 rebounds per game. Desmond Bane remains out for the Grizzlies as Morant has a team-high +3.8 DraftKings Plus/Minus and a +2.6% usage rate using our On/Off Tool in 235 total minutes when Bane is off the floor this season.
The Grizzlies are in a great spot tonight on the road against the Pistons, who rank 29th in Defensive Rating (117.8), entering tonight’s games. They are favored by seven points and have an implied total of 118.75 points. Morant ranks third in the league in usage rate by player posting a career-high 35.7%. There are a few other really strong pay-up options on this six-game slate, but Morant is one of the best in such a high upside spot.
Value
Alex Caruso is the value point guard worth getting exposure to on both DraftKings and FanDuel tonight. He is a boom-or-bust value play as he can score a lot of fantasy points in a variety of ways, but he can also disappear playing alongside DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine. Caruso has a trend of scoring double-digit points in every other game for the past eight games, so this would be a game where he scored double-digits helping the Bulls bench unit.
In his second season with the Bulls, Caruso is shooting much better than last year but has taken a little bit of a step back in his scoring. The Bulls are a very pedestrian 9-13 this season, and they are three-point road underdogs against the Kings tonight. However, this game has the highest total on the slate at 239 points, as the Bulls have a 118.5 implied total. Caruso is a cheap way to get exposure to this extremely high total game.
Fast Break
Monitoring the news dashboard will be critical for the Trail Blazers and Pacers game. Damian Lillard is expected to return, while Tyrese Haliburton is listed as questionable. Both look great if they are able to play, as this total has climbed to 233 points. The Pacers lead the league in Pace (103.5), entering tonight’s games. Haliburton is the preferred option between the two, but they both look awesome if they are able to play tonight.
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
Anfernee Simons is grading out as the best shooting guard on both DraftKings and FanDuel, but his upside is dictated on whether Lillard plays tonight or not. If Lillard is out, Simons may garner the highest ownership on the slate, given what he has produced recently. He is coming off of a season-high 45 points last game, where he shot 60% from the field and 58.3% from downtown making seven 3-pointers. Simons has been spectacular without Lillard.
The Trail Blazers are three-point favorites as they have a 118 implied total. Simons is one of several Trail Blazers players worth getting to, especially if Lillard isn’t quite ready to go. Simons is the best option on this team, as he has averaged 29 points in 10 games without Lillard this season. He is averaging 4.2 3-pointers per game, which ranks second behind Stephen Curry, which makes him a priority on DraftKings, given the 3-point bonus.
Value
Rookie Andrew Nembhard has been pretty impressive in his first season with the Pacers. Nembhard and Bennedict Mathurin paired with Tyrese Haliburton is going to be fun to watch. If Haliburton can’t play, Nembhard will see a boost in usage rate and production tonight against a Trail Blazers defense that ranks 23rd in Defensive Rating this season. Even with Haliburton in the last game, Nembhard had his first double-double in his career with 13 points and 10 assists.
This is going to be the game to target, as so many players are priced under their expected fantasy points. If Lillard and Haliburton are out, this is going to be the most popular game on the slate, and rightfully so. Prioritize Nembhard on DraftKings, where he is $4,100 and has a 90% Bargain Rating. Value is a little tough to come by on this six-game slate right now, but this game is juicy, and Nembhard is one of the best players to get exposure to tonight.
Fast Break
Donovan Mitchell has been fantastic in his first season with the Cavaliers. He is averaging a career-high 28.7 points per game while shooting a ridiculous 49.4% from the field and 43.5% from behind the arc. Mitchell is attempting 20 field goal attempts for the third-straight year. Despite his peripherals being down on the new team, Mitchell has a very high ceiling. He had 34 points last game while making seven 3-pointers. Scoring is what he does best, and even with the lowest total on the slate, Mitchell can still provide value against the Knicks tonight.
NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
The best two forward plays are arguably the top two pay-up options on the slate are Jayson Tatum vs. Kevin Durant. We’ll start with Tatum, who is rising in the MVP race. He is averaging a career-high 30.8 points per game while shooting 47.9% from the field. The Celtics are a league-best 18-5 this season, as they are three-point road favorites against the Nets. Tatum seems to get up for these big games, so expect another ceiling performance.
Playing against the Nets has been a much tougher matchup recently, but without Ben Simmons, they lack perimeter defense. Tatum was in foul trouble last game but still managed to put up 14 points and 12 rebounds. Before that, Tatum had a season-high 49 points. With Robert Williams out, Tatum has tied his career-high with eight rebounds per game. A double-double is on the table, as the Nets have the worst Rebounding Percentage this season.
Value
Deni Avdija is a player that doesn’t look sexy on paper but has somehow produced fantasy points at a great rate despite playing alongside high-usage players. Avdija only played nine minutes last game, so we may need to monitor his status to make sure he starts today. If he starts, Avdija will play a projected 27.9 minutes and is a worthy value play as he has a positive Plus/Minus in 10 of his last 12 games on FanDuel.
In his third season in the league, Avdija has shown some upside on this Wizards team. A little over a week ago, Avdija nearly had a triple-double with 12 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds. The game before that, he had a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Avdija can rack up fantasy points in a variety of ways and priced at $4,200 on DraftKings and $4,800 on FanDuel, he is a great way to get different with a value play on this slate.
Fast Break
DeMar DeRozan hasn’t been quite as good as last year, but he is still averaging a team-high 25.8 points per game while shooting an impressive 51% from the field. With the highest total on the slate, getting to the Bulls’ best player is worth a shot in tournaments tonight. DeRozan has scored well over 25 points in seven of his last eight games. He has a very high ceiling, and the Kings are allowing 116.2 points per game, which ranks as the eighth-highest in the league.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Kevin Durant, on the flip side of the Celtics and Nets matchup, will get the benefit of playing without Ben Simmons. In seven games without Simmons this season, Durant is scoring slightly more points but much more rebounds and assists, which has boosted his ceiling. Durant continues to be a scoring machine as he is averaging 29.8 points per game while shooting a career-best 55.4% from the field and 92.1% from the charity stripe.
The Nets are starting to turn things around as they have won four straight and seven of their last nine games. Kyrie Irving is back after surviving his suspension, which helps and limits Durant. This team still runs through Durant, who has a 31.3% usage rate, which is the second-highest of his career. When deciding between Durant and Tatum, our tools much prefer Tatum, which will make Durant a contrarian option to pay up for tonight.
Value
Trendon Watford, who has power forward and center eligibility, has the highest Projected Plus/Minus on the slate for DraftKings tonight. He has started in back-to-back games as he put up a double-double in his first game and nine points and 14 rebounds last game. During this two-game stretch, Watford is shooting 57.1% from the field. He looks like a phenomenal salary saver despite his usage rate not reaching over 12.6% in his last two games.
Priced under $4,000 on both DraftKings and FanDuel, Watford is going to easily pay off his salary if he plays 30+ minutes like he has the last two games. Our Tournament Model has Watford projected for 30.2 minutes tonight, making him the best value play by far on the slate. With dual eligibility on DraftKings, it is tough to get away from getting Watford exposure. There are plenty of pay-up options making Watford fit in a ton of tournament lineups.
Fast Break
The two other power forwards worth mentioning both come from the Wizards. Kristaps Porzingis has power forward eligibility only on FanDuel, while Kyle Kuzma has it on both sites. They benefit from the Lakers, who play at the fourth-fastest pace in the league, as the Wizards have a 118 implied total. Both Porzingis and Kuzma look great in our tools as contrarian options in tournaments. They each can exploit this defense.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Anthony Davis is the clear-cut top center option, as he is coming off his best game of the season. Last game, Davis had a season-high 44 points while shooting 18 of 27 (67%) from the field. This has been the best year for Davis as a Laker. He is averaging 27.2 points and a career-high 12.6 rebounds per game while shooting 57.7% from the field. The Lakers have won seven of their last nine games, and Davis is a huge reason why.
LeBron James is questionable to play tonight, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he sat this game out. In six games without James this season, Davis is averaging 32.5 points, 15.2 rebounds, and 63.3 DraftKings points per game with a 34.5% usage rate. Davis leads the league in rebounding and ranks third in blocks with 2.4 per game. He has had at least three blocks in each of his last five games. Monitor James’ status, but if he is out, load up on Davis exposure.
Value
Jusuf Nurkic has the highest Projected Plus/Minus on both DraftKings and FanDuel for all centers on this slate. He would also benefit if Damian Lillard is ruled out, but is a great play regardless at a cheap salary on both sites. Over the last two seasons, Nurkic’s playing time has increased as he is averaging a double-double with 14.7 points and 10.7 rebounds per game while shooting 51.9% from the field and 38.5% from behind the arc.
The Pacers are a great team to attack, as they have a relatively poor defense. Against centers, they rank middle to the pack in rebounding percentage and points allowed in the paint this season. Nurkic has put up over 40 DraftKings points in four of his last five games and would easily pay off his salary if he puts up another 40+ tonight. It would help if Lillard is out, but either way, Nurkic is worth getting exposure to in this great game environment.
Fast Break
Domantas Sabonis has been on pace for monster games, but back-to-back 20+ blowouts has made Sabonis only able to play 24.5 minutes per game over his last two games. He is averaging a double-double for the fifth-straight season as he is shooting a career-high 60.1% from the field in his second year with the Kings. With the highest implied total on the slate at 121 points and a projected close game, expect Sabonis to reach that ceiling tonight.
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