NBA DFS Picks Breakdown (Tuesday, Feb. 28): Welcome Back Kris Dunn

Tuesday features a 10-game slate starting at 7:30 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.

Use our PrizePicks promo code LABS for a $100 sign-up bonus on NBA player props.

NBA DFS Point Guard Picks

Stud

The point guard position is absolutely loaded on Tuesday. At the top of the spectrum, there are seven players priced at $8,900 or more on FanDuel. A couple of those options are worth considering, but Tyrese Haliburton stands out as the best. He leads the group with 14 Pro Trends, and his $8,900 price tag comes with a Bargain Rating of 93%. Haliburton has had a comparable salary in 29 previous games this season, and he’s averaged a Plus/Minus of +5.06 in those contests (per the Trends tool).

Haliburton has been a bit inconsistent of late, but he’s displayed a massive ceiling for his price tag. He has two performances of at least 58.2 FanDuel points in his past four games, and the Mavericks are a decent matchup. They rank 22nd in defensive efficiency for the year, so Haliburton has a chance for another big outing.

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Value

Kris Dunn stands out as arguably one of the best value options we’ve seen all season. The Jazz are extremely shorthanded in the backcourt at the moment. Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson are both out with injuries, while Mike Conley was traded to the Timberwolves. Dunn played 23.4 minutes off the bench in the team’s last contest, and that was with Clarkson available for 32.8 minutes of his own. Dunn finished with 40.25 DraftKings points in that outing, and there’s a good chance he will move into the starting lineup vs. the Spurs.

Ultimately, Dunn has averaged an absurd 1.72 DraftKings points per minute in his two games with the Jazz. That is obviously unsustainable, but there’s no reason he can’t put together another excellent stat line vs. the Spurs. They rank fourth in pace and dead last in defensive efficiency, making them arguably the best matchup in all of fantasy.

Dunn is a steal across the industry, but he is borderline unfadable at $3,600 on DraftKings. His price tag comes with a Bargain Rating of 90%, and he leads all players on the slate in projected Plus/Minus by a country mile.

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Fast Break

Dennis Schroder is another excellent value target at the position. The Lakers are expected to be without LeBron James for multiple weeks, while D’Angelo Russell is doubtful vs. the Grizzlies. Schroder has seen a +8.6% usage bump with LeBron, Russell, and Russell Westbrook off the floor this season, resulting in an average of 0.95 DraftKings points per minute.

You can add Delon Wright to the list of viable PG values as well. He’s been a strong per-minute producer this season, averaging 0.91 DraftKings points per minute, and he should see a spike in playing time given the team’s injury situation. Monte Morris will miss his second-straight contest, while Kristaps Porzingis is doubtful.

NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks

Stud

It has been a disappointing season for Bradley Beal by his lofty standards. However, he’s going to have to do a bit more than usual Tuesday vs. the Hawks. In addition to their injury woes, the team also traded away Rui Hachimura before the deadline and released Will Barton. That doesn’t leave them with a ton of offensive firepower.

Beal has increased his usage rate by +3.8% in six games without Porzingis this season, and he’s increased his production to 1.27 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. That’s a nice combination. This is also expected to be one of the higher-scoring games on the slate, with the Wizards and Hawks combining for a 234.5-point total.

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Value

We’ve nearly made it to March, which means it’s just about time for the Thunder to shut down Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. It’s unfortunate – SGA has blossomed into one of the best players in the league this season – but the Thunder are committed to building the best possible roster for the future. That means getting as many ping pong balls as possible in the upcoming lottery.

SGA has already been ruled out for Tuesday, so Isaiah Joe will likely draw another start in his absence. Joe has delivered back-to-back strong performances for the Thunder, racking up 29.5 and 39.75 DraftKings points, and he’s projected for another 29 minutes in our NBA Models. He’s averaged just under a fantasy point per minute for the year, making Joe another fantastic value option in the backcourt.

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Fast Break

Malik Beasley has proven to be a capable scorer in the past, and the Lakers are going to need to get some offense from him vs. the Grizzlies. He’s currently projected for more than 34 minutes and has averaged 0.91 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he should be busier than usual on the offensive end.

Jordan Poole could be a bit lower-owned than he should be on Tuesday, particularly on FanDuel. He’s priced at just $7,600, resulting in a Bargain Rating of 98%, and he still possesses the ability to erupt with Steph Curry out of the lineup. Andrew Wiggins also remains out of the lineup, and the Blazers have allowed 124.9 points per 100 possessions over their past six games.

NBA DFS Small Forward Picks

Stud

Kyle Kuzma is another stud option worth considering for the Wizards on Tuesday. He’s seen a +5.3% usage bump with Porzingis, Morris, Hachimura, and Barton off the floor this season, resulting in a team-high mark of 33.6%. Kuzma struggled to a dreadful 18.5 DraftKings points sans Porzingis on Sunday, but he shot just 4-18 from the field. More importantly, he played at least 38.3 minutes for the second straight game, and Kuzma has averaged 1.10 DraftKings points per minute for the year. Add it all up, and this is an excellent buy-low spot.

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Value

With no SGA, Lu Dort is going to take over as one of the Thunder’s top scoring threats vs. the Kings. He’s seen a team-high +5.6% usage bump with SGA off the floor this season, and he leads the team with a 26% usage rate in that scenario. It results in an average of 1.01 DraftKings points per minute, and Dort has played at least 36 minutes in two of his past three games.

This matchup between the Thunder and Kings should also be one of the best of the day from a fantasy perspective. Both of these teams play fast, and the Kings rank merely 26th in defensive efficiency. The total on this contest sits at 235.0, with the Kings listed as small road favorites.

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Fast Break

Dunn did most of the damage for the Jazz on Saturday, but that didn’t stop Talen Horton-Tucker from getting his. He racked up 30.0 DraftKings points in just 24.1 minutes, and he’s now scored at least 30.0 DraftKings points in five of his past six games. With Clarkson now also out of the picture, there should be plenty of work for Dunn and Horton-Tucker to both eat on Tuesday.

Lauri Markkanen is coming off a subpar showing in his last contest, but he posted a positive Plus/Minus in each of his four previous games. He’s an outstanding buy-low target on FanDuel, where his $8,600 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 97%. His 13 Pro Trends also rank first at the position.

NBA DFS Power Forward Picks

Stud

There is an abundance of value on this slate, so it’s going to be pretty easy to fit Giannis Antetokounmpo in your lineup if you want to. The question is: should you do it? Jamming in Giannis is normally a great idea, and he’s averaged an outstanding 1.95 DraftKings points per minute over the past month.

However, Giannis’ health is a major question mark at the moment. He’s played less than 10 minutes in his past two games, and he sat out the team’s most recent contest. Giannis is probable to return to the lineup vs. the Nets, but there’s no guarantee he sees his usual allotment of minutes.

That said, Giannis’ uncertainty is going to result in far lower ownership than usual. The idea of getting a low-owned Giannis is always appealing for tournaments, especially on slates with tons of value. Giannis is best deployed on FanDuel, where his $11,800 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 95%.

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Value

Jarred Vanderbilt is another member of the new-look Lakers, and he was instrumental in their comeback victory over the Mavericks on Sunday. He finished with 47.25 DraftKings points in just 26.8 minutes, and Vanderbilt has been an outstanding per-minute producer for most of the year. He could see a few additional minutes Tuesday with LeBron sidelined, making him another strong value option for the Lakers.

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Fast Break

Keegan Murray is coming off one of his best performances of the year on Sunday. He torched the Thunder for 38.5 DraftKings points, and he did it in just 31.7 minutes. Murray will face the same Thunder squad on Tuesday, and his $4,400 salary on DraftKings comes with a Bargain Rating of 86%.

Deni Avdija didn’t see a huge spike in playing time with Porzingis sidelined on Sunday, but he’s projected for just under 30 minutes for Tuesday’s matchup vs. the Hawks. That should give him a great shot at returning value. He’s averaged 0.96 FanDuel points per minute over the past month, and he’s averaged 1.05 FanDuel points per minute with Porzingis, Morris, Hachimura, and Barton off the floor this season. His price tag has also dipped to just $5,400, and he has eligibility at both forward spots.

NBA DFS Center Picks

Stud

Nikola Jokic is the most obvious choice among the “super studs” on Tuesday’s slate. He provides far more safety than Giannis, and his ceiling is just as high. He’s averaged 1.87 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, thanks to his ability to stuff the stat sheet in every category. He’s now averaging a triple-double for the year, and his stats aren’t empty calories: The Nuggets have won all 23 games where Jokic has recorded a triple-double this season. Jokic is on pace for his third-straight MVP award, something that only three other players have done in NBA history.

Jokic should have no problem ripping the Rockets’ defense to shreds. They rank 29th in defensive efficiency, and Jokic has averaged 24.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 10.0 assists in his two previous meetings with the Rockets this season. He’s also averaged just 27.5 minutes in those contests, so he has upside for an even bigger performance if this game stays competitive.

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Value

Daniel Gafford is our final value target to consider for the Wizards. He hasn’t had a prominent spot in the team’s rotation this season, but he’s averaged a strong 1.03 DraftKings points per minute when on the floor. With Porzingis currently out of the picture, Gafford should pick up a few additional minutes in a juicy matchup vs. the Hawks. Gafford racked up 36.75 DraftKings points in just under 31 minutes in his last outing, and the Hawks rank 24th in team rebound rate and 26th in points in the paint allowed. Gafford is also significantly underpriced on DraftKings, where his $4,500 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 99%.

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Fast Break

Anthony Davis has been priced up pretty aggressively, but he obviously carries more upside than usual with LeBron out of the lineup. Davis went on a tear with James sidelined earlier this year, averaging 55.61 DraftKings points in nine games. He saw a team-high +5.2% usage bump in those contests, and Davis owns an Opponent Plus/Minus of +3.44 Tuesday vs. the Grizzlies.

Walker Kessler’s price tag continues to increase, but he continues to deliver fantasy value as well. He’s posted an average Plus/Minus of +5.75 over his past 10 games on FanDuel, and he’s racked up a ridiculous 12 blocks over his past two contests. He finished with 44.4 FanDuel points vs. the Spurs on Saturday, and there’s no reason he can’t do it again.