The 2025-26 NBA season has finally arrived and will begin Tuesday night with a two-game main slate starting at 7:30 p.m. ET. The defending champion Thunder are hosting the Rockets, and the Lakers are hosting the Warriors.
Let’s dive into some of the top plays on the slate using the FantasyLabs tools and projections.
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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
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10,300)
After winning the championship last season, the Thunder will begin this season without Jalen Williams (wrist), and Gilgeous-Alexander is extremely underpriced for this situation. The reigning MVP handles one of the largest workloads in the NBA, and that role grows even further with Williams missing. Last season, Gilgeous-Alexander generated 52 DraftKings PPG with Williams inactive (nine games), and with the All-Star off the court, Gilgeous-Alexander’s usage and assist rates increased 3.6 and 5.6 percentage points, respectively, resulting in a massive 1.7 DraftKings PPM, via the On/Off Tool. The Thunder carry the highest implied team total on the slate despite Williams being sidelined (117.25 points), and Gilgeous-Alexander warranted a salary north of $11,000 for this situation.
Value
Gabe Vincent ($3,500)
With LeBron James (sciatica) out for Tuesday’s season opener vs. the Warriors, Vincent is expected to draw the spot start for the Lakers, making him a viable punt play at this near-minimum salary. While Marcus Smart should see plenty of work off the bench, Vincent should handle around 25 minutes, giving him a solid chance to exceed 5x value, regardless of this being a tough matchup against a Warriors defense that finished seventh in rating last season. Vincent supplied 0.6 DraftKings PPM with James off the floor last season, and Vincent was in great form during the preseason, averaging 14.2 PPG while shooting 41% from the field and 45.5% from beyond the arc.
Fast Break
Luka Doncic ($11,000) – While Gilgeous-Alexander is the better value, Doncic is also an incredible play with James sidelined. Having some exposure to Doncic is a must for this small slate. In the five starts the guard made without James last season, Doncic generated 63.3 DraftKings PPG with a godly 43.3% usage rate. Jamming Doncic and Gilgeous-Alexander in the same lineup is possible tonight and a viable move for GPPs.
Ajay Mitchell ($3,800) – Not only is Williams out for the Thunder, but Isaiah Joe (knee) will be inactive, and our projections have Mitchell slated for 21 minutes in this situation, putting him in the value conversation for this short slate. With Williams and Mitchell off the court last season, Mitchell provided 0.8 DraftKings PPM with a 19.7% usage rate.
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
Austin Reaves ($7,300)
Reaves is far too cheap for life without James. Reaves played five games with Doncic active but James inactive last season, and Reaves was stellar in those tilts, averaging 47.3 DraftKings PPG with a 27% usage rate and 27% assist percentage. The Warriors are a tough matchup for guards, but Reaves is clearly mispriced for his expected role. His ceiling is the highest on the slate among shooting guards in our models.
Value
Lu Dort ($4,400)
Dort should be one of the primary beneficiaries with Williams sidelined. Dort played seven games sans Williams last season, and Dort produced 21.3 DraftKings PPG in those contests. With Joe also missing from the picture, Dort should see over 30 minutes, and this game being in Oklahoma City is a big deal for the veteran. Dort scored 4.0 more DraftKings PPG at home than when on the road last season, and he should surpass 5x value Tuesday.
Fast Break
Marcus Smart ($4,300) – Smart should see 20-25 minutes off the bench in his Laker debut Tuesday, and the defensive specialist should get overlooked as a bench player. Smart averaged 1.0 DraftKings PPM last season A performance of 25-30 DraftKings points isn’t out of the question if the veteran can rack up many defensive statistics.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Jimmy Butler ($8,000)
Butler (ankle) is expected to suit up Tuesday, and this is a very reasonable price for the forward. Butler has amassed 41.2 DraftKings points per game since joining the Warriors last season with a 21.6% usage rate and 27.6% assist percentage. The veteran is facing the Lakers on Tuesday, who ranked 17th in defensive rating last season. This game should be a nail-biter, with Golden State only favored by 2.5 points. Butler should handle 35-40 minutes in this setting, and he could be lower owned due to the ankle injury. Butler has competed in five games with a spread of less than three points in a Warriors uniform – he has topped 40 DraftKings points in three of these tilts, via the Trends Tool.
Value
Alex Caruso ($4,600)
Similar to Dort, Caruso should see an expanded role sans Williams on Tuesday, making Caruso a viable target at his affordable price point. In the seven games Caruso played with Williams inactive last season, Caruso averaged 23.5 DraftKings PPG. The ex-Laker’s prowess on the defensive end always gives Caruso solid upside, and he has a ceiling near 30 DraftKings points in our models.
Fast Break
Jake LaRavia ($3,600) – LaRavia is an efficient player who should see over 20 minutes in his Lakers debut on Tuesday with James sidelined. LaRavia generated 0.9 DraftKings PPM last season, and he is averaging 21.2 DraftKings PPG for the last 10 occasions he has logged at least 20 minutes.
Tari Eason ($5,300) – Eason is healthy again after an injury-filled campaign last season, and the versatile forward is worth a flier in GPPs for this short slate. Eason should see around 25 minutes off the bench for the Rockets tonight, giving him a strong chance to outperform his salary. Last season, Eason amassed 1.1 DraftKings PPM and 26.4 DraftKings PPG.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Kevin Durant ($9,700)
While Durant is priced correctly and not a strong option for cash games, he brings one of the highest ceilings on the slate and is a player worth considering for GPPs tonight. The former MVP should see a huge usage rate as the Rockets’ top option this season. He flashed huge upside at the end of last season with the Suns, surpassing 60 DraftKings points in two of his final five starts of the season. The Thunder are an ugly matchup after leading the NBA in defensive rating last season, but this is a revenge spot for Durant, with Oklahoma City being his original team.
Value
Jabari Smith ($5,200)
Smith is a better value to attack from the Rockets. The forward will start at small forward for Houston, and he should garner over 30 minutes tonight. Smith produced 24.3 DraftKings PPG last season, and he looked great during the preseason this fall, averaging 1.2 DraftKings PPM. Smith could take a big step forward in his fourth season, and while going against the Thunder isn’t easy, the promising 22-year-old is underpriced and a threat for over 30 DraftKings points.
Fast Break
Jarred Vanderbilt ($3,900) – Vanderbilt is a boom-or-bust type of player that is worth rolling the dice on in GPPs tonight. The forward should find himself in the 15-20 minute range with James out, and with that type of role, Vanderbilt could surprise with over 20 DraftKings points. In the seven games he played with James inactive last season, Vanderbilt was excellent with 28.5 DraftKings points in just 18.3 minutes per game. Overall, with James off the court last season, Vanderbilt’s production increased to 0.9 DraftKings PPM.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Chet Holmgren ($7,600)
Just like Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams sees a notable boost with Williams sidelined, and Holmgren is a terrific target at this sub-$8,000 salary. Holmgren should operate as the Thunder’s No. 2 option behind Gilgeous-Alexander tonight. In the five starts Holmgren made sans Williams last season, Holmgren averaged 36.1 DraftKings PPG. Facing a big Rockets team that is starting Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams in the frontcourt tonight, Holmgren should see around 35 minutes as the Thunder’s main big man barring a blowout. He is the No. 1 target at the center position.
Value
Isaiah Hartenstein ($5,400)
With Williams sidelined and a huge Rockets starting lineup that features two natural centers in the frontcourt on the other side, Hartenstein should also see an expanded role for the Thunder tonight, and rostering Hartenstein and Holmgren together is a totally viable move for this two-game slate. In the four games Hartenstein played alongside Holmgren with Williams inactive last season, Hartenstein collected 32.1 DraftKings points in 27.4 minutes per game, which would be an immense return at his current $5,400 salary.
Fast Break
Deandre Ayton ($6,300) – Ayton generated 1.1 DraftKings PPM with the Trail Blazers last season, and he will start at center in his Laker debut tonight. Ayton should see a solid usage rate with James sidelined. Near 30 minutes is a possibility if he can avoid foul trouble. This matchup vs. the Warriors is difficult, especially with Al Horford now a member of the team, but Ayton still has double-double upside and a ceiling near 40 DraftKings points. Hartenstein is the better value, but Ayton is worth attacking in GPPs.
Clint Capela ($4,500) – With Houston starting Adams and Sengun together, Capela should operate as the Rockets’ primary backup center. The veteran likely won’t see more than 10-15 minutes, but Capela is a strong fantasy asset that could top 20 DraftKings points and likely will be low owned as a reserve. Last season with the Hawks, Capela averaged 1.2 DraftKings PPM.
Pictured: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Photo Credit: Imagn
