DraftKings’ main slate for Tuesday starts at 7:00 PM EST and includes the first five games of the night. 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
Tyrese Maxey ($9,900)
Maxey is fresh off a 66.25 DraftKings point outing vs. the Hawks, and now, he is facing the Wizards, who rank dead last in defensive rating and fifth in pace this season. Even with Joel Embiid (knee) ruled out, the 76ers carry the highest implied team total on the slate (123.5 points), which is a testament to how strong of a matchup this is vs. Washington. Maxey is amassing 54.9 DraftKings PPG with a career-high 30.2% usage rate this season, and his ceiling is the highest on the slate in our projections by over 10 points. For the three occasions he has played behind an implied team total of at least 120 points this season, Maxey is averaging 56.1 DraftKings PPG, via the Trends Tool.
Value
Miles McBride ($5,200)
With OG Anunoby (hamstring) sidelined, McBride has thrived with an expanded role for the Knicks. In his last three games, the guard is generating 28.3 DraftKings points in 35.8 minutes per game. That playing time average ranks second for New York during this stretch, and McBride is guaranteed to see huge volume again tonight, with Anunoby still out and the Knicks competing in a 1.5-point spread vs. the Celtics. Ranking dead last in pace, Boston isn’t an ideal matchup, but McBride should receive 35-40 minutes, and with this type of role, he has a great chance to surpass five-times value.
Fast Break
Derrick White ($7,400) – White (calf) is probable to play tonight after missing one game, and the guard has displayed huge upside as of late, with performances of 42.8 and 50.2 DraftKings points in his last three starts. White’s shooting has vastly improved recently after a rough start to the season, and he is a strong GPP play in this likely nail-biter vs. the Knicks that could come with low ownership, as he is coming off an injury.
Editor’s note: Embiid was ruled out after this article was submitted. Check the player models for updates.
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
Anthony Edwards ($9,400)
Visiting the lowly Pelicans, who rank 28th in defensive rating this season, the Timberwolves carry the second-highest implied team total on the slate (122.75 points). Edwards has been on a tear recently, scoring 55.3 DraftKings PPG in his last five, and he should feast in this elite spot vs. New Orleans. Edwards is leading Minnesota with a 31.3% usage rate, and he has topped 50 DraftKings points in two of the three games he has played behind an implied team total of at least 120 points this season.
Value
Julian Champagnie ($5,700)
Champagnie was held to just 13.5 DraftKings vs. the Timberwolves in his last start, but he should bounce back tonight vs. the Grizzlies, who rank 12th in pace this season. Champagnie has been starting with Victor Wembanyama (calf) and Stephon Castle (hip) sidelined, and prior to the dud vs. Minnesota, Champagnie had scored at least 30 DraftKings points in four straight, including a season-high 49.5 DraftKings points vs. the Nuggets. The forward is amassing 0.9 DraftKings PPM with both Wembanyama and Castle off the floor this season, and Champagnie should get slept on with a quiet performance his last time out.
Fast Break
Kris Murray ($4,000)
If Donovan Clingan (questionable, illness) misses his second in a row tonight, Murray will be a strong punt play. With Clingan inactive Sunday vs. the Thunder, Murray started with the Trail Blazers opting for a smaller starting lineup, and he finished with 25.5 DraftKings points across 35.1 minutes – both setting season-highs – despite facing Oklahoma City’s league-best defense.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Jaylen Brown ($9,300)
Brown is having an excellent season as he operates as the Celtics’ main option with Jayson Tatum (Achilles) sidelined. While ranking fourth in the league in usage rate (35.3%), Brown is producing 45.9 DraftKings PPG while shooting 49% from the field. The former NBA Finals MVP has scored at least 54 DraftKings points in four straight games, and Brown should elevate his game for tonight’s marquee matchup vs. the Knicks in Boston. Boston is only favored by 1.5 points for this contest, and Brown could go off in this setting. In our projections, Brown’s ceiling is the second-highest on the slate.
Value
Keldon Johnson ($5,500)
Johnson has been one of the main beneficiaries for the Spurs with Wembanyama and Castle out. Despite coming off the bench, Johnson is amassing 32.2 DraftKings points in 26.6 minutes per game in these past six sans Wembanyama and Castle. Johnson is scoring 1.2 DraftKings PPM with a 21.2% usage rate with those two players off the floor this season, and tonight, Johnson is back home to face the Grizzlies after a four-game road trip. The forward has always been a far more productive player at home, and over the last two seasons, he has been scoring 5.1 more DraftKings PPG at home than on the road. Johnson should score nothing less than 30 DraftKings points tonight, and he is one of the best values on the board at only $5,500.
Fast Break
Devin Vassell ($6,300) – Johnson and Chamagnie are better values, but Vassell is also a strong target from the shorthanded Spurs that needs to be considered. In these past six with Wembanyama and Castle sidelined, Vassell is averaging 34.1 DraftKings points in a team-high 33.2 minutes per game with a 21% usage rate.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Deni Avdija ($9,500)
Avdija has been a monster recently, scoring 58 and 75.75 DraftKings points in his last two starts, with that latter explosion notably coming against the Thunder’s league-best defense. The forward is leading Portland with 46 DraftKings PPG and a 25.8% usage rate this season, and while he is facing a Raptors’ defense that ranks fifth in rating tonight, as we just saw in his last start vs. Oklahoma City, Avdija brings huge upside no matter the matchup, and he has a ceiling worth chasing in GPPs tonight, especially if Clingan misses his second straight. With the center off the floor this season, Avdija’s usage rises 2.9 percentage points to 31.7%, and he scores 1.5 DraftKings PPM, via the On/Off Tool.
Value
Dominick Barlow ($4,800)
Barlow was moved into the 76ers’ starting lineup three games ago, and he has been a solid fantasy asset with the starting job, averaging 28.7 DraftKings points in 33.7 minutes per game, with that latter number ranking third for the team. Embiid will be out tonight, and both Paul George (knee) and Quentin Grimes (calf) are questionable, so Barlow should continue to see over 30 minutes of action, and this is an elite matchup vs. the Wizards, who rank dead last in defensive rating and fifth in pace. Barlow is a compelling, cheap way to attack Philadelphia that has 30 DraftKings point upside.
Fast Break
Cam Whitmore ($3,700)
With Alex Sarr (adductor) out last night vs. the Bucks, Whitmore poured in 27.25 DraftKings points across 19 minutes off the bench in the upset win for the Wizards. Sarr will remain out tonight, and with him missing, Whitmore is worth rolling the dice on at this low salary. With Sarr off the court this season, Whitmore’s usage increases 2.4 percentage points to 25.8%, and he provides 1.0 DraftKings PPM.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Zach Edey ($7,200)
Edey was outstanding in his last start, destroying the Kings for a double-double of 62.25 DraftKings points. The center has now scored at least 44 DraftKings points in three of his last five starts, and he is leading the Grizzlies with 1.4 DraftKings PPM this season. Edey has been an extremely impactful player this season, ranking third in the league in plus/minus and he should see over 30 minutes tonight in a tight, 5.5-point spread vs. the Spurs. San Antonio ranks 21st in defensive rating since Wembanyama went down with the calf injury, and Edey is underpriced for his upside in this spot. To put the icing on the cake, our projections are slating him for single-digit ownership, making Edey a truly elite option.
Value
Marvin Bagley ($3,600)
Bagley is an awesome punt play if he continues to start for Sarr. Bagley started in place of Sarr last night, and Bagley posted 33.5 DraftKings points across 29 minutes in the win over the Bucks. This marked the second time Bagley has started in place of Sarr this season, and on that other occasion, Bagley posted 33.25 DraftKings points vs. the Timberwolves. The former lottery pick is scoring 1.2 DraftKings PPM this season, and if Bagley is confirmed a starter again, he will be a no-brainer vs. the 76ers, who will be without Embiid and rank 19th in defensive rating this season.
Fast Break
Jakob Poeltl ($5,900) – Poeltl is coming off a 39.8 DraftKings point showing vs. the Hornets, and he is going against a Trail Blazers team tonight that has been a mess on defense as of late, ranking 25th in defensive rating in their last 10 games. Poeltl has topped 30 DraftKings points in six of his last 10 games, and he is a viable GPP play tonight that shouldn’t be too popular.
Pictured: Tyrese Maxey
Photo Credit: Imagn
