Sunday features a seven-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 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
It’s the final day of the regular season, and all 30 teams will be in action. Only the first seven games are included on DraftKings’ main slate, but that’s still more than enough information to process. There are a ton of names on the injury report, and there is a seemingly endless amount of value options to consider.
That makes paying up for studs incredibly doable. At point guard, Tyrese Maxey stands out as the top choice. The 76ers can still get up to the No. 6 seed and a guaranteed playoff spot with a win and some help, so they’re going for it Sunday.
Maxey should be the centerpiece of the 76ers’ offense. Joel Embiid is currently out with an injury, and Maxey has seen a +2.46% usage bump with Embiid off the floor this season. He’s averaged 1.34 DraftKings points per minute in that split, and he racked up 53.5 DraftKings points sans Embiid on Friday.
Maxey ultimately owns the top ceiling projection at the point guard position, and he’s also first in Sim Labs optimal lineup rate. He’s projected to be extremely chalky, but his optimal lineup rate still exceeds his projected ownership.
Value
The Cavaliers look like one of the best value sources on this slate. They’ve already ruled out nine players, including most of their key players.
Craig Porter should serve as one of the team’s primary backcourt options. He’s currently projected for 33.5 minutes in our NBA Models at just $3,800. That’s a tough combination to pass up. Historically, players with comparable salaries and minute projections have averaged a Plus/Minus of +4.79 (per the Trends tool).
Porter has also been better than your typical value option on a per-minute basis. He’s averaged 0.93 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he had 38.5 DraftKings points in 26.2 minutes two games ago. Add in a juicy matchup vs. the Wizards, and Porter checks all the boxes.
Fast Break
LaMelo Ball is another potential pay-up option at PG for a team with something to play for Sunday. He’s been the best per-minute producer among Sunday’s options, averaging 1.51 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in four straight games, and he’s had at least 52.25 DraftKings points in three straight. Ball’s minutes have been slightly up in those contests, and he’s still pretty affordable at $8,800.
Tyson Etienne has been a nice source of value for the Nets recently. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in five of his past six outings, including 33.5 DraftKings points in his last game. He’s logged at least 32.5 minutes in back-to-back contests, and he’s averaged a solid 0.88 DraftKings points per minute over the past month.
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
Ousmane Dieng has become a de facto stud option for the shorthanded Bucks. With Giannis Antetokounmpo on the sidelines, Dieng has taken over as their top offensive option. He’s averaged just under a fantasy point per minute over the past month, and he’s projected for 35 minutes in our NBA Models.
Dieng hasn’t been super consistent over the past few weeks, but the upside is clearly there. He had a double-double vs. the Nets in his last contest, and he had more than 60 DraftKings points vs. the Rockets six games ago. He owns the top optimal lineup rate at shooting guard to go along with the top ceiling projection.
Value
Tyrese Proctor is another elite value target in the Cavaliers’ backcourt. He’s not expected to see quite as much playing time as Porter (27.5 minutes), but he makes up for it with superior per-minute production. He’s averaged 1.28 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, so he doesn’t need a ton of playing time to potentially return value.
Proctor had a usage rate of greater than 43% in his last outing, and he finished with 23.75 DraftKings points in just 12 minutes. He ranks first at shooting guard in projected Plus/Minus, and he’s first in that metric on the entire slate.
Fast Break
The Knicks are another team that will be resting most of their usual contributors with their playoff seed locked up. That opens the door for Jordan Clarkson. Clarkson is someone who has been a solid producer in the past, and he’s currently projected for 30 minutes at just $3,400. He’s just slightly behind Proctor in terms of projected Plus/Minus and optimal lineup rate, but he’s expected to garner less ownership.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Paul George has had an up-and-down season, but he’s been quietly productive when he’s been in the lineup. His numbers are up compared to last year, and he’s seen one of the biggest bumps on the team with Embiid off the floor. He’s increased his usage rate by more than 4% in that split, resulting in an average of 1.21 DraftKings points per minute.
George failed to return value in his last game without Embiid, but he’s projected for 32 minutes in a solid spot vs. the Bucks. As long as this game doesn’t turn into too big of a blowout with the 76ers being 15.5-point favorites, George has one of the higher ceilings at small forward.
Value
Boston is another team that will be without most of their regulars Sunday, with Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, Neemias Queta, Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, and Nikola Vucevic all expected to get the night off. That doesn’t leave a ton of options to cover Sunday’s minutes.
Ron Harper should pick up a bunch of playing time at forward. He’s currently projected for 32 minutes at just $3,400, and he’s averaged a solid 0.85 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. He ranks first at small forward in projected Plus/Minus, while only Dieng has a better optimal lineup rate.
Fast Break
The Hornets have a bunch of different players who can put the ball in the basket, which means Brandon Miller can occasionally be overlooked. He’s taken a backseat to some of his teammates recently, but he had a 29.8% usage rate across 31.2 minutes in his last outing. He has the third-highest ceiling projection at small forward Sunday, and he’s capable of putting up a big number against the Knicks’ backups.
If you’re looking for a pure punt play, the Cavs have two potential options at small forward. Tristan Enaruna and Riley Minx are both priced at the absolute minimum and projected for 26 minutes. That gives both a chance to return value against the Wizards.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Scottie Barnes is coming off back-to-back poor games, finishing with 26.5 DraftKings points or fewer in both. That’s caused his price tag to drop to $8,600 for Sunday’s season finale, and he has some buy-low appeal at that figure. The Raptors are still fighting for a guaranteed playoff spot, so Barnes should handle his usual allotment of minutes. The result is a 99% Bargain Rating against the Nets.
Despite his poor recent games, Barnes has a track record of success. He’s still averaged 1.28 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he racked up 47.0 DraftKings points vs. the Heat three games ago. Only Jalen Johnson has a superior ceiling projection at power forward, and he’s nearly $2,000 more expensive. Barnes stands out as the clear better value of the two, making him the preferred pay-up option.
Value
Nae’Qwan Tomlin and Jaylon Tyson both deserve consideration for the Cavaliers at power forward. Tomlin is the safer option of the two. He’s projected for 32 minutes at just $3,700, and he’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in three straight games. He doesn’t bring a ton of upside to the table, but he did have 27.25 DraftKings points in roughly 21.5 minutes two games ago.
Tyson is more of the upside play. He’s not projected for quite as much playing time, but he’s the far better per-minute producer. He’s averaged 1.18 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he had 34.0 DraftKings points across 24.3 minutes in his return to the lineup Friday. He had a usage rate of just under 30% in that contest, and he should be one of the Cavs’ offensive focal points when on the floor Sunday.
Fast Break
The Magic are another team that will have close to their full complement of players available. That includes Paolo Banchero. It’s been a bit of a tumultuous year for the former No. 1 overall pick, but he’s still capable of putting up fantasy points in bunches. He’s averaged 1.23 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and his $8,700 salary comes with an 86% Bargain Rating.
Will Riley has been a huge part of the Wizards frontcourt as the team tanks down the stretch. His salary has come way up over the past month, but he still has plenty of ceiling at $7,100. He’s gone for at least 43.5 DraftKings points in three of his past five games, including one game with more than 55 DraftKings points. He shouldn’t garner a ton of attention on this slate, but he has one of the highest ceilings at power forward.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Bam Adebayo was pretty quiet over the first half of the year, but he has stepped up his play over the second. He’s averaged 1.28 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in four of his past six games. Even though his 83-point outburst vs. the Wizards was a clear outlier, he’s still provided a much higher ceiling on a consistent basis of late.
Adebayo is tentatively expected to handle his usual workload vs. the Hawks. He’s currently projected for 35 minutes in our NBA Models, even though the game technically doesn’t mean much for Miami. The best they can finish is ninth in the East, while their worst outcome still gets them in the Play-In Tournament. Adebayo ranks second at the position in optimal lineup rate, and he’s No. 1 in ceiling projection.
Value
Luka Garza should serve as the Celtics’ primary center Sunday. He’s currently projected for 30.5 minutes vs. the Magic, and he can do a lot of damage with that much playing time. He’s averaged 1.15 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s coming off 30.0 DraftKings points in 16.1 minutes in his last contest.
Garza ranks first at the position in projected Plus/Minus and optimal lineup rate, and he’s among the leaders in both metrics on the entire slate. Overall, he’s one of the best value targets of the day.
Fast Break
Amari Williams also deserves consideration for the Celtics. He’s priced at the absolute minimum at $3,000, and he’s projected for 27 minutes in our NBA Models. That results in a 93% Bargain Rating. He’s averaged 1.17 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he trails only Garza and Adebayo in optimal lineup rate at center.
Julian Reese is another player who has helped carry the load for the Wizards down the stretch. He’s averaged 1.05 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s averaged a ridiculous +13.51 Plus/Minus over his past eight games. He’s had at least 39.25 DraftKings points in three of his past four, so he still has some upside at $6,500.
Pictured: Tyrese Maxey
Photo Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski, Imagn
