After an exciting first week in the association, tonight presents us with a nine-game slate starting at 7:00 p.m. ET. Despite only being a week in, there are several injury situations that we need to sift through.
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
Jalen Brunson ($8,100)
Despite being the sixth-highest in salary at the point guard position, Jalen Brunson has the second-highest projected ceiling in an incredible matchup against the Chicago Bulls. Through the first four games, the Bulls rank first in pace, last in points allowed at 129.5 per game, and 27th in defensive rating.
Brunson has recorded over 30 DraftKings points in all four contests but is shooting an abysmal 36.6% from the field and 20% from behind the arc. Even with his poor shooting, Brunson is leading the team with 22.8 points and 4.5 assists per game. This is a perfect matchup for Brunson to have a ceiling performance against the pitiful Bulls’ defense. He is also projected for over a 30% usage rate tonight.
Value
Fred VanVleet ($5,500)
The Rockets are one of the last four unbeaten teams and are 8.5-point road favorites against the Bucks tonight. After missing all of last season due to injury, Fred VanVleet is still the Rockets’ starting point guard, playing 30 minutes per game. Similar to Brunson, VanVleet has struggled shooting the ball to start the season, hitting only 32% from the field and averaging 8.3 points per game, but his salary is simply too cheap.
VanVleet is leading the Rockets with seven assists per game and will play more than enough time to pay off his price tag. The Rockets are dealing with injuries to their frontcourt, with Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams both being out, while backup guard Marcus Smart is in danger of missing his third straight game. The Bucks rank second in pace and 25th in points allowed per game, setting this spot up for VanVleet.
Fast Break
Cade Cunningham ($9,900) – Despite having the third-highest usage rate projection on the slate, Pistons’ point guard Cunningham is projected for less than 5% ownership due to his rising salary. His matchup against the Hornets also has the lowest total on the slate by far at 214.5 points. Cunningham is only viable in tournaments as a contrarian option. Even with center Jalen Duren out, this is a difficult spot to get to.
LaMelo Ball ($7,700) – The Timberwolves are off to a hot start, but Anthony Edwards is having knee surgery and will be out for the next two months. That will put a lot on the shoulders of Ball, who just got to Minnesota. Edwards was averaging 33.3 points per game, which was the second-highest in the league. Ball’s salary will only rise from this point forward, and he is worth taking a chance on at his 10% ownership.
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
Donovan Mitchell ($8,600)
Unlike the guards above, Donovan Mitchell is off to a hot start. Not only is he averaging a team-high 26.7 points per game while shooting 50.9% from the field and 47.4% from deep, but Mitchell is also averaging a career-high 6.7 rebounds per game. There are plenty of cheap options at this position, causing Mitchell to project for only 10% ownership, despite leading the position comfortably in projected ceiling.
The Cavaliers currently have the highest team total on the slate at 124.5 points. They play at the third-fastest pace in the league and are nearly double-digit home favorites against the Wizards. Mitchell has had at least one block and one steal in every game this season, providing fantasy points on both ends of the court. He will be another contrarian pay-up option but is intriguing based on how well he has played.
Value
CJ McCollum ($5,300)
Leading all guards in projected Plus/Minus and ranking third on the slate, CJ McCollum is coming off a season-high 20 points in 30 minutes against the Rockets Monday night. With McCollum starting at shooting guard and expected to play close to 30 minutes again tonight, it is difficult to get away from him at this cheap price tag. He also leads all guards with a 26.6% optimal lineup rate in our NBA Sims. He is an elite value.
Through four games, the Heat are 0-4 while ranking 24th in defensive rating. Opposing guards are torching them from the perimeter. The Heat are allowing a league-high 44.3 3-point attempts per game, with opponents shooting 39% from long distance. With Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo controlling the paint, opposing teams are attacking them outside. That is where McCollum should thrive.
Fast Break
RJ Barrett ($7,100) – It didn’t take long for Kawhi Leonard to unfortunately get injured with the Raptors. With him out for the foreseeable future, players like RJ Barrett will see a significant boost in usage rate and production. Barrett is already averaging a team-high 21 points per game while shooting 51% from the field. With a usage rate nearing 30% against the Magic tonight, Barrett is a fantastic mid-range play.
Amen Thompson ($7,000) – Similarly priced to Barrett, Thompson is also looking like a strong play in our NBA Models. The Thompson brothers always have some boom-or-bust tendencies, but this is a great spot for Thompson against the Bucks. He has recorded a points-and-rebounds double-double in three of his first four games and will need to continue his rebounding prowess with the team’s frontcourt injuries.
Be sure to check out all the pick’ems Sleeper has to offer with our Sleeper promo code.
NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Franz Wagner ($8,300)
There are no small forwards priced over $8,300 on this nine-game slate, but several in this pricing tier look like amazing plays. Franz Wagner leads us off, currently tied for the highest projected ceiling at this position. It helps that Paolo Banchero is out for the next several weeks. With him out last game, Wagner recorded 23 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists, accumulating 52.8 DraftKings points at the Knicks.
Not only is Banchero out, but so is Jalen Suggs. Wagner will take on most of the ball-handling duties and has a projected usage rate near 30% tonight. The Raptors have the best defensive rating in the league and have several bodies to throw at Wagner, but it is difficult to not include him in tournament lineups. His projected ownership is under 10%, making him a contrarian small forward pay-up option tonight.
Value
Ayo Dosunmu ($5,200)
Another player who will benefit from the absence of Anthony Edwards is Ayo Dosunmu. With shooting guard and small forward eligibility, Dosunmu is easy to fit into multiple lineup builds. He leads all small forwards in projected Plus/Minus and is drawing nearly 30% projected ownership. Dosunmu will be a popular value option despite having a variety of fantasy performances throughout the first four games.
Dosunmu had a near triple-double against the Magic with 14 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds for 43.8 DraftKings points. In his two games after that, Dosunmu failed to record more than 15 DraftKings points. Keep an eye on the Timberwolves’ starting lineup, but if Dosunmu starts as we expect, he is one of the best values on the slate. He would be a near lock in cash games and a great tournament play.
Fast Break
Kevin Durant ($7,500) – To no one’s surprise, Durant continues to play at an elite level. He is averaging 23.5 points per game while shooting a blistering 53.7% from the field and 47.1% from downtown. In his second season with the Rockets, Durant is off to a strong start and will now have a higher usage rate due to Sengun’s injury. At $7,500, Durant is incredibly consistent in his fantasy production and a great play.
Peyton Watson ($5,000) – Watson is another value option that is worth getting exposure to on this slate. He is a player that can accumulate DraftKings points on both ends of the floor. That became obvious in his last game when Watson recorded a stat line of 15 points, eight rebounds, four blocks, three steals, and one assist for 39.5 DraftKings points. He has struggled shooting the ball but can provide value elsewhere.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Giannis Antetokounmpo ($10,200)
The best pay-up option on this nine-game slate is Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Heat are off to a terrible start at 0-4, but Giannis remains an amazing play. He has recorded two games with 65+ DraftKings points, including his last game against the Mavericks, where he posted a 29-point, 14-rebound, 11-assist triple-double. At this moment, the Heat’s entire offense is run through Giannis, who is basically their point guard.
The Heat-Hawks game has a 241-point total. Both teams rank in the top 11 in pace this season. Even with the Hawks ranking eighth overall in defensive rating, they still struggle defending the paint. They ranked 21st in points allowed per game in the paint last season and allowed 64 points in their last game. Giannis has the ability to dominate this matchup and has a 26.3% optimal lineup rate in our NBA Sims.
Value
Yaxel Lendeborg ($7,000)
Despite being $7,000, Yaxel Lendeborg has the highest projected Plus/Minus at the power forward position and the fifth-highest on the slate. He is listed as questionable, so make sure to monitor his status closer to lock. However, if he plays, Lendeborg is arguably the best mid-range option on the slate. The Warriors are without Kristaps Porzingis and Jimmy Butler, giving Lendeborg a lot of playing time.
The rookie is coming off a spectacular game with 31 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, and one block for 57.5 DraftKings points. He has accumulated 48+ DraftKings points in three straight games, which is why his salary continues to skyrocket. Lendeborg is projected to have a 25% usage rate, right behind Stephen Curry on the team. He also has a 30.9% optimal lineup rate, which is the second-highest on the slate.
Fast Break
Jalen Johnson ($9,500) – Johnson is $700 cheaper than Giannis, but his projected ceiling is only six points lower. They are playing against each other, so pairing them together in a game stack can provide a ton of upside. Johnson leads the Hawks in points, rebounds, and assists per game while averaging over 50 DraftKings points per game. He has triple-double upside in any matchup, so do not overlook him tonight.
Anthony Davis ($8,900) – Now is the time to get Davis exposure before he inevitably has to miss games. Still priced under $9,000, Davis has already shown massive double-double upside this season. Surprisingly, the Cavaliers rank 24th in rebounding rate to start the season at 47.6%. Davis is going to have a high usage rate while playing heavy minutes in this spot. This position is loaded, but he is another top option.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Nikola Jokic ($12,000)
No other center comes close in salary or projected ceiling to Nikola Jokic tonight. Jokic has had a variety of fantasy performances to start the year. In his three games played, he has recorded 32.8, 53.8, and 81.8 DraftKings points. Obviously, in tournaments we are hoping for the 81.8-point ceiling performance, but the average-to-below-average performances are tough to stomach at his slate-high $12,000 price tag.
The Nuggets have the second-highest team total on the slate at 123.5 points with a slate-high game total of 241.5 points, making this the best game environment to target. Even with that, Jokic is drawing around 5% projected ownership. The Pelicans currently lead the league in points allowed in the paint at 58 per game. The optimal lineup is pushing us to a balanced build, but paying up for Jokic is a strong contrarian play.
Value
Clint Capela ($3,100)
When dumpster-diving tonight, look no further than the Rockets’ projected starting center Clint Capela. He is only $100 more than the DraftKings minimum and has by far the highest projected Plus/Minus on this slate. Even with his 23-minute projection, Capela is impossible to ignore at this price point. Capela has the highest optimal lineup rate in our NBA Sims at 36.1% and is projected for a slate-high 40% ownership.
As previously mentioned, Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams are out tonight, which is why Capela is popping in our NBA Models. His box scores are tough to look at, with every game under seven DraftKings points, but he is also only averaging 7.7 minutes per game. Make sure he is the starting center tonight, but if he is, he is a phenomenal play and matches up perfectly against the Bucks’ center Myles Turner.
Fast Break
Joel Embiid ($8,400) – The 76ers lost their first game of the season Sunday night on the second leg of a back-to-back, and Embiid did not play. He is coming into this game with plenty of rest and had a 28-point, 11-rebound, 10-assist triple-double against the Bucks in his most recent game. At $8,400, Embiid is impossible to ignore given his ceiling, especially with the Pacers being without Ivica Zubac.
Rudy Gobert ($5,600) – Gobert is one of the toughest players to watch in the league. However, priced at $5,600, he is an incredible value play. Last game, Gobert was 0-9 from the field but snagged 20 rebounds and accumulated 36 total DraftKings points. Gobert is going to play 30+ minutes again tonight and has the second-highest projected Plus/Minus on the slate. The Warriors also get torched by opposing centers.
Pictured: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Photo Credit: Imagn
