The NBA is taking it easy on this fine Thursday, with just three games on the board. Fortunately, they all look like they should be competitive contests, and every game has an over/under of at least 234.5 points. Even the lowly Kings are just 5.5-point underdogs on the road in New Orleans.
Let’s dive into some of the top plays on the slate using the FantasyLabs tools and projections.
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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
Ty Jerome ($8,300)
I never thought the name “Ty Jerome” would headline the Stud section, but he has, quite simply, earned the nod. The former Virginia standout is the NBA’s third-leading scorer in the early going, contributing 29.8 points through the Grizzlies’ first four games. This isn’t a guy putting up numbers on a bottom-feeder, either. Memphis is off to a 4-0 start, and their plus-9.8 point differential ranks among the league’s best.
Jerome is leading the Grizz in both usage (33.1%) and assist rate (33.3%) by a huge margin while averaging just over 31 minutes per game. While Portland’s backcourt of Ja Morant and Damian Lillard figures to be among the league’s most dynamic offensive tandems, neither guard is known for his defensive prowess. Point guard is also one of the deeper positions on this three-game slate, and Jerome is projected for just under 12% ownership as a result.
Value
Kingston Flemings ($3,800)
The Hawks were a solid playoff team last season, yet they still had the No. 8 pick in the most recent draft thanks to the infamous Derik Queen trade back in 2025. They used it to take Kingston Flemings, who has immediately slotted into the rotation as the primary backup to CJ McCollum. The 19-year-old is averaging exactly 20 minutes per game through his first five pro outings, with modest per-game averages of 7.2 points, 4.4 assists, and 3.4 rebounds.
Last night, however, Flemings broke out in a big way. In a season-high 28 minutes, the Houston product paced the Hawks with 23 points, five rebounds, and five assists while shooting a blistering 9-for-12 from the field. It’s unfair to expect a repeat performance tonight against a more defensively-sound Cleveland outfit, but there’s clearly some upside on Flemings’ $3,800 DraftKings salary at a position with limited punt value.
Fast Break
Darius Acuff ($7,100) – The Kings are an abject disaster, though they will have a rare shot at a win tonight in New Orleans. Rookie Darius Acuff has wasted no time in asserting himself as the team’s top offensive option, leading Sacramento in usage (32.9%) while ranking second behind Zach LaVine in scoring average (21.5 PPG). Acuff has also played at least 33 minutes in each game thus far, even with the Kings having lost by double digits in three of four outings.
Damian Lillard ($7,000) – After missing all of last season with an Achilles injury, Damian Lillard sure looks like Damian Lillard through his first three games back in Portland. Lillard is averaging 21.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.0 assists on hot 42.9% shooting from three-point range. Even in an offense with several mouths to feed, Dame ranks third in usage rate (26.3%) among regular rotation players, trailing Deni Avdija and Scoot Henderson.
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
Nickeil Alexander-Walker ($6,700)
Jalen Johnson is the main man in Atlanta, but Nickeil Alexander-Walker has played his way into a co-starring role. NAW’s average of 20.8 points per game last season was nearly double his previous career-high, and he’s putting up similar numbers so far this term. Through four games, Alexander-Walker is tied with Johnson for the team’s scoring lead (19.6 PPG) and a close second in usage rate (24.5%).
Many think of the Cavs as a defensive juggernaut, but that hasn’t really been the case over the past couple of years. Cleveland finished tied for 14th in defensive efficiency a season ago, while they’re 11th early on this year. Alexander-Walker is contributing a stable 1.06 DK fantasy points-per-minute, and he could provide some leverage on the cheaper McCollum, who’s currently projected for more ownership in our Player Models.
Value
CJ McCollum ($5,600)
McCollum looks underpriced at just $5,600 on DraftKings in a stable starting role. However, the 35-year-old veteran is off to a rough start. He’s still averaging a respectable 16.4 points per game, but he’s not doing much else. CJ is contributing a measly 1.8 assists and 1.6 rebounds. He’s also playing just 25 minutes per game, his lowest average since his second season in the league with Portland back in 2014-15.
McCollum’s track record suggests there’s room for improvement on his current average of 0.90 DK fantasy points-per-minute. He averaged 1.08 just last season after coming over from the Pelicans via trade. On this slate, I’d treat CJ more like a cash-game value than a guy I’m excited to play in GPPs.
Fast Break
Jeremiah Fears ($5,000) – Fears was a steady contributor in a number of roles as a rookie for the Pels last season, ranking third on the team in usage rate (25.5%) while averaging 1.02 DK FP-per-minute. He’s actually leading New Orleans in usage (26.4%) to begin the new campaign, but his FPPM rate is down to just 0.68, thanks in large part to some horrendous shooting (31% FGs, 19% 3P). At $5,000 and in a favorable matchup against the Kings, this is a great spot to buy the dip.
Zach LaVine ($6,600) – While Acuff leads the Kings in usage, it’s actually Zach LaVine still pacing Sactown in scoring (27.3 PPG). He’s poured in at least 22 points in every game while logging 36 minutes a night. The Pelicans aren’t going to be an imposing matchup for opposing wings this season, especially with former All-NBA defender Herbert Jones playing just 17.5 minutes a night.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Trey Murphy ($7,300)
Small forward is a thin position, so Trey Murphy is the headliner, almost by default. Despite being a terrible basketball team, the Pelicans do have a crowded offense with a lot of mouths to feed, and Murphy has taken a back seat early on. He’s just eighth on the team in usage (17.3%) despite being arguably the team’s most talented offensive player, and he’s averaging just 13 points per game in over 32 minutes a night.
Murphy averaged north of 21 points per game last season, so there’s little reason to expect this nonsense to persist. You can’t really draw up a better bounce-back spot, as the Kings rank just 28th in the league in defensive rating. Sacramento is allowing opponents to connect on 15 three-pointers per game, the fifth-worst mark in the NBA.
Value
Peyton Watson ($5,500)
It took a few games for Peyton Watson to look comfortable in the Cavs’ wine-and-gold, but he seems to have figured things out. Watson has tallied at least 34 DK points per game in back-to-back contests, and it’s encouraging to see his role growing. The former UCLA Bruin has seen his field-goal attempts increase with each game, up to a season-high 17 shots in last night’s win over the Wizards.
The Cavs gave Watson a huge contract over the summer, so he was never really at risk of losing his starting gig even after his early struggles. All of a sudden, he’s averaging a healthy 0.95 DK FP-per-minute, and his $5,500 salary hasn’t quite caught up to the production.
Fast Break
Saddiq Bey ($5,500) – It feels like a matter of time until a contender rescues Bey from New Orleans, but for now, he’s still here fighting for minutes in the Pels’ well-populated wing rotation. Bey has found a way to contribute 0.91 DK FP-per-minute in just over 24 minutes per game off the bench. He could see a few extra minutes in this one with Jordan Poole (ankle) not expected to suit up for NOLA.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Deni Avdija ($7,800)
Even with Damian Lillard and Ja Morant now in the mix, it’s still Deni Avdija’s show to run in Portland. In 94 minutes through three games, Avdija leads the Blazers in usage (28.7%), ranks second in assist rate (26.8%), and third in rebound rate (12.4%).
The Grizzlies are undefeated, but not because of their defense. Memphis still grades out as a terrific fantasy matchup, as they’re running at the NBA’s sixth-quickest pace while ranking just 25th in defensive efficiency. Points in the paint may be tougher to come by with Zach Edey wardening the rim, but Avdija’s $7,800 DK salary is just too cheap for the triple-double upside he brings on a nightly basis.
Value
Jerami Grant ($4,400)
Jerami Grant spent the last four seasons in Portland, so he’ll be in familiar territory when he pays a visit tonight as a member of the Grizzlies. Through his first four games with Memphis, Grant is averaging 9.8 points and 24 minutes in a sixth-man role.
Power forward looks like a spend-up position on this slate, especially since we’re dealing with a limited number of viable cheapies. Grant is one of the few on my radar, as he’s been happy to generate usage as one of the few legitimate scoring options on the Grizzlies’ second unit.
Fast Break
Jalen Johnson ($9,500) – There probably isn’t a more underappreciated star currently in the league than Johnson, who continues to quietly hunt for triple-doubles every time he hits the floor. Through five games this season, Johnson is averaging 19.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, and a career-best 8.8 assists in around 33 minutes per game. He’s one of the few players on this slate capable of putting up a fantasy score you simply can’t win a tournament without.
Cameron Boozer ($7,200) – Boozer entered the league touted as one of the most NBA-ready rookies, and he looks the part so far. The No. 3 pick in the draft is averaging 14.8 points, 10.5 rebounds, and, most impressively, 4.8 assists through his first four games as a pro. This despite the fact that he hasn’t shot it well at all from the field (27.9%) or three-point range (25.9%). If anything, there’s still a lot of meat on the bone here, especially for $7,200.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Domantas Sabonis ($9,200)
Sabonis is one of the many Kings who will have his name attached to trade rumors, but, in the meantime, he’ll just keep stuffing that stat sheet, even in defeat. The former All-Star is giving the Kings averages of 19 points, 16.5 rebounds, and 7.3 assists while converting an incredible 72% of his attempts from the floor. He’s also averaging 36 minutes per game, so the Kings’ proclivity for having their doors blown off hasn’t hampered Sabonis’ playing time just yet.
The Pelicans have been among the most favorable matchups for opposing bigs for years, and that isn’t likely to change this season. New Orleans is coughing up an average of 54 points in the paint per game early on, the fourth-most in the Association.
Value
DeAndre Jordan ($3,800)
I can’t believe we’re still discussing a 38-year-old DeAndre Jordan, let alone a 38-year-old DeAndre Jordan as a semi-viable DFS commodity. But here we are. With Yves Missi injured, Jordan has started back-to-back games in the middle for New Orleans. He scored nine points to go along with nine rebounds in 20 minutes in his first start, while he struggled in just 13 minutes of action in the same role last night.
DJ has been serviceable, averaging a solid 1.07 DK fantasy points-per-minute so far. If Missi is out again tonight, Jordan should at least crack a player pool for large-field GPPs, assuming he starts again. The Kings have allowed a league-high 55.5 paint points per game this season.
Fast Break
Donovan Clingan ($6,100) – Clingan was an $8,000 player on DraftKings by the time last season ended, so the $6,100 salary tonight looks like a considerable discount. He’s averaging about five fewer minutes per game early on (22.3), yet he’s still contributing a solid 1.14 DK FP-per-minute. Clingan saw a season-high 26 minutes in the last game against the Lakers, and, with Zach Edey and Cameron Boozer on the other side of this matchup, Portland could need a little extra rim protection tonight.
Pictured: Ty Jerome
Photo Credit: Imagn
