After taking off last night, the association presents us with a large 11-game slate starting at 7:00 p.m. ET. Due to several injury situations, the stud tier may be looking bleak making this a strong balanced build slate.
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
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10,300)
Gilgeous-Alexander is coming off his best game of the year Monday night against the Cavaliers, recording a season-high 43 points with eight assists and accumulating 66.5 DraftKings points. He posted a 43.7% usage rate and is projected for the highest usage rate on the slate in our NBA Models at 35.8%. Luckily for Gilgeous-Alexander, he will draw the same matchup tonight with the Thunder hosting the Cavaliers.
Since the Thunder are without Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, Gilgeous-Alexander will be forced to be more aggressive offensively. Many studs on this slate are dealing with injuries and are questionable to play, which will likely draw more attention to Gilgeous-Alexander if those players are ruled out. Despite a tough matchup against the Cavaliers’ defense, Gilgeous-Alexander is an elite pay-up option in all formats.
Value
Brayden Burries ($3,900)
The Arizona rookie started his first game of the season Monday night and recorded his third straight game with over 20 DraftKings points. It didn’t take long for the 10th overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft to make an impact on the Bucks, who are one of the worst teams in the league. Burries is only shooting 40.9% from the field through seven games but is projected to start again and play around 25 minutes.
In his last start, Burries posted a 22.9% usage rate, attempted 15 field goals, and nearly had a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds. Nearly half of Burries’ field goal attempts came from behind the arc, which is the area to attack the Celtics’ defense. They have allowed a league-high 42.6 3-point attempts per game. Burries will have more than enough playing time to pay off his cheap price tag.
Fast Break
Jalen Brunson ($8,100) – Brunson is projected for the most ownership at the point guard position due to his affordable salary. The consensus approach to this 11-game slate is a balanced build, and Brunson fits that mold perfectly. The Knicks are implied for the highest total on the slate by a comfortable margin at 122.75 points. Despite a relatively slow start to his season, Brunson still has ceiling potential tonight.
Immanuel Quickley ($6,900) – Quickley has been one of the most consistent fantasy producers recently, recording between 33 and 38 DraftKings points in his last four games. Kawhi Leonard remains out, which boosts the fantasy production and usage rate for all Raptors players. Quickley has a 20.3% optimal lineup rate, which is the highest at this position. Especially in cash games, take the consistency with Quickley.
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
Ty Jerome ($8,500)
Jerome recorded his second 40-point game Monday night while adding five assists, five rebounds, and two steals for 58.2 DraftKings points. The Grizzlies are off to an incredible 6-1 start in large part due to Jerome’s emergence. He is averaging a career-high 28.2 points per game while shooting 50.4% from the field and 42.1% from behind the arc. Jerome is quickly becoming a fantastic fantasy option in the league.
Jerome leads all shooting guards on this slate in projected ceiling and remains favorably priced at $8,500. The Pacers continue to deal with backcourt injuries, making this a positive matchup for Jerome. He is projected for a 31.5% usage rate and has a great opportunity to deliver another ceiling performance. The Grizzlies have the fourth-highest team total on the slate, and Jerome has easily been their top option this season.
Value
Meleek Thomas ($3,800)
Cavaliers rookie Meleek Thomas leads the slate in projected Plus/Minus. He is projected to draw his second start of the season with Peyton Watson out. With Watson out last game, Thomas played 26 minutes and did not disappoint, recording 17 points and five rebounds. The sharpshooter from Arkansas has made at least three 3-pointers in three of his four games played. He is simply way too cheap in this spot.
Thomas has scored double-digit points in every game this season. The Cavaliers rank fifth in points per game, and Thomas has been a key part of their offense. The Thunder are allowing opponents to attempt 41.4 3-pointers per game, which is tied for the fourth-most in the league. Thomas is currently projected for the highest ownership on the slate at 34%. He is a fantastic value option in all lineup builds tonight.
Fast Break
RJ Barrett ($7,100) – The sample size is small, but in five games without Kawhi Leonard, Barrett has a usage rate boost of 3.3% and is attempting 2.2 more field goals per game. He is drawing 25% projected ownership with the third-highest projected ceiling at the small forward position. Barrett has scored 20+ points in all but one game this year. He has been consistent and remains reasonably priced.
Mikel Brown Jr. ($4,800) – The Nets’ rookie from Louisville has scored double-digit points in each of his last three games. He will continue to come off the bench with around a 23% usage rate but is a strong value play with point guard and shooting guard eligibility. The Nets stand at 1-6 and do not have much to play for this season, so it would not be surprising if Brown Jr. continues to get more opportunities.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Jayson Tatum ($10,100)
Leading the Celtics in points, rebounds, and assists per game, Tatum has been one of the most dynamic players in the league to start this season. After playing a back-to-back on Sunday and Monday night, Tatum is currently questionable to play tonight due to rest. Keep an eye on his status as we get closer to lock. If he is able to go, Tatum is a strong play. If he can’t go, Paul George will be an elite pivot option.
Tatum is getting all the shots that he can handle but is only shooting 41.8% from the field and 22.9% from downtown. However, his playmaking ability has been on full display as he averages a career-high 7.9 assists per game, with at least six assists in every game. The Bucks rank 26th in defensive rating this season, and the Celtics are double-digit home favorites, making this an amazing spot if Tatum is able to suit up.
Value
Mario Hezonja ($3,900)
Hezonja is another player who will benefit from the Cavaliers’ injuries. He is coming off a season-high 12 points and eight rebounds last game, accumulating 32 DraftKings points. Hezonja has been getting more playing time recently and has averaged 27.6 DraftKings points over his last three games. After spending the last several years overseas, Hezonja is in his first year back in the league and is off to a great start.
Not only is Hezonja scoring the ball well, but he is also averaging 8.3 rebounds per game in his last three contests. He had a near double-double against the Thunder last game and will have a great opportunity to repeat that performance in the same matchup tonight. Hezonja is drawing the most ownership at the small forward position at 29%, but his optimal lineup rate is only 13%, which is worth noting in this spot.
Fast Break
Scottie Barnes ($8,600) – Barnes is the last Raptors player worth targeting on this 11-game slate. He is the top option for the Raptors, leading the team in points, rebounds, steals, and blocks, while ranking second in assists. Barnes has been playing through a hip injury but has recorded at least 50 DraftKings points in three of his last four games. He is another great upper-mid-range option who is popular tonight.
Josh Hart ($6,000) – Hart leads all small forwards in projected Plus/Minus and has the highest optimal lineup rate at 23.7%, making him one of the best values on the slate. He is questionable to play tonight with an ankle injury, but if he is able to suit up, Hart is an elite option in all lineup builds. Hart has not scored double-digit points in each of his last four games, but he is still able to provide fantasy value in so many different ways.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Jalen Johnson ($9,900)
Johnson is the second stud who is questionable to play due to an ankle injury. He missed Monday night’s game, and if he is unable to play, Luguentz Dort will draw the start again. Johnson is expected to play, remains priced under $10,000, and is projected for the fifth-highest ceiling on the slate. He has displayed triple-double upside worth targeting but has also posted several duds. He is a true boom-or-bust option.
Johnson has seen a dip in his shooting percentages, but he is still stuffing the stat sheet, averaging 18.1 points, nine rebounds, 7.9 assists, and 44.1 DraftKings points per game. This matchup with the Wizards has the highest game total on the slate at 233.5 points. The Hawks rank sixth in pace, so this is a great game environment to target. If he is able to play, Johnson is a strong contrarian pay-up option tonight.
Value
OG Anunoby ($6,200)
Anunoby leads the power forward position in projected Plus/Minus and is clearly the third option for the Knicks. He would benefit if Hart is unable to play but is a strong mid-range value regardless. Anunoby has struggled shooting the ball to start the season at only 40% from the field, but he is averaging a respectable 16.4 points per game. He has also delivered ceiling games through his rebounding.
The Bulls are arguably the best matchup for opposing players. They are allowing a league-high 128.9 points per game, which is 4.6 more points than the next closest team. The Bulls rank 29th in defensive rating and 22nd in rebounding percentage. There is an avenue for several Knicks players to deliver ceiling performances tonight. Anunoby is a great value option who could look even better if Hart is unable to play.
Fast Break
Karl-Anthony Towns ($8,300) – Staying with the Knicks, Towns is also a phenomenal option to target on this slate. He has the second-highest projected Plus/Minus at this position and has recorded a double-double in every game this season. Towns is averaging an impressive 20.3 points and 13.9 rebounds per game. With power forward and center eligibility, Towns is incredibly easy to fit into any lineup build.
Anthony Davis ($8,400) – For some reason, Davis only has power forward eligibility, but we know the ceiling that he can provide, especially at this $8,400 price tag. Davis is averaging 23 points and 9.1 rebounds per game while recording at least one steal in every game this year. This matchup is promising for Davis, with the Hawks ranking 23rd in rebounding percentage and middle of the pack defensively.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Nikola Jokic ($12,300)
Jokic leads this 11-game slate by a wide margin in projected ceiling but is also $2,000 more expensive than the next closest player. With his elevated price tag, Jokic is currently drawing less than 5% ownership as everyone defaults to a balanced build. There is plenty of value to fit Jokic in, but he has only one game with over 60 DraftKings points. Overall, Jokic simply hasn’t done enough to warrant this high salary.
A key factor for Jokic is the status of Raptors center Jakob Poeltl. He missed Monday’s game, and if he is unable to play tonight, that would be a significant blow to their interior defense. If Poeltl does not play, getting exposure to Jokic in a stars-and-scrubs lineup build is an amazing tournament strategy. No one on this large 11-game slate has the ceiling of Jokic, who is on triple-double watch anytime he takes the floor.
Value
Jakob Poeltl ($4,100)
Poeltl, if he does play, is a fantastic value option. In the last game that he played, Poeltl erupted for a season-high 33.8 DraftKings points. He posted a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double while only playing 23 minutes against the Magic. If he is healthy enough, Poeltl will have to play heavy minutes against Jokic. Our NBA Model has him projected for a modest 25 minutes, and he is popping as an incredible value play.
Poeltl has the second-highest optimal lineup rate at the center position at 15.5%. Despite having Jokic patrolling the paint, the Nuggets have allowed 52.7 points per game in the paint, which ranks 22nd in the league. They also rank 25th in rebounding percentage. If he can play, Poeltl is an incredible value who is likely to get more than enough playing time to pay off his salary. At $4,100, he can help fit in Jokic if needed.
Fast Break
Alperen Sengun ($8,900) – Steven Adams is out, and backup center Clint Capela is in danger of missing his second straight game due to injury. With both potentially out, Sengun is in line to play heavy minutes. He played 38 minutes last game and nearly had a triple-double with 26 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds, two steals, and two blocks for 59.2 DraftKings points. Even against Rudy Gobert, Sengun is a strong option.
Onyeka Okongwu ($6,400) – Over the last three games, Okongwu has been on fire. During that time, he is averaging a massive double-double with 16 points and 10.7 rebounds per game despite shooting only 47.5% from the field. The Wizards rank 26th in rebounding percentage this season, making this a perfect spot for Okongwu to get another double-double. He is yet another strong mid-range value play tonight.
Pictured: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Photo Credit: Imagn
