Sunday features a small six-game slate starting at 6 p.m. ET.
Let’s dive into some of the top plays on the slate using the FantasyLabs tools and metrics.
Also, don’t forget that for large-field tournaments, you can utilize our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 150 lineups, or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.
Note: Projections and Leverages 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. Use our FanDuel promo to get three months of free NBA League Pass.
NBA DFS Point Guard Picks
Stud
There are so many top-tier point guards who are questionable or out for Sunday, but one who is expected to play is Finals MVP Stephen Curry. The past three games, Curry has been shooting the lights out. He is averaging 42 points per game while shooting 65.2% from the field and 55.3% from behind the arc during that time. Paying up for Curry is always a great option, but there are several other pay-up options on this slate.
The Warriors have the highest implied total on the slate at 120 points, as this game total currently sits at 235.5 points. The Kings rank 26th in defensive rating and 29th in 3-point percentage allowed this season. Great news for Curry, who is averaging 5.4 3-pointers made per game. He has averaged seven 3-pointers made during the last three games, which is absurd. Ride with the hot hand of Chef Curry.
Value
With Ja Morant and Desmond Bane both doubtful to play, Tyus Jones is the easiest plug and play on the slate. He has the highest projected Plus/Minus on both sites. Jones has seen his salary drop considerably, but he ranks fourth on the team in points, averaging a career-high 10.5 per game. Not only are Morant and Bane likely out, but they still don’t have Jaren Jackson Jr. healthy and De’Anthony Melton is out of town. Lock in Tyus Jones.
Even with their top two players doubtful to play, the Grizzlies are two-point road favorites against the Wizards tonight. In his lone game without Morant this season, Jones posted a double-double with 23 points and 10 assists, as he shot 67% from the field. He had a season-high 45.8 DraftKings points. Don’t get cute; Jones is the best value on the slate.
Fast Break
De’Aaron Fox is coming off of his best game of the season against the Lakers where he had a near triple-double with 32 points, 12 assists, and seven rebounds. Fox finished with a season-high 63.75 DraftKings points and will get a similar matchup against the Warriors tonight. They play at the second-fastest pace behind the Lakers and rank 27th in defensive rating, allowing a league-high 119 points per game. Pairing Curry and Fox is very intriguing tonight.
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
Donovan Mitchell is questionable to play, so make sure to monitor our news dashboard to see if he is playing the closer we get to lock. If he is good to go, it’s hard not to like him even at this expensive salary. Mitchell had a near triple-double last game with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists. His first season with the Cavaliers has been electric. Mitchell is averaging a career-high 31.2 points per game while shooting 51.2% from the field and 43.4% from behind the arc. He is also averaging a career-high 6.1 assists per game as well, showing his versatility.
The Cavaliers get a home matchup against the Timberwolves, who look terrible right now. They have lost six of their last seven games but play at the fourth-highest pace, making this a nice fantasy environment for Mitchell. The Timberwolves also are allowing a league-high 14.5 made 3-pointers per game, which should set up nicely for Mitchell, who is averaging a career-high 4.2 made 3-pointers a night. Make sure he’s playing, but the ceiling is there.
Value
Dillon Brooks’ ears most definitely perked up after hearing Morant and Bane are doubtful. His right arm may fall off with the amount of field-goal attempts he will have tonight. On FanDuel, Brooks has the second-highest projected Plus/Minus on the slate at $5,800. Despite shooting just 41.8% from the field, Brooks has over 14 field-goal attempts per game for the fourth-straight season. Another Grizzlies value player to get exposure too.
In his lone game without Morant, Brooks had a 32.9% usage rate and had 20 field-goal attempts. With Bane out as well, that number could reach over 20 attempts with ease. The Wizards allow the third-highest 3-point percentage in the league, and Brooks has 5.3 3-point attempts per game. Volume is key in DFS, and Brooks will get his tonight.
Fast Break
Anthony Edwards has been an extremely boom-or-bust player yet again this season. After three-straight games scoring under 30 DraftKings points, Edwards finally exploded for 45.5 points last game against the Grizzlies. Edwards leads the Timberwolves in points, averaging a career-high 21.8 per game. There are games where Edwards simply disappears, but at the same time, the upside he provides can not be ignored.
NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Kevin Durant has made 10 field goals in five-straight games, as he continues to try to will the Nets back to a winning record. Playing without Kyrie Irving and a limited Ben Simmons has really catapulting Durant’s ceiling. Just two games ago, Durant had a triple-double with 29 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists. He is averaging over 30 points per game while shooting over 50% from the field for the 10th-straight season.
Playing against the Lakers right now is arguably the best matchup for an opposing player. They lead the league in pace and rank below average in defensive rating, allowing 116.4 points per game. This may be a little surprising with the top-tier players on this slate, but Durant leads them all on both DraftKings and FanDuel with the highest ceiling in our Tournament Model. The price tag has risen, but it is very much deserved.
Value
Yet again another Grizzlies value play; this time with small forward John Konchar. He has only started four games this season, but in his first start Konchar had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, showing his upside right out of the gate. DraftKings actually has Konchar ahead of Brooks in projected Plus/Minus, while FanDuel has him fourth. Regardless, these three Grizzlies will populate a majority of lineup builds tonight.
Fast Break
Normally targeting DeMar DeRozan with a healthy Zach LaVine is not the preferred option, but he can still reach his ceiling playing alongside LaVine; DeRozan had a 46-point game with LaVine on the floor just four games ago. The Nuggets defense has been poor to start the season, as it ranks 25th in defensive rating. He is projected to be under 10% owned on this slate, and that alone makes him very intriguing for tournaments.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
With LeBron James doubtful to play once again, we’re going right back to Anthony Davis for our top power forward option. In the two games without James this season, Davis has a 31.6% usage rate and is averaging nearly a double-double with 26.5 points and nine rebounds per game while shooting 54.3% from the field. Prioritize Davis on DraftKings on Sunday, where he is $1,200 cheaper than FanDuel and has a 97% Bargain Rating.
The Lakers have lost five-straight games and have a 2-10 record, which is the second-worst in the league. They are four-point home underdogs against the Nets with a slate-low 107.75 implied point total. Despite the Lakers being so bad this season, Davis can still reach his ceiling without James on the court.
Value
Getting to a value play that is not on the Grizzlies is rare, but Wizards forward Deni Avdija has the highest projected Plus/Minus on DraftKings and second-highest on FanDuel for the power forward position. The Wizards are still playing without their star Bradley Beal, as Avdija has played over 30 minutes in back-to-back games. During that time, he has scored double=digit points with 6.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.
There are two ways to play Avdija on this slate. Either in contrarian to the Grizzlies value or pairing it with the Grizzlies value to play a stars-and-scrubs lineup build. This game is going to have so much ownership on this six-game slate, so make sure to decipher the best spots. Make sure Beal is still out, but Avdija is another value option.
Fast Break
FanDuel has a few more players who are power forward and center eligible compared to DraftKings. One highest-priced power forward on both sites that is interesting is Karl-Anthony Towns. He has been in major foul trouble recently, which is why his game log looks so gross. The salary on both sites is priced in to the Cavaliers matchup and foul trouble. However, if Towns can keep his hands to himself, the upside is there for a big game at this price tag.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Nikola Jokic or Joel Embiid? Jokic has the higher ceiling in our model on both DraftKings and FanDuel, so we’ll start with him. Seeing his salary dip on both sites is intriguing for a player who can sleepwalk his way into a triple-double. Jokic has seen a decrease in his production with a healthy Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., but he can get fantasy points in a variety of ways, as we know in past seasons.
The Bulls allowed 60 points in the paint in their last game as they rank below average in total points scored in the paint per game this season. Three of the last four games, Jokic has played below 30 minutes. One game was due to major foul trouble, and the other two were blowouts. When the game is competitive, and this Bulls game should be, Jokic can easily reach value even with this high salary.
Value
Nic Claxton is another Nets player who has benefited from Irving being out and Simmons being limited. Moving into the starting role, Claxton is averaging a career-high 12.2 points and 9.4 rebounds per game while shooting 71.3% from the field. At $6,100 on DraftKings, Claxton has the highest projected Plus/Minus at the center position. He is a cheaper way to get exposure to the Nets, who are in a great spot against the Lakers.
With James out and Davis not wanting to play center, Claxton could find himself in a very juicy matchup in the paint. The Lakers are below average in points allowed per game in the paint. Over the last five games, Claxton is averaging 12.8 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 36 DraftKings points per game. In two of those games, he has played over 30 minutes as well. This is a great matchup to get exposure to Claxton, who is playing the best he ever has.
Fast Break
Playing Embiid on a back-to-back is a little dicey, but head coach Doc Rivers says he is good to go, so we need to trust it. He played a season-high 40 minutes last night and had 42 points, 10 rebounds, and 71.5 DraftKings points. In three games without James Harden, Embiid has a 39.5% usage rate while averaging 33.7 points and 11 rebounds per game. Make sure he is good to go, but Embiid is one of the best pay-up options on the slate.
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