Sunday features a three-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
There is going to be an almost endless supply of value options to choose from in the game between the Jazz and the Kings on Sunday. The Jazz have already ruled out eight players, while the Kings rotation has been thin for a while now. They only played nine players on the front leg of a back-to-back on Saturday, and six of them saw at least 30 minutes.
That includes Russell Westbrook. Westbrook is not the same player that he was in his prime, but he’s still very capable of racking up fantasy points. He’s averaged 1.27 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in five straight games.
Westbrook finished with 53.5 DraftKings points thanks to a triple-double Saturday. He didn’t even shoot the ball well in that contest, knocking down just four of 15 shots from the field, so he has the potential for even bigger performances moving forward. As long as he continues to play 30-plus minutes on a nightly basis, he warrants some stud consideration.
Value
Basically, everyone who is expected to get some time for the Jazz is a potential option Sunday. Bez Mbeng saw his first game action of the year in the team’s last outing, and he saw plenty of it. He logged nearly 34 minutes, and he finished with four points, four assists, four rebounds, two steals, and two blocked shots.
Mbeng is projected for another 29 minutes in our NBA Models, and it’s impossible to ignore that kind of volume at just $3,200. Historically, players with comparable salaries and minute projections have averaged a Plus/Minus of +5.13 (per the Trends tool).
Fast Break
The 76ers are another team that should offer value Sunday. They’re currently playing without Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Paul George, opening up a ton of opportunities for the rest of the roster. Quentin Grimes stands out as one of the biggest beneficiaries. He’s seen a +8.48% usage bump with those three players and Jared McCain off the floor this season, resulting in an average of 0.97 DraftKings points per minute. Grimes finished with 45.5 DraftKings points against the Nets on Saturday, and his 34.8% usage rate was his top mark of the season by a wide margin.
The Warriors also have a laundry list of injuries at the moment, with Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green all ruled out for Sunday’s matchup vs. the Knicks. It makes Pat Spencer an intriguing value option at $4,300. Spencer’s price tag comes with a 97% Bargain Rating, and he’s turned in some big performances when he’s gotten minutes this season. He’s had at least 32.0 DraftKings points in his last two games with 30-plus minutes, so he has upside if he gets to that threshold vs. the Knicks.
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
VJ Edgecombe is another player who is going to have to help carry the load for the shorthanded 76ers. Edgecombe has heated up after seemingly hitting the rookie wall, scoring at least 35.5 DraftKings points in six of his past eight games. He’s eclipsed 40 DraftKings points in five of those contests, and he’s averaged 1.01 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. His usage rate hasn’t been quite as high as Grimes’ with Maxey, Embiid, George, and McCain off the floor this season, but he’s still seen a nice uptick in volume in that scenario.
Value
With all due respect to Edgecombe, it’s hard to argue against Bryce Sensabaugh as the top shooting guard option on this slate. He has the top ceiling projection at the position in our NBA Models, despite checking in $1,600 cheaper than Edgecombe. He also ranks third at the position in projected Plus/Minus.
Sensabaugh has been an excellent per-minute producer all season, and he’s averaged 1.11 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. With the Jazz currently without all of their regulars, Sensabaugh has had the opportunity to dominate the offensive opportunities in recent games. He’s logged at least 28.5 minutes and a 29.3% usage rate in three straight contests, and he’s responded with 44.25, 45.75, and 31.0 DraftKings points. Against the Kings’ 28th-ranked defense, it’s hard to imagine Sensabaugh not providing value at just $6,100.
Fast Break
If you’re looking to go cheaper with the Jazz, Elijah Harkless fits the bill at $3,800. He actually has the top Plus/Minus projection at the position, and he’s first among the myriad of Jazz value plays in that metric. He’s projected for 30 minutes, and while he isn’t a great per-minute producer, he had 21.5 DraftKings points in 30 minutes Friday. He had 29.0 DraftKings points in just under 24 minutes three games ago, so he brings just a smidge of upside to the table as well.
Gary Payton II has averaged an outstanding 1.18 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s averaged a Plus/Minus of +4.91 over his past 10 outings. He hasn’t seen a huge spike in playing time with Curry out of the lineup, but he doesn’t need more than 24 minutes to potentially do a lot of damage.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
The Blazers don’t benefit from the same injury bump as some of the other teams, but their 118.5 implied team total is the top mark on the slate. They’re listed as 7.5-point road favorites over the shorthanded 76ers, so they could score the ball at a decent clip.
Deni Avdija is also one of the true fantasy superstars available Sunday evening. He’s averaged 1.34 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s capable of stuffing the stat sheet in every category across the board. He’s averaged 24.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game this season, and he was rewarded with the first All-Star game nod of his career.
Avdija hasn’t been quite as good as usual of late, but he’s been out or limited with injuries. He’s logged at least 32.2 minutes in back-to-back games, so he appears ready to handle a full workload. His price tag has also crept down to just $9,000, so he’s a strong buy-low target vs. the 76ers. He has the top ceiling projection among all players on this slate.
Value
Cody Williams is looking like a swing and a miss for the Jazz. They selected him 10th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, but he hasn’t been much of a factor for them in his second season. He’s still struggling to find a reliable jump shot, and until that changes, it’s hard to imagine him having nearly the same impact his brother has had for the Thunder.
That said, Williams is going to get plenty of opportunities to prove he belongs down the stretch. He’s played at least 36 minutes in five straight games, and he’s responded with a positive Plus/Minus in each. He’s cracked 30 DraftKings points in three of those contests, giving him a nice combination of floor and ceiling at $4,700.
Fast Break
Daeqwon Plowden is the Kings’ preferred value option at forward on this slate. He’s racked up at least 30.2 minutes and a positive Plus/Minus in four straight games, and there’s no reason to expect much different Sunday. He had 29.75 DraftKings points in his last outing, and he’s knocked down three 3-pointers in back-to-back games.
Will Richard gets the value nod for the Warriors. He’s currently projected for 32 minutes in our NBA Models, and he’s been a better per-minute producer than some of the other low-priced options on this slate. He’s averaged 0.82 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he has a 40-plus-DraftKings-points outburst in his recent game log.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
The Warriors recently rewarded Gui Santos with a three-year, $15M contract extension, and he’s going to earn his money with the team shorthanded at the moment. He’s played at least 33.5 minutes in four straight games, and he’s racked up at least 35.75 DraftKings points in three of them. Overall, he’s averaged 1.02 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s projected for another 34.5 minutes Sunday vs. the Knicks.
Value
Power forward isn’t quite as strong from a value standpoint as some of the other positions on this slate. Andersson Garcia leads the way in terms of projected Plus/Minus, but his outlook is a bit shakier than some of the team’s other value options. Garcia has averaged 27.0 minutes in his two games with the team, but he’s finished with just 6.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 1.5 steals in those outings.
Still, it’s tough to knock Garcia too much at just $3,600. He’s expected to see around 30 minutes once again Sunday, and that’s a ton of playing time for someone priced that cheaply. Even if he continues to struggle on a per-minute basis, he should still be able to deliver positive value.
Fast Break
Dominick Barlow is the other value option to consider at power forward. Like Garcia, Barlow hasn’t been particularly inspiring on a per-minute basis. He’s averaged just 0.62 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, albeit over a much larger sample size. However, Barlow has posted a positive Plus/Minus in back-to-back games, including 26.0 DraftKings points in more than 33 minutes in his last outing.
DeMar DeRozan is still capable of putting the ball in the basket. His numbers are down this season, but he’s still shooting nearly 50% from the field. He’s gotten the opportunity to play more for the shorthanded Kings in recent games, and he’s responded with 57.0 and 37.75 DraftKings points in his past two contests. He logged more than 36 minutes in both of those games, and if he’s going to continue to play that much, he’s undoubtedly underpriced at $6,400. The only real concern is that this is the second leg of a back-to-back, so DeRozan could be limited.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Donovan Clingan has officially entered stud territory for the Blazers. He’s been an elite per-minute producer basically since arriving in the NBA, and he’s starting to get the opportunity to play big minutes on a more consistent basis. He’s averaged 1.51 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, so the prospect of him playing 30-plus minutes is extremely appealing.
Clingan got to more than 35 minutes in his last outing, and he responded with 62.25 DraftKings points vs. the Jazz. It gives him a fantastic ceiling at $7,700. He ultimately grades out comparably to Karl-Anthony Towns in our NBA Models, despite the Knicks big man checking in at $9,100.
Value
Sticking with the Blazers, Robert Williams has also had a bit of a renaissance recently. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in five of his past six games, including four straight. He’s averaged 1.33 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, so he doesn’t need a ton of playing time to potentially return value. Williams is best used in lineups that are fading Clingan, but it’s also possible for both players to return value in the same game.
Fast Break
Oscar Tshiebwe figures to get most of the center minutes for the Jazz on Sunday. He’s currently projected for 24 minutes in our NBA Models, and he’s averaged a respectable 0.90 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in three of his past four outings despite failing to crack 20 minutes in any of those contests, so he has some upside with a few more minutes vs. the Kings.
Maxime Raynaud has posted a negative Plus/Minus in back-to-back games, but he had 39.75 and 51.75 DraftKings points in his two previous contests. That gives him some bounce-back appeal vs. the Jazz. Raynaud has averaged 1.07 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s projected for 32.5 minutes Sunday.
Pictured: Donovan Clingan
Photo Credit: Jaime Valdez, Imagn
