Sunday features a seven-game main slate starting at 6 p.m. ET.
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
Immanuel Quickley continues to provide plenty of value at his price tag. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in eight of his past nine games, with the lone exception being a game where he saw fewer than 30 minutes. He’s projected for 32 minutes on Sunday’s slate, and he’s averaged 1.08 DraftKings points per minute for the year.
Quickley also draws an excellent matchup vs. the Nets. They’ve been dismal defensively this season, and the Raptors are implied for 120.5 points. That’s the third-highest mark on the main slate.
Quickley ultimately stands out as the best pay-up option at the position. He has the fifth-best projected Plus/Minus and the top mark among players priced at $7,000 or more.
Value
Caleb Love stands out as one of the strongest values on the entire slate. The Blazers are dealing with a host of injuries in the backcourt, with Jrue Holiday and Shaedon Sharpe joining Scoot Henderson on the sidelines. That opens up a decent chunk of playing time for Love; he’s currently projected for 27 minutes in our NBA models.
Love has taken full advantage of his playing time this season, averaging 1.03 DraftKings points per minute. He’s played at least 32 minutes in two of his past three outings, and he’s responded with at least 32.35 DraftKings points in both. If he can get back to that threshold Sunday, he has the potential for a huge performance at just $3,800. His current price tag also comes with a 94% Bargain Rating on DraftKings.
Fast Break
From a ceiling standpoint, no one on this slate can match Luka Doncic. His ceiling projection checks in at nearly 72 DraftKings points, and no other player is above 63.5. Doncic will have to deal with LeBron James moving forward, but he had no issues racking up fantasy points in his first game alongside LeBron. He finished with 64.75 DraftKings points in 34.3 minutes, and he maintained an elite 43.8% usage rate. The Lakers also have plenty of offensive upside vs. the Jazz, leading the slate with a 128.0 implied team total.
Egor Demin has started to put together some solid performances for the Nets. He’s scored at least 31.5 DraftKings points in two of his past five games, and he’s up to 0.89 DraftKings points per minute for the year. His playing time can fluctuate from game to game, but he has a solid ceiling for his price tag.
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
As usual, shooting guard is one of the weakest positions on Sunday’s slate. Donovan Mitchell is the only player priced above $8,400, and he doesn’t stand out as a particularly enticing option.
However, Desmond Bane is someone worth considering. The Magic are still playing without Paolo Banchero, and Bane has posted some solid results in his absence. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in three of his past four games, including 40.75 DraftKings points in just 32.3 minutes vs. the Knicks on Saturday. Bane is projected for 36 minutes Sunday vs. the Celtics, so he could definitely improve on that production.
Bane is also currently projected for roughly 13% ownership, so he’s not expected to be very popular. His optimal lineup rate is closer to 16.5% in Sim Labs, indicating that he is undervalued.
Value
The Suns have been surprisingly competitive to start the year, and Collin Gillespie has been a big reason why. He’s been extremely efficient for fantasy purposes all season, averaging 1.14 DraftKings points per minute, and he’s starting to see a bit more playing time. He’s logged at least 28.2 minutes in three straight games, and he’s responded with at least 34.25 DraftKings points in each.
Gillespie is projected to see a comparable workload Sunday in a solid individual matchup. He’s taking on the Spurs, and he leads the position with a +4.73 Opponent Plus/Minus. He’s another player whose optimal lineup rate exceeds his projected ownership, making him a solid option for tournaments.
Fast Break
Anthony Black is another target for Orlando. He’s played at least 29 minutes in four straight games, and he’s responded with a positive Plus/Minus in each. His price tag has yet to reflect his increased role with Banchero sidelined, and the Magic are with the Magic giving Jalen Suggs the night off on the second leg of a back-to-back, Black should get even more run Sunday.
Drake Powell has some appeal as a pure punt play at $3,200. He’s played minutes in the mid-20s recently, and he’s projected for another 24 minutes on Sunday’s slate. That’s not a ton, but it still gives him a chance to return value; players with comparable salaries and minute projections have historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +2.62 (per the Trends tool).
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Michael Porter Jr. continues to stand out as underpriced. While he was a role player for the Nuggets over the past few seasons, he’s always been an extremely gifted offensive player. He’s had the chance to put that on display for the Nets this year, and he’s absolutely crushed for fantasy purposes. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in eight of his past 10 games, and he’s had at least 43.0 DraftKings points in four straight.
The Nets really only have two above-average NBA scorers, Porter and Cam Thomas, and Thomas is currently out with an injury. Porter has posted a usage rate of just under 31% with Thomas off the floor this season, and he’s averaged 1.24 DraftKings points per minute in that split. He leads the position with 12 Pro Trends, and while he has seen a slight uptick in salary, he’s still too cheap at $8,100.
Value
The Cavs are going to be without Lonzo Ball on Sunday, which should keep Jaylon Tyson’s role in the rotation pretty secure. He’s been a significant part of their lineup recently, logging at least 27 minutes in four of their past five games. He’s responded with a positive Plus/Minus in each, and he’s displayed a ceiling of just under 40 DraftKings points.
That makes him a clear value at just $4,000. Tyson is projected for another 29 minutes Sunday vs. the Clippers, and he’s averaged 0.96 DraftKings points per minute for the year. Players with comparable salaries and minute projections have historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +3.05 (per the Trends tool), and Tyson’s per-minute efficiency gives him a chance to eclipse that figure.
Fast Break
Nae’Qwan Tomlin is another potential value option for the Cavs. He’s not projected for quite as many minutes as Tyson (24), but he should still see a solid chunk of playing time vs. the Clippers. Tomlin has averaged 0.99 DraftKings points per minute for the year, so he doesn’t need a ton of minutes to potentially return value.
Franz Wagner is coming off a huge game Saturday. He racked up a season-high 56.5 DraftKings points vs. the Knicks, and he’s seen the biggest boost in value with Banchero sidelined this season. He’s seen a team-high +3.86% usage bump with Banchero off the floor, so his ceiling is significantly higher in that scenario. That makes him an interesting tournament pivot off Porter, who is expected to carry far more ownership.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Evan Mobley remains one of the most talented big men in the league. Unfortunately, he doesn’t get the chance to showcase his skill set on a nightly basis. The Cavs have a deep team, so Mobley can occasionally be a bit overlooked.
However, he’s coming off 52.0 DraftKings points in his last outing, his second game with 50-plus fantasy points in his past four. His big game Friday came with Jarrett Allen out of the lineup, and Allen will be sidelined once again vs. the Clippers. Mobley has historically seen a nice bump with Allen off the floor, and that’s been the case again this season. He’s seen a +3.08% bump to his usage rate, resulting in an average of 1.25 DraftKings points per minute.
Mobley leads the PF position with 11 Pro Trends on DraftKings, and he also stands out as one of the best pure values. His $8,000 price tag comes with an 87% Bargain Rating,
Value
The Spurs’ once-promising season is starting to look a bit shaky. Victor Wembanyama is going to miss the next few weeks while dealing with a calf strain, while Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper are also out for the time being. It leaves the Spurs without their three most-promising young players.
The good news is that the Spurs have some players who are capable of picking up the slack. Keldon Johnson is one of them. Johnson is an NBA-level scorer, and he should see more opportunities while the team is shorthanded. He’s currently projected for 28 minutes in our NBA Models, and he’s averaged better than a fantasy point per minute for the year.
Johnson has posted a positive Plus/Minus and at least 32.0 DraftKings points in three straight games, and he had just under 40 in his last outing. That makes him too cheap at $5,600, and he owns the top optimal lineup rate at power forward.
Fast Break
Deni Avdija is going to have to navigate a matchup vs. the Thunder on Sunday, which is as tough as it gets. OKC is off to an even better start than last year, and their defense has been the best in the league by a wide margin. Still, Avdija has become a full-fledged fantasy superstar, and he racked up 58.5 DraftKings points in his first meeting with OKC this season. Avdija is going to have to do even more than usual with the team playing shorthanded, so he has a massive ceiling if this game stays competitive. His optimal lineup rate is more than double his projected ownership, making him one of the best contrarian tournament options of the day.
Dean Wade is not a particularly sexy DFS target, but he should be able to get the job done at just $3,600. He’s projected for 28 minutes in our NBA Models, which is a lot of playing time for a near-min-priced player. Historically, players with comparable salaries and minute projections have averaged a Plus/Minus of +3.60.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Center is lacking some of the usual high-end targets on Sunday’s slate, so Nic Claxton stands out as one of the strongest options. He’s seen a nice uptick in production of late, posting an average Plus/Minus of +9.22 over his past 10 games. That includes 56.75 DraftKings points in his last outing.
For the year, Claxton is up to 1.15 DraftKings points per minute. He’s projected for 31.5 minutes on Sunday’s slate, giving him the second-best projected Plus/Minus at the position.
Value
It’s Sandro season. Sandro Mamukelashvilli became a DFS cult hero with some of his monster performances in limited minutes last year, and he has the potential for a nice bump in playing time Sunday. Jakob Poeltl has already been ruled out for this contest, while Collin Murray-Boyles is officially listed as questionable.
Mamukelashvilli is projected for 21.5 minutes in our NBA Models, and he can do a lot of damage with that much playing time. He’s averaged 1.15 DraftKings points per minute for the year, and he’s historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +4.02 with a comparable salary and minute projection. He leads all centers in projected Plus/Minus, and he’s also No. 1 in optimal lineup rate.
Fast Break
There were some questions about how the Celtics would fare at center this season after losing Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kornet, and Al Horford this offseason. However, Neemias Queta has more than held his own. He’s averaged 1.08 DraftKings points per minute for fantasy purposes, and he’s scored at least 30.0 DraftKings points in three of his past four games. He’s still underpriced at $5,100.
Moussa Diabate is coming off a rare down performance in his last contest. He had posted a positive Plus/Minus in his previous 11 outings, so that stands out as a clear outlier. He’s averaged 1.10 DraftKings points per minute for the year, so he should be able to bounce back vs. the Hawks.
Pictured: Evan Mobley
Photo Credit: Ken Blaze, Imagn
