Tuesday night features a handful of games in the NBA, providing a nice 10-team player pool for the contests on DraftKings’ main slate. Of those 10 teams, only the Timberwolves are playing for a second night in a row, while there are no teams that have to play again on Wednesday, meaning back-to-back games won’t have much of an impact on Tuesday’s slate.
One thing that will impact the slate is injuries to some key players. Be sure to keep a close eye on breaking news throughout the day and refresh the NBA Models for the latest updates and adjustments.
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.
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.
NBA DFS Point Guard Picks
Stud
The Rockets have the second-highest implied team total on the slate as they visit the Wizards in a game with plenty of strong fantasy options. Since the injury to Alperen Sengun (ankle), Fred VanVleet has been a great play for Houston and should continue to carry the load in this Monday night matchup. FVV has the second-highest ceiling, median and floor projection at point guard on this slate and the third-highest Projected Plus/Minus.
VanVleet has exceeded salary-based expectations in eight straight games, averaging 1.18 DraftKings points per minute and playing a team-high 38 minutes per game.
The Wizards have been one of the best matchups for opposing point guards all season long, and especially with their injuries, they should be a great matchup for VanVleet.
Value
On the other side of that matchup, Jordan Poole has the highest Projected Plus/Minus of all point guards on Tuesday. The Wizards will be without Deni Avdija (knee), Marvin Bagley (back), Bilal Coulibaly (wrist), and Tyus Jones (back), while Kyle Kuzma (shoulder) is questionable. As a result of all the injuries, Poole is projected for a 29.3% usage rate in 32.1 minutes on Tuesday.
Poole had 31 points in last Sunday’s loss to the Celtics with many of the same injuries and has posted usage rates over 33% in each of the two games that Jones has missed. When Jones has been off the floor this season, Poole’s usage increases by over seven percentage points to a team-high 34.2%, and he has produced 1.22 DraftKings points per minute in that scenario.
Fast Break
Luka Doncic is always a great option if the Mavs are on the board. He has the highest median, ceiling, and floor projection on the whole slate. He also comes at the highest price, though, and he is listed as questionable with left hamstring soreness. With the injury issue and his high salary, there are reasons to look elsewhere, even though Luka’s ceiling remains unmatched.
The Spurs have been getting solid play from Tre Jones, who is a good midrange play to consider as San Antonio hosts Luka’s Mavs. Jones has exceeded salary-based expectations in four of his last five games with good scoring and assist totals helping him produce 0.99 DraftKings points per minute in 32.6 minutes per game.
Jared Butler is the top bargain point guard on the board, as he also helps fill in for all the Wizards’ injuries. Butler is only $3,700 and is coming off a strong showing of eight points and six assists in Sunday’s blowout loss to Boston. He won’t have to do much to be worth his salary and has the highest Projected Plus/Minus of all point guards with salaries under $5,000.
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
Kyrie Irving emerged as the hero with an amazing game-winner on Sunday against the Nuggets, but it wasn’t just his last-minute shot that made him worth a look in this matchup with the Spurs. The Mavs have the highest implied team total on the slate, and Irving has the highest median and ceiling projections of all shooting guards, even with Doncic figured into the models. If Luka ends up sitting, Kyrie will be an even better play in this favorable matchup against the Spurs.
Kyrie has exceeded salary-based expectations in three straight games and has become much more of a facilitator, passing out at least nine assists in each of those three games after averaging just 4.9 assists over his first 43 games this season. He has produced 1.53 DraftKings points per minute over those three games, even outpacing Luka’s 1.34 DraftKings points per minute during that small sample size.
Irving is over $3,000 cheaper than Doncic and may take on more of the work against the Spurs. If he does, he’ll be a great stud to build around at shooting guard.
Value
The Nuggets visit the Timberwolves in one of the biggest games of the night from a potential playoff preview perspective. In what should be a great matchup, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope brings the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus of all shooting guards under $6,000. KCP typically plays plenty of minutes for the Nuggets and usually does a good job filling the box score in non-scoring categories.
On Sunday against the Mavs, KCP had 10 points after a few games with reduced scoring. On the year, he is averaging exactly 10.0 points per game in 31.6 minutes per game and a production rate of 0.65 DraftKings points per minute. With so many minutes coming his way on a nightly basis, though, he’s a solid value play at barely over $4,000 that gives you the salary you need to stack up stars in other spots.
Fast Break
In the Rockets’ favorable matchup with Washington, Jalen Green has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus of all shooting guards. He is coming off a great game against the Cavs last Saturday, when he finished with a double-double of 26 points and 11 boards. He’s a high-volume shooter who brings a high ceiling but also plenty of volatility from game to game.
The Spurs have been playing much better lately, staying close even in games they don’t win. Devin Vassell has been a huge part of that turnaround and brings the third-highest Projected Plus/Minus at shooting guard. He had 25 points in San Antonio’s win on Sunday, and it looks like he’s past the hip injury that limited him and forced him to miss a game just over a week ago.
Other than KCP, the Magic are the best source of value at shooting guard, with Cole Anthony and Gary Harris both bringing very good Projected Plus/Minus in their soft matchup against the Hornets. Neither guard has been shooting the ball well lately, but this looks like a great spot for one or both to get on track.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Anthony Edwards provided quite possibly the dunk of the year on Monday night against the Jazz and also led the Timberwolves to another win despite being without Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) and Rudy Gobert (ribs) and also losing Naz Reid (head) midway through the game. Gobert or Reid could be back for Tuesday’s showdown with the Nuggets, but either way, Edwards will run the show on offense. He has the highest median, ceiling, and floor projection of all small forwards and has been able to exceed his high salary-based expectations in five of his last six games.
In those six games, Edwards has a 35.3% usage rate and has produced 1.42 DraftKings points per minute in 38.3 minutes per game. He scored 30+ points in each of his last three games and has also added great non-scoring numbers. If the Timberwolves are going to keep this matchup with the defending champs close, they’ll need another huge effort from their superstar. Ant has been up to the task so far, and I expect more greatness on Tuesday.
Value
Amen Thompson has started the last three games for the Rockets, and the No. 4 overall pick in the NBA Draft last year has continued to show a high ceiling. He has the second-highest Projected Plus/Minus of all small forwards on Tuesday and also brings added point guard eligibility for even more flexibility. He has the third-highest ceiling projection of all small forwards, even though he only has the ninth-highest salary.
Thompson has scored at least 13 points in four of his last five games and averaged 1.04 DraftKings points per minute over that span. As the Rockets look to get him even more involved down the stretch, he’s a very strong midrange play to consider, especially in soft matchups like this one against Washington.
Fast Break
Brandon Ingram has the second-highest ceiling projection of all small forwards, behind only Edwards, and he’s a little bit of a bargain under $8,000. He is coming off a strong 21-point performance against the Trail Blazers on Saturday and brings multi-category upside to Tuesday’s matchup with Brooklyn.
The highest Projected Plus/Minus at small forward comes from Justin Champagnie, who actually has the highest Projected Plus/Minus on the entire slate. Be careful since his twin brother Julian Champagnie is also on the slate and has been getting decent playing time for the Spurs. The Champagnie with the higher projections, though, is from the Wizards. Justin has scored double-digit points in two straight games for Washington and even got the start and played 36 minutes in their most recent game on Sunday. He should log a heavy workload again in this matchup and be a great value play against the Rockets.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
The Pelicans continue to battle for playoff position in the crowded Western Conference and start the day as the No. 5 seed, just one game behind the Clippers for the No. 4 spot. They have won six of their last seven games, and one of the main reasons why has been an impressive run from Zion Williamson. Zion has exceeded salary-based expectations in six straight games and comes into this matchup with the Nets bringing the highest median, ceiling, and floor projections of all power forwards.
Zion has averaged 1.49 DraftKings points per minute during his recent surge while leading the team with 33.3 minutes per game. He scored 23 points or more in each of his last five games and posted a pair of double-doubles, including one against the Blazers in his most recent game last Saturday.
While he isn’t the most expensive power forward play on the board this Tuesday, he does bring the best projections in this favorable matchup.
Value
Everything is bigger in Texas, including the value offered by both the Spurs and Rockets across this slate. Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith, and Jeremy Sochan have the three highest Projected Plus/Minus at power forward on this slate, and all three are strong plays at their different price points. Of the three, Sochan stands out the most to me in the midrange.
After a slow start, Sochan has found a nice rhythm lately for the Spurs. He had 19 points in three of his last four games before managing to score just four points against the Nets on Sunday. However, in that game, he saved his fantasy day by still grabbing nine rebounds to go with four assists and three blocks.
If his shot is dropping, he can go off for a huge number, but even if it’s not, the 20-year-old is finding ways to make an impact. On the season, he’s averaging 0.91 DraftKings points per minute, but over his last nine games, his production has jumped to 0.98 DraftKings points per minute, which is enough to make him a solid midrange value in this matchup with the Mavs.
Fast Break
If he plays through his shoulder soreness, Kyle Kuzma brings a very high ceiling against the Rockets. He had been on an impressive run with nine straight games above salary-based expectations but has slipped up in his last two games, possibly due to his shoulder soreness. The injury raises the risk, but he still brings a high enough ceiling to deserve a look.
Corey Kispert is another member of the Washington rotation trying to carry the load amid all the team’s injuries. He had scored double-digit points in five straight games before playing reduced minutes in Sunday’s blowout loss to Boston. He’s a solid midrange target with good projections for his salary of $5,500.
If you have to go with a bargain option at power forward, Davis Bertans has been getting enough minutes for the Hornets to deserve a look. Bertans has produced 10+ points in six of nine games this month, averaging 0.79 DraftKings points per minute in 25.9 minutes per game.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Especially with the Timberwolves possibly short-handed at center, Nikola Jokic is an elite stud to build around at center this Tuesday. He has the second-highest ceiling, median, and floor projections of all players on the slate, behind only Luka, and the highest of all centers by a wide margin.
The Joker has had a few down games in the early part of March, but he has also had some big performances, dropping at least 30 points in four of his eight games. In those eight games, he has averaged 1.56 DraftKings points per minute while playing 37.3 minutes per game with a 28.7% usage. His numbers are still elite, even if he’s not posting nightly triple-doubles like he does at his peak.
He had 25 points and 10 boards in his first matchup with Minnesota back in November and should be able to improve on that stat line with KAT and possibly Gobert in the mix on Tuesday.
Value
Daniel Gafford has been a great Trade Deadline addition for the Mavs and entered the starting lineup for each of Dallas’s last six games. He has the highest Projected Plus/Minus and the most Pts/Sal of all centers on Tuesday’s slate.
Gafford has averaged 1.41 DraftKings points per minute in his seven games over the last two weeks. He has played 23.6 minutes per game during that span and averaged 14.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game. He remains very efficient and is getting more and more of the work in the timeshare with rookie Dereck Lively and veteran Maxi Kleber.
Fast Break
Anytime the Spurs are in action, Victor Wembanyama is must-watch TV at this point. He’s also a great fantasy option since he stuffs the box score in almost every category. In his last game, not only did he lead the Spurs to a win, he became the first player in NBA history to have at least 30 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, and five blocks while shooting 50 percent from the field in a single game. Since the All-Star break, Wemby averaged 1.82 DraftKings points per minute and is establishing himself as one of the elite fantasy players in the league, even at barely 20 years old.
Without Sengun, the Rockets have turned to Jabari Smith and Jock Landale to soak up most of the minutes at center. Both have good top-five Projected Plus/Minus at center in their Tuesday matchup with the Wizards.
If you’re really going cheap, Jonathan Isaac remains a solid option off the bench for the Magic. He has exceeded salary-based expectations in eight of his last 10 games with an Average Plus/Minus of +2.70 DraftKings points. He has scored at least nine points in each of his last five games, with at least six rebounds in four of those contests.
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