DraftKings’ main NBA DFS slate for Tuesday starts at 7:00 PM EST and features the first six games of the night. Let’s dive into some of the top plays on the slate using the FantasyLabs tools and projections.
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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
Cade Cunningham ($11,300)
Cunningham has topped 50 DraftKings points in three of his last four, and he is in an elite spot vs. the Wizards. Washington ranks sixth in pace and second-to-last in defensive rating this season. The Pistons’ implied team total is the highest on the slate (126 points), and Cunningham has been a menace vs. the Wizards this season, scoring 96 and 52 DraftKings points in two matchups. The MVP candidate is scoring 1.5 DraftKings PPM with a 30% usage rate this season, and Cunningham has the highest ceiling on the slate in our projections.
Value
Ajay Mitchell ($5,000)
Mitchell has been great, scoring at least 25 DraftKings points in three straight games, and he should start his third consecutive game with Jalen Williams (hamstring) still sidelined. Mitchell is producing 29 DraftKings points in 27 minutes per game with a 24% usage rate with Williams inactive this season (22 games). Mitchell is facing a Magic defense that ranks 10th in rating this season, but Orlando played last night, and Mitchell should effortlessly surpass five-times value if he continues to start.
Fast Break
Jose Alvarado ($3,200) – Jalen Brunson (ankle/neck) has been downgraded to doubtful, and with Miles McBride (core) also still sidelined, Alvarado should draw his first start in a Knicks’ uniform tonight, making him an elite punt play. Alvarado is scoring 1.0 DraftKings PPM since joining New York last month, and he should see at least 25 minutes in a juicy spot vs. the Pacers. Indiana has lost 13 straight games and ranks dead last in defensive rating since the All-Star Break. Alvarado will be popular, but he is good chalk to embrace.
Daniss Jenkins ($3,000) – Jenkins is a viable punt play at this bare-minimum salary. Jenkins has scored over 20 DraftKings points in three of his last five, most recently with 22.5 DraftKings points vs. the Grizzlies last Friday. Jenkins is amassing 1.0 DraftKings PPM with a 21% usage rate this season, and he could see some extra work if the Pistons run away with an easy win tonight vs. the Wizards.
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NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
Jalen Green ($6,900)
Green was held to 31.25 DraftKings points last night vs. the Celtics, but he was on fire before this, scoring over 50 DraftKings points in back-to-back starts. The guard is finally healthy again after dealing with a nagging hamstring injury for most of the season, as he has logged at least 29 minutes in eight straight games. Green is scoring 1.1 DraftKings PPM with a team-high 33% usage rate this season, and tonight’s matchup vs. the Timberwolves is an under-the-radar bounce-back spot for the guard. Minnesota ranks 21st in defensive rating since the All-Star Break, and Green could come with low ownership after last night’s modest showing vs. Boston.
Value
Ayo Dosunmu ($4,700)
Anthony Edwards (knee) will be out tonight, opening the door for Dosunmu to see an expanded role. Starter or not, the guard should see around 30 minutes vs. the Suns, who just lost a hard-fought game to the Celtics last night. Since joining the Timberwolves at the deadline, Dosunmu is generating 0.9 DraftKings PPM with a 19% usage rate and a 21% assist rate with Edwards off the floor. Over 30 DraftKings points is possible for Dosunmu, and this $4,700 price tag is far too low for tonight’s situation.
Fast Break
Bones Hyland ($3,600) – While Dosunmu is the priority, Hyland is also a viable play with Edwards sidelined. Hyland should see roughly 20 minutes off the bench tonight, giving him a great chance to outproduce this salary. With Edwards off the court this season, Hyland is scoring 1.1 DraftKings PPM with a 20% usage rate via the On/Off Tool.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Desmond Bane ($7,800)
Bane is in a tough matchup vs. the Thunder’s league-best defense, but the wing should come with low ownership as a result, and this is a reasonable price for how well Bane has been playing. With Franz Wagner (ankle) still out, Bane has scored at least 38 DraftKings points in four of his last six, including a 54.5 DraftKings point outing vs. the Cavaliers. Bane is supplying 1.1 DraftKings PPM with a 24% usage rate with Wagner off the floor this season, and Bane is a strong contrarian play for this slate. In our projections, he is slated for just 8% ownership on DraftKings.
Value
Bilal Coulibaly ($5,000)
Coulibaly has been great recently. He has scored at least 29 DraftKings points in four of his last six, including 47.8 DraftKings points vs. the Magic and 39 DraftKings points vs. the Warriors last night. With this being Washington’s second game in two nights, Trae Young should be rested tonight, and Kyshawn George (elbow) will also remain sidelined. Coulibaly is scoring 0.94 DraftKings PPM with a 19% usage rate with Young and George off the floor, and Coulibaly should continue to see big minutes, as he has logged at least 34 minutes in three of his last four. Coulibaly’s matchup vs. the Pistons’ No. 2-rated defense is far from ideal, but Coulibaly’s salary is just too low for his expected workload tonight, and he is the top small forward value on the slate in our projections.
Fast Break
Norman Powell ($6,600) – Powell just returned from a seven-game absence due to a groin strain, but if Bam Adebayo (questionable, calf) is out, joining Andrew Wiggins (toe) on the sidelines, Powell will have to be considered vs. the Hornets. With Adebayo and Wiggins off the floor this season, Powell’s usage rate rises 2.2 percentage points to 29.7%, and he scores 1.2 DraftKings PPM.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. ($6,400) – He will also have a ton of merit if Adebayo is out. With the center and Andrew Wiggins off the court this season, Jaquez Jr.‘s usage increases 2.5 percentage points to 24.8%, and he scores 1.1 DraftKings PPM.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Julius Randle ($7,700)
Randle is a core play with Anthony Edwards sidelined. With the superstar missing, Randle becomes the Timberwolves’ centerpiece. Randle has made 10 starts without Edwards this season, and Randle is leading Minnesota with 45.5 DraftKings PPG and a 31.5% usage rate on those occasions, which is a team-high 4.1 percentage-point increase from his average. Randle provides 1.4 DraftKings PPM with Edwards off the floor this season, and while this Suns defense Randle is facing ranks ninth in rating this season, they are playing their second game in two nights and had to travel from Boston to Minnesota. Jaylen Brown exposed Phoenix for 61.75 DraftKings points last night, and Randle brings similar upside tonight.
Value
Tristan da Silva ($5,100)
With Franz Wagner sidelined, da Silva has had some great moments. The forward has scored at least 29 DraftKings points in seven of his 14 since the All-Star break, most notably with a 50.25 DraftKings point performance vs. the Wizards last week. Since the All-Star Break, da Silva is logging 30.9 minutes per game, shooting 50% from the field and 44% from beyond the arc, and he is scoring 0.9 DraftKings PPM. The Thunder are obviously a difficult matchup, but da Silva and his prominent role makes him one of the better forward values on the slate.
Fast Break
Naz Reid ($5,500) – Reid (shoulder) is questionable tonight, but if the durable big man suits up—Reid has only missed one game this season—he will be an awesome target for all formats. With Anthony Edwards inactive this season, Reid is scoring 33 DraftKings points in 27 minutes per game with a 23.2% usage rate (10 games).
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Jalen Duren ($8,300)
Duren has a 44 DraftKings point double-double vs. the Wizards under his belt this season, and the first-time All-Star should dominate in this dream spot. Washington ranks sixth in pace and 29th in defensive rating this season. Additionally, the Wizards are giving up the most rebounds and the third-most points in the paint. Just in Washington’s last four games, the club has surrendered 107.8 DraftKings points to Bam Adebayo, 47.5 DraftKings points to Neemias Queta, and 46.75 DraftKings points to Wendell Carter Jr. The Wizards are the best matchup in the league for centers, and Duren is a player you must have exposure to tonight. This season, the center is scoring 1.4 DraftKings PPM with a career-high 23.6% usage rate.
Value
Rudy Gobert ($6,600)
Like all the Timberwolves, Gobert sees a notable boost with Anthony Edwards inactive. Gobert has made nine starts sans Edwards this season, and Gobert is averaging 37.5 DraftKings points in 32.4 minutes per game in these contests. The big man is facing a Suns team that lacks a legitimate interior presence, and Gobert should notch a strong double-double in this spot. In our projections, Gobert is the No. 1 center value on the slate.
Fast Break
Karl-Anthony Towns ($9,000) – With Jalen Brunson likely out, Towns is a compelling spend vs. the Pacers. In the five starts Towns has made without Jalen Brunson this season, Towns has been a beast with a team-high 53.4 DraftKings PPG and 30% usage rate.
Kel’el Ware ($5,900) – Ware will be a tough fade if Bam Adebayo joins Andrew Wiggins on the sidelines. Ware would likely start at center in this situation, and with both Bam Adebayo and Andrew Wiggins off the floor this season, Ware is handling a 19% usage rate and scoring a team-high 1.3 DraftKings PPM.
Pictured: Julius Randle
Photo Credit: Imagn
