DraftKings’ main NBA DFS slate Tuesday starts at 7:30 PM EST and features the first four 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
Josh Giddey ($9,100)
Giddey just faced the Knicks for two straight games, and the guard eclipsed 60 DraftKings points in both of these matchups, including a triple-double in the latter contest. With Coby White (out, calf) sidelined to begin this season, Giddey is leading the Bulls with a 28.5% usage rate, a 38.7% assist rate, and 1.5 DraftKings PPM. Tonight, the veteran is facing the 76ers, who rank 19th in defensive rating this season, and this game’s total is the highest on the slate (238.5 points). Giddey is far too cheap for his potential upside in this setting, as his ceiling is the second-highest on the slate in our models, trailing only Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Value
Jeremiah Fears ($4,700)
Fears was inserted into the Pelicans’ starting lineup four games ago, and after a quiet first start in the NBA, the rookie has been great ever since, amassing 33.6 DraftKings PPG in his last three. During this three-game stretch, Fears is handling a 24.8% usage rate and logging 28.3 minutes per game, both of which rank third for New Orleans. Fears’ $4,700 salary remains too low for his recent role and production, and he gets an appealing matchup vs. the Hornets tonight, who rank 26th in defensive rating this season. Fears is one of the best values on the board in this spot, and he will become an even stronger option if Zion Williamson (questionable, hamstring) sits. With the forward off the floor this season, Fears’ usage rises 4.3 percentage points to a team-high 28.1%, and he scores 0.91 DraftKings PPM, via the On/Off Tool.
Fast Break
Tyrese Maxey ($9,900) – With Joel Embiid limited, Maxey is having an MVP-like start to his season, averaging 58.7 DraftKings PPG with a 28.1% usage rate. The Kentucky product is competing in the highest total on the slate against the Bulls, and Maxey could get slightly overlooked, with Jared McCain (wrist) making his season debut for the 76ers. McCain is a high-usage guard who likely will eventually affect Maxey’s role, but in his first game of the season, McCain should be limited, and Maxey should continue to put up huge numbers.
Tre Jones ($5,500) – Opposite of Maxey, Jones has been solid starting alongside Giddey for the Bulls this season. Jones is generating 30.3 DraftKings points in 29.8 minutes per game with a 34.9% assist rate, and he is a strong mid-tier option in this projected high-scoring matchup between Chicago and Philadelphia.
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
RJ Barrett ($6,800)
Barrett is on the heels of a 43.5 DraftKings point outing vs. the Grizzlies, and he has been very efficient as a shooter this season, shooting a career-best 56% from the field. Despite Brandon Ingram now being a member of the Raptors, Barret is still handling a 22.5% usage rate this season, and he is scoring 1.1 DraftKings PPM. Going against a Bucks team that ranks 16th in defensive rating and is playing their second game in two nights tonight, Barrett has 40 DraftKings point upside, and he is the top option at a very thin shooting guard position.
Value
Dyson Daniels ($6,600)
With Trae Young (knee) still out, Daniels is a strong target tonight, despite a subpar matchup vs. the Magic, who rank 11th in defensive rating. Daniels has scored 43.75 and 36.5 DraftKings points with Young sidelined for the past two games, and overall, in the six starts Daniels has made sans Young the last two seasons, Daniels is producing 43.6 DraftKings PPG with a 22.4% usage rate.
Fast Break
Tre Mann ($4,800)
If LaMelo Ball (questionable, ankle) misses his second straight tonight, Mann will have GPP appeal. Mann only scored 19.5 DraftKings points across 22 minutes vs. the Jazz with Ball out on Sunday, but this was a 23-point blowout for the Hornets, and Mann will be due for some positive regression if Ball remains sidelined. With Ball off the court the last two seasons, Mann is contributing 1.0 DraftKings PPM with a huge 29% usage rate.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Franz Wagner ($7,700)
Wagner is coming off a 48.5 DraftKings point effort vs. the Wizards, and tonight, he gets another juicy matchup vs. the Hawks, who rank 10th in pace this season. Wagner is amassing 37.8 DraftKings PPM this season, and his workload has remained strong, despite Desmond Bane’s arrival to the Magic. With a 24.6% usage rate, Wagner is scoring 1.1 DraftKings PPM this season. The 24-year-old isn’t the strongest value at $7,700, but Wagner is the highest projected small forward on the slate, and he has merit for GPPs.
Value
Nickeil Alexander-Walker ($5,800)
Despite starting at point guard in place of the injured Young, Alexander-Walker remains small forward eligible on DraftKings, and he is the best small forward value on the slate, with this position lacking appealing options. Replacing Young in the Hawks’ first unit in the last two games, Alexander-Walker has scored 32.25 and 26.75 DraftKings points while seeing at least 32 minutes in both of these tilts. The veteran’s usage increases 2.7 percentage points to 26.9% with Young off the court this season, resulting in 1.0 DraftKings PPM for Alexander-Walker. Even with a strong Magic defense on the other side, Alexander-Walker should exceed 5x value this evening.
Fast Break
Kon Knueppel ($5,500) – If Ball is out again for the Hornets, Knueppel will be worth having some shares of in GPPs. With Ball out Sunday vs. the Jazz, Knueppel went off for a career-best 43 DraftKings points across 35.3 minutes. Knueppel’s usage rises 2.9 percentage points to 21.5% with Ball off the floor and Knueppel will likely see another large workload around 35 minutes if Ball remains unavailable.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,500)
Antetokounmpo has been outstanding this season, averaging 65.2 DraftKings PPG and exceeding 60 DraftKings points in all but one of his six starts. The forward ranks second in the NBA in usage rate at 34.2%, and he is shooting a career-best 68% from the field. As for his matchup, Antetokounmpo is facing a Raptors team that ranks 25th in defensive rating and is giving up the eighth-most points in the paint this season (54.3). As always, Antetokounmpo is leading the NBA in points in the paint per game by a comfortable margin this season (23.3), and he should score a minimum of 60 DraftKings points in this spot. Antetokounmpo is easily the No. 1 option for this short slate, and building around him is smart at $11,500, which is a very reasonable price tag for the former MVP.
Value
Patrick Williams ($3,600)
Coming off the bench for the Bulls this season, Williams has been efficient, averaging 19.7 DraftKings points in 22.8 minutes per game. The forward is shooting 49% from the field and 44% on three-pointers, and his usage has been at 16%. Competing in the highest total on the slate vs. the 76ers, who rank 19th in defensive rating this season, Williams could surpass 20 DraftKings points for the third time this season, and he is a compelling punt play that shouldn’t be popular, given he comes off the bench.
Fast Break
Jalen Johnson ($8,600) – Johnson is a viable spend with Young out tonight, and Johnson could get overlooked given he is facing the Magic. Johnson is shooting an elite 58% from the field this season, and in the four starts he has made sans Young the last two seasons, Johnson has been a beast with 52.8 DraftKings PPG and a 26.7% usage rate.
Matas Buzelis ($5,900) – While Buzelis’ game log has been up-and-down, he has scored at least 26 DraftKings points in four of his six starts this season, and he is worth taking a chance on in this possible shootout with the 76ers. As a starter for the Bulls this season, Buzelis is handling a 21.4% usage rate, he is logging 28.8 minutes per game, and he is shooting 49% from the field.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Nikola Vucevic ($7,900)
Vucevic is another attractive option from this slate-high total between the Bulls and 76ers. The center is scoring 44.4 DraftKings points in 32.2 minutes per game with a 20.5% usage rate. Going head-to-head with Embiid always comes with foul risk, but if Vucevic can avoid getting in foul trouble, he should have no issues outproducing this price tag. The Bulls’ 121.5-point implied team total is the largest on the slate, and when competing behind an implied team total of 120 points or greater the last two seasons, Vucevic is producing 43.1 DraftKings PPG (17 games), via the Trends Tool.
Value
Moussa Diabate ($3,900)
Diabate has been thriving as the Hornets’ primary backup center this season. With 20.1 minutes per game, Diabate is generating 23.6 DraftKings PPG, and he has topped 20 DraftKings points in five of his seven games. The big man is shooting 64% from the field, and he is handling a solid 17.9% usage rate. Diabate is in a prime spot vs. the Pelicans, who rank second-to-last in defensive rating and are allowing the fifth-most points in the paint (55.3), and he is a top-three value on the slate in this perfect matchup for him.
Fast Break
Wendell Carter ($5,500) – Carter has exceeded 30 DraftKings points in three of his last four games – including two double-doubles – and he should see heavy volume tonight, going against a large Hawks’ frontcourt of Johnson and Kristaps Porzingis. Carter faced this Atlanta group in the second game of the season and finished with 26 DraftKings points across 31 minutes.
Jalen Smith ($3,200) – Priced near the minimum, Smith is an excellent punt play that gives you another share of this slate-high total between the Bulls and 76ers. As Vucevic’s backup in Chicago, Smith is scoring 1.2 DraftKings PPM, and he has posted at least 19 DraftKings points in three of his six games this season.
Pictured: Josh Giddey
Photo Credit: Imagn
