The NBA season continues Tuesday night with a four-game slate. 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 ($9,700)
Cunningham is in an average matchup vs. the Knicks, who rank 12th in defensive rating, but Jalen Duren (hamstring) is out, and Cunningham is underpriced for life without the center. With Duren missing his first game of the season Sunday vs. the 76ers, Cunningham went off for a season-best 55.5 DraftKings points. This is the eighth game Cunningham has played without Duren the last two seasons, and Cunningham is scoring 52.1 DraftKings PPG on these occasions. The guard’s usage increases 2.4 percentage points to 32.9%, and he scores 1.5 DraftKings PPM with Duren off the floor the last two seasons.
Value
De’Aaron Fox ($6,300)
After some questionable play in the NBA Finals, Fox is off to a strong start this season, scoring 34.25, 40, and 44.25 DraftKings points in his first three starts. The guard is shooting 58% from the field, and his assist rate is up to a career-high 40%. Hosting the Kings tonight, who rank eighth in pace and 27th in defensive rating, the Spurs carry the highest implied team total on the slate (124.75 points), and Fox is a strong way to gain a share of San Antonio at this reasonable price tag.
Fast Break
Payton Pritchard ($5,900) – After two subpar outings to begin the season, Pritchard came alive last night and torched the Bulls for 42.25 DraftKings points on 10-of-16 shooting. The Nets, who rank 22nd in defensive rating, are in town tonight, and there is a chance Jayson Tatum is rested with this being the second night of a back-to-back set. If that is the case, Pritchard will be a must-play. In the six games he played without Tatum and Jaylen Brown last season, Pritchard led the Celtics with 46.9 DraftKings PPG and a 28% usage rate. There is a chance Tatum plays, but Paul George sits, and in that situation, Pritchard will also be a terrific option, as he would operate as the No. 2 option behind Tatum.
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
Austin Reaves ($7,900)
With LeBron James out of the picture, Reaves has been great this season, topping 40 DraftKings points in each of his first three starts. Reaves ranks second for the Lakers in usage rate at 26%, trailing only Luka Doncic, and Reaves is generating 1.2 DraftKings PPM. The guard is in a tough spot tonight vs. the Trail Blazers, who rank third in defensive rating, but Los Angeles still presents the second-highest implied team total on the slate (118.5 points), and Reaves should eclipse 40 DraftKings points on his home floor.
Value
Duncan Robinson ($4,900)
Robinson has been on fire this season, knocking down a league-high 5.0 treys per game while shooting 54% from beyond the arc. As a result, the sharpshooter has scored 29.5, 27.25, and 31.25 DraftKings points. Now, Robinson is facing a Knicks defense that is giving up the fifth-most made three-pointers per game this season (14.7), and Duren is out for the Pistons, which is a boost for Robinson. The wing is scoring 24.9 DraftKings PPG with an 18% usage rate with Duren inactive the last two seasons (12 games). Robinson should outproduce his low salary, and our projections are slating him for just 3% ownership on DraftKings.
Fast Break
Damian Lillard ($6,600) – Lillard has been efficient in his first two starts of the season after missing last year with a torn Achilles. The guard has scored 42.25 and 32.25 DraftKings points in his first two games while shooting 47% from the field and handling a 27% usage rate. Lillard is going against the Lakers tonight, and he has the upside to score 40 DraftKings points in this spot. Los Angeles ranks 19th in defensive rating, and this game’s total is the highest on the slate (234.5 points).
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Deni Avdija ($7,800)
Avdija is way too cheap for tonight’s matchup vs. the Lakers, which, as noted above, carries the highest total on the slate (234.5 points). After earning his first All-Star selection last season, Avdija has carried over that form into this season, posting 42 and 44.75 DraftKings points in his first two starts. Avdija is leading the Trail Blazers with a 29% usage rate and 1.4 DraftKings PPM, and he is a steal at this sub-$8,000 price tag. When competing in totals of 230+ points the last two seasons, Avdija is averaging 46.4 DraftKings PPG (30 games), via the Trends Tool.
Value
Ziaire Williams ($3,900)
Opposite Avdija, Williams is one of the best punts on the slate. The veteran has been starting for the Lakers this season, and he is averaging 21.8 DraftKings points in 28.3 minutes per game while shooting 52% from the field. Williams’ defense will be key in attempting to slow down Avdija tonight, and Williams should see right around 30 minutes in this slate-high total, putting him in a prime position to surpass 5x value.
Fast Break
Josh Hart ($6,100) – Facing the Pistons isn’t easy – they rank seventh in defensive rating this season after finishing second last season – but Hart remains underpriced for his high-volume role. The veteran is logging 34 minutes per game and scoring 34.1 DraftKings PPG with this workload. Hart should top 30 DraftKings points tonight and is a rock-solid mid-tier option.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Karl-Anthony Towns ($8,300)
As just mentioned above, the Pistons have remained strong on defense this season, but the 0-3 Knicks are in desperate need of a win, and Towns should see big minutes tonight. The Knicks and Towns have stalled extension talks, but that hasn’t stopped the big man from getting off to a strong start this season, providing 42.5, 39.5, and 49 DraftKings points in his first three starts. Towns is shooting 57% from the field and 46% on three-pointers while handling a 25% usage rate. The center should see around 35 minutes tonight on his home floor and score nothing less than 40 DraftKings points.
Value
Precious Achiuwa ($5,000)
Achiuwa moved into the Kings’ starting lineup at power forward with Keegan Murray (ankle) out Sunday vs. the Grizzlies, and Achiuwa was excellent, posting a double-double and 36 DraftKings points in 38.6 minutes. This comes after the veteran finished with 28.25 and 26.5 DraftKings points in his first two games of the season, despite coming off the bench. Murray will remain sidelined tonight, and Achiuwa is a core play at only $5,000, even though he is facing the Spurs on the road. Achiuwa is producing 1.0 DraftKings PPM this season while shooting 56% from the field and handling a 17% usage rate.
Fast Break
OG Anunoby ($5,700) – After a quiet season opener, Anunoby has scored 45.5 and 29.5 DraftKings points in his last two games. The Knicks will be going all out for a win tonight vs. the Pistons, and Anunoby should see around 35 minutes, making him a terrific play at only $5,700. Anunoby is amassing 0.9 DraftKings PPM with a 21% usage rate this season.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Victor Wembanyama ($10,600)
Wembanyama has scored under 50 DraftKings points in each of his three starts of the season, but tonight’s home matchup vs. the Kings is a perfect spot for him to erupt. Sacramento ranks 27th in defensive rating, and this defense is allowing the fourth-most points in the paint. The Spurs’ implied team total is the highest on the slate by six points (124.5 points), and in similar situations last season, Wembanyama feasted. In the 16 games he played behind an implied team total of 120+ points, Wembanyama produced 55.5 DraftKings PPG. The superstar should have his best game of the season tonight, and Wembanyama may come with depressed ownership after his underwhelming start.
Value
Paul Reed ($5,200)
As always, Reed is an elite play with Duren sidelined. Reed is the Pistons’ starting center with Duren out. With the big man inactive the last two seasons, Reed is averaging 36.3 DraftKings points in 27 minutes per game (13 games). Reed is amassing 1.3 DraftKings PPM this season, and the center is way underpriced for the starting role he will see tonight vs. the Knicks. In our projections, Reed is rating as a top-five value on the slate.
Fast Break
John Collins ($5,800) – Collins is also a strong play from the Pistons with Duren missing. With the center inactive Sunday vs. the 76ers, Collins tallied a double-double and 35.25 DraftKings points. Furthermore, with Duren exiting early in the previous game, Collins finished with 35.25 DraftKings points vs. the Heat. With Duren off the court this season, Collins is supplying 1.0 DraftKings PPM with a 19% usage rate.
Neemias Queta ($4,600) – There is a chance the Celtics take the cautious approach with Mitchell Robinson and sit him with this being the second night of a back-to-back set. If Robinson is out, Queta would move back into Boston’s starting five and be a great bargain vs. the Nets. As the Celtics’ starting center last season, Queta generated 27 DraftKings points in 25 minutes per game.
Pictured: Austin Reaves
Photo Credit: Imagn
