Tuesday presents a five-game NBA slate on DraftKings. 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
LaMelo Ball ($9,700)
Ball has improved in each game this season, and in his last two starts, he has been magnificent, scoring 61 DraftKings points vs. the 76ers and 84.75 DraftKings points vs. the Wizards. In that latter start, Brandon Miller (shoulder) was inactive, and the wing will remain sidelined for tonight’s matchup vs. the Heat. Miller is the No. 2 option for the Hornets behind Ball, and in the 71 minutes Ball has played with Miller off the floor this season, Ball has generated an elite 2.0 DraftKings PPM, thanks to all his rates increasing, most notably a 3.9 percentage point increase to his assist rate. In recent years, Miami has been a terrible matchup due to their slow pace, but things are much different this season, with the Heat leading the league in pace, and as a result, this game carries the highest total on the slate (241.5 points). Ball is a lock for over 50 DraftKings points in this setting, and he is a core play for all formats.
Value
Ajay Mitchell ($4,900)
While the Thunder have yet to release their injury report, Jalen Williams (wrist) and Alex Caruso (concussion) should continue to be sidelined, keeping Mitchell with an immense role off the bench for the defending champions. With Williams and Caruso inactive for the last three, Mitchell is producing 33.5 DraftKings points in 31.2 minutes per game with a 24.2% usage rate, which ranks second only to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for Oklahoma City during this stretch. The Thunder present the third-highest implied team total on the slate facing a mediocre Kings defense tonight (118.5 points), and Mitchell’s impressive second season should continue with another strong performance.
Fast Break
Tyrese Maxey ($9,500) – Maxey has been unstoppable this season and is worth having shares of in GPPs regardless of Joel Embiid’s (knee) status. Maxey is providing 58.7 DraftKings PPG with a team-high 31.9% usage rate, and he could go nuts facing a Wizards team that ranks second in pace and 20th in defensive rating.
Ryan Rollins ($5,200) – If Cole Anthony (questionable, illness) and Kyle Kuzma (questionable, ankle) both remain out tonight, Rollins will be an intriguing value despite a subpar matchup vs. the Knicks. With Anthony and Kuzma inactive this past Sunday vs. the Cavaliers, Rollins started and delivered 36.5 DraftKings points across 33 minutes.
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
Norman Powell ($6,900)
As expected with Tyler Herro (ankle) sidelined to start this season, Powell has seen a huge role with the Heat. While ranking second for the team in usage (24.6%) and minutes per game (31), the wing is supplying 42.8 DraftKings PPG with Miami this season. The Heat desperately need Powell’s offense, so his huge workload isn’t going anywhere, and the veteran has a strong chance to top 40 DraftKings points for the third time this season in tonight’s likely fast-paced shootout vs. the Hornets. Both Charlotte and Miami rank top-five in pace this season, and the contest carries the highest total on the slate (241.5 points).
Value
Collin Sexton ($5,400)
Just like Ball, Sexton benefits with Miller missing, and Sexton is an excellent way to gain another share of this slate-high total between the Hornets and the Heat at only $5,400. Sexton posted 29.5 DraftKings points vs. the Wizards on Sunday with Miller inactive, and all of Sexton’s rates increase with Miller off the floor this season, resulting in 1.22 DraftKings PPM for Sexton. In our models, the guard is the No. 1 value on the slate.
Fast Break
Tre Johnson ($4,800) – Johnson (back) is questionable, but if the rookie suits up, he will be a strong value play against the 76ers, who are playing their second game in two nights and rank 28th in defensive rating this season. Johnson has quickly lived up to being the No. 6 pick from this past NBA draft. The rookie was an instant offense option at Texas, and he has continued to thrive offensively with Washington, generating 27.8 DraftKings points in 27 minutes per game off the bench, while handling a 22% usage rate and shooting 47% from the field.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
V.J. Edgecombe ($6,500)
Edgecombe’s incredible rookie season continued last night with 45.5 DraftKings points against a stout Magic defense. The guard has scored at least 42 DraftKings points in all three of his games this season, and he is averaging 1.2 DraftKings PPM with a 23.8% usage rate. Embiid missed his first game of the season last night and it remains unclear if he will suit up tonight, but nonetheless, Edgecombe has been stellar with or without Embiid and this $6,500 salary simply is far too low for Edgecombe, especially in an awesome spot vs. the Wizards. Washington ranks second in pace and 20th in defensive rating this season, and Edgecombe is a very tough fade in this matchup.
Value
Jaime Jaquez ($4,500)
Jaquez has been thriving for the Heat with Herro yet to play this season, and Jaquez is a steal at this $4,500 salary. Operating as Miami’s sixth man, the 24-year-old is amassing 32.6 DraftKings points in 28 minutes per game with a 17.9% usage rate and 23.1% assist rate. Jaquez has been lights out, shooting 71% from the field, and he should finish as one of the top values of the slate competing in this slate-high total vs. the Hornets (241.5 points).
Fast Break
Kyshawn George ($6,600) – George is a compelling buy-low target tonight. The forward let many DFS players down Sunday with a 22 DraftKings point outing vs. the Hornets, but before this, George was off to a hot start this season, scoring 44.75 DraftKings points vs. the Bucks and 66.25 DraftKings points vs. the Mavericks. George’s usage has increased from 15.9% last season to 23.2% this season, and the second-year player is in an awesome bounce-back spot tonight, facing a 76ers team that is on the second leg of a back-to-back set.
Simone Fontecchio ($3,200) – Fontecchio is shooting 50% from the field and 61% from beyond the arc as a bench player for the Heat this season, and he has surpassed 20 DraftKings points in back-to-back games. Priced near the minimum on DraftKings and competing in the highest total on the slate (241.5 points), Fontecchio is a viable punt play if he suits up. Currently, he is questionable with a calf injury.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Kawhi Leonard ($7,600)
Following the dud in the season opener vs. the Jazz, Leonard has been exceptional, scoring 44.25 and 55 DraftKings points in his next two starts. Leonard’s role has been immense this season and is a testament to him being in good health, with the forward leading the Clippers in usage rate (27.4%) and minutes per game (32.3). Tonight, Leonard is going against a Warriors team that is playing its second game in two nights and that has struggled on defense this season, ranking 21st in defensive rating. This game is expected to be competitive throughout, with Los Angeles only favored by 2.5 points, and Leonard is an outstanding spend in this environment. In spreads under five points the last two seasons, the veteran is averaging 42.7 DraftKings PPG, via the Trends Tool.
Value
Jonathan Kuminga ($6,200)
Opposite of Leonard, Kuminga is also underpriced in this likely nail-biter between the Warriors and the Clippers and is a strong GPP target, with our projections slating him to be only around 4% owned on DraftKings. Los Angeles has been average on defense this season, ranking 17th in rating, and with a starting role this season, Kuminga has been a strong fantasy option, averaging 35.9 DraftKings points in 31.3 minutes per game with a 21% usage rate.
Fast Break
Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,800) – Antetokounmpo is always a viable option, but he would become a player you must have some exposure to if the Bucks are without Kuzma and Anthony for the second straight game. With those two high usage players out Sunday, Antetokounmpo erupted for 80 DraftKings points vs. the Cavaliers. With both Kuzma and Anthony off the floor this season, Antetokounmpo is scoring an absurd 2.4 DraftKings PPM with a 42.1% usage rate.
Nikola Jovic ($4,100) – Jovic has been inconsistent this season, with two performances under 20 DraftKings points and one 38.5 DraftKings point outburst, but if Fontecchio were ruled out, Jovic would likely approach 30 minutes and beat his cheap salary with ease in this elite setting vs. the Hornets. This season, Jovic is averaging 1.0 DraftKings PPM.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Karl-Anthony Towns ($8,600)
Towns has been dealing with a quad injury this season and is listed as questionable, but he has played through this tag in every game and is likely to suit up. Despite the injury, Towns has looked terrific, scoring 51.75 and 47.5 DraftKings points in his last two starts and he is leading the Knicks with a career-high 22% rebound rate this season, to go along with a high 25.5% usage rate. Towns is going against a Bucks defense that ranks 11th in rating this season, but Towns should approach 40 minutes with the Knicks only favored by 1.5 points. Towns is generating 50 DraftKings PPG when competing as a favorite the last two seasons (55 games), and he could get overlooked after initially being listed as questionable.
Value
Alex Sarr ($6,700)
Sarr looks much improved in his second season in the NBA. As the Wizards’ top option with a 25.7% usage rate, Sarr is scoring 36.3 DraftKings PPG. The big man is shooting 54.3% from the field, and he has been tenacious on defense, with three blocks in two straight games. Facing a 76ers team that just played last night and that has been a disaster on defense this season, ranking 28th in rating, Sarr is an awesome mid-tier target that has 40 DraftKings points upside.
Fast Break
Bam Adebayo ($8,000) – Adebayo has only topped 40 DraftKings points once in three games this season, but he is leading the Heat with a 25.8% usage rate and his upside is immense with the Heat carrying the highest implied team total on the slate (124 points). In our models, Adebayo has a ceiling north of 50 DraftKings points.
Ivica Zubac ($6,900) – While Zubac’s fantasy scores have been somewhat underwhelming this season, the big man has a ton of merit for GPPs tonight. Zubac is expected to come with decently low ownership according to our projections and this is an appealing spot for him against the undersized Warriors, who are playing their second game in two nights. In four matchups with Golden State last season, Zubac bullied the club for 50 DraftKings PPG.
Pictured: VJ Edgecombe, Tyrese Maxey
Photo Credit: Imagn
