The NBA Player Models are the base of our NBA product here at FantasyLabs. They house our projections for each player, but that’s just the beginning of what you’ll find inside. You’ll also find our Trends and On/Off tool, Vegas Dashboard, and so much more.
Let’s dive into our models for NBA DFS going position by position, looking at guys with some of the best projections and players standing out as values with our predictive Projected Plus/Minus metric.
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 teams.
You can also use our SimLabs Lineup Generator, a tool that creates the most user-friendly lineup generation process.
Note: Projections, Ownership projections and Leverage Scores/Ratings may change throughout the day as news comes out after this article is posted. Consult the Player Models directly for any updates.
NBA DFS Point Guard Picks
Top Ceiling: Cade Cunningham at Chicago Bulls – $10,500 DraftKings
Coming off his eighth triple-double this year, Cade Cunningham is far and away the best pay-up option for this four-game slate. He has recorded a positive Plus/Minus in six straight games and in 10 of his last 11 contests despite shooting poorly during that stretch. This has been a breakout season for Cunningham in his fourth year while averaging a career-high in points, rebounds, assists, and usage rate per game.
The Pistons are 4.5-point road favorites against the Bulls, who are an incredible matchup for opposing guards. They rank third in pace this season and 27th in defensive rating. The Bulls are one of two teams in the league allowing over 120 points per game. Pair the matchup and Cunningham’s recent success, and he is a fantastic play in all lineup builds tonight. Those are the reasons Cunningham is drawing the second-highest projected ownership at 28%. He is a staple in cash games and a strong tournament target.
Top Value: Tyus Jones vs. Memphis Grizzlies – $4,800 DraftKings
The best game environment on this slate is a Western Conference clash between the Suns and Grizzlies. This game total has risen to 244.5 points, which is by far the highest on the slate. The Suns are 4.5-point home underdogs but are still implied to score 120 points. The Grizzlies lead the league in pace, which sets up perfectly for Suns’ veteran point guard Tyus Jones, who has recorded back-to-back ceiling games.
In his last two games, Jones is averaging 15.5 points, 8.0 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 37.1 DraftKings points per game while averaging 15 field goals, including 9.5 3-pointers attempted per game. Bradley Beal is still out, which provides a significant boost to Jones’ production. With Beal off the floor this season, Jones has a team-high +2.52 DraftKings Plus/Minus (per our Trends tool). He is a great value play in all formats.
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
Top Ceiling: Devin Booker vs. Memphis Grizzlies – $9,500 DraftKings
Sticking with the Suns’ backcourt, Devin Booker has the second-highest projected ceiling for this four-game slate behind Cunningham. He will also see a boost to his production with Beal off the floor, but more so in his usage rate which jumps to 31.3%. Booker has been an extreme boom-or-bust fantasy producer recently. He torched the Jazz for 47 points and 11 assists accumulating 74 DraftKings points and followed that up with a dud against the Nuggets. At 15% ownership, Booker is a strong contrarian option.
The Grizzlies defense ranks seventh in defensive rating but has struggled to defend the perimeter. They are allowing 39.5 3-point attempts per game, which is tied for the third-highest in the league. That bodes well for the Suns’ sharpshooter, who is attempting a team-high 7.8 3-pointers per game this season.
Top Value: Gradey Dick at Philadelphia 76ers – $4,300 DraftKings
After five consecutive games scoring 20+ DraftKings points and a positive Plus/Minus in each game, Gradey Dick threw up a dud last game, accumulating just 3.25 DraftKings points. However, still projected to start and play around 30 minutes, it is difficult to ignore Dick’s cheap value at $4,300. The Raptors have been pitiful this season, but Dick is averaging a career-high 15.5 points per game with a 22.1% usage rate.
Projected for over 20% ownership tonight, Dick has the fifth-highest projected Plus/Minus on the slate. The Raptors are still without three starters in RJ Barrett, Brandon Ingram, and Jakob Poeltl. They are nearly double-digit underdogs on the road against the 76ers with the lowest implied team total at 108.5 points. Dick is still worth getting exposure to in this spot given his cheap price tag and consistent play.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Top Ceiling: Scottie Barnes at Philadelphia 76ers – $10,000 DraftKings
It has been a disappointing last two weeks or so for Raptors’ Scottie Barnes, who has posted a negative Plus/Minus in six of his last seven games. However, with Barrett and Poeltl out of the lineup tonight, it is difficult to ignore his ceiling when he has a big game. Barnes also has point guard and small forward eligibility, which makes it easy to fit him into any lineup build and why he is drawing over 20% ownership.
The 76ers play at the third-slowest pace in the league but also rank 24th in defensive rating this season. In his only matchup against the 76ers this season, Barnes scored a team-high 27 points while shooting 8-for-11 from the field and 11-for-13 from the charity stripe. He stuffed the stat sheet with five rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block. The ceiling games are still there even if his recent past looks bleak.
Top Value: Grayson Allen vs. Memphis Grizzlies – $4,900 DraftKings
Grayson Allen erupted against the Jazz for 21 points, seven rebounds, six assists, two steals, and one block accumulating 48.25 DraftKings points. All of his field goals made came from behind the arc, where Allen connected on seven 3-pointers on 14 attempts. He sat out the second leg of the back-to-back after that Jazz game, but is probable to play tonight and has the highest projected Plus/Minus on the slate.
Priced under $5,000 with shooting guard and small forward eligibility, Allen is drawing the third-most projected ownership on the slate at 27%. There are several Suns players who look like great targets on this slate, Allen included. As previously mentioned, the Grizzlies struggle defending the perimeter, which feeds right into Allen’s wheelhouse. Nearly 75% of Allen’s field goal attempts have come from downtown.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Top Ceiling: Pascal Siakam vs. New York Knicks – $7,700 DraftKings
The most popular player on this slate is Pacers’ power forward Pascal Siakam with over 30% projected ownership. He has recorded a positive Plus/Minus in 12 of his last 14 games and is leading the team in points and rebounds per game this season. The Pacers have been on a roll recently, winning 13 of their last 17 games, and Siakam is a big reason why. He is averaging 20.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game while shooting an impressive 53.1% from the field and a career-high 41.1% from behind the arc.
Siakam is still more than reasonably priced at $7,700 and has been by far the best and most consistent player for the Pacers this season. The Knicks have been an incredible rebounding team, but they still rank in the middle of the pack in overall defense. Siakam is playing too well to ignore and is favorably priced.
Top Value: Ochai Agbaji at Philadelphia 76ers – $4,000 DraftKings
Third-year pro Ochai Agbaji is finally getting an opportunity to showcase his skill set for the Raptors this season. He has started 36 of his 47 games played and is averaging a career-high 10.3 points per game while shooting 51.1% from the field. A little less than 50% of his field goal attempts have come from long distance, but he is also shooting 39.1% from deep. Most of his fantasy production comes from scoring.
The 76ers have also been a defense that struggles defending the perimeter, allowing opponents to shoot 37.1% from behind the arc. They are also a below-average interior defense and rank last in rebounding percentage at 46.9%. Agbaji has the second-highest projected Plus/Minus on the slate. He will draw the start and play around 30 minutes, which is more than enough time to pay off his cheap $4,000 price tag.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Top Ceiling: Karl-Anthony Towns at Indiana Pacers – $9,400 DraftKings
Joel Embiid has the highest projected ceiling at the center position, but he is questionable to play tonight due to injury management. Keep an eye on his status, but Karl-Anthony Towns is still the preferred center to target based on an elite matchup against the Pacers and a cheaper salary. Towns continues to be the best offseason addition. In his first season with the Knicks, he is averaging 24 points and a career-high 13.5 rebounds per game, while shooting a blistering 53.1% from the field and 42.8% from behind the arc.
Pacers’ center Myles Turner is questionable to play with a neck injury. If he is ruled out, that would make this an even better matchup for Towns. The Pacers rank 27th in rebounding percentage and are allowing 50.3 points per game in the paint, which is tied for the fourth-highest in the league. Towns is averaging a double-double with 25.5 points and 12 rebounds per game in his two games against the Pacers this year.
Top Value: Jalen Duren at Chicago Bulls – $6,600 DraftKings
There are two centers in the Bulls and Pistons matchup that look like incredible value plays to target. Pistons starter Jalen Duren and Bulls backup center Jalen Smith. They are the top two centers from a value perspective. Smith has recorded a positive Plus/Minus in 10 straight games, while Duren has recorded a positive Plus/Minus in 11 of his last 13 games. Duren is way more expensive but has a much higher ceiling in this matchup. The Bulls are allowing a league-high 55.5 points per game in the paint.
Duren has also absolutely dominated the Bulls in their two previous meetings this season. He is averaging 18 points and 17.5 rebounds per game while shooting 66.7% from the field. At his mid-range salary, Duren is drawing a little over 25% projected ownership tonight. He is another strong play in all formats.
