Our NBA DFS journey picks back up as we attack tonight’s small three-game slate. The NBA’s daily fantasy landscape is ever-changing with load management, injuries, and lineup fluxation. For reference, last night’s main slate pay line in the Draftkings $5k contest was 277.50. This gives us a targeted baseline for our player recommendations in tonight’s main slate.
These recommendations are designed to provide core players with which to construct your DFS lineups. We strive for players who have the potential to be less owned and give us a lineup different from the masses. The fantasy point-per-game averages referenced are those across FanDuel scoring rules.
DFS Guards
Tyrese Maxey ($10k DraftKings and $9.6k Fanduel)
With LaMelo Ball questionable with the wrist injury, we will save $1k and roster Tyrese Maxey. Maxey despite the tougher matchup, still enters as the overall PG7 averaging 44.05 fantasy points per game and 47.65 in his last four. He also has terrific usage seeing nearly 40 minutes a game. The Cavs-Sixers game has the slate’s second-best implied total of 228.5 and Maxey is also top-20 in assists, which remember pays 1.5-1 in FanDuel scoring.
Shaedon Sharpe ($5.9k DraftKings and $5.7k Fanduel)
Sharpe provided us with a nice salary-saving option and the potential to pay 5x his salary. He gets the Portland defense ranked 23rd in fantasy points allowed to the position. Sharpe enters tonight averaging 27.50 fantasy points per game, seeing nearly 30 minutes per game in his last three contests, and has dual position eligibility. If he can just hit his seasonal average, then Sharpe will hit that 5x salary mark, making him a smash play for us tonight.
Also Consider: Dejounte Murray (probable), Anfernee Simons, Luke Kennard
DFS Forwards
Desmond Bane ($7.9k DraftKings and $7.7k Fanduel)
At forward we will start with Memphis wing Desmond Bane. The Pelicans-Grizzlies tilt has the slate’s highest implied game total of 245. Bane has dual-position eligibility and gets a terrific matchup as the Pelicans defense ranks 25th in fantasy points allowed to the position. He comes in on a tear of late, averaging 46.43 fantasy points over his last three games and scoring at least 34 points in his last six. The only concern is the potential for a blowout with Memphis being an 11-point favorite, but at his DFS price tag, we are in!
Jarett Allen ($6.9k DraftKings and $7.8k Fanduel)
With Evan Mobley already declared out with the calf injury, Jarett Allen is firmly in play. Allen averages 33.72 fantasy points per game and comes with power forward-center positional flexibility. With Mobley missing the previous two games, Allen, the overall C8, has averaged 15 points, 12 rebounds, and 38.15 fantasy points. Again, at his DFS price tag, we are looking at a potential 5x player. He pairs nicely with a Sixers’ defense ranked in the lower half of the league in fantasy points allowed to the position.
Also Consider: Trey Murphy III, Walker Kessler, Miles Bridges (GTD), Deni Avdija
DFS Center
Mark Williams ($7.8k DraftKings and $8.5k Fanduel)
At center, it will be Charlotte’s Mark Williams, who comes off a monster 38-9-5 stat line versus Memphis Wednesday night. Williams has a very good matchup versus the Grizzlies’ defense ranked 23rd in fantasy points allowed to the center position. He will be a big key for the Hornets tonight, as Williams will be matched up with the main slate’s top-priced big man in Jaren Jackson. Williams has scored at least 44 fantasy points in four of his past eight games and is 34.56 fantasy per game scoring pace would be the overall C7 right now.
Also Consider: DeAndre Ayton (GTD), Adem Bona
DFS Tournament Stacks
LaMelo Ball-Mark Williams-Miles Bridges/ Desmond Bane-Jaren Jackson/ Anfernee Simons-DeAndre Ayton-Shadeon Sharpe/ Dejounte Murray-Trey Murphy III
Final Thoughts
As we stated earlier, we are trying to find player options that are projected for low ownership and top value. Pay attention to implied game totals and try to get pieces of those games within your lineup construction. The top DFS builds will consist of the right balance between studs and value players that pay 2x-5x their DFS salaries. Good luck with your DFS builds and please like and follow us on social media. Please remember to double-check our recommendations once line-ups are finalized.
