NBA DFS Main Slate Preview: The Coach’s Starting Five, March 17, 2025

Coby White starts at point guard tonight and currently has a probable injury designation. With Josh Giddey doubtful, we should be looking at more of the same from White. In the two games without Giddey, White has posted 40.4 fantasy points, 7 rebounds, and, 4 assists per game. White is in a green-light environment tonight versus a Utah defense allowing the third most fantasy points to the position and the slate’s second-highest implied game total.

Luke Kennard ($4.5k DraftKings and $4.7k FanDuel)

Luke Kennard has the potential to be chalky tonight, but his DFS price tag is too good to pass up. With Ja Morant sidelined with a hamstring injury, Kennard is in line again for starter minutes. In Saturday night’s start against Miami, he played 29 minutes and last week posted a 39.3 fantasy game against the Jazz. Kennard gives us cheap exposure to the Grizzlies-Kings game with a slate-high 240 implied game.

Bench Options: Luka Doncic, Cade Cunningham, Miles McBride, Immanuel Quickley (GTD), Jamal Murray (GTD)/Russell Westbrook

NBA DFS Starting Forwards

Jimmy Butler ($7.7k DraftKings and $7.9k FanDuel)

Jimmy Butler gets the nod at small forward tonight and gives us exposure to another green-light environment. The Nuggets-Warriors boast a very fantasy-friendly 236.5 implied game total and a forecasted competitive game script. Butler comes in averaging 34.23 fantasy points per game and over his last five starts he sits at 37.78 per game. Butler will line up versus a Denver defense that ranks just 22nd in production allowed to forwards. Finally, Butler gives us added flexibility in our NBA DFS builds, being eligible at both forward spots.

Trey Murphy ($7.8k DraftKings and $7.4k FanDuel)

Trey Murphy is another dual-eligible forward and will slot into our power-forward spot. Murphy enters tonight’s game as a top12 small forward averaging 36.74 fantasy points. Murphy gets the coach’s green light, as he is set to play in a coveted fantasy-friendly setting. Tonight’s Pistons-Pelicans game comes with a 233.5 implied game total and a competitive point spread. In addition, Murphy has scored at least 32 fantasy points in six of his last eight starts.

NBA DFS Starting Center

Bench Options: Jaren Jackson, Jalen Duren, Nikola Vucevic, Donovan Clingan

Final Thoughts

The obvious nightly studs are not always mentioned. Our bench options provide followers, much the same as a coach, additional green light plays, injury replacements, and flexibility for your NBA DFS build. We strive to balance studs and value plays that may be potentially less owned. Pay attention to implied team and game totals and try to get roster exposure to those games.

The top DFS builds will consist of the right balance between studs and value options that pay at least 5x-6x their salaries. Good luck with your roster builds, and please like and follow us on social media. Please double-check our player recommendations once all inactives are announced.