NBA DFS Main Slate Preview: The Coach’s Starting Five, March 24, 2025

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NBA DFS heads into a new week with Monday night’s eight-game slate. The Coach is here with his starting five and authentic insight from ‘inside the ropes’. The NBA’s daily fantasy landscape is ever-changing, with last-minute injury designations and load management. Last Thursday night’s recap: FanDuel’s $10k main slate pay line finished at 293 points and the starting five was hurt by two late inactive declarations from Damian Lillard and Austin Reaves.

The starting lineup is designed to provide a core five around which you can construct your NBA DFS builds. We strive to recommend players who have the potential to be less owned and make an NBA DFS roster different from the masses. Your prominent studs are not always mentioned and the fantasy point-per-game averages referenced are those across FanDuel scoring. See who the coach has in his NBA DFS starting lineup this evening.

NBA DFS Starting Guards

Coby White ($8k DraftKings and $8.2k FanDuel)

Coby White will lead the group tonight and start at point guard. White will play in the coveted green light fantasy environment we regularly speak of. The Bulls-Nuggets boast a competitive three-point spread and the 239.5 implied games is a slate high. White is rolling late, averaging 41.3 fantasy points in his last three starts and touching the 40-point mark in five of his last eight games. The NBA DFS masses may be more drawn to rostering Josh Giddey, making White potentially under-owned and he comes with a cheaper price tag.

Spencer Dinwiddie ($6.5k DraftKings and $7.1k FanDuel)

The Dallas Mavericks have been hit hard by injury, but Spencer Dinwiddie remains a consistent fantasy piece. Dinwiddie is dual guard eligible and averaging 35 minutes, and 37.8 fantasy points per game over his last six contests. That includes the 50.1 fantasy blowup Friday night versus the Pistons. Dinwiddie has a decent matchup against the Nets who rank in the bottom half of the league in points allowed to guards and is forecasted to play in the slate’s most competitive game script.

Bench Options: Jamal Murray, Jeff Dowtin, Immanuel Quickley, Jordan Poole

NBA DFS Starting Forwards

Mar 23, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Quentin Grimes (5) shoots against the Atlanta Hawks in the second quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Quentin Grimes($9k DraftKings and $8.7k FanDuel)

Quentin Grimes, despite the hefty price tag, will start at small forward tonight. His recent fantasy production makes him a hard pass on. Over his last five games, Grimes is averaging 47.66 fantasy points, 25 points, and 6 assists per game. With Tyrese Maxey set to miss his 11th straight game, more of the same should be on the horizon for Grimes tonight. He also provides us roster flexibility being eligible at both small forward and shooting guard.

Aaron Gordon ($6.3k FanDuel)

Aaron Gordon will slot into the power forward spot tonight, giving us additional exposure to the Bulls-Nuggets game. Gordon is in the middle of a four-game stretch averaging 36.33 fantasy points, 6 rebounds, and playing 34 minutes per game. The matchup versus the Bulls is decent as they rank middle of the pack in production allowed to power forwards. Keep a close eye on Gordon’s availability as the day goes on. Despite no injury tag, Gordon played last night and currently does not have a DFS price tag on DraftKings.

Bench Options: Jayson Tatum, RJ Barrett, Austin Reaves, Peyton Wilson

NBA DFS Starting Center

Brooke Lopez ($5.5k DraftKings and $5.6k FanDuel)

There are certainly higher-priced options at center tonight, but we will move Brooke Lopez into the starting lineup. He represents a decent DFS value play and has been posting steady numbers. In the last four starts, Lopez is averaging 33 minutes and 26 fantasy points, including a 32.6 outing Saturday versus Sacramento. Lopez gives a potential 5x player and shown flashes to be even better. He produced a stellar 50.3-point outing on March 13 against the Lakers. At $5.6k he is a low-risk DFS option tonight.

Bench Options: Nikola Vucevic, Jakob Poeltl (GTD), Kelly Olynyk, Alexander Sarr

Final Thoughts

The obvious studs are not always mentioned. Our bench options provide followers, much the same as a coach, additional green light plays, last-minute 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 mediaPlease double-check our player recommendations once all inactives are announced.

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