NBA DFS Main Slate Preview: The Coach’s Starting Five, March 25, 2025

nba dfs

NBA DFS Tuesday brings us an eight-game slate tonight. 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 night’s recap: FanDuel’s $10k main slate pay line finished at 348.3 points. Two late inactive declarations hurt the starting five, however, the bench options brought the starting five to 188 points.

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

Tyler Herro ($8.3k DraftKings and $8.3k FanDuel)

tyler herro
May 1, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) looks for an opening past Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) and guard Derrick White (9) during the first quarter of game five of the first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Tyler Herro will run the show tonight as our starting point guard. Despite the lower implied game total, Herro is set to face a Golden State team that allows the 10th most fantasy points to the position. Herro enters tonight at the over SG4, averaging 38.84 fantasy points per game. His recent usage rate has been terrific, seeing nearly 38 minutes a game over his last three starts.  The DFS combo guard is eligible to play point guard and may face the Warriors without Stephen Curry, which would only enhance his potential fantasy output.

Spencer Dinwiddie ($6.6k DraftKings and $6.9k FanDuel)

We are going right back to Spencer Dinwiddie as the starter at shooting guard tonight. The DFS combo guard rewarded us with 46.2 fantasy points last night and is averaging 43.8 fantasy points and 10 assists per game over his last four games. Dinwiddie continues to be an excellent mid-tier value play and will face a Knicks defense that is ranked in the bottom 10 in fantasy points allowed to shooting guards.

Bench Options: Cade Cunningham, Cameron Payne, Stephon Castle, Jalen Green

NBA DFS Starting Forwards

Desmond Bane ($8.9k DraftKings and $8.4k FanDuel)

Desmond Bane gets the start at small forward tonight, giving us exposure to the Grizzlies-Jazz, who boast a slate-high 240.5 implied game total. Another reason for using Bane is that he comes off a disappointing 23-point fantasy game Friday night against the Clippers. One of the best times to roster a player in DFS is when they have disappointed the masses. Before that dud, Bane was averaging 48.2 fantasy points in his three prior starts, including two games north of 50. Bane also provides us with the all-important roster flexibility as he can be used at shooting guard if necessary.

Deni Avdija ($7.7k DraftKings and $8.4k FanDuel)

Deni Avdija gets the starting nod at power forward tonight. He is in the midst of a three-game stretch, averaging 55.17 fantasy points. Included within that stretch are two double-doubles and two games north of 60 fantasy points. Avdija is set to face a Cavaliers team that yields the third most fantasy points to the forward position. Additionally, rostering him gives us exposure to the Blazers-Cavs tilt that boasts fantasy fantasy-friendly 229.5 implied game total.
Bench Options: Franz Wagner, Draymond Green, Paolo Banchero, Mikal Bridges

NBA DFS Starting Center

Jalen Duren ($7.2k DraftKings and $7.1k FanDuel)

Another game we want exposure to is the Pistons-Spurs game, whose 234 implied game total is top-3 tonight. Jalen Duren has been a steady member of the starting five and is the man in the middle again this evening. Duren ranks as the overall C9 at 31.53 fantasy points per game. He will match up versus the Spurs’ defense, which ranks just 22nd in production allowed to centers. Duren continues to be a steady fantasy contributor, scoring at least 32 fantasy points in seven of his last nine starts. In addition, over that same nine-game stretch, he has six double-doubles.

Bench Options: Alperen Sengun, Walker Kessler, Jarett Allen

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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