NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: April 10

This could be one of the toughest game lineups of the season. Although we only have eight games, nearly every team is playing the second part of a back-to-back set. This wouldn’t be a big issue mid-season, but we expect around half of these teams to rest their players under these conditions. We’re still unsure about which ones, so it’s your responsibility to work things out as we approach the start of the games. So, let’s dive in!

Core Plays

Dejounte Murray (PG/SG – ATL): $9,700 DraftKings, $9,600 FanDuel

Murray has been one of the best players in DFS since the All-Star break, taking over this offense in the absence of Trae Young. That’s led to him scoring at least 41 DraftKings points in 20 of his last 23 games, posting a 49-point average in that span. That form should be easy to duplicate against Charlotte, sitting 29th in defensive efficiency. When they played two weeks ago, Murray amassed 66 DK points in one of the best games of his career.

Anthony Edwards (SG/SF – MIN): $9,500 DraftKings

We had Edwards in here yesterday, and we’re going back to him for all the same reasons after that 51-point masterpiece. The All-Star has taken over this offense in Karl-Anthony Towns‘s absence, averaging 46 DraftKings points per game across his last 14 fixtures. He’s also scored at least 40 fantasy points in 11 of those, and you know he’ll be hungry against Denver since those teams are battling for the best record in the Western Conference.

Paul George (SG/SF – LAC): $8,700 DraftKings

It sounds like Kawhi Leonard will miss another game here, and we know that PG13 can take over an offense. That’s what he did in LA’s most recent game, scoring a season-high 68 DraftKings points against an elite Cleveland defense. Facing Phoenix is a much easier matchup, with the Suns surrendering the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing wings. That was clear when George dropped 52 DK points in one of their matchups earlier in the year.

Cash Game Considerations

Luka Doncic (PG – DAL): $12,800 DraftKings, $12,600 FanDuel

Luka is currently difficult to overlook in DFS, despite his soaring price tags. His performance justifies it, as he tops the league with 66 DraftKings points per game. In addition, he consistently scores a minimum of 50 points while averaging over 70 fantasy points per game in the past two months. We are prepared to use him against any team, but we particularly appreciate that Luka scored 73 and 72 DK points in his two latest games against Miami.

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $12,200 DraftKings

The Joker is always a top-notch option, averaging 61 DraftKings points per game. He’s also got a 50-point floor, just like Luka, scoring at least 76 DK points in three of his last four fixtures. That fantastic form should continue against Minnesota, with Joker scoring 58 and 60 DK points in their two most recent matchups. Something about the Rudy Gobert matchup lights up Jokic’s eyes because he’s done even better than that throughout their careers.

Josh Giddey (PG/SG – OKC): $7,700 DraftKings, $8,100 FanDuel

Given that it’s the latter part of a back-to-back, Williams and SGA might not play. In their absence, Giddey is currently experiencing the best streak of his career, racking up a minimum of 43 DraftKings points in seven of the past nine games. The Australian player also holds a 42-point average in that timeframe and is likely to consistently fill the stat sheet against San Antonio’s 26th-ranked defense.

GPP Targets

Gary Trent Jr. (SG/SF – TOR): $6,400 DraftKings, $6,900 FanDuel

Injuries and trades have significantly impacted the Toronto roster, paving the way for Trent to step up. The skilled shooter consistently logs 35-40 minutes on the court, taking an average of 20 shots per game. Trent Jr.’s elevated role has resulted in him scoring a minimum of 30 DK points in 10 of his last 11 games, with an average of 37 points during this period. Furthermore, Brooklyn doesn’t pose a formidable defensive challenge, given their 20th rank in defensive efficiency ratings.

Bobby Portis (PF/C – MIL): $6,700 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel

Given that this is the latter part of a B2B, it wouldn’t be shocking if Lillard, Giannis, or Middleton took a break. We just need any one of them to be absent as it would ensure more game time and shot attempts for Portis. In the 23 games where Portis has played for at least 27 minutes, his average game score is 36 DK points. If any of the mentioned players are absent, it’s almost certain that Portis will play for 27 minutes. However, there’s a chance that all three might be missing, in which case, the offense would be handled by Portis.

Zach Collins (PF/C – SAS): $4,900 DraftKings, $6,200 FanDuel
This is another guesstimate, but we know San Antonio will be shorthanded here. They’re already missing Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell, but we anticipate more guys sitting in this B2B. That could force Collins into 30 minutes as a starter, and he was a $7K player in that type of role last season. In the 27 games that ZC has played at least 23 minutes, he’s averaging 31 DraftKings points per game. Good luck finding that from another player in this price range.

Value Plays

Daniel Gafford (C – DAL): $6,100 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel

It’s hard to believe that Gafford’s price has dropped so much. This guy was a $7K player just a few weeks ago, averaging 32 DraftKings points per game since becoming the Mavs’ starting center. That’s what we saw in Washington, and the minutes should be on the rise since Dereck Lively is injured right now. Facing Miami can be tricky, but Dallas needs Gafford out there for 30 minutes to oppose Bam Adebayo.

Dennis Schroder (PG – BKN): $6,100 DraftKings, $6,400 FanDuel

The Nets have been one of the worst teams in the second half, but Schroder has been a sneaky addition. He’s taken over as the starting point guard since Ben Simmons got injured, averaging 31 DK points per game across his last 21 outings. Our favorite part about this is that he gets a revenge game against Toronto, who ranks 29th in total defense since the All-Star break.

Vasilije Micic (PG – CHA): $5,700 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel

The Hornets have been better over the last two weeks, and Micic is a significant reason for their success. The trade deadline acquisition has taken over as the starting point guard since LaMelo Ball got injured. That’s led to Micic scoring at least 29 DraftKings points in six straight outings, posting a 33-point average in that span. That form should continue against Atlanta, ranked 27th in points allowed and defensive efficiency.

Advantageous Pricing

• Zach Collins (PF/C – SAS): $4,900 DraftKings, $6,200 FanDuel
• Noah Clowney (PF – BKN): $4,100 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel
• Clint Capela (C – ATL): $6,500 DraftKings, $7,600 FanDuel
• Haywood Highsmith (SF – MIA): $4,200 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel
• Wendell Carter Jr.(C – ORL): $5,300 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel
• Justin Champagnie (SF – SAS): $4,500 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel