NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Feb. 23
Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks return to action Thursday against the San Antonio Spurs.
With the All-Star break behind us, we’re back to our usual basketball and I can’t wait to dive into this first slate.
Injury Report
As of 11:30 a.m. ET
- Aaron Gordon (rib) OUT
- Jamal Murray (knee) Probable
- Cade Cunningham (shin) OUT
- Steven Adams (knee) OUT
- Zion Williamson (hamstring) OUT
- Devin Vassell (knee) OUT
- Tre Jones (foot) Doubtful
- Stephen Curry (left) OUT
- LeBron James (hand) Probable
- Jusuf Nurkic (calf) OUT
- Anfernee Simons (ankle) OUT
- Andrew Wiggins (personal) OUT
Core Plays
Anthony Davis (PF/C – LAL): $10,600 DraftKings, $10,900 FanDuel
Davis hasn’t played too well recently, but that shows how ridiculous he is. The big man has 52 and 56 DraftKings points in his two most recent outings and has his season average up to 52 DK points per game. That’s hard to believe with his lack of assertiveness, but we have to assume he’s fully healthy after the All-Star break. Facing Golden State is the best part of this, though, ranked 27th in points allowed while lacking a frontcourt presence.
Kyrie Irving (PG – DAL): $10,300 DraftKings, $9,900 FanDuel
We won’t have Luka and Kyrie in here together too often, but these guys are impossible to fade in this matchup. Dallas faces San Antonio, who ranks dead-last in points allowed, defensive efficiency, and fantasy points surrendered. Irving dropped 43 DK points across just 28 minutes in their one matchup this season. If this game stays somewhat competitive and Kyrie plays 30-plus minutes, his 46-point average should be his floor.
Markelle Fultz (PG/SG – ORL): $6,000 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel
It’s strange to have Fultz in this section, but he’s too cheap in a matchup like this. Let’s start there, with Detroit ranked 29th in points allowed and defensive efficiency. They’re also surrendering the second-most fantasy points to opposing guards, with Fultz flirting with a triple-double in their most recent matchup. That’s par for the course for Fultz, scoring at least 27 DK points in seven straight games en route to a 36-point average in that span.
Cash Game Considerations
Luka Doncic (PG – DAL): $11,900 DraftKings, $12,000 FanDuel
Fade Luka at your own risk. He hasn’t been quite as good since Kyrie joined the Mavericks, but he’s still leading the NBA with 62 DraftKings points per game. That total should be easy to reach in the best matchup in the NBA, with Doncic dropping 85 DK points in their one matchup this year. We don’t expect him to duplicate that, but even 70% of that would be a great game.
Damian Lillard (PG – POR): $11,400 DraftKings, $10,500 FanDuel
Dame just took down the Three-Point Contest over the weekend, and it’s no surprise with how this guy is shooting right now. Lillard has at least 56 DraftKings points in 14 of his last 18 games, averaging 37.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game in that span. He’s simply doing everything for this team, and his usage could rise even more with Simons out as well. Squaring off with Sacramento is sensational, too, with the Kings ranked 23rd in points allowed and defensive efficiency.
Evan Mobley (PF/C – CLE): $8,000 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel
This kid is a star in the making. He doesn’t have many flashy stat lines that make big headlines, but he is elite on both ends of the floor. That’s allowed Mobley to score at least 30 fantasy points in 16 straight games, generating a 41-point average in that span. That’s scary since this kid is just 21, flashing a 60-point upside just two weeks ago. One of those could be in play against Denver. In their last two matchups, Mobley totaled 37 and 48 DK points!
GPP Targets
Jakob Poeltl (C – TOR): $5,900 DraftKings, $7,500 FanDuel
We weren’t exactly sure what Poeltl’s role would look like in Toronto but scoring 57 DK points across 37 minutes in his final game before the break answered all of those questions. This Toronto team is notorious for feeding their starters big minutes, and Poeltl could be an $8K player in a 35-minute role. New Orleans is not a bad matchup either, posting a 23rd OPRK against opposing centers.
Malaki Branham (PG/SG – SAS): $4,500 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel
It’s hard to believe that Branham remains so cheap. This guy has been amazing since Tre Jones, and Devin Vassell went down, averaging 30 DK points per game across 33 minutes a night over his last eight outings. That’s no surprise with the massive boost in usage, and he could have his way against Dallas’ defensive backcourt.
Kelly Olynyk (PF/C – UTA): $5,300 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel
With Utah trading away Jarred Vanderbilt and Conley, Olynyk is being asked to take on a monster workload. That’s led to Olynyk scoring at least 39 DraftKings points in three of his last four games. That’s absurd from a $6K player, especially since he scored 51 fantasy points in his most recent outing. Facing Oklahoma City is outstanding, too, with the Thunder allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing power forwards this year.
Value Plays
Wendell Carter (C – ORL): $5,800 DraftKings, $6,400 FanDuel
Carter has been a regular in this section for me all season, and I genuinely don’t understand why he’s still a $6K player. This center is averaging 33 DraftKings points per game as a starter this year and is coming off a 43-point gem in his most recent outing. That alone would make him an excellent option, but we didn’t even discuss that he faces the second-worst defense in the NBA. In two matchups with Detroit this year, Carter Jr. is averaging 32 DK points per game, despite playing just 28 minutes a night.
Kevon Looney (C – LAL): $4,400 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel
This FanDuel price is appropriate, but the DraftKings price makes no sense to me. Looney has at least 29 DK points in three straight games, amassing a 34-point average in that span. That’s absurd from a $4,400 player, and it’s clear Golden State wants him to do more in the absence of Stephen Curry. A matchup with the Lakers isn’t problematic either, ranked third in pace and 26th in total defense. They also own a 25th OPRK against opposing centers, and they will need Looney to play 30 minutes to oppose Anthony Davis.
Josh Richardson (SG/SF – DEN): $4,000 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
This is risky, but it looks like Richardson will be a huge piece of this Pelicans rotation. The versatile winger averaged 33 DK points per game across 31 minutes in his first five games with New Orleans. An ejection in his most recent outing hurt those averages, but it’s still ridiculous from a $4K player. He’s had success against Toronto, too, posting a 25-point average across just 24 minutes a night in their two matchups.
Advantageous Pricing
- Jakob Poeltl (C – TOR): $5,900 DraftKings, $7,500 FanDuel
- Kevon Looney (C – LAL): $4,400 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel
- Josh Richardson (SG/SF – DEN): $4,000 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
- Jarrett Allen (C – CLE): $6,600 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (SG – DEN): $4,400 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel
- Cole Anthony (PG – ORL): $4,700 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel
- Fred VanVleet (PG – TOR): $9,700 DraftKings, $8,200 FanDuel
- Brandon Ingram (SF – NOP): $8,900 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel
- Scottie Barnes (SF – TOR): $8,500 DraftKings, $7,300 FanDuel
- Tyrese Maxey (PG – PHI): $5,300 DraftKings, $6,400 FanDuel
- Tyus Jones (PG – MEM): $3,400 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel
- Zach Collins (PF/C – SAS): $5,600 DraftKings, $6,700 FanDuel
- Lauri Markkanen (PF – UTA): $9,400 DraftKings, $8,300 FanDuel
- Jordan Clarkson (PG/SG – UTA): $7,500 DraftKings, $6,400 FanDuel
- Walker Kessler (C – UTA): $5,700 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel
***
Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.
