NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Feb. 24
Jrue Holiday and the Milwaukee Bucks host the Miami Heat in the 1st game of ESPN’s Friday night doubleheader.
It was so exciting to see some basketball on Thursday! It was awesome watching these players return, and it seems these teams are the healthiest they’ve been since Opening Night. We’ve had many players return this weekend, and it’ll take a few days to adjust to these new-look rotations after that wild trade deadline.
Injury Report
As of 11:30 a.m. ET:
- Mitchell Robinson (hand) Questionable
- John Collins (head) OUT
- Kyle Lowry (knee) OUT
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (wrist) Doubtful
- Kelly Oubre Jr. (hand) Probable
- Terry Rozier (hand) Probable
- Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) OUT
- Kevin Porter Jr. (foot) OUT
- Stephen Curry (leg) OUT
- Kevin Durant (knee) OUT
- Bradley Beal (knee) Questionable
- Ivica Zubac (calf) OUT
Core Plays
Anthony Edwards (SG/SF – MIN): $9,100 DraftKings, $9,400 FanDuel
Edwards was the top pick in the 2020 draft for a reason, and he’s showing why in this expanded role. With D’Angelo Russell getting traded and Karl-Anthony Towns injured, Edwards is doing everything for Minnesota. Over his last 19 games, Edwards is averaging 46 DK points per game across 36 minutes a night. That should be easy to duplicate against Charlotte, who sit 24th in defensive efficiency and 28th in points allowed.
Jrue Holiday (PG – MIL): $8,900 DraftKings, $8,000 FanDuel
It looks like Giannis Antetokounmpo will sit here for the Bucks. That means Holiday should play a big part in this offense, averaging nearly 50 DraftKings points per game when Giannis has been out over recent years. A matchup with Miami is scary for most, but Jrue has at least 37 DK points in five straight fixtures while generating a 44-point average in that span.
Evan Mobley (PF/C – CLE): $7,300 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel
We had Mobley in here yesterday, and we’re going right back to the well for all the same reasons. This 21-year-old has scored at least 30 DK points in 17 straight games, posting a 41-point average in that span. That’s scary since this kid is getting better every time he steps on the floor, and we don’t expect a 21st-ranked Atlanta defense to slow him down. Not to mention, the Hawks allow the second-most fantasy points to opposing power forwards.
Cash Game Considerations
LaMelo Ball (PG – CHA): $11,000 DraftKings, $10,300 FanDuel
Ball has been one of the best players in fantasy since he was drafted, but he’s taken his game to another level over recent weeks. LaMelo has scored at least 40 fantasy points in 11 consecutive games while dropping 53 or more DK points in four straight fixtures. He’s just shy of a triple-double average in that span, and one of those could be in play against a Minnesota team that ranks fourth in pace and 20th in total defense. They’re also allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing point guards, with Ball scoring 47 DraftKings points in their most recent matchup.
Jalen Brunson (PG – NYK): $8,800 DraftKings, $8,400 FanDuel
Brunson has scored at least 37 DraftKings points in 10 straight games, totaling a 48-point average in that span. That’s the best stretch of this guy’s career, and we don’t expect the Wizards to slow him down. In their two matchups this year, Brunson is averaging 54 fantasy points per game!
Jordan Poole (PG/SG – GSW): $8,300 DraftKings, $8,300 FanDuel
This could be a fantastic spot for Poole. He’s already taken over starting point guard duties in the absence of Stephen Curry and could see more usage here with Draymond Green and Klay Thompson possibly sitting in this back-to-back. Regardless of if they sit or not, Poole is averaging nearly 40 fantasy points per game when Chef Curry is on the bench. A matchup with Houston is the icing on the cake, with the Rockets allowing the most fantasy points to opposing point guards this year.
GPP Targets
Daishen Nix (PG/SG – HOU): $3,000 DraftKings, $4,300 FanDuel
With Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green missing this game, Nix should start at point guard and play 30-35 minutes. In the last two games that Green missed, Nix played 33 minutes in both. He only averaged 23 DK points per game, but that’s all you need from a minimum-priced player. He did that damage with Eric Gordon on the roster, and it’ll be tough to pull Nix off the floor with how shorthanded this backcourt is right now. Not to mention, Golden State ranks 27th in points allowed.
PJ Washington (PF/C – CHA): $6,600 DraftKings, $7,100 FanDuel
The Mason Plumlee trade has been wonderful for Washington. That’s allowed PJ to play a more prominent role, scoring at least 33 fantasy points in five straight fixtures. That alone is amazing from a player in this price range, but it doesn’t even consider his 50-point upside. One of those upside games is in play against Minnesota, surrendering the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing power forwards this year.
Terance Mann (PG/SF – LAC): $5,000 DraftKings, $5,100 FanDuel
It’s unlikely that Russell Westbrook is ready for a full workload, which means Mann should build off the best stretch of his career. The versatile guard has been locked into a 30-minute role with Reggie Jackson and John Wall getting released, averaging 32 DK points per game when he plays at least 30 minutes this year. We’ve seen numerous of those recently, and we’re not scared of him facing a 24th-ranked Sacramento defense.
Value Plays
Gordon Hayward (SG/SF – CHA): $6,200 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel
From an injury perspective, this veteran has had a rough year, but Hayward looks fully healthy right now. The former All-Star is averaging 36 DraftKings points per game across his last three outings. That’s the $7K stud we loved in the past, and he’s another one of these Hornets players that benefit from this terrific Timberwolves matchup. In his two most recent meetings with Minnesota, Hayward has a 45-point average against them!
Monte Morris (PG/SG – WAS): $4,600 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel
Morris is too reliable to be this cheap. He’s still the starting point guard in Washington, averaging 26 DK points per game across his last 13 outings. That’s all you can ask for from such an affordable player, and we love that he finished with 33 DraftKings points in his one matchup with the Knicks earlier in the year.
Kevon Looney (C – GSW): $4,700 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel
Looney was in here on Thursday night, and it makes no sense why he’s so cheap. The big man has at least 29 DraftKings points in four straight outings, averaging nearly 35 fantasy points per game in that span. He could see even more work here with Draymond possibly sitting, and he should feast against a 28th-ranked Rockets defense. In their most recent matchup, Looney finished with 29 DK points across 27 minutes. If you get that from a sub-$5K player, you have one of the best values on the slate.
Advantageous Pricing
- Daishen Nix (PG/SG – HOU): $3,000 DraftKings, $4,300 FanDuel
- Bradley Beal (SG – WAS): $7,700 DraftKings, $9,300 FanDuel
- Daniel Gafford (C – WAS): $4,800 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
- Immanuel Quickley (PG/SG – NYK): $4,700 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
- Delon Wright (PG/SG – WAS): $4,200 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel
- Clint Capela (C – ATL): $5,900 DraftKings, $7,200 FanDuel
- Saddiq Bey (SF – ATL): $4,600 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
- Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG – ATL): $4,700 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
- Bobby Portis (PF/C – MIL): $7,600 DraftKings, $6,400 FanDuel
- Nic Claxton (C – BKN): $6,400 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel
- Jaylen Nowell (SG – MIN): $3,500 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel
- Tari Eason (PF – HOU): $3,900 DraftKings, $5,100 FanDuel
- Torrey Craig (SF – PHX): $4,400 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel
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Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.
