NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: March 14
AD has scored at least 50 fantasy points in five of his last six games.
It sounds crazy to say, but we have less than a month remaining in the regular season. What makes it more bizarre is that we have about 10 teams fighting for seven playoff spots in the Western Conference. That will make things exciting over these closing weeks, and there’s no better time to play DFS!
Injury Report
- Damian Lillard (calf) Questionable
- LeBron James (foot) OUT
- Kevin Durant (ankle) OUT
- Brandon Ingram (ankle) Questionable
- Zion Williamson (hamstring) OUT
- Jalen Brunson (foot) Questionable
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (B2B) Questionable
- Khris Middleton (B2B) Questionable
- Jamal Murray (knee) Questionable
- Kyle Kuzma (knee) Questionable
- Jerami Grant (quad) Questionable
- Jaden Ivey (H&S) Questionable
- Isaiah Stewart (hip) OUT
- Marvin Bagley (ankle) OUT
- Keldon Johnson (foot) Questionable
- Tre Jones (illness) OUT
- Jarrett Allen (eye) OUT
- Franz Wagner (ankle) Questionable
- Bojan Bogdanovic (achilles) OUT
- Mark Williams (thumb) OUT
- Ben Simmons (who knows) OUT
- Malaki Branham (shoulder) OUT
Core Plays
Damian Lillard (PG – POR): $10,500 DraftKings, $10,600 FanDuel
Lillard has scored at least 42 DraftKings points in 28 straight games, averaging nearly 60 DK points per game in that stretch. He’s also the leading scorer with nearly 40 raw points per game, and he should keep doing that with his 20-25 shots and 40-minute role. You know he’ll be motivated against a storied franchise like the Knicks, scoring 58 and 61 DK points in their two most recent matchups.
Kristaps Porzingis (PF/C – WAS): $8,700 DraftKings, $9,000 FanDuel
It’s hard to understand why this Latvian has played for three teams with his exceptional skillset. The big man is amid a career year in Washington, averaging 43 DraftKings points per game. He also comes into this matchup scoring at least 37 fantasy points in 15 of the last 18 games he’s finished. Getting to play Detroit is the best part of this, though, with the Pistons ranked 28th in defensive efficiency and 29th in points allowed.
Evan Mobley (PF/C – CLE): $8,100 DraftKings, $8,200 FanDuel
This sophomore is starting to look like one of the best big men in the NBA. Mobley has maintained a 40-point average over his last 25 games, scoring 50-plus fantasy points in many of those. That should be easy to reach here because Mobley will get more minutes, shot attempts, and rebounds with Jarrett Allen expected to miss this game. Facing Charlotte couldn’t be better either, surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing big men. In their two matchups this year, Mobley is averaging 47 fantasy points per game!
Cash Game Considerations
Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $11.600 DraftKings, $12,200 FanDuel
“The Joker” is on his way to his third straight MVP. The big man is posting triple-double averages this year, leading the league with nearly 60 DraftKings points per game. He’s also established a 50-point floor, falling an assist shy of a triple-double in a matchup with Toronto just last week. If you want a guaranteed 50-60 DK points, stick in Joker and figure things out from there.
Anthony Davis (PF/C – LAL): $10,800 DraftKings, $11,300 FanDuel
Davis can be the best player in the NBA at times, and LA needs him to be with LeBron out for the next few weeks. With the former MVP off the floor this year, Davis has a team-leading 35% usage rate while averaging 1.6 DK points per minute. That’s one of the best rates you’ll see, and it’s led to Davis scoring at least 50 fantasy points in five of his last six games. He’s always crushed his former team, too, averaging 59 DK points per game in his three matchups with the Pels this year.
Julius Randle (PF/C – NYK): $9,900 DraftKings, $9,900 FanDuel
We never thought Randle could be this good, but he’s developed into one of the best cash game options in DFS. The big man has scored at least 42 DraftKings points in 43 of his last 46 games, posting a 49-point average in that span. The role is what’s made him so reliable, playing nearly 40 minutes a night while taking over 20 shots a game. Portland is a phenomenal matchup, ranked 27th in defensive efficiency while allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing power forwards.
GPP Targets
Paolo Banchero (PF – ORL): $7,700 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel
This rookie has had a rough second half of the season, but this is a matchup where he can go nuts. The Spurs rank dead last in both points allowed and defensive efficiency while surrendering the most fantasy points in the NBA. That’s scary against the best rookie in the league, with Paolo scoring at least 38 fantasy points in four of his last five games.
Jalen Duren (PF – DET): $5,500 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
This Detroit team has been dismantled by injuries, and it’s strange that Duren remains this cheap. This rookie has actually looked like their best player over the last month, averaging 30 DK points per game in that stretch. He’s doing that damage in just 26 minutes a night, but we have to assume he’ll play 30-plus here with Stewart and Bagley both expected to miss this game. Washington is also a wonderful matchup, owning an 18th OPRK against opposing big men.
Nick Richards (C – CHA): $5,000 DraftKings, $6,200 FanDuel
It took a few steps for Richards to get here, but he’s the starting center in Charlotte now. The Mason Plumlee trade was the first straw, but the Mark Williams injury has forced him into this role. That’s led to Richards playing at least 29 minutes in three straight games, scoring 32 or more DK points in all of those. That’s far from shocking behind his elite per-minute averages, and he could feast against a Cleveland team missing their starting center.
Value Plays
Markelle Fultz (PG – ORL): $6,500 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel
San Antonio is the best matchup in DFS, and we have to love a breakout like Fultz against them. The former top pick has scored at least 27 DraftKings points in 15 of his last 16 games, generating a 34-point average in that span. His stat-stuffing ways make him so valuable, and he could record a triple-double against the worst defense in the NBA. That was clear when he had eight points, seven rebounds, eight assists, and four steals in their most recent meeting.
Zach Collins (PF/C – SAS): $6,300 DraftKings, $7,100 FanDuel
The Spurs will be tough to trust from here on out, but we love Collins as long as he’s playing. The big man has taken over as the starting center since the Jakob Poeltl trade, scoring at least 27 fantasy points in 10 of the 11 games since that deal. He’s also averaging 35 DraftKings points per game in this expanded role and could be in for a more prominent role with so many Spurs sidelined. Orlando is an outstanding matchup, too, ranked 19th in defensive efficiency ratings.
Mitchell Robinson (C – NYK): $5,100 DraftKings, $6,300 FanDuel
This $5,100 price tag on DraftKings is laughable. The big man has been destroying it all year, averaging 26 DK points per game. That alone is an amazing total from a $5K player, but it looks even better since he has a 29-point average since his return from an injury. Portland’s pitiful defense won’t deter him from adding to that, with the Trail Blazers posting a 28th OPRK against opposing centers.
Advantageous Pricing
- Nick Richards (C – CHA): $5,000 DraftKings, $6,200 FanDuel
- Mitchell Robinson (C – NYK): $5,100 DraftKings, $6,300 FanDuel
- Dennis Smith (PG – CHA): $5,200 DraftKings, $6,600 FanDuel
- Deni Avdija (SF – WAS): $4,000 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG – OKC): $9,400 DraftKings, $10,500 FanDuel
- Nic Claxton (C – BKN): $6,600 DraftKings, $7,700 FanDuel
- Jaylin Williams (SF – OKC): $4,000 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel
- Herbert Jones (PF – NOP): $5,200 DraftKings, $6,600 FanDuel
- Rui Hachimura (PF – LAL): $3,800 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel
- Wendell Carter (C – ORL): $6,300 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel
- Jalen Suggs (PG – ORL): $5,200 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel
- Jevon Carter (SG – MIL): $4,000 DraftKings, $5,300 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.
