NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: March 9
Tyus Jones and the Grizzlies host the Warriors at 7:30 ET on TNT.
That Wednesday slate did not go well for yours truly. That happens in this racket, though, which is why DFS can be frustrating. That has me excited to bounce back here, and I’ve really dug into this card to gain the upper hand.
Injury Report
As of 10:30 a.m. ET:
- Ja Morant (suspension) OUT
- Jalen Brunson (foot) Questionable
- Jordan Clarkson (thumb) Questionable
- Kevin Porter Jr. (foot) OUT
- Walker Kessler (illness) Questionable
- Spencer Dinwiddie (rest) OUT
- Nic Claxton (Achilles) OUT
- Andrew Wiggins (personal) OUT
- Wendell Carter Jr.(hip) OUT
- Steven Adams (knee) OUT
- Bojan Bogdanovic (achilles) OUT
- Cameron Johnson (knee) OUT
- Isaiah Stewart (hip) OUT
- Collin Sexton (hamstring) OUT
- Ben Simmons (knee) OUT
Core Plays
Tyrese Haliburton (PG – IND): $9,800 DraftKings, $10,200 FanDuel
It’s been fun watching Haliburton take over this Pacers offense. The young guard has at least 41 DraftKings points in seven of his last eight games, generating a 50-point average in that span. That’s not far off of his 46-point average for the year, and he has the best possible matchup here. Houston ranks 29th in defensive efficiency while surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing point guards.
Terry Rozier (PG – CHA): $8,200 DraftKings, $8,200 FanDuel
With LaMelo Ball out for the remainder of the season, Rozier will run this Hornets offense. That’s what we saw in Charlotte’s most recent game, with Terry tallying 43 DraftKings points against the Knicks. He’s also averaging nearly 40 fantasy points per game in the 20 games Ball has missed, which is no surprise since Rozier is seeing a massive boost in shot attempts, assists and usage with Ball out.
Desmond Bane (SG/SF – MEM): $8,000 DraftKings, $8,600 FanDuel
The Ja Morant situation is sad for Memphis, but it will allow Bane to dominate. The wing has a 28% usage rate with Ja off the floor this year, averaging over 40 DK points per game in those outings. He could be looking at 35-40 minutes, 20 shots, and primary ballhandling duties with Morant sidelined. We love that against a 26th-ranked Warriors defense.
Cash Game Considerations
Julius Randle (PF/C – NYK): $10,000 DraftKings, $9,800 FanDuel
Randle has carried the Knicks, averaging a career-best 47 fantasy points per game. He’s been even better over the last two months, scoring at least 35 fantasy points in 48 of his last 50 games. That’s one of the highest floors in the NBA, and it should be easy to reach against a 28th-ranked Sacramento defense.
Tyus Jones (PG – MEM): $6,700 DraftKings, $7,500 FanDuel
This talented guard averaged over 30 DK points per game when filling in for Morant last year, but he has been even better this season. In fact, Tyus is averaging 41 fantasy points per game in his 11 starts this season. Jones has seen a massive price bump this week, but it’s still not enough behind production like this. Golden State is a great matchup, too, posting a 23rd OPRK against opposing point guards.
Mo Wagner (PF/C – DEN): $5,500 DraftKings, $4,400 FanDuel
With Wendell Carter Jr. missing another game, Wagner should get another nod at center. The big man has scored 36 and 28 DK points in the last two starts for Carter Jr., scoring at least 27 fantasy points in three straight outings. That’s absurd from a $5K player, but it’s less surprising when you see that Wagner is averaging over 1.1 DK points per minute this year. Getting to face Utah is the best part of this with the Jazz allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing centers.
GPP Targets
Immanuel Quickley (PG – NYK): $6,600 DraftKings, $7,300 FanDuel
Quickley would be a cash game option if Jalen Brunson is out again, but we have to keep him as a GPP option because we don’t know if Brunson will be ready to play. The Sixth Man of the Year candidate is averaging 43 DraftKings points per game across his last three outings. That’s a ridiculous total for a player in this price range, but he will be locked into a 40-minute role as the starting point guard if Brunson misses another game.
Cam Thomas (PG/SG – BKN): $4,600 DraftKings, $4,700 FanDuel
This guy went from being the best scorer in the NBA to being out of the rotation altogether. We’re going to bet on him returning to that prior form because Brooklyn is expected to be without Dinwiddie, Claxton, O’Neale, Johnson and Simmons. That leaves Thomas as one of the only guys left, making him a candidate to start and play 30-plus minutes. He’s played over 25 minutes in 11 games this year, posting a 37-point average in those outings. If you get that from a sub-$5K player, you’ve stumbled into the best value on the board.
Mark Williams (C – CHA): $6,000 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel
Williams was rewarded with the starting center job once Mason Plumlee was traded, and he’s been going off in this role ever since, averaging 29 DK points per game across his last 11 outings. He’s also scored at least 29 fantasy points in seven of those and shouldn’t be this cheap behind his elite per-minute averages. Facing the Pistons couldn’t be better either, with Detroit ranked 28th in defensive efficiency and 29th in points allowed.
Value Plays
Gordon Hayward (SG/SF – CHA): $6,700 DraftKings, $7,300 FanDuel
Hayward was an All-Star player before a gluttony of injuries, and he’s looking like that guy right now. Hayward is averaging 36 DraftKings points per game across his last 10 outings. That boost is far from shocking because Gordon is seeing a massive boost in usage with Ball out of the picture. He shouldn’t have any issues against the Pistons’ second-worst defense in the NBA, either.
Markelle Fultz (PG/SG – ORL): $6,400 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel
It’s been awesome watching Fultz have this revival season. Many people thought he’d never live up to the lofty standards he earned with the top pick, but this point guard is amid the best year of his career. Markelle has maintained a 29-point average for the year, generating a 33-point average across his last 38 games in total. That should be easy to reach against Utah, with the Jazz allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing point guards.
Dorian Finney-Smith (SF/PF – BKN): $4,200 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel
DFS is not the best fantasy option, but this guy will have to play 40 minutes. We already talked about how many players Brooklyn will be missing, which will lock Finney-Smith into 40 minutes and double-digit shots. That alone makes him a good value in this price range because we’re not even sure if the Nets will pull Finney-Smith off the floor in this game.
Advantageous Pricing
Mo Wagner (PF/C – DEN): $5,500 DraftKings, $4,400 FanDuel
Dorian Finney-Smith (SF/PF – BKN): $4,200 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel
Walker Kessler (C – UTA): $6,900 DraftKings, $8,000 FanDuel
Jalen Suggs (PG – ORL): $4,300 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel
James Wiseman (C – DET): $5,700 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel
Dennis Smith Jr.(PG – CHA): $4,700 DraftKings, $6,200 FanDuel
Draymond Green (PF – GSW): $6,300 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel
Dorian Finney-Smith (SF – BKN): $4,200 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel
Trey Lyles (PF – SAC): $3,700 DraftKings, $5,000 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.
