Sunday features a six-game main slate starting at 7 p.m. ET.
Let’s dive into some of the top plays on the slate using the FantasyLabs tools and projections.
Also, don’t forget that for large-field tournaments, you can utilize our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 300 lineups or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.
You can also use our SimLabs Lineup Generator, a tool that creates the most user-friendly lineup generation process.
Note: Projections and Leverage Scores/Ratings may change throughout the day after this article is posted. The NBA DFS landscape changes quickly.
Consult the NBA Player Models directly for any updates as we get closer to lock.
Stud
We are officially in full late-season NBA mode. There are a host of players unavailable for Sunday’s main slate for one reason or another, so there are plenty of value options to choose from. Finding a stud worth paying up for is the bigger challenge, with most of the high-priced options grading out as poor values in our NBA Models.
Trae Young has the top ceiling projection at point guard, and he has the second-highest ceiling projection on the entire slate. He’s played well recently, averaging 1.39 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and the matchup between the Bucks and Hawks has the highest total of the day. Young has also posted a positive Plus/Minus in four of his past six outings, including 55.5 DraftKings points in his most recent contest.
Ultimately, Young is showing up in our optimal lineup simulations at greater than a 28% clip in Sim Labs, which is the second-best mark at point guard. That makes him worth considering on a slate where rostering studs isn’t difficult.
Value
On the other side of that matchup, Ryan Rollins stands out for the Bucks. Damian Lillard remains out of the lineup, which should give Rollins a chance to play a bit more than usual. He’s currently projected for 29 minutes in our NBA Models, and he’s averaged 1.05 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. Rollins played just 18.3 minutes in his last outing, but that didn’t stop him from scoring 27.75 DraftKings points.
Rollins also stands out as an elite value. His $4,100 salary on DraftKings comes with a 93% Bargain Rating, which is one of the best marks at the position. Rollins is expected to be extremely popular, as he’s currently projected for roughly 42% ownership, but his optimal lineup rate is above 50%.
Fast Break
Rollins is far from the only value option to consider. Elfrid Payton is an even stronger value, with his $3,300 price tag resulting in a 96% Bargain Rating. He played more than 24 minutes in his last outing and responded with 39.0 DraftKings points, and Payton has always been a very capable per-minute producer. He’s currently projected for 22 minutes vs. the Hornets, and he could play even more if Jordan Hawkins is unable to suit up (currently questionable).
Stephon Castle’s price tag continues to climb, and he’s up to $7,000 for Sunday’s matchup vs. the Warriors. That said, he still has plenty of upside at that figure. He’s gone for more than 50 DraftKings points in two of his past five outings, and he’s averaged 1.25 DraftKings points per minute over the past month.
Don’t forget to check out our NBA SimLabs Lineup Generator to create advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation:
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NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
Cade Cunningham is doubtful for the Pistons, which means he’s expected to miss his fourth straight game. Jaden Ivey also remains out of the lineup, while Tobias Harris is questionable after sitting out their last game. That leaves the Pistons potentially without three of their top scorers.
Dennis Schroder should see a boost in value in their absences. He’s increased his usage rate by +3.21% with Cunningham and Ivey off the floor this season, and he’s increased his assist rate by +4.39%. Overall, he’s averaged 1.08 DraftKings points per minute in that scenario.
Schroder played more than 39 minutes with Cunningham, Harris, and Ivey all out of the lineup, and he responded with 43.75 DraftKings points vs. the Cavaliers. His price tag has come up significantly for his matchup vs. the Timberwolves, but he still has plenty of upside at $5,800.
Value
The Raptors are another team with plenty of absences on Sunday. Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl will both get the night off for rest, which opens up a few additional minutes for Ja’Kobe Walter. He’s currently projected for 27.5 minutes in our NBA Models, which is plenty for his $4,200 price tag. Historically, players with comparable salaries and minute projections have averaged a Plus/Minus of +2.32 (per the Trends tool). Walter has had at least 20.0 DraftKings points in four straight games,
Fast Break
Malik Beasley should also benefit from the Pistons’ current absences. He was second on the team with 36 minutes in their last outing, and he finished with 33.0 DraftKings points vs. the Cavaliers. Beasley’s production has been down in general over the past month, but he’s averaged 1.13 DraftKings points per minute with Cunningham and Ivey off the floor this season. With both players sidelined, he has the potential to do damage with that much playing time again.
Devin Vassell is coming off a poor showing in his last outing, but he had posted a positive Plus/Minus in his previous four games. He’s increased his production to 1.13 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s currently projected for less than 10% ownership.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Jimmy Butler has completely saved the Warriors’ season. They were floundering before the trade deadline, but they’ve won 11 of their past 15 games. They’re currently tied for sixth place with the Clippers in the Western Conference standings, and they’re just 2.5 games behind the Lakers for the No. 4 spot. A guaranteed playoff spot is still very much in play.
Butler has also provided the fantasy players with plenty of production. He’s scored at least 40.0 DraftKings points in four of his past five games, and he’s had at least 47.5 DraftKings points in two of them. His price tag is up to $8,800 vs. the Spurs, but that’s not a huge issue on a slate with plenty of value. The matchup is also ideal, with San Antonio ranking 28th in defensive efficiency over their past 15 games. The Warriors’ 121.5-point implied team total is the top mark on the slate, and Butler has the second-highest optimal lineup rate at the position.
Value
If Harris remains out of the lineup for the Pistons, Tim Hardaway Jr. would become one of the strongest plays of the day. Hardaway has always been a streaky scorer, but he erupted for 33 points in his last game. He ultimately finished with 40.75 DraftKings points, providing massive value on his $3,500 salary.
Despite his outburst, Hardaway remains extremely affordable on Sunday’s slate. He’s priced at just $4,000, and he’s averaged just under a fantasy point per minute with Cunningham, Ivey, and Harris off the floor this season.
Fast Break
The Hornets are another team that will be significantly shorthanded Sunday. They’ve already ruled out eight players, while Tijdane Salaun is listed as questionable. It leaves a solid role for Wendell Moore, who is projected for 25 minutes at a minimum price tag. Moore has scored 17.75, 24.5, and 20.0 DraftKings points in the past three games that he’s appeared in, and he’s averaged a respectable 0.79 DraftKings points per minute over the past month.
Scottie Barnes is coming off just 36.5 DraftKings points in his last outing, and he continues to play reduced minutes down the stretch. However, his last game was with Quickley and Poeltl in the lineup. Barnes has seen solid bumps to his usage and assist rates with Quickley, Poeltl, and Gradey Dick off the floor this season, resulting in an average of 1.28 DraftKings points per minute. Even if he plays less than 30 minutes Sunday – he’s currently projected for 26.5 minutes in our NBA Models – he has plenty of potential in a juicy matchup vs. the 76ers.
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NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Miles Bridges is one of the few players for the Hornets who will seemingly be in the lineup Sunday. He’s not currently listed on the injury report, and he’ll be tasked with carrying the offense with LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller sidelined. He’s increased his scoring output as the season has progressed, culminating in 22.5 points per game since the All-Star break. Bridges has also posted a usage rate of 32.5% with Ball and Miller off the floor, resulting in an average of 1.26 DraftKings points per minute.
Bridges has been unable to return value recently at his elevated price tag, but that’s been due primarily to poor shooting numbers. He was just 4-for-20 from the field in his last outing, and he was 5-for-19 from the field the game before that. With some better luck in that department, he has plenty of upside against a Pelicans squad that has struggled defensively all season.
Value
Jeremy Sochan has been a consistent presence in these writeups since Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox went down with injuries. His minutes haven’t been the most consistent, but he’s coming off 31.4 minutes and 35.5 DraftKings points in his last outing. Sochan has averaged better than a fantasy point per minute for the year, so he’s underpriced at $4,900 if he approaches 30 minutes vs. the Warriors.
Fast Break
Keldon Johnson is another potential option for San Antonio. He’s one of their best producers on a per-minute basis, averaging 1.09 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. Like Sochan, his workload is volatile on a night-to-night basis, but he’s played at least 27.4 minutes in back-to-back games. He’s responded with at least 35.0 DraftKings points in both outings, so he has a solid ceiling at just $5,100.
Ausar Thompson doesn’t typically need a ton of minutes to provide value. He’s scored at least 30.0 DraftKings points in back-to-back games, and he’s averaged 1.08 DraftKings points per minute for the year. He’s currently projected for 25 minutes in our NBA Models, but that number could increase if Harris is forced to miss his second straight game.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Giannis Antetokounmpo has PF and C eligibility, and he has the top ceiling on the slate regardless of where you play him. His ceiling projection clears the field by more than 12 points, which makes him tough to fade on a slate with a ton of value. He’s showing up in the optimal lineup sims at a massive frequency, so you should find a spot for him somewhere in your lineup.
Antetokounmpo hasn’t been at his best recently, but he’s still averaged 1.71 DraftKings points per minute for the year. He has even more upside than usual with Lillard out of the lineup, especially in a pace-up spot vs. the Hawks.
Value
The Hornets are also going to be without Mark Williams on Sunday, leaving Jusuf Nurkic and Moussa Diabate to handle most of the center minutes. Both players stand out as excellent options, owning the top two projected Plus/Minus marks at the position.
Both players are projected for similar workloads with Nurkic at 23 minutes and Diabate at 22, but Nurkic has been the superior per-minute producer. He’s averaged 1.13 DraftKings points per minute for the year, so he has the better ceiling of the two. Nurkic is slightly more expensive, but he’s worth the extra $700.
Fast Break
Speaking of excellent per-minute producers, don’t forget about Sandro Mamukelashvili. He’s averaged 1.36 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he popped off for more than 55 DraftKings points in less than 20 minutes in a recent game vs. the Knicks. I wouldn’t expect that type of production vs. the Warriors, but he has slate-breaking upside for his price tag when he hits his ceiling.
Adam Bona has gotten extended run for the 76ers recently, and he’s taken full advantage. He’s averaged 1.16 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in six of his past seven games. That includes four games with at least 31.75 DraftKings points, so he’s another strong value target at just $4,500.
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