College basketball season is finally upon us, and DraftKings and FanDuel continue to provide sizable contests for CBB DFS grinders. Examining the slate for March 1, a number of core plays stand out. In this piece I’ll be locating top plays from each college basketball matchup and determining the top CBB DFS picks for your DraftKings and FanDuel lineups.
CBB DFS Picks: DraftKings + FanDuel Core Plays | March 1
Studs Tier
Chris Duarte ($8,200) — With this slate a little short on value, jamming some of the most expensive studs looks difficult. Cade Cunningham ($9,200) has the top projection on the slate, but finding a cheaper stud may help to build a more balanced lineup. Duarte fits this mold, playing at least 34 minutes in each of Oregon’s last three games. Oregon currently has the fourth-highest implied team total on the slate as a 5-point favorite over Arizona in a game totaled at 139.5 points. Duarte has a 16.4% usage rate, but he accounts for a 20.1% shot rate, 13.3% rebound rate and 18.2% assist rate in Oregon’s offense. James Akinjo ($8,400) also makes sense on the other side of this game but has an inferior implied team total.
Alan Griffin ($7,400) — The slate’s most attractive game, Syracuse has a 74-point implied team total as a 1.5-point underdog in a game totaled at 149.5 points. On the Syracuse side, the Orange recently expanded their rotation. Griffin’s role looks secure, as he still played at least 32 minutes in back-to-back games. The Syracuse big men also draw a tough matchup against a North Carolina defense that ranks 76th in interior play. However, Griffin actually avoids this matchup despite his listing as a forward. Griffin leads Syracuse in 3-point attempts and shoots 37% from beyond the arc. Even despite a perceived tough matchup, Griffin makes sense as a stud to target.
Geo Baker ($7,000) — With Ron Harper Jr. ($7,200) hitting a late-season wall, Baker has quickly emerged as Rutgers’ most reliable player. Rutgers has a 7.5-point advantage over Nebraska in a game totaled at 141.5 points. Baker has played 34 and 36 minutes in Rutgers’ last two games, adding to his 16.1% usage rate. Baker also accounts for 19.7% of the shots, 16.1% of the rebounds and 35% of the assist in Rutgers’ last three games. With Nebraska ranking 178th in overall defense, Baker deserves consideration as an affordable stud.
Mid-Priced Tier
De’Vion Harmon ($6,200) — Another tightly contested game, Oklahoma sits as 1.5-point favorite over Oklahoma State in a game expected to reach 142 points. Both of these teams play with an above-average pace, adding to the DFS intrigue. On Oklahoma, Harmon continues to play nearly every minute for the Sooners. He has a 14.9% usage rate, 18.5% shot rate, 12.5% rebound rate and 17.7% assist rate in Oklahoma’s last three games. With Umoja Gibson ($5,800) and Elijah Harkless ($6,000) also in this price range, Harmon looks like the safest option of the group.
Garrison Brooks ($6,500) — While Caleb Love ($5,700) provides the safest North Carolina option from a minute perspective, his horrific shooting leads to limited upside. For those with the stomach to target these North Carolina forwards, they draw a strong matchup against Syracuse’s 193rd-ranked interior defense. Brooks provides the most consistency of the group, playing at least 25 minutes in the last three games. His 13.7% usage rate leaves a bit to be desired, but he recorded a double-double in 33 minutes last time these teams faced. Carrying even more risk, Armando Bacot ($5,000) continues to start and battle early foul trouble.
Bennedict Mathurin ($5,300) — On the other side of the Oregon game, Arizona enters the slate with a modest 67.25-point implied team total. While Akinjo makes sense in the stud range, Mathurin look particularly underpriced. Mathurin has played 34 and 38 minutes in back-to-back games for Arizona. He has a 14.5% usage rate on the season and recorded a double-double in his last appearance. While Oregon plays strong defense overall, Mathurin’s consistent minutes provide a solid floor and ceiling in this spot on DraftKings and FanDuel.
Value Tier
Isaac Likekele ($4,900) — On the other side of the Oklahoma State game, Cunningham obviously is the top overall player. However, Likekele’s status after battling injury is the key to this team. Questionable for tonight’s game, Likekele presents solid value if active. He played 33 minutes in his return to action in Oklahoma State’s second-most recent game, only to suffer another injury. In his absence, Avery Anderson ($5,600), Rondel Walker ($5,400) and Bryce Williams ($4,200) will all see a rise in minutes.
Will Richardson ($4,800) — Without much value on the slate, Richardson figures to draw ownership in this matchup against Arizona. Richardson has a 13.4% usage rate and has played at least 32 minutes in three straight games for Oregon. He has only taken 11.5% of the shots and 18.2% of the assists in that span. However, his cheap minutes and strong implied team total provide an avenue to some of the slates potential studs.
Kerr Kriisa ($3,900) — For those looking at sleeper value plays, Kriisa fits the mold. Returning from a groin injury, Kriisa played 23 minutes in his first game back. Kriisa actually entered the starting lineup and played 28 minutes prior to the injury. Kriisa primarily functions as a 3-point shooter with his 12.2% usage rate. However, if Kriisa re-enters the starting lineup, he provides enough salary relief to take multiple expensive players.
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