NBA Daily Fantasy Picks: DraftKings + FanDuel Ownership Projections

For the first night of March, we get a seven-game slate to attack, and below are some of my favorite NBA daily fantasy picks for both FanDuel and DraftKings based on Awesemo’s grades and values.

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NBA Daily Fantasy Picks: Awesemo Grades | March. 1

Power Forward: P.J. Washington

DraftKings Grades: B, Values: B

FanDuel Grades: B, Values: A

With Cody Zeller (doubtful, hip), Gordon Hayward (doubtful, hand) and Devonte’ Graham (out, knee) all expected to be inactive for the Hornets tonight, Washington is a must-have for all formats. With these three starters watching from the sidelines last night, Washington was simply incredible in the come from behind win against the Kings, scoring a career-high 42 points, to go along with 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks. The 66.25 DraftKings points and 28% usage rate he posted are also new career highs for Washington, and the forward led the Hornets with a whopping 41.3 minutes.

Washington has provided 1.12 DraftKings points per minute when Zeller, Hayward and Graham have been off the court this season, and he should see right around 40 minutes again with his team remaining understaffed. The Trail Blazers currently rank 28th in defensive efficiency, and Washington is criminally underpriced at $6,200 on both DraftKings and FanDuel.

Projected NBA DFS ownership projection: DraftKings 28.4%, FanDuel 26.4%

Small Forward: DeMar DeRozan

DraftKings Grades: A, Values: B

FanDuel Grades: A, Values: A

The Spurs are currently dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak, and they will be without Rudy Gay, Devin Vassell and Derrick White, due to the NBA’s health-and-safety protocols, and Keldon Johnson, who is listed as out with conditioning issues. With all of these players out Saturday night, Greg Popovich was forced to use a very tight rotation, and only seven Spurs players saw more than 20 minutes. DeRozan led the way with 38.2 minutes and a 28.6% usage rate, helping him score 54.75 DraftKings in the victory against the Pelicans. The Nets will be in town tonight, and Vegas is giving this matchup a high over/under of 233 points.

DeRozan is averaging 40.4 DraftKings points per game this season when the total has been above 230 points, and the Nets are one of the best matchups in the league for small forwards. They have given up the fourth-most DraftKings points per game to the position, and Kevin Durant (hamstring) remaining out certainly hurts their defense as a whole. DeRozan has 50-fantasy-point upside tonight, and he isn’t expected to gain much attention on either DraftKings or FanDuel based on Awesemo’s ownership projections.

Projected NBA DFS ownership projection: DraftKings 13.2%, FanDuel 20.5%

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Power Forward: Robert Covington

DraftKings Grades: C, Values: B

FanDuel Grades: B, Values: A

While his ugly game log may suggest otherwise, Covington has solid upside tonight, and I highly doubt he will be a popular name in GPPs. Against the Lakers on Friday night, Covington’s 17.5 DraftKings points fantasy score was a letdown, but the defensive specialist got back to playing huge minutes with the game being tight throughout. In the 9-point loss, Covington finished with 39.7 minutes, which only trailed Damian Lillard.

Tonight the Blazers are 7.5-point favorites over the Hornets, so Covington should approach 40 minutes again, facing this beat-up Charlotte defense that ranks 27th in defensive rating over their past five. When he has received 35 minutes or higher in 2020-21, Covington has generated 30.8 DraftKings points per game, and I fully expect him to bounce back with at least 5x value tonight.

Projected NBA DFS ownership projection: DraftKings 10.1%, FanDuel 11.7%

Point Guard: Mike Conley

DraftKings Grades: B, Values: C

FanDuel Grades: C, Values: B

Of the 14 teams in action tonight, the Jazz are projected for the most points. Their 121.5-point implied team total against the Pelicans is Utah’s highest of the season, and Conley is the most reasonable way to gain access to the club. With it being the second leg of a back-to-back, Conley was rested Saturday night, and he should be fresh and ready to carve up this soft New Orleans defense that ranks second to last in efficiency.

Before the day off, the veteran was amassing 34.5 DraftKings points per game across his previous three, and Conley has already exposed the Pelicans for 33 DraftKings points per game in a pair of meetings against the team this season. With single-digit ownership projections for both DraftKings and FanDuel tonight, Conley is one of my favorite contrarian options of this seven-game slate.

Projected NBA DFS ownership projection: DraftKings 12.3%, FanDuel 9.9%

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