NBA Daily Fantasy Picks: DraftKings + FanDuel Ownership Projections

Monday’s full slate features nine NBA games, and below are some of the best 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 | April 12

Shooting Guard: Donovan Mitchell

DraftKings Grades: A, Values: A

FanDuel Grades: A, Values: A

Mitchell is in a near-perfect situation tonight. The Wizards are in town, and they are the fastest club in the NBA while also ranking 26th in defensive efficiency. In result, the Jazz boast the largest implied team total on the board at 123 points. More importantly, Mitchell’s usage is going to be sky high with Mike Conley being rested and Jordan Clarkson (doubtful, ankle) missing his third in a row. In these past two with Clarkson absent and Conley active, Mitchell has received an absurd 43.5% usage rate, helping him score 53.75 DraftKings points per game. This will be the first full contest that Conley and Clarkson have missed collectively this season, but when the two guards have been off the floor since the All-Star break, Mitchell has amassed 1.4 DraftKings points per minute.

Similar to this evening, Conley was rested for the first matchup of the season against Washington last month, and Mitchell seized the opportunity by posting 60 DraftKings points. Considering how well Mitchell is playing, scoring over 50 DraftKings points in five of his past 10 starts, and that he is now without Clarkson, Mitchell is extremely underpriced for his ridiculous ceiling.

Projected NBA DFS ownership projection: DraftKings 37.6%, FanDuel 46.8%

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Center: Nicholas Claxton

DraftKings Grades: D, Values: A

FanDuel Grades: D, Values: A

The Nets are one of the most depleted teams of Monday night’s full slate. While they have Kevin Durant back, he is expected to remain under a minutes restriction, in addition to Kyrie Irving (personal), Tyler Johnson (knee) and LaMarcus Aldridge (illness) all being ruled out. DeAndre Jordan has been a DNP-CD in Brooklyn’s last five, and while it is likely he will rejoin the rotation considering the circumstances, Claxton is clearly ahead of him on the depth chart right now and should be the primary center this evening.

Starter or reserve, Claxton should handle more than 25 minutes in this matchup with the Timberwolves that requires size. Minnesota is still a very friendly matchup, ranking dead last in defensive efficiency over its last three. Its defense should be even more susceptible with this being the second game in two nights, and Vegas has this contest’s total set at a high total of 235 points. Claxton scores just over 1 DraftKings points per minute this season and is a steal at his low salaries on both DraftKings and FanDuel.

Projected NBA DFS ownership projection: DraftKings 32.0%, FanDuel 24.6%

Center: Rudy Gobert

DraftKings Grades: A, Values: B

FanDuel Grades: A, Values: B

The Jazz are one of the best sources of value tonight, and based on Awesemo’s ownership projections, it appears that most DFS players are going to overlook Gobert in favor of Mitchell, Joe Ingles and Bojan Bogdanovic. This makes Gobert one of the top ways to gain leverage over the field in GPPs in this absolutely spectacular spot against the Wizards. His rates aren’t going to change much, but Washington simply doesn’t have an answer for dominating big men like Gobert.

The Wizards have given up the fifth-most rebounds per game and ninth-most second-chance points this season. Additionally, this tilt is slated for a total of 234.5 points. Whenever Gobert has suited up for games with totals of at least 230 points this season, he is contributing 43.7 DraftKings points per game. A 20-point, 20-rebound double-double is possible for Gobert tonight, and it would be foolish to not have some exposure to the center in GPPs.

Projected NBA DFS ownership projection: DraftKings 17.4%, FanDuel 15.4%

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Small Forward: Kent Bazemore

DraftKings Grades: C, Values: A

FanDuel Grades: C, Values: B

Bazemore’s salary on FanDuel is aggressive, but on DraftKings he is an optimal play at $4,300. Kelly Oubre (wrist) will miss his second consecutive game, keeping Bazemore as the Warriors’ starting shooting guard. With Oubre sidelined Saturday night, Bazemore saw 32 minutes and recorded 29.75 DraftKings points against the Rockets. Even before this start, he was receiving more work off the bench, logging 26.8 minutes per game in the previous two. In a very competitive setting against the Nuggets tonight (Denver-4.5), Bazemore should get over 30 minutes with plenty of room for more.

Plus, the Warriors just received the unfortunate news that rookie James Wiseman may be done for the season with a torn meniscus, and when he and Oubre have been off the court in 2020-21, Bazemore’s production has upgraded to 0.93 DraftKings points per minute. When his playing time has eclipsed the 25-minute mark this year, Bazemore has been a terrific value, scoring 29.75 DraftKings points per game. He is a primary play on DraftKings for Monday’s big slate.

Projected NBA DFS ownership projection: DraftKings 19.4%, FanDuel 19.4%

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