This is our primary in-depth NBA DFS article, and it will be free this season. The goal of this article isn’t just to give you a few plays to plug into your lineup, but to dig a little bit deeper into why projections may (or may not) like certain players. Hopefully, after reading this article, you’ll have a better feel for the slate as a whole. Combining the context from this article with the raw data that is available in our Boom/Bust tool, Projections and Ownership Projections should allow you to build strong lineups and make optimal NBA DFS picks for any type of contest on DraftKings and FanDuel.
Be sure to catch the Awesemo NBA Daily Fantasy Strategy Show every morning on our Awesemo YouTube Channel to find the best NBA DFS picks on DraftKings and FanDuel!
I plan to update this article with notes at the top until about 5 p.m. EST each day. After that, be sure to check out the Deeper Dive show with Loughy and I from 5 to 6 every weekday and Live Before Lock in the hour leading up until lock each day on the Awesemo YouTube channel.
As always, if you have any questions after reading the article, feel free to DM me in Slack.
NBA DFS Deep Dive: DraftKings + FanDuel Picks | April 14
Point Guard
Russell Westbrook ($11,000 DraftKings/$11,200 FanDuel) has now posted a triple-double in five straight games and nine of his last 10. Some of those games came without Bradley Beal, but Westbrook has averaged a triple-double in games that Beal has played this season as well. Tonight, he gets a great matchup against the Kings. Sacramento has been one of the fastest teams and least efficient defenses in the league all season long. That hasn’t changed recently as they are 26th in defensive rating and ninth in pace over the last month. Westbrook has averaged 37.3 minutes per game over the last month, which is the third most in the NBA, and he has averaged 1.53 DraftKings points per minute in 38 games played with Beal active this season.
Luka Doncic ($10,900 DraftKings/$10,300 FanDuel) has a more difficult matchup than Westbrook as he faces the Memphis Grizzlies, who are 12th in defensive rating over the last month and have been one of the better defensive teams all season long. They are also one of the fastest teams in the league, however, so it is a substantial pace-up spot for Doncic and the Mavericks. Kristaps Porzingis should be back in the lineup for Dallas tonight. In 32 games played with Porzingis active this season, Doncic has average 1.60 DraftKings points per minute and 35.8 minutes per game. I prefer Westbrook, but there really shouldn’t be much of a difference in ownership between the two.
Stephen Curry ($10,500 DraftKings/$10,300 FanDuel) gets to face a terrible Oklahoma City team that is fifth in pace and 28th in defensive rating over the last month. It is worth mentioning that Luguentz Dort was out for a lot of that time and he is now back on the floor. He strengthens their defense, but the fast pace and overall defensive inefficiency still makes it a favorable spot for Curry. Golden State will most likely be without two of their normal starters. James Wiseman is out, most likely for the season, and Curry has averaged 1.58 DraftKings points per minute with a 33.9 percent usage rate in 12 games without Wiseman this season compared to 1.44 DraftKings points per minute with a 32.8 percent usage rate in 34 games with Wiseman active. Curry has played three games without Kelly Oubre, who is doubtful, and has averaged 1.74 DraftKings points per minute with a 39.4 percent usage rate. The absences of Wiseman and Oubre should open up even more usage for Curry since they are replaced by lower usage players.
Kyrie Irving ($9,800 DraftKings/$9,900 FanDuel) is questionable tonight for personal reasons. If he plays, he will have a tough matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers, who have been the NBA’s most efficient defense over the last month. He will also be playing without James Harden, however. Irving has averaged 1.34 DraftKings points per minute in nine games without Harden and with Kevin Durant this season. This is also a back-to-back for Brooklyn, so there is a chance that Durant rests. If Irving plays and Durant rests, Irving starts to look like a very strong option. He has produced 1.55 DraftKings points per minute with a 35.2 percent usage rate and 44.2 percent assist rate in 322 minutes without Harden, Durant or Caris LeVert on the floor this season.
Update: Durant and Harden are out. Irving currently is not on the injury report.
De’Aaron Fox ($9,600 DraftKings/$9,600 FanDuel) invokes some sticker shock at his new price point, but he is also in an excellent matchup tonight against the Wizards. The game’s 241.5 point total is the highest on the slate and the Kings are only two point underdogs. Fox is fifth in the NBA with 36.6 minutes per game over the last month (17 games) and he has averaged 1.28 DraftKings points per minute with a 32.6 percent usage rate and 27.9 percent assist rate over that time.
Terry Rozier ($8,200 DraftKings/$6,900 FanDuel) missed last night’s game but he is probable for tonight’s matchup against the Cavaliers. Rozier is expensive on DraftKings, but offers value on FanDuel. He has averaged 35.4 minutes per game and 0.97 DraftKings points per minute with a 25.6 percent usage rate in four games without LaMelo Ball or Gordon Hayward this season. Rozier has played 300 total minutes without Ball or Hayward on the floor this season and has averaged 1.06 DraftKings points per minute with a 26.6 percent usage rate and 19.6 percent assist rate.
John Wall ($8,000 DraftKings/$8,400 FanDuel) hasn’t been particularly efficient this season, but he offers a higher ceiling than most players in his price range because of his involvement in Houston’s offense. In eight games alongside Christian Wood without either of Harden or Victor Oladipo, Wall has a 35.4 percent usage rate and 43.3 percent assist rate. He has averaged 1.30 DraftKings points per minute in those games, which is relatively low for a player with those rates. Still, it is very strong per-minute production for his salary and the elevated usage and assist rates suggest that he has a very high ceiling since sometimes he will produce more efficiently than normal. Three of those games have been with Kevin Porter Jr. active and Wall’s usage rate falls to 31.8 percent and his assist rate falls to 34.8 percent. Still, that is a lot of offensive involvement for someone priced around $8,000. Wall has also been playing 34 to 36 minutes in competitive games and he is facing the Indiana Pacers, who are 20th in defensive rating and third in pace over the last month.
Malcolm Brogdon ($7,100 DraftKings/$7,300 FanDuel) faces the Rockets on the second half of a back-to-back after playing 36.1 minutes against the Clippers last night. Brogdon has averaged 1.10 DraftKings points per minute with a 23.7 percent usage rate and 22.1 percent assist rate in 12 games with LeVert and Domantas Sabonis active this season. In 12 games played without Myles Turner and with Sabonis since the start of last season, Brogdon has averaged 1.16 DraftKings points per minute with a 25.9 percent usage rate and 31.6 percent assist rate. Houston has been the second least efficient defense in the league over the last month while ranking 12th in pace.
Malachi Flynn ($5,500 DraftKings/$5,300 FanDuel) should get another start tonight with Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet and DeAndre’ Bembry all sidelined. Flynn logged 35.4 minutes against the Hawks last night and should be in line for similar minutes tonight against the Spurs. San Antonio had a stretch earlier this season where they played well defensively, but that hasn’t been the case lately as they are 25th in defensive rating over the last month. They are also 17th in pace, which indicates that they have been playing faster than they were earlier in the season as well. Flynn has averaged 0.80 DraftKings points per minute overall this season and 0.97 DraftKings points per minute without Lowry or VanVleet on the floor.
Cory Joseph ($4,700 DraftKings/$5,200 FanDuel) has been a big part of Detroit’s rotation since being acquired from the Kings. It is unclear why that is the case since they have a plethora of young guards that they could be developing instead, but it is what it is. Joseph started at point guard against the Clippers on Sunday and played 31.6 minutes. Jerami Grant is expected to return to Detroit’s lineup tonight, but that will most likely move Wayne Ellington or Josh Jackson to the bench instead of Joseph. There is always risk in rostering players from the Pistons because they have a lot of available rotation players and they don’t care about winning games so they can be unpredictable. Still, Joseph has averaged 1.11 DraftKings points per minute in 11 games since joining the Pistons so he projects as a strong value if he gets close to 30 minutes.
Facundo Campazzo ($3,700 DraftKings/$4,600 FanDuel) is likely to start in place of the injured Jamal Murray as he was filling in for Murray during his most recent absence. Campazzo has averaged 28.1 DraftKings points per minute and 0.72 DraftKings points per minute in three starts without Murray this season. He has an 11.4 percent usage rate and 16.9 percent assist rate in those games. There are a lot of mouths to feed on Denver, even with Murray out, so Campazzo is very capable of disappearing even if he plays close to 30 minutes.
Top DraftKings NBA DFS Picks: Russell Westbrook, Luka Doncic, Stephen Curry, John Wall, Malcolm Brogdon, Malachi Flynn, Cory Joseph
Top FanDuel NBA DFS Picks: Russell Westbrook, Luka Doncic, Stephen Curry, John Wall, Malcolm Brogdon, Malachi Flynn
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Shooting Guard
Zach LaVine ($8,800 DraftKings/$9,000 FanDuel) faces a depleted Orlando team that is 24th in defensive rating over the last month. LaVine hasn’t been hurt by the addition of Nikola Vucevic. He has averaged 1.21 DraftKings points per minute with a 32.0 percent usage rate and 26.1 percent assist rate in nine games alongside Vucevic since the trade deadline and he has averaged 34.5 minutes per game in those games.
Bradley Beal ($8,700 DraftKings/$8,500 FanDuel) has been limited by a hip injury recently but he played 36.6 minutes in his last game despite being on a minutes limit. Beal had played about 30 minutes in his first couple of games back from the injury, so it was great to see him play his normal allotment of minutes. He has a great matchup against the Kings tonight and he stands out as a top shooting guard option assuming he will continue to play normal minutes. Beal has averaged 1.29 DraftKings points per minute with a 34.2 percent usage rate and 35.2 minutes per game in 38 games played with Westbrook this season. In 12 games since the All-Star break, Beal has averaged only 1.12 DraftKings points per minute with a 31.4 percent usage rate so there is some risk here since he is playing through an injury. The reduced salary accounts for that risk, however, so the risk/reward analysis favors rostering Beal tonight.
Kevin Porter Jr. ($6,600 DraftKings/$6,500 SF FanDuel) faces the Pacers in a fast-paced matchup tonight. The game has a healthy 233.5 point total and the Rockets are only 4.5 point underdogs. Porter has averaged 0.95 DraftKings points per minute with a 22.4 percent usage rate and 28.7 percent assist rate in three games alongside Wall and Wood without Oladipo this season. He has also averaged 34.8 minutes per game in those games.
Reggie Jackson ($5,600 DraftKings/$5,600 PG FanDuel) should probably be listed at point guard but he is likely to be more valuable at the shooting guard spot tonight since point guard is loaded. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are both out tonight, so Jackson will need to take on a bigger workload offensively. Jackson has played five games without either player active this season and has averaged 0.96 DraftKings points per minute and 32.5 minutes per game. He has a 19.7 percent usage rate and 27.1 percent assist rate in those games.
Tyrese Haliburton ($6,200 DraftKings/$5,500 FanDuel) is likely to play 30 to 32 minutes tonight against the Wizards — with the potential for more if Buddy Hield is sidelined. Haliburton has averaged 0.94 DraftKings points per minute and 30.4 minutes per game in 47 games played alongside Fox this season. He is more valuable on FanDuel than DraftKings since he is less expensive and there are less options at shooting guard due to the lack of multi-position eligibility.
Bruce Brown ($4,800 DraftKings/$5,200 FanDuel) has an unappealing matchup against the 76ers, but he should see increased playing time and fantasy production without Durant or Harden tonight. Brown has played three games this season with Durant and Harden inactive and Irving active. He has averaged 27.5 minutes per game and 0.83 DraftKings points per minute. The tough matchup and relatively expensive price tag compared to some other value on the slate is likely to keep Brown from being a priority, but he is a viable value option if you are running multiple lineups.
Luke Kennard ($4,300 DraftKings/$3,800 FanDuel) is one of the primary beneficiaries when Leonard and George are both sidelined. Kennard has averaged 0.80 DraftKings points per minute and 28.5 minutes per game in four games played without either of the Clippers’ stars. Overall this season, Kennard has averaged 0.93 DraftKings points per minute in 336 minutes without George or Leonard on the floor. By comparison, he has averaged 0.66 DraftKings points per minute in 319 minutes alongside George and 0.74 DraftKings points per minute alongside Leonard.
Top DraftKings NBA DFS Picks: Bradley Beal, Reggie Jackson, Luke Kennard
Top FanDuel NBA DFS Picks: Bradley Beal, Tyrese Haliburton, Luke Kennard
Small Forward
DeMar DeRozan ($7,900 DraftKings/$7,900 SG FanDuel) has played well without LaMarcus Aldridge this season. In 20 games played without Aldridge and alongside Dejounte Murray and Derrick White, DeRozan has averaged 1.18 DraftKings points per minute with a 27.1 percent usage rate and 33.2 percent assist rate. He has also averaged 34.3 minutes per game in those games. He has a favorable matchup against a short-handed Toronto team that is 11th in pace and 15th in defensive rating over the last month.
Miles Bridges ($6,200 DraftKings/$6,300 FanDuel) has averaged 36.2 minutes per game in five games played without Hayward or Ball this season and the Hornets will be without P.J. Washington and Malik Monk again tonight as well. Bridges will most likely remain in the starting lineup and play big minutes against Cleveland. This game is between two of the slower teams in the league so it’s not quite as exciting from a DFS standpoint as some others, but the small forward position is relatively weak and Bridges is a reasonable mid-range option. He has produced 0.84 DraftKings points per minute in the five games that he has played without Hayward and Ball this season.
Joe Harris ($5,600 DraftKings/$5,000 FanDuel) will need to play more minutes and take on a bigger offensive role tonight against the 76ers. Not only are the Nets going to be without Harden and Kevin Durant, they will also be without Aldridge, Blake Griffin, Chris Chiozza and Tyler Johnson. Harris played 28.8 minutes through three quarters against the Timberwolves yesterday but wasn’t needed in the fourth quarter of the Nets’ blowout win. In 266 minutes without Harden, Durant, Aldridge or Griffin on the floor this season, Harris has averaged 0.93 DraftKings points per minute. Irving has been on the floor for 101 of those minutes and Harris has produced 0.83 DraftKings points per minute over that time.
Luguentz Dort ($5,500 DraftKings/$5,700 FanDuel) had the best game of his NBA career last night as he dropped 42 points on the Utah Jazz. Don’t expect anything close to a repeat performance tonight, but he does see an increased usage rate when he plays without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. In 11 games with Gilgeous-Alexander inactive, Dort has a 27.5 percent usage rate and has averaged 1.01 DraftKings points per minute in 29.8 minutes per game. While he isn’t known as an efficient shooter, anyone with a usage rate that high at such an inexpensive price tag warrants a long look — especially in a game between two of the five fastest teams in the league.
Kent Bazemore ($4,800 DraftKings/$5,100 FanDuel) has gotten relatively expensive in Oubre’s absence, but he is likely to draw another start in his place tonight. He played 32 minutes without Oubre a couple of games ago and followed it up with 35 minutes against the Nuggets on Monday night. He wasn’t particularly productive against Denver, but tonight’s matchup with Oklahoma City is more favorable. Bazemore has now started three games this season in which Curry was active and he has averaged 0.81 DraftKings points per minute in 32.6 minutes per game.
Nicolas Batum ($4,700 DraftKings/$5,500 FanDuel) is never easy to trust but he should see plenty of increased opportunities tonight without Leonard or George. He has averaged 0.72 DraftKings points per minute and 31.2 minutes per game in three games played without either of Leonard or George this season. Batum has played a total of 201 minutes without Leonard or George on the floor this season and has averaged 0.87 DraftKings points per minute.
Top DraftKings NBA DFS Picks: DeMar DeRozan, Joe Harris, Luguentz Dort, Kent Bazemore
Top FanDuel NBA DFS Picks: Miles Bridges, Joe Harris, Kent Bazemore
[JOINMLB+]
Power Forward
Julius Randle ($9,500 DraftKings/$9,400 FanDuel) takes on the Pelicans tonight. It is a pace-up spot for Randle and the Knicks as New York is 27th in pace over the last month and the Pelicans are eighth. Randle leads the NBA with 38.4 minutes per game over the last month (16 games played). He has averaged 1.29 DraftKings points per minute with a 30.3 percent usage rate, 14.8 percent rebounding rate and 26.4 percent assist rate in 15 games played with Derrick Rose and Elfrid Payton active this season.
Domantas Sabonis ($9,100 DraftKings/$8,800 FanDuel) played 36.7 minutes against the Clippers last night, confirming that the 30 minutes he played in his previous game was the result of nothing more than foul trouble. Myles Turner’s status for tonight’s game is unknown, but if he is out again, Sabonis’ projection will increase as he is a better fantasy producer when he plays center. Overall, he has averaged 1.36 DraftKings points per minute with a 23.1 percent usage rate, 19.5 percent rebounding rate and 24.6 percent assist rate in 12 games played with LeVert and Brogdon this season.
Pascal Siakam ($8,500 DraftKings/$8,600 FanDuel) had a good game last night after struggling in his first few games without Lowry and VanVleet. He has averaged 1.24 DraftKings points per minute with a 28.7 percent usage rate and 21.2 percent assist rate in 447 minutes played without Lowry, VanVleet or Norman Powell on the floor since the start of last season. He is a top-end power forward option once again tonight against the Spurs.
Christian Wood ($7,900 DraftKings/$7,500 FanDuel) is likely to benefit from a fast-paced game tonight against the Pacers. In eight games alongside Wall and without Oladipo or Harden this season, Wood has averaged 1.19 DraftKings points per minute with a 24.2 percent usage rate and 15.8 percent rebounding rate in 31.7 minutes per game. The rebounding rate is somewhat low for a center, so he carries a bit more value as a power forward.
Draymond Green ($6,900 DraftKings/$7,000 FanDuel) has gotten a bump this season when Wiseman isn’t in the lineup and that will be the case tonight (and likely for the remainder of the season). Green has averaged 1.17 DraftKings points per minute with a 12.9 percent usage rate, 12.4 percent rebounding rate and 39.9 percent assist rate in 11 games played alongside Curry without Wiseman this season. He has also averaged 1.3 blocks per game. In games with Wiseman and Curry both active, Green has averaged 0.99 DraftKings points per minute with a 13.6 percent usage rate, 10.6 percent rebounding rate, 34.1 percent assist rate and 0.4 blocks per game.
Harrison Barnes ($6,500 DraftKings/$6,000 FanDuel) offers value at this price point because he has averaged 37.3 minutes per game over the last month (tied with Westbrook for the second most behind Randle) and he is facing the Wizards in the game with the highest total on the slate. Barnes has averaged 0.87 DraftKings points per minute in 50 games played with Fox active this season and he is a high-floor option against Washington.
Marcus Morris ($5,500 DraftKings/$5,600 FanDuel) should see increased opportunities tonight without George or Leonard. He has averaged 1.08 DraftKings points per minute with a 24.9 percent usage rate in 224 minutes without either of them on the floor this season. There is a greater than 0 percent chance that there will be late news that Morris will rest because the Clippers like to do annoying things without using the injury report, but as of right now, Morris looks like one of the best values at power forward.
Maxi Kleber ($4,000 DraftKings/$4,000 FanDuel) has averaged 30.7 minutes per game over the last month, making him a viable value option at this price point even though he isn’t a great per-minute producer. Kleber has averaged 0.68 DraftKings points per minute in 21 games started with Doncic and Porzingis active this season. There are better values to prioritize on this slate, but mixing Kleber into some lineups if you are multi-entering tournaments makes sense.
Juan Toscano-Anderson ($3,400 DraftKings/$3,500 FanDuel) played about 24 minutes off the bench against Denver last game and should get similar playing time tonight with Oubre, Wiseman and Eric Paschall sidelined. Toscano-Anderson could also join the starting lineup in place of Kevon Looney in this matchup which would add a couple of minutes onto his projection. He has averaged 0.83 DraftKings points per minute this season, so he projects as a solid point-per-dollar option tonight in a good matchup against Oklahoma City.
Top DraftKings NBA DFS Picks: Julius Randle, Domantas Sabonis, Pascal Siakam, Draymond Green, Marcus Morris
Top FanDuel NBA DFS Picks: Julius Randle, Domantas Sabonis, Pascal Siakam, Draymond Green, Marcus Morris
Center
Nikola Jokic ($10,600 DraftKings/$10,900 FanDuel) has an unappealing matchup against the Miami Heat, but he will be playing without Murray, which should increase his per-minute production. Miami has been the slowest team in the league over the last month and the 10th most efficient defense over that time. Jokic has averaged 1.65 DraftKings points per minute with a 29.0 percent usage rate, 17.5 percent rebounding rate and 41.2 percent assist rate overall this season. In six games without Murray, Jokic has averaged 1.84 DraftKings points per minute with a 32.4 percent usage rate, 15.5 percent rebounding rate and 58.9 percent assist rate. While his assist rate may not remain that high in future games without Murray, it is worth noting that Jokic averaged 20.9 potential assists per 36 minutes during the four game stretch that Murray was sidelined earlier this month. Prior to those four games, Jokic had averaged 13.7 potential assists per 36 minutes this season so he has seen a substantial uptick in opportunities without Murray.
Joel Embiid ($10,000 DraftKings/$10,100 FanDuel) has a good matchup against a depleted Nets team. Embiid’s minutes have been limited by blowouts recently, and that could certainly be the case again tonight, but he should get 33-plus minutes in a competitive game. He has averaged 1.65 DraftKings points per minute this season and is worth a look in tournaments if he is a lot lower owned than Jokic.
Nikola Vucevic ($9,200 DraftKings/$9,100 FanDuel) faces his former team tonight at a reasonable price point. Since joining the Bulls, Vucevic has averaged 1.39 DraftKings points per minute in nine games with LaVine active. The biggest concern for Vucevic is that he has only averaged 31.5 minutes per game in those games and 30.9 minutes per game in the seven games that LaVine and Daniel Theis have been active. Chicago’s frontcourt is crowded which is forcing Vucevic to play fewer minutes than he was playing in Orlando. Still, he offers a high ceiling and he can obviously play more minutes than expected in any given game.
Bam Adebayo ($8,300 DraftKings/$8,100 FanDuel) has a tough matchup against the Nuggets, but he has a couple of things potentially working in his favor. First, he could play a few minutes more than normal in order to match Jokic. Second, Jimmy Butler is questionable tonight and there is a good chance that his status won’t be updated before lock. Adebayo has averaged 1.24 DraftKings points per minute in 14 games played without Goran Dragic (who is out tonight) and alongside Butler this season. In three games without either player, Adebayo has averaged 1.37 DraftKings points per minute. If Butler plays, Adebayo still projects as a strong mid-range option. If Butler is ruled out after lock, Adebayo will almost certainly be under-owned compared to what his ownership would be if the news drops ahead of time.
Wendell Carter ($6,000 DraftKings/$6,000 FanDuel) has averaged 1.13 DraftKings points per minute and 27.1 minutes per game since joining the Magic. He takes on his former team tonight, and while he will have his hands full with Nikola Vucevic on the defensive end, he has a high ceiling for his price tag. Keep an eye on Mohamed Bamba’s status because, if Bamba sits, Carter could see several extra minutes tonight.
Ivica Zubac ($5,400 DraftKings/$5,100 FanDuel) played about 26 minutes in three quarters last night but he could see more minutes tonight without George and Leonard. Zubac has averaged 1.13 DraftKings points per minute in 265 minutes without George or Leonard on the floor this season.
Mason Plumlee ($5,300 DraftKings/$5,700 FanDuel) offers inexpensive upside at a loaded center position tonight. He played about 27 minutes against the Clippers on Monday night and should get similar playing time tonight — though his playing time is certainly volatile since the Pistons have nothing to play for and Plumlee isn’t a part of their long-term future. Plumlee has averaged 1.10 DraftKings points per minute in 24 games played alongside Grant without Rose or Griffin this season.
Kevon Looney ($3,700 DraftKings/$3,500 FanDuel) played about 31 minutes against Denver last game. Looney has averaged 0.89 DraftKings points per minute in 16 starts this season so, if he approaches 30 minutes again, he is likely to end up as a strong value. The problem is that he has averaged only 17 minutes per start overall and 22 minutes per start without Wiseman this season, so there is some risk here. Against an Oklahoma City frontcourt that is less imposing than Denver’s, the Warriors could look to small lineups. Still, there is a ceiling for Looney at near minimum salary if he gets close to 30 minutes again.
Bismack Biyombo ($3,200 DraftKings/$3,500 FanDuel) is similar to Looney. He played about 28 minutes in his start against the Lakers last night and had a very productive game. If he gets a similar opportunity tonight, he is likely to be one of the best point-per-dollar values on the slate. The problem is that Biyombo has started 29 games this season and has only averaged 24.8 minutes per game and 0.79 DraftKings points per minute. P.J. Washington’s absence works in his favor, however, as Biyombo and Cody Zeller should combine so there is one less player competing for minutes. If Biyombo starts, his playing time is more secure than Looney’s.
Nicolas Claxton ($3,100 DraftKings/$3,700 FanDuel) started against the Timberwolves yesterday. It is unclear if he will start again tonight, as the Nets could look to DeAndre Jordan against Embiid, but he should get enough minutes to be a strong value at near minimum salary one way or the other. The absence of Aldridge and Griffin opens up plenty of frontcourt minutes and Claxton has averaged 1.02 DraftKings points per minute this season. Among the three cheap centers, Claxton is the best favorite but all will get run in large-field tournaments.
Top DraftKings NBA DFS Picks: Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, Bam Adebayo, Ivica Zubac, Bismack Biyombo (if starting), Nicolas Claxton
Top FanDuel NBA DFS Picks: Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, Bam Adebayo, Ivica Zubac
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