Yahoo Fantasy Basketball Picks Today: Free NBA DFS Rankings 3/8/22

The NBA features a smaller six-game slate today. For daily fantasy purposes, the slate does not have a ton of big injuries to watch for but both Cleveland and Phoenix are down some of their top players — including Jarrett Allen and Devin Booker — which will open up opportunities for others to step up. Some of those names are featured below along with others, especially those who rate out well in the Awesemo Projections. The largest point total on the slate right now sits in Charlotte, where the Hornets and Nets project with a 240.0 point over/under and a close 3.5-point spread.

This column will use the Awesemo NBA DFS Projections, daily fantasy basketball rankings and NBA DFS tools to build lineups and help wade through the day’s data and news. Make sure to read to the end for a couple of extreme value plays for Yahoo fantasy basketball lineups today.

Yahoo Fantasy Basketball & NBA DFS Value Picks Today

Guard — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander $44

The Thunder sit as +13-point underdogs, which means there is at least some concern for a blowout. Luckily, the Thunder do not seem to be too intent on limiting the usage of their star player in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has played big minutes almost every night since returning from injury. Gilgeous-Alexander has gone for over 60.0 Yahoo points now in three of his last five games and recently produced one of his best games of the year in a 21-point loss to the Kings. If today’s game does stay close, Gilgeous-Alexander’s upside will likely shine through, making him a good risk-reward target and a player who is still available at a very roster-able price, despite his surge in production. He rates out as a top-five player in the Awesemo Point Projections today and a player you should not be shying away from in larger fields.

Gilgeous-Alexander was showing up well in Awesemo’s NBA DFS projections today. He is popping as one of the best Yahoo Fantasy Basketball plays on the entire DFS slate. Check out who else is one of the best NBA picks today in the Yahoo NBA DFS Cheat Sheet.

Guard — Klay Thompson $23

As is the usual pattern, when paying up for one player from a position, you want some value to tag alongside your stud. The Warriors’ Klay Thompson continues to grade out well in the Awesemo projections and has the highest point projection today at Shooting Guard of anyone under $25. Thompson rested the last time the Warriors played but has seen over 30 minutes now in three of his last six starts. Fans should expect bigger minutes for Thompson, who has been solid, landing over 27.0 Yahoo points in three of his last four games, while contributing well with assists and rebounds. He should come out well after a game off and his solid floor of late pairs well with the upside to be chased with more expensive targets.

Forward — Giannis Antetokounmpo $57

The projections on Awesemo today are headlined by Giannis Antetokounmpo, whose Bucks team has a monstrous 122.0 point implied team total. While there is some blowout potential with a point spread this big that is now pushing -13 points in favor of the Bucks, there is also lots of fantasy potential available today with studs from both teams if it is a close game. That is obviously reflected in the projections on Awesemo, where Antetokounmpo rates out above the other stars on this slate. It is worth noting that bigger minutes should be on tap for him regardless today, as he is coming off a rest day and played just 31 minutes in the Bucks recent easy win against the Suns. Both big-name players from the Bucks vs. Thunder game rank out very well and paying up for both feels like a great way to begin any bigger field NBA DFS lineups.

Forward — Franz Wagner $22

If you are going big at power forward, you can use the small forward position to find some solid value. Franz Wagner has shot the ball well of late and will be facing off against a Phoenix team without two of its top players. Wagner has averaged right around 30.0 Yahoo points over his last five games and is coming in off a very efficient outing where he grabbed exactly 30.0 Yahoo points in just under 24 minutes of playing time. This game has a closer spread than most people likely realize at -6.5 in favor of the Suns, and Wagner seems likely to push for over 30 minutes assuming he continues to his solid scoring pace of late. He ranks out as a solid value on Awesemo and a good way to attack this Magic vs. Suns game, which has plenty of value available and solid game stacking potential.

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Center — Deandre Ayton $26

The Suns will be without both Chris Paul and Devin Booker for today’s game against the Magic and that should mean continued solid usage for a player like Deandre Ayton. Ayton has averaged 33 minutes over his last two starts and has gone for well over 30.0 Yahoo points in four of his last five starts overall. The 30-points he scored in his last game represent a seasonal high for Ayton, who matches up well against the Magic, a team that is generally weak down the middle and sits fourth-last in rebounds allowed this year. Ayton’s the top-ranked player at Centre today on Awesemo, and still has not had his increased usage or opportunity baked into his daily fantasy basketball price, which sits well under $30 on Yahoo. He is a solid addition to any roster.

Yahoo NBA DFS Value Play — Kevin Love $16

The Cavaliers are banged up at the moment and will be without Jarrett Allen for this game and the foreseeable future. In his last game, Jordan Love played 29 minutes and just missed a double-double. He has now averaged almost exactly a fantasy point per minute over his last two outings and seems destined to continue in a higher volume role against the Pacers today. Indiana allows a lot of points and is bottom-eight in the league in opponent FG and 3-point field goal percentage allowed. Love has gone four of eight from 3-point land in his last two games and likely finds more success from downtown today. He is ranked third in the Awesemo Point Projections at Center and has the best value score period at his position today.

Yahoo NBA DFS Value Play — Jordan Nwora $10

The Bucks have a monster implied team total today and are missing multiple key rotational players. That makes a player priced at the bare minimum in Jordan Nwora more interesting. There is obviously some blow-out potential in a game where the Bucks are favored by 13-points and have an implied team total of 122.0 points today.

Matt LaMarca discusses more about Jordan Nwora’s potential and other players in the NBA Slate Starter.

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