NBA DFS First Look & Optimal Lineup Picks Today

The Slate Starter is a daily first look at to get your daily fantasy basketball lineup-building process started before lock tonight. Each day, we will go through some of the best NBA DFS picks, top stacks and optimal lineup construction for DraftKings and FanDuel. Be sure to check Awesemo’s NBA Starting Lineups page, as it will be updated throughout the day as the NBA injury reports are released and breaking news surfaces. Let’s dive into some players who stand out as key options on Tuesday’s two-game main slate.

Want to see how your lineup stacked up against yesterday’s winning NBA DFS lineups on DraftKings, FanDuel and Yahoo? Check out Awesemo’s Optimal Lineup Review, which uses Fantasy Cruncher Rewind to analyze the winning plays from the night before.

DraftKings & FanDuel NBA DFS Lineup Advice Today

R.J. Barrett, SG/SF, New York Knicks

Tuesday’s slate features just two games, and it is incredibly light on star power. Steph Curry and Karl-Anthony Towns are legit studs to consider at the top of the pricing spectrum, but neither player has lit it up from a fantasy perspective this season. That could make a balanced roster construction more appealing than on most slates.

Barrett could be an essential part of a balanced build. He has taken on a significantly larger role for the Knicks since returning to the lineup on Christmas. He is averaging 33.7 minutes per game, and he has posted a usage rate of 29.6%. His usage rate for the year is just 25.0%, so that represents a sizable increase. Barrett has increased his production to 1.02 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he has scored at least 39.25 DraftKings points in four straight games.

Barrett has been priced up to $7,200 on Tuesday’s slate, but he still can pay off that price tag. Expect him to grade out well in our NBA Projections.

Jonathan Kuminga, PF, Golden State Warriors

The Warriors are getting a bit healthier, with Curry not listed on the injury report for Tuesday’s matchup against the Pistons. However, Draymond Green remains out of the lineup, while Gary Payton II and Moses Moody are questionable.

Kuminga has seen a few additional minutes recently, and he has made the most of them. He is averaging 1.00 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he has scored at least 23.0 DraftKings points in four straight games. It will be interesting to see if that has solidified his role in the Warriors’ rotation moving forward.

Kuminga might be a bit thin on a typical slate, but we can make some riskier lineup choices with just four teams in action. If he checks in with a low ownership projection, he can be used to diversify lineups.

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Killian Hayes, PG, Detroit Pistons

Hayes was one of the Pistons’ many first-round picks in 2020, but he has largely been a disappointment as a professional. He is averaging just 6.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 4.4 assists through his first 58 games, and he has shot just 35.0% from the field and 29.0% from 3-point range.

That said, he can still potentially provide some fantasy value at just $3,800 on DraftKings. He has racked up 25.5 DraftKings points in two of his past three games, and he is averaging 0.71 DraftKings points per minute this season. He should see somewhere between 25 and 30 minutes on Tuesday, and he can pay off his salary with that much playing time.

Hayes’ biggest contributions come as a distributor. He has racked up five assists in three straight games, so it will be interesting to see what his assist prop is set at. If it is too low, the over could grade out nicely in the Awesemo Player Prop tool.

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