NBA Fantasy Picks Today: DraftKings & FanDuel Fantasy Basketball Rankings

Tonight features a large 11-game slate, and with that, NBA DFS injury news will be a big part of tonight’s process. Be sure to check the Awesemo NBA Starting Lineups page to see who is in, who is out and who is starting as news breaks, and look at the NBA DFS rankings and projections before making NBA fantasy picks today for DraftKings and FanDuel lineups.

DraftKings & FanDuel NBA Fantasy Rankings Today

*Grades are ordered DraftKings, FanDuel. Initial grade indicates a player’s strength of output, with the value grade indicating their strength as a play in relation to their salary.

SF Cameron Johnson — Grades: B, C | Values: A, A

The price tag is slowly moving up, but quite frankly not enough for Cameron Johnson. It is rare to find someone who leads a large slate in ownership projections by this wide of a margin for both DraftKings and FanDuel. Johnson has started and played an average of 37 minutes per game in his last two games. The Suns are still playing without Jae Crowder, which solidifies the minutes and starting spot for Johnson. In eight games as a starter, Johnson is averaging 16.9 points while shooting 53.9% from the field and 51.8% from behind the arc. During that time, he has averaged over 30 DraftKings points per game.

The Suns have a slate-high 119.25 implied point total tonight as they host the Timberwolves who are playing on a back-to-back. The Suns are 8.5-point home favorites. This matchup specifically favors Johnson and his outside shooting. The Timberwolves allow the sixth-most 3-point attempts this season with 37.7 per game. They got absolutely torched from behind the arc in their game last night against the Warriors who shot 21-for-38 from downtown. Johnson is second on the Suns to Devin Booker averaging a career-high 2.5 made 3-pointers per game. He will be very popular, but it is impossible to avoid.

C Bismack Biyombo — Grades: B, B | Values: A, A

Bismack Biyombo is another reasonably priced value option in a great spot tonight. After speaking to the Timberwolves defense on the perimeter, which is lacking, they also have a really tough time securing rebounds. The Timberwolves rank 22nd in rebounding percentage this season as they have allowed their opponents to grab 11.1 offensive rebounds per game and 46.2 total rebounds per game. That should be music to Biyombo’s ears as he has recorded 13 of more rebounds in three of his last five games.

The Suns are not only playing without Jae Crowder, but they also have major injuries in their frontcourt with Deandre Ayton, JaVale McGee and Frank Kaminsky. They will rely on Biyombo and Jalen Smith (who is another solid value play) for nearly all of their minutes tonight. It is tough to play small against the Timberwolves who play Karl-Anthony Towns 35+ minutes a night. Awesemo projects Biyombo to be the second-best Suns value option tonight for both DraftKings and FanDuel. He is projected to play 32.1 minutes in a high-upside matchup against the Timberwolves.

PG LaMelo Ball — Grades: A, A | Values: B, A

LaMelo Ball has been a very boom-or-bust fantasy option this season, which is great because it keeps his price tag in check. Ball is the best rated option in Awesemo’s NBA DFS Rankings which are free tonight. He is the only player with an A grade and value on FanDuel. His salary is simply way too low for his upside. Ball displayed that upside in his last game against the Pacers where he recorded a triple-double with 29 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists. He shot 11-for-14 from the field, 3-for-4 from behind the arc and had 69.0 DraftKings points which was his second-highest total in his career.

It is difficult to try and say he will match that performance, but he definitely has a chance playing at home against the Lakers who are coming off of a back-to-back. The Lakers got obliterated last night against the 76ers 105-87 in a game where LeBron James sat out. Assuming he is back tonight, this matchup has a very juicy 229-point total with the Hornets as 7-point home favorites. The Hornets and Lakers both rank in the top three in pace this season. This should be a track meet in which Ball will thrive in. He has the second-highest boom percentage on DraftKings tonight.

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SG Tyler Herro — Grades: B, B | Values: B, C

This slate is filled with questionable players. Please do your best to monitor the starting lineups and news that comes out for each team. One player who is already in a good spot but could be in a better spot if injury news breaks his way is Tyler Herro. The Heat are playing without Kyle Lowry and Jimmy Butler is currently questionable to play tonight. Herro has a 34.4% usage rate without Lowry and Butler on the floor this season. Even if Butler plays, Herro still leads the Heat with a usage rate of 31.1% with Lowry off the floor. This is a great spot to target Herro who is playing better lately.

Herro has scored 21 or more points in five out of his last six games. During that time he is averaging 23.0 points while shooting 48.4% from the field and 45.2% from behind the arc. Herro is also averaging 4.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 38.7 DraftKings points per game over those six games. The Clippers have been a pretty stout defensive team this season even without Paul George. This game total is the lowest on the slate at 210.5 points. Even with those negatives, getting to Herro is a great way to differentiate your lineups, especially if Butler is unable to play tonight.

SG C.J. McCollum — Grades: B, B | Values: B, B

Another guard that is popping in Awesemo’s ownership projections is C.J. McCollum. He ranks third on DraftKings for ownership and 12th on FanDuel. McCollum is a player who historically has done very well playing without Damian Lillard in the lineup. Those numbers have dipped just a little bit with the emergence of Anfernee Simons, but McCollum is still in a fantastic spot tonight. In 10 games without Lillard in the lineup, his usage rate has jumped from 25.8% to 27.5 percent. He is a bucket-getter who is averaging over 20 points per game for the seventh consecutive season.

What really sets McCollum apart on this slate is the matchup against the Rockets. This game features the highest total on the slate at 234 points. The Rockets rank last in defensive rating and first in pace this season. They allow a league-high 116.7 points per game. There simply is not a matchup better than this. The Trail Blazers are implied to score 118 points tonight as only 2-point road favorites and McCollum should be heavily involved in this spot. Prioritize McCollum on DraftKings where he has a top five boom percentage according to Awesemo’s Boom/Bust Tool.

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