Fantasy

NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: April 5

FantasyPros breaks down the top DraftKings and FanDuel daily fantasy players for the NBA's 12-game Friday slate.

Joel Bartilotta, FantasyPros

April 5, 2024 6:41 PM

Orlando’s Paolo Banchero is averaging 22.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 5.3 assists this season.

It’s hard to believe, but we only have one Friday left in the regular season after today! That’s evident when looking at the injury reports, though, because it’s hard to believe how many players are questionable. We’re trying to keep track of all of them, but this final 10-day stretch is absolute chaos across the NBA.

With that in mind, let’s look at today’s slate,

Core Plays

Zion Williamson (PF – NOP): $8,800 DraftKings, $9,100 FanDuel

Zion is questionable coming into this matchup, but he’s one of the best options if he can go. The former top pick has taken over this Pels offense since Brandon Ingram got injured, scoring at least 41 DraftKings points in 11 of his last 15 games. Zion also has a 45-point average in that span, which we expect to be his floor against the Spurs. San Antonio sits 22nd in defensive efficiency and 25th in points allowed, with Williamson scoring 53 DK points in their most recent matchup.

Paolo Banchero (PF – ORL): $8,500 DraftKings, $8,700 FanDuel

Banchero is another former top pick starting to come into his own. The All-Star is averaging over 41 DraftKings points per game but has a 45-point average across the last three months. The best part of this is the matchup with Charlotte, though, surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing forwards. The blowout potential is a concern, but it doesn’t matter with how much Paolo is doing for this offense right now.

Paul George (SG/SF – LAC): $8,700 DraftKings

PG needs to take over as long as Kawhi Leonard is out, and he’s been happy to do so throughout his LA tenure. In fact, George sees a massive boost in usage and shot attempts in these circumstances, averaging over 45 DraftKings points per game. Our favorite part about using Paul is this matchup with Utah, ranked 29th in points allowed and 30th in defensive efficiency. That was clear when George dropped at least 41 DK points in all four of their matchups over the last two years.

Cash game considerations

Luka Doncic (PG – DAL): $12,800 DraftKings, $12,600 FanDuel

Luka has established himself as one of the best players in DFS, leading the NBA with 66 DraftKings points per game. He’s also got a 70-point average since the All-Star break while establishing a 50-point floor. Nobody can match that type of production, and you know he’ll be hungry against a team like Golden State. The Warriors rank 21st in total defense, with Luka averaging nearly 60 DK points per game against them this year.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (PF/C – MIL): $12,000 DraftKings, $12,200 FanDuel

The Greek Freak has been a monster in the second half, averaging 62 DraftKings points per game. He’s also showcased a 50-point floor just like Luka, being asked to do even more with Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton both nicked up. He’s not someone we need to worry about from a matchup perspective, but he should trounce a Toronto team that ranks 28th in defensive efficiency since the break.

James Harden (PG – LAC): $8,400 DraftKings

We like Harden for all the same reasons as George. Both of these guys have to take over with Kawhi out, averaging over 40 DK points per game in these circumstances. More importantly, he took over 20 shots against Denver on Thursday, and Harden can be a five-figure player with that type of workload. Facing Utah couldn’t be better either, surrendering the third-most fantasy points to opposing guards.

GPP targets

Jordan Poole (PG/SG – WAS): $7,400 DraftKings, $7,500 FanDuel

Poole has finally gotten going in the final month of the year and has taken over since Kyle Kuzma and Tyus Jones went down, averaging 35 DraftKings points per game across his last 21 outings. He’s also got at least 41 DK points in three consecutive fixtures. They play Portland, who ranks 23rd in total defense.

Scoot Henderson (PG – POR): $7,100 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel

Stacking this Portland-Washington game might be tough, but it’s the most profitable way to approach this slate. Just like Poole, we anticipate Henderson doing everything for Portland. They’re missing Simons, Brogdon, and Grant, which has left Scoot with a 35-minute role as the primary playmaker. This expanded opportunity has led to Scoot averaging 35 DK points per game in this newfound role. Not to mention, Washington is last in points allowed.

Draymond Green (PF/C – GSW): $6,400 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel

Most people talk about Draymond’s antics, but this has been a fantastic season. The playmaking big man has at least 29 DK points in eight of the last nine games he’s finished, averaging 35 DK points per game. That’s all you can ask for from a $6,500 player, especially since he faces Dallas. Draymond dropped 39 fantasy points the last time he played the Mavs, which is no surprise since they rank 19th in total defense.

Value plays

Wendell Carter Jr. (C – ORL): $5,300 DraftKings, $6,400 FanDuel

Carter has been inconsistent this season, but he’s too cheap. This is still the prized center in Orlando, scoring at least 34 DraftKings points in three straight outings. He’s also got a 42-point average in that span and should be $1,000 more on each site behind that production. Not to mention, Charlotte surrenders the second-most fantasy points to opposing centers.

Jabari Walker (PF – POR): $5,500 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel

This Portland team is struggling, but has forced Walker to play the most prominent role in his career. The big man has played 40 and 42 minutes in his two most recent outings, scoring 49 and 38 DraftKings points in those games. That would make him an easy option against anyone below $6,000, but Washington has the worst defense in the NBA.

Tristan Vukcevic (C – WAS): $4,200 DraftKings, $4,200 FanDuel

Here we are with another piece of the Washington-Portland stack. It took a million things to get Vukcevic in this spot, but he will start with Holmes, Bagley, Jones, and Kuzma all expected to miss this game. That led to Vuk scoring 23 and 29 DK points in his two most recent outings, which could be his floor since he was battling foul trouble during his most recent outing. The matchup is the icing on the cake, with Portland posting a 29th OPRK against opposing centers.

Advantageous pricing