Fantasy

NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Friday (3/31)

FantasyPros considers the best player values for DraftKings and FanDuel NBA DFS on Friday's slate.

Joel Bartilotta, FantasyPros

March 31, 2023 4:54 PM

Sabonis has scored at least 41 DraftKings points in all but three games over the last two months and is flirting with triple-double averages in that span.

I always write the injury report before anything else, and wow! I don’t believe I’ve ever seen so many players with questionable tags, and it will make this one of the most challenging articles of the season. We also have almost every team in action, which will add to the chaos of this blender-type slate. There’s a ton to discuss, so let’s look at the schedule!

Injury Report

Nikola Jokic (B2B) Questionable
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (ankle) Questionable
Myles Turner (back) Questionable
Tyrese Haliburton (ankle) Questionable
Buddy Hield (illness) Questionable
Gary Trent Jr. (elbow) Questionable
Bradley Beal (knee) Questionable
Daniel Gafford (foot) Questionable
Kyle Kuzma (ankle) Questionable
LeMelo Ball (ankle) OUT
Kelly Oubre Jr. (shoulder) Questionable
Terry Rozier (foot) Questionable
Gordon Hayward (ankle) Questionable
Dennis Smith Jr. (toe) Questionable
Lauri Markkanen (hand) Questionable
Jordan Clarkson (hand) OUT
Collin Sexton (hamstring) OUT
Kelly Olynyk (illness) Questionable
Robert Williams (B2B) Questionable
Al Horford (B2B) Questionable
Julius Randle (ankle) OUT
Jalen Brunson (hand) Questionable
Jarrett Allen (groin) Questionable
Bojan Bogdanovic (Achilles) OUT
Isaiah Stewart (shoulder) OUT
Cade Cunningham (shin) OUT
Paul George (knee) OUT
Kawhi Leonard (personal) Questionable
Steven Adams (knee) OUT
Keldon Johnson (tanking) Questionable
Zach Collins (tanking) Questionable
Devin Vassell (tanking) Questionable
Tre Jones (tanking) Questionable
Jeremy Sochan (tanking) Questionable
Andrew Wiggins (personal) OUT
Damian Lillard (tanking) OUT
Jusuf Nurkic (tanking) OUT
Jerami Grant (tanking) OUT
Anfernee Simons (tanking) OUT
Trendon Warford (ankle) Questionable

Core Plays

Domantas Sabonis (PF/C – SAC): $10,400 DraftKings, $10,200 FanDuel
The blowout potential does concern us but facing Portland is a treat. The Blazers rank 27th in defensive efficiency while surrendering the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing centers. They’re also playing without the majority of their roster, and there’s no chance they limit Domas. The All-Star has scored at least 41 DraftKings points in all but three games over the last two months and is flirting with triple-double averages in that span.

Shaedon Sharpe (PG/SG – POR): $7,900 DraftKings, $7,700 FanDuel
It’s wild that we have Sharpe in this section, but that’s what happens at this point of the year. With Lillard, Nurk, Grant and Simons all out, Sharpe is the focal point of this Blazers offense. The 19-year-old is averaging 18 shots and 39 minutes over his last five games, providing a 39-point average in that span. He’s one of the few guys that will play in blowouts, too, and it’s even better since Sacramento sits 28th in total defense.

Jaden Ivey (PG/SG – DET): $7,100 DraftKings, $6,900 FanDuel
We really are in silly season. This rookie has really struggled at times this year, but Detroit has handed him their offense. He’s got a usage rate north of 30% over the last three weeks, scoring at least 30 fantasy points in seven of his last nine games. He’s also got a 37-point average in that span, scoring 54 and 40 DK points in his two most recent outings. The matchup is the icing on the cake, with the Rockets surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing guards.

Cash Game Considerations

Stephen Curry (PG – GSW): $10,500 DraftKings, $10,400 FanDuel
Chef Curry is not in the MVP running, but he’s not far behind. The sharpshooter is averaging 50 DraftKings points per game and just provided a 69-point gem in his most recent outing. That’s one of the best games this superstar has had all year, and he could be in for another ceiling game against the Spurs. San Antonio sits dead last in both points allowed and defensive efficiency.

Kristaps Porzingis (PF/C – WAS): $9,500 DraftKings, $9,600 FanDuel
This Wizards team has been dismantled by injuries, but KP is one of the only guys who has remained upright. That’s led to a career year for the big man, establishing a 40-point floor and 50-point ceiling over the last two months. He’s being asked to do everything with Beal and Kuzma out, which is incredible since he has 49 and 60 DK points in two matchups with the Magic this year.

Nikola Vucevic (C – CHI): $8,100 DraftKings, $8,400 FanDuel
Vooch has been in this section all season, and it’s easy to understand why. The big man has scored at least 32 fantasy points in 37 of his last 41 games, generating a 43-point average in that span. He’s also scored at least 41 DK points in 31 of those, dropping a 51-point masterpiece in his most recent outing. The matchup with the Hornets couldn’t be better, with Charlotte surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing centers.

GPP Targets

Draymond Green (PF/C – GSW): $6,500 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel
The blowout potential concerns us against San Antonio but DG should stuff the stat sheet at ease in this spot. The Spurs are last in every defensive statistic while surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing power forwards. That’s bad with how Green has been performing, scoring at least 27 DraftKings points in 16 of his last 17 games.

Tari Eason (PF/C – HOU): $5,100 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
It’s time for the Rockets to give their youngsters big minutes, which is what they’ve been doing for Eason. Before a dud on Wednesday, Tari averaged 28 DK points across 27 minutes a night through his previous 17 outings. That’s amazing from such an affordable player, and this matchup with Detroit’s disastrous defense is dandy too. The Pistons rank 28th in defensive efficiency and 29th in points allowed.

Mark Williams (C – CHA): $5,800 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel
The Hornets are doing this weird rotation between their three centers, and this looks like it’ll be Williams’ time to start. They’re playing two of them and sitting the other, but that’s big since Mark has been mauling in this role. Over his last 14 games. Williams is averaging 29 DK points per game across 25 minutes a night. He’s also scored at least 33 fantasy points in seven of those, and we love that he scored 29 DK points across just 17 minutes in his last matchup with the Bulls.

Value Plays

Drew Eubanks (C – POR): $5,400 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel
This Portland team is a dumpster fire, but Eubanks has always been a great fill-in when Nurkic has been out. He’s scored at least 28 fantasy points in three of four games since Nurkic was benched, which is on par with his average in that role last season. It’s not like this is a small sample size either, with Eubanks starting 55 games since the start of last year. Three of those were against this subpar Sacramento defense, with Eubanks scoring at least 29 DK points in two of those.

Delon Wright (PG/SG – WAS): $4,900 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
We discussed how Washington is playing without Beal and Kuzma, leaving Wright with a robust role. That’s the one thing that’s kept Delon as a fantasy beast because he always goes nuts with a prominent workload. In his 13 games playing at least 29 minutes, Wright is averaging over 32 DK points per game. His stat-stuffing has led to that superb stretch, and he could be asked to do even more if Washington continues to tank.

Svi Mykhailiuk (SG/SF – CHA): $6,300 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel
This guy’s name is tough to spell, but he’s got some game. The Hornets are in freefall mode, sitting Oubre, Smith, Hayward, Ball and Rozier. That’s left Svi with a massive role, playing 35 minutes a night over his last four fixtures. He also scored 47 DK points across 37 minutes in his most recent outing, and this team can’t keep him off the floor with how short-handed the roster is right now.

Advantageous Pricing

Svi Mykhailiuk (SG/SF – CHA): $6,300 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel

Jalen Suggs (PG – ORL): $4,200 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel

Chris Boucher (C – TOR): $4,500 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel

Paul Reed (PF – PHI): $4,000 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel

Robert Williams (C – BOS): $4,400 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel

Immanuel Quickley (PG – NYK): $8,400 DraftKings, $7,200 FanDuel

Mitchell Robinson (C – NYK): $4,300 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel

Clint Capela (C – ATL): $6,200 DraftKings, $7,500 FanDuel

Onyeka Okongwu (C – ATL): $5,000 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel

Bones Hyland (PG – LAC): $5,400 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel

Jalen Duren (PF – DET): $5,200 DraftKings, $6,700 FanDuel