Daily Fantasy

NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: March 15

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

Joel Bartilotta, FantasyPros

March 15, 2023 4:01 PM

Look for Nikola Vucevic as the Chicago Bulls host the Sacramento Kings at 8 p.m. ET.

These last few weeks are amazing from a fan’s perspective, but it can be chaotic from the daily fantasy sports standpoint. With many players out of lineups, it’s hard to know who’s going to suit up a night ahead of time. We also have a handful of teams playing a back-to-back set, and that makes it even more challenging. In any case, we write these articles to help you guys, so let’s get started.

Injury Report

As of 11:30 a.m. ET:

Ja Morant (personal) OUT
Brandon Clarke (Achilles) OUT
Lonzo Ball (knee) OUT
Alperen Sengun (groin) Questionable
Robert Williams III (hamstring) OUT
Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) OUT
Luka Doncic (quad) OUT
Kyrie Irving (foot) Questionable
Christian Wood (foot) Questionable
Andrew Wiggins (personal) OUT
Jonathan Kuminga (ankle) Probable
Norman Powell (shoulder) OUT

Core Plays

Jayson Tatum (PF – BOS): $11,000 DraftKings, $10,800 FanDuel
We had Tatum in this section on Monday, and we’re going back to the well for all the same reasons. Tatum seems like one of the few superstars who hasn’t been on the injury report recently, averaging over 51 DraftKings points per game. He’s also regularly playing 40 minutes a night and should go nuts against a Minnesota team that ranks fifth in pace and 21st in total defense. Not to mention, Tatum has at least 47 DK points in five straight meetings with Minnesota, averaging nearly 60 fantasy points per game.

Kawhi Leonard (SF/PF – LAC): $9,000 DraftKings, $9,900 FanDuel
It was a slow start for Kawhi, but the former Finals MVP is cruising right now. He has scored at least 36 DK points in each of the last 32 games he’s finished, generating a 48-point average in that span. That’s the stud we’ve become accustomed to, and it’s likely to continue against a 26th-ranked Warriors defense. In their two matchups this year, Leonard is averaging 47 DK points per game.

Nikola Vucevic (C – CHI): $8,200 DraftKings, $8,800 FanDuel
The Bulls have had a rough season, but it’s not because of Vucevic. The big man has scored at least 34 DraftKings points in 35 of his last 39 games, averaging 43 fantasy points per game in that span. That’s fantastic for a player in this price range, but the matchup is the best part of this. Vucevic faces a Kings team that ranks 27th in points allowed.

Cash Game Considerations

Domantas Sabonis (PF/C – SAC): $10,100 DraftKings, $10,100 FanDuel
Not many people are as reliable as Sabonis. The big man has scored at least 36 DraftKings points in 59 of 65 games this year, averaging nearly 50 DK points per game. He flashed an absurd upside in his most recent outing, dropping 71 DK points against one of the best defenses in the NBA. That certainly won’t be an issue here as Sabonis faces a Bulls team that he dropped a triple-double against earlier in the year, despite taking just four shots.

Josh Green (SG/SF – DAL): $5,700 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
With Irving and Doncic both nicked up, Green has done a wonderful job of taking over this offense in their absence. The winger has scored at least 39 DraftKings points in the last two games without those two and is seeing a massive boost in minutes, shot attempts, and usage. He’s actually the focal point of the offense without those two and should never be this cheap in that sort of role. Facing the Spurs is sensational, and we’ll dive into that later on!

GPP Targets

Jabari Smith Jr. (PF/C – HOU): $6,800 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel
While this rookie struggled through the opening months of the season, he’s starting to figure it out now. The 19-year-old has at least 20 points and 10 boards in three straight games, averaging 51 DK points per game in that span. You can’t ask for any more from such an affordable player, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see this Top-3 pick do this for the remainder of the season. It becomes more likely against Los Angeles, with the Lakers ranked 24th in total defense while playing at the second-fastest pace in the NBA.

Jaden Hardy (PG/SG – DAL): $5,500 DraftKings, $6,400 FanDuel
Hardy is one of the key fill-ins for Doncic and Irving. The rookie has scored 31 and 48 DK points in the last two games that those superstars have missed, taking at least 21 shots in both of those. Anybody who’s playing 40 minutes and taking 20-plus shots needs to be $1,000 more on each site. San Antonio is the best matchup in DFS, too, ranked last in points allowed and defensive efficiency.

Kyle Lowry (PG – MIA): $4,500 DraftKings, $4,900 FanDuel
This is risky because we’re not so sure what Lowry’s role will look like off of an injury, but he’s too talented to be this cheap. In his first game back, the former All-Star scored 27 DK points across 36 minutes. He played 19 minutes in the most recent outing, but anybody who’s got this ability and could play 35 minutes shouldn’t be this affordable.

Value Plays

Al Horford (PF/C – BOS): $5,500 DraftKings, $6,200 FanDuel
Horford is near the end of his career, but he’s still got the ability to go off in this expanded role. He’s being asked to play 30-35 minutes at center with Robert Williams out, averaging 34 DK points per game across his last six outings. That’s a tantalizing total from a player in this price range, and Minnesota’s defense shouldn’t slow him down.

Devonte’ Graham (PG/SG – SAS): $5,300 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel
It sounds like the Spurs could be without Jones, Vassell, Branham, and Johnson, which would leave Graham as one of the only guards left. If he plays 35-40 minutes and takes 20 shots as the primary ball-handler, Graham should be $7,000 on both sites.

Austin Reaves (SG/SF – LAL): $5,100 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel
Reaves has been awesome since LeBron went down. The young winger is averaging 26 DraftKings points per game across his last nine outings. He’s also got at least 30 DK points in three of his last four, and he could be asked to do more if some Lakers are rested in this B2B. A matchup with Houston is the icing on the cake, allowing the third-most fantasy points to opposing shooting guards this year.

Advantageous Pricing