Daily Fantasy

NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: March 22

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

Joel Bartilotta, FantasyPros

March 22, 2023 3:47 PM

Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and Phoenix’s Devin Booker are both players to watch on Wednesday’s slate.

These final few weeks of the NBA season can be overwhelming at times, but it’s essential to keep your eyes and ears open because every injury report is critical. It can drive us crazy, but it’s a great time to profit in DFS as well!

Injury Report

As of 10:30 a.m. ET:

Andrew Wiggins (personal) OUT
Luka Doncic (quad) Questionable
Tyrese Haliburton (knee) Questionable
Chris Duarte (ankle) Questionable
Lonzo Ball (knee) OUT
Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) Questionable
Anthony Edwards (ankle) Questionable
Steven Adams (knee) OUT
Brandon Clarke (Achilles) OUT
Ja Morant (injury/illness) Available
Jerami Grant (quad) Questionable
Collin Sexton (hamstring) OUT
Jordan Clarkson (finger) OUT
Lauri Markkanen (back) Questionable
Kevin Durant (ankle) OUT
Deandre Ayton (hip) Questionable
LeBron James (foot) OUT

Core Plays

Giannis Antetokounmpo (PF/C – MIL): $11,800 DraftKings, $11,700 FanDuel
Antetokounmpo has scored at least 58 DraftKings points in eight of the last nine games he’s finished, which is right on par with his season average. That should be easy to reach against San Antonio, ranked dead-last in both points allowed and defensive efficiency. They’re also surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing forwards, and it’s unlikely that they’ll hold Giannis below 50 fantasy points whether this game stays close or not.

Damian Lillard (PG – POR): $10,500 DraftKings, $10,300 FanDuel
Lillard’s been the leading scorer in the NBA since January 12, averaging 36.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game in that span. He’s simply being asked to do everything for this Portland team, and he shouldn’t have any issues against a Utah club allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing point guards.

Devin Booker (PG/SG – PHX): $9,900 DraftKings, $10,100 FanDuel
Booker has been fantastic all season, but he’s one of the best options in DFS right now. He was expected to see a downtick in usage when Kevin Durant was acquired for Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson, but with all three of those out of the picture, Booker is being asked to do everything. He’s flirting with a 40% usage rate with all those guys off the floor, averaging nearly 50 DraftKings points per game in those outings. A matchup with Los Angeles should keep that train chugging, with the Lakers ranked fourth in pace and 21st in total defense.

Cash Game Considerations

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $11,500 DraftKings, $11,900 FanDuel
Jokic has scored at least 42 fantasy points in 60 of 64 games this year, averaging nearly 60 DK points per game. That makes him the safest option on every slate, and he’s tough to avoid since he dropped 82 DK points in his last matchup with Washington.

Kyrie Irving (PG – DAL): $10,000 DraftKings, $9,600 FanDuel
Irving has scored at least 39 DraftKings points in 19 of his last 21 games, averaging over 50 fantasy points per game in that span. He’s always done well when facing Golden State, which is great news since they rank 26th in total defense. In their matchup in January, Kyrie collected 63 DK points in one of his best games of the season.

Fred VanVleet (PG/SG – TOR): $8,600 DraftKings, $8.900 FanDuel
VanVleet has scored at least 46 DraftKings points in six of his last eight games, generating a 47-point average in that span. We expect that to be his floor in this fantastic matchup, with Indiana ranked 25th in defensive efficiency and 28th in points allowed.

GPP Targets

Jaren Jackson Jr.(PF/C – MEM): $7,900 DraftKings, $8,500 FanDuel
Jackson Jr. has been unstoppable recently, having scored at least 37 DraftKings points in seven of his last nine games and has one of the best per-minute rates in the NBA. That’s huge since Memphis is expected to be without Brooks, Clarke, and Adams, leaving Jackson Jr. with more minutes, shot attempts, and rebounds. That increase makes him tough to avoid against the Rockets, ranked 28th in points allowed and 29th in defensive efficiency.

Jusuf Nurkic (C – POR): $6,200 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel
Injuries have affected Nurkic throughout his career, but he’s always a stud when he’s on the court. That was crystal clear when he dropped 50 DK points in his most recent outing. Nurkic also had a 34-point average through his first 38 games, and it’s clear he’s due for a price bump since he’s back to a full allotment of minutes. We also don’t mind that Utah allows the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing centers.

John Collins (PF/C – ATL): $5,200 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel
Collins has struggled at times this year, but he shouldn’t be this cheap. The forward is usually above $6,000 on both sites, and it looks like he’s back to playing 30 minutes a night. The big man has played at least 27 minutes in six straight outings, scoring at least 25 fantasy points in four of those. That’s all you need from such an affordable player, and he should strive against this Minnesota defense. The Timberwolves rank fourth in pace and 22nd in total defense.

Value Plays

Mike Conley (PG – MIN): $6,400 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel
This is a great time for Conley to run the show in Minnesota, scoring 53 and 52 DK points in two of his last three outings. That’s a ridiculous total from a player in this price range, but it’s no surprise since this roster is shorthanded. A matchup with Atlanta should allow the veteran to continue his hot stretch, with the Hawks ranked 22nd in defensive efficiency and 24th in points allowed. They’ve played twice over the last month, with Conley collecting 34 DraftKings points in both of those.

Kelly Olynyk (PF/C – UTA): $6,700 DraftKings, $6,600 FanDuel
Olynyk has been balling since Jaden McDaniels and Conley were traded, averaging 32 DK points per game across his last 15 outings. He fell two assists shy of a triple-double in his most recent outing, and he’d be one of the best values out there if Markkanen, Sexton, and Clarkson are out here.

Trendon Watford (PF – POR): $5,300 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel
Watford has scored at least 26 DK points in four of his last five games since earning this expanded role. That’s absurd from such an affordable player, and he should keep rolling against a 25th-ranked Utah defense.

Advantageous Pricing