NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Monday (3/4)

That was a fun basketball weekend, but I’m sick of all the injuries! It feels like we have important players go down every day, and it’s a sad reality of the grueling NBA schedule. That has us looking at a lengthy injury report, with Memphis and Portland being impossible teams to predict. With that said, let’s get started by looking at the schedule and odds!

View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet

NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer:

Schedule and Odds

• MEM at BKN (BKN -8.5) O/U: 212.5
• LAC at MIL (MIL -4.5) O/U: 229
• POR at MIN (MIN -14) O/U: 212
• WAS at UTA (UTA -6.5) O/U: 241.5
• CHI at SAC (SAC -6.5) O/U: 229.5
• OKC at LAL (LAL -1) O/U: 240

Check out our consensus game odds and the odds from each sportsbook at BettingPros.

Injury Report

• Giannis Antetokounmpo (Achilles) Questionable
• LeBron James (ankle) Questionable
• De’Aaron Fox (knee) Questionable
• Lauri Markkanen (quad) OUT
• Jaren Jackson Jr.(quad) Doubtful
• Ja Morant (shoulder) OUT
• Marcus Smart (hand) OUT
• Desmond Bane (ankle) OUT
• Malcolm Brogdon (elbow) OUT
• Cam Thomas (ankle) OUT
• Jerami Grant (quad) Doubtful
• Deandre Ayton (hand) Questionable
• Khris Middleton (ankle) OUT
• Scoot Henderson (adductor) OUT
• Ben Simmons (always) Questionable
• Alex Caruso (hamstring) OUT
• Russell Westbrook (hand) OUT
• Walker Kessler (foot) OUT
• Ziaire Williams (back) OUT

Core Plays

Domantas Sabonis (PF/C – SAC): $10,500 DraftKings, $NA FanDuel
Domas isn’t really in MVP consideration, but he’s been one of the best players in fantasy. The big man leads the league in double-doubles and triple-doubles, averaging 20.5 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 9.1 assists across his last 41 outings. That’s well over 50 fantasy points per game, and he shouldn’t have any issues duplicating that against Chicago. Sabonis has recorded a triple-double in all three matchups with the Bulls over the last two years!

Kyle Kuzma (SF/PF – WAS): $7,400 DraftKings, $8,400 FanDuel
The Wizards have been woeful, but it’s not this guy’s fault. Kuzma is having a breakout season, leading the team with 39 DraftKings points per game. It’s easy to see why because he leads the Wiz in minutes, shot attempts and usage. As long as that continues, Kuz should kill the Jazz. Utah ranks 26th in defensive efficiency while posting a 28th OPRK against opposing forwards. We saw KK collect 29 points, six rebounds, and five assists in their last matchup!

Keyonte George (PG/SG – UTA): $6,300 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel
It’s rare to see a rookie take over as a starting point guard, but George has done that in Utah. The rookie has scored at least 25 DraftKings points in five of his last six outings, posting a 34-point average in that span. We’ve also seen George score 43 and 54 DK points in that superb stretch, and another one of those ceiling games could be in play since Lauri Markkanen is expected to miss this game. Not to mention, the Wizards are last in points allowed and defensive efficiency.

Cash Game Considerations

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG/SG – OKC): $10,700 DraftKings, $NA FanDuel
SGA put on a show Sunday night, but he puts on a show every time OKC takes the floor. The All-Star has established a 40-point floor this season while averaging nearly 55 DraftKings points per game. That’s why he’s one of the highest-priced players on the slate, but he should roll through an LA team that’s allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing guards. In their three matchups this season, SGA averages 49 DK points per game.

Anfernee Simons (PG/SG – POR): $8,000 DraftKings, $7,900 FanDuel
This Portland team might be missing Malcolm Brogdon, Jerami Grant, Scoot Henderson, and Deandre Ayton. That’s every essential piece of this rotation, leaving Simons as the only guy left. That means this guard could be looking at 40 minutes, 20-25 shots, and a 40 percent usage rate. Without those guys over the weekend, ANT amassed 49 DK points across 45 minutes. If we get 45 minutes from this sharpshooter, Simons must be in every lineup.

John Collins (PF/C – UTA): $6,500 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel
Markkanen and Walker Kessler have been ruled out for this game, leaving JC as one of the only frontcourt players on the roster. That could guarantee JC 40 minutes of play, which is massive since he’s got at least 28 fantasy points in 17 of his last 18 games. Collins also has a 36-point average in that span and should have success here since the Wizards surrender the most fantasy points to opposing power forwards.

GPP Targets

Jordan Goodwin (PG/SG – MEM): $5,600 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
This kid has always been an elite stat-stuffer when given an opportunity, and that’s just what he has in Memphis. This Grizzlies team is expected to be without all five starters here, earning JG the starting point guard gig. Goodwin has scored at least 28 DK points in four straight fixtures in this newfound role despite shooting 31 percent from the field. If he gets hot, it’d be scary to see what sort of fantasy line Goodwin could post against an average Nets defense.

Taylor Hendricks (PF/C – UTA): $4,900 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel
We just mentioned that Utah is missing two of its best frontcourt players, and that’s massive for Hendricks’ fantasy value. He already stole Kessler’s job a week ago, playing at least 26 minutes in five straight fixtures. Hendricks scored at least 25 DK points in four of those and could get closer to 40 minutes here with no depth in this rotation. Not to mention, he faces the worst defense in the NBA!

Jabari Walker (PF/C – POR): $4,700 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel
Portland and Memphis players will be spread throughout the optimal lineups because these two teams are missing nearly all 10 starters. The Trail Blazers are expected to be without Green and Ayton, and that will likely put Walker into the starting lineup. In the last two games without those guys, Walker has 39 and 42 DK points! He’s also got a 36-point average when he plays at least 31 minutes, making him one of the best values in this $5K price range.

Value Plays

Tyus Jones (PG – WAS): $6,200 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel
This $6,200 price tag is laughable. Jones has been one of the few bright spots for the Wizards this season, averaging 30 DK points per game. He’s been even better recently, posting a 35-point average across his last 11 outings. We certainly don’t expect Utah to slow him down, surrendering the third-most fantasy points to opposing point guards. In their one matchup earlier in the year, Jones flirted with a triple-double en route to 45 DraftKings points.

Dennis Schroder (PG – BKN): $5,900 DraftKings, $6,400 FanDuel
Schroder was a spectacular acquisition by the Nets because they needed someone to play point guard. Ben Simmons can’t stay on the floor while Cam Thomas is sidelined with an ankle issue. That’s led to Schroder scoring at least 26 DK points in four straight games, dropping 33 and 45 DK points in his two most recent outings. The matchup is the icing on the cake, with Memphis missing most of their rotation.

Ashton Hagans (PG/SG – POR): $4,000 DraftKings, $4,500 FanDuel
I didn’t even know who this was a week ago, but all of the injuries in Portland have made Hagan’s fantasy relevant. The newly acquired guard has seen his minutes creep from 24 to 33 minutes in his two most recent outings, scoring 24 and 35 DK points. All you need is 25 fantasy points for Hagans to be one of the best values, and that looks extremely likely if this guy is going to play 30 minutes with so many Portland players sidelined.

Advantageous Pricing

• Kyle Kuzma (SF/PF – WAS): $7,400 DraftKings, $8,400 FanDuel
• Dennis Smith Jr.(PG/SG – BKN): $4,100 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel
• Rudy Gobert (C – MIN): $7,500 DraftKings, $8,500 FanDuel
• Naz Reid (PF/C – MIN): $5,700 DraftKings, $6,700 FanDuel
• Jaden McDaniels (SF/PF – MIN): $4,400 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel
• Kyle Anderson (SF/PF – MIN): $4,500 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel
• Bobby Portis (PF/C – MIL): $5,500 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel
• Malik Beasley (SG – MIL): $4,400 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel

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