NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Tuesday (3/19)

This could be a chaotic slate. Minnesota is playing the second half of a back-to-back, and most of that roster is on the injury report already. We also have tons of Washington players out, while Charlotte and Houston are far from healthy. It’s tough to gauge who will suit up right now, but we’ll try our best! With that in mind, let’s dive into this short slate!

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

• CHA at ORL (ORL -12.5) O/U: 204
• HOU at WAS (HOU -7.5) O/U: 229
• NOP at BKN (NOP -7.5) O/U: 216
• DAL at SAS (DAL -7.5) O/U: 231
• DEN at MIN (DEN -5) O/U: 212

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

Injury Report

• LaMelo Ball (knee) OUT
• Mark Williams (shoulder) OUT
• Alperen Sengun (leg) OUT
• Cam Whitmore (knee) OUT
• Tari Eason (leg) OUT
• Kyle Kuzma (shoulder) Questionable
• Tyus Jones (back) Questionable
• Marvin Bagley (back) OUT
• Bilal Coulibaly (wrist) OUT
• Herbert Jones (hip) Questionable
• Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) OUT
• Rudy Gobert (ribs) Questionable
• Naz Reid (head) Questionable
• Deni Avdija (knee) OUT
• Tyus Jones (back) OUT

Core Plays

Luka Doncic (PG – DAL): $12,500 DraftKings, $12,700 FanDuel
Doncic is the best player in DFS, and it’s not close. The Slovenian point guard leads the league with 66 DraftKings points per game while establishing a 50-point floor. He’s averaging over 70 fantasy points per game since the All-Star break and should have success against San Antonio. The Spurs are surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing point guards, with Doncic averaging 33 points, 11.3 rebounds, 9.3 assists, and 1.7 steals in their three matchups this year.

Victor Wembanyama (PF/C – SAS): $10,600 DraftKings, $11,400 FanDuel
This rookie might be the top pick in season-long leagues next season because he looks like a revolutionary talent. The Frenchman has scored at least 40 DraftKings points in 13 straight games, posting a 61-point average in that span. That directly correlates with his minutes restriction being lifted, and he should destroy Dallas. The Mavs rank 21st in defensive efficiency, with Wemby scoring 53 fantasy points in their most recent matchup.

Anthony Edwards (SG/SF – MIN): $9,800 DraftKings, $10,200 FanDuel
This man had the dunk of the season on Monday night and continues to thrive for this shorthanded roster. Minnesota could be without Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert, and Naz Reid, leaving ANT to do everything. He’s been doing that no matter who’s out there, scoring at least 52 DraftKings points in five of his last six outings. Facing Denver is no easy task, but you know Edwards will be motivated since these teams are playing for the best record in the Western Conference!

Cash Game Considerations

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $12,100 DraftKings, $11,900 FanDuel
The Joker isn’t quite as dominant as Doncic, but being the second-best player is nothing to be ashamed of. The two-time MVP is averaging 60 DraftKings points per game for the fourth straight year while showcasing a 50-point floor. There’s no safer option out there than Joker, and you know he’ll be motivated in a matchup with Minnesota. He’s got at least 62 fantasy points in five of his last eight matchups with the T’Wolves.

Paolo Banchero (SF/PF – ORL): $9,000 DraftKings, $9,000 FanDuel
Paolo was the top pick in last year’s draft, and he’s starting to look like one of the best players in the NBA. Orlando’s best player is averaging 42 DK points per game this season and has a 46-point average over the last two months. He’s taken his game to another level, and that level should kill the Hornets. Not only does Charlotte rank 29th in total defense, but they’re also surrendering the most fantasy points to opposing forwards.

Fred VanVleet (PG – HOU): $8,600 DraftKings, $8,600 FanDuel
Watching Sengun get injured was devastating, but it forced FVV to run the show in Houston. This former All-Star has scored at least 38 DraftKings points in nine straight games, generating a 46-point average in that span. That’s what we’re looking for from a sub-$9K player, especially since Washington ranks last in points allowed and defensive efficiency. That’s clear when you see that VanVleet has a 53-point average against them in their last three meetings!

GPP Targets

Michael Porter Jr. (SF – DEN): $6,700 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel
MPJ is a volatile option with his outside shooting, but he’s really hit his stride in the second half. The Nuggets forward has scored at least 32 DraftKings points in nine of his last 13 outings, totaling a 36-point average in that span. Those 31 DK points match his season average, and we don’t mind that MPJ provided 41 and 31 DK points in his final two matchups with the Timberwolves last year.

Amen Thompson (SG/SF – HOU): $5,900 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel
It’s hard to avoid Amen on DraftKings. The rookie guard has stepped into the starting lineup since Sengun went down, scoring 30 and 47 DK points in his two most recent outings. We also saw Thompson flirt with a 40-point average in a starting role a month ago, and he could have his way with a Washington defense that ranks last in nearly every defensive metric.

Wendell Carter (C – ORL): $5,600 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
Carter isn’t going to put up many massive stat lines, but he’s way too good to be sitting below $6K on both sites. The starting center has scored at least 30 DraftKings points in three of his last four games, posting a 29-point average across his last 11 outings. We love that since he’s finally creeping back to 30 minutes a night, and he should keep that going since Charlotte surrenders the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing centers.

Value Plays

Tre Jones (PG – SAS): $5,600 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
We’ve had Jones in this section as much as anyone this season, and it’s hard to understand why he remains so cheap. The Spurs starting point guard has averaged 32 DraftKings points per game since the promotion while establishing a 25-point floor. He’s also scored at least 32 fantasy points in four of his last five games and shouldn’t have any issues against a Dallas team that owns a 24th OPRK against opposing point guards.

Daniel Gafford (C – DAL): $5,400 DraftKings, $7,100 FanDuel
We don’t want to use Gafford on FanDuel, but he’s a bargain on DraftKings at just $5,400. This guy was $7K on both sites when he played for Washington, but his limited role with Dallas dropped his price. His workload is on the uptick now, though, scoring at least 35 DK points in four of his last five fixtures. That’s bad news for San Antonio, sitting 27th in total defense while surrendering the second-most fantasy points to opposing centers.

Kyle Anderson (SF/PF – MIN): $5,400 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
We just discussed how shorthanded this Minnesota roster is right now, and it should force KA into a prominent role. This stat-stuffer was a stud as a starter last year, averaging over 30 DK points per game in that role. We’ve only seen glimpses of that, but the T’Wolves need him to step up, as so many players are missing. The injuries have led to Anderson scoring at least 26 fantasy points in three consecutive outings, which will likely continue for the remainder of the regular season.

Advantageous Pricing

• Victor Wembanyama (PF/C – SAS): $10,600 DraftKings, $11,400 FanDuel
• Amen Thompson (SG/SF – HOU): $5,900 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel
• Daniel Gafford (C – DAL): $5,400 DraftKings, $7,100 FanDuel
• Justin Champagnie (SG/SF – WAS): $4,200 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel
• Grant Williams (SF/PF – CHA): $4,900 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel
• Dennis Smith (PG/SG – BKN): $3,800 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel
• Jeramy Sochan (PG/SF – SAS): $5,800 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel
• Zach Collins (PF/C – SAS): $4,500 DraftKings, $6,200 FanDuel

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