NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Wednesday (3/13)

We have less than a month remaining, and the injury reports are starting to get ridiculous. I have one season-long fantasy team with nearly 10 guys out, and navigating these murky waters is tough. The good news is that this is DFS, which means we make new lineups daily. In fact, we get to capitalize on those injuries, which we truly appreciate about daily fantasy sports. With that in mind, let’s dive into this Wednesday card!

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

• TOR at DET (DET -1.5) O/U: 233
• BKN at ORL (ORL -6.5) O/U: 205
• CHI at IND (IND -3.5) O/U: 233
• DEN at MIA (DEN -3) O/U: 213
• CLE at NOP (NOP -6.5) O/U: 218
• CHA at MEM (MEM -2) O/U: 205
• GSW at DAL (DAL -7.5) O/U: 238
• ATL at POR (ATL -2.5) O/U: 218
• LAL at SAC (SAC -1) O/U: 238

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

Injury Report

• Donovan Mitchell (knee) Questionable
• LaMelo Ball (ankle) OUT
• Stephen Curry (ankle) OUT
• Jaren Jackson Jr.(tanking) OUT
• Immanuel Quickley (hip) Questionable
• RJ Barrett (personal) OUT
• Evan Mobley (knee) OUT
• Tyler Herro (knee) OUT
• Jalen Johnson (ankle) Doubtful
• Vince Williams (tanking) Questionable
• Trae Young (hand) OUT
• Saddiq Bey (knee) OUT
• Max Strus (knee) OUT
• Tre Mann (groin) Questionable
• Ausar Thompson (illness) Questionable
• Gary Trent Jr.(groin) Questionable
• Mark Williams (shoulder) OUT
• LeBron James (old) Questionable
• Jerami Grant (tanking) Questionable
• Malcolm Brogdon (elbow) OUT

Core Plays

Cade Cunningham (PG/SG – DET): $8,600 DraftKings, $8,600 FanDuel
It’s been a disastrous season for Detroit, but Cade is quietly having the best season of his career. The former top pick has scored at least 41 DraftKings points in nine of his last 10 games, posting a 44-point average in that span. That’s just what you want from a player below $9K, and it should continue since he’s being asked to do everything for this pitiful Pistons offense. Facing Toronto is far from terrifying, ranked 25th in total defense since the All-Star break.

Darius Garland (PG – CLE): $7,700 DraftKings, $7,700 FanDuel
We’re getting close to Cleveland getting healthy, but we can’t fade Garland as long as Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley are both out. DG is leading the team with a 31 percent usage rate, scoring at least 37 DraftKings points in six of his last eight games. That’s the stud we saw earlier in the year, and we don’t mind that he averaged over 41 fantasy points in two matchups with the Pelicans last season.

Kelly Olynyk (PF/C – TOR): $7,000 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel
It’s sad what’s happened to this Toronto frontcourt this season, losing Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, Jakob Poeltl, Scottie Barnes, and Chris Boucher. That leaves Oly as the only guy left, scoring at least 34 DraftKings points in three of his last four fixtures. We saw this guy average 35 DK points per game as a starter last year, and he shouldn’t have any issues destroying a 29th-ranked Detroit defense.

Cash Game Considerations

Luka Doncic (PG – DAL): $12,800 DraftKings, $12,800 FanDuel
Luka comes into this matchup recording a triple-double in seven straight games. That’s no surprise since he’s leading the league with 67 DraftKings points per game, establishing a 50-point floor. Nobody can do what this superstar can do, averaging over 70 fantasy points per game over the last month. We don’t care who he plays, but Luka had 70 DraftKings points in his previous matchup with the Warriors.

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $12,000 DraftKings, $12,300 FanDuel
The Joker has been the best player in fantasy over the last three years, but being second-best is nothing to be ashamed of. The two-time MVP is averaging over 60 DK points per game while showcasing a 50-point floor as well. A matchup with Miami looks terrifying, but Joker averaged over 60 DK points per game against them last season in seven total matchups.

Domantas Sabonis (C – SAC): $10,500 DraftKings, $NA FanDuel
It’s hard to believe that Domas didn’t make the All-Star team, but that clearly motivated the big man. Sabonis has been flirting with triple-double averages over the last two months, averaging 57 DK points per game in that sensational stretch. He’s also recorded a double-double in 47 straight games, giving him the highest floor of any player in this price range. Facing the Lakers is the icing on the cake, with Sabonis scoring 66 and 68 DK points in their two most recent matchups.

GPP Targets

Clint Capela (C – ATL): $6,100 DraftKings, $NA FanDuel
Cap has seen his minutes limited in a return from injury, but they need him to play 30 minutes, given how shorthanded this Atlanta team is right now. They’re missing four 30-minute players right now, with the Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu injuries directly impacting Capela. This guy has 38 DK points in back-to-back outings and could be an $8K player if he receives 30 minutes a night from here on out. Facing Portland couldn’t be much better because the Blazers surrender the second-most fantasy points to opposing centers.

GG Jackson (SF – MEM): $5,900 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
This kid is the youngest player in the NBA, but he should have plenty of opportunities in the closing month. Memphis is missing nearly every key player from the rotation at the beginning of the year, guaranteeing this kid 30 minutes and 15 shots a night. That role has led to GG scoring at least 28 DraftKings points eight times over the last month. That looks even better against Charlotte, posting a 29th OPRK against opposing forwards.

Scoot Henderson (PG – POR): $5,300 DraftKings, $NA FanDuel
I have a feeling Henderson will be in this article a lot over the next month. Portland was already playing without Malcolm Brogdon, but it’s just a matter of time before Deandre Ayton and Jerami Grant are shut down. That should put Scoot in takeover mode, and we saw this Top 3 pick showcase a 62-point upside in that role earlier in the year. Don’t be surprised to see Henderson get closer to $7K as the season closes, with his workload and production rising each night!

Value Plays

Chris Paul (PG – GSW): $6,900 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel
CP3 is one of the greatest point guards in NBA history, and it’s been fun watching him take over this offense in Curry’s absence. That’s led to the former All-Star scoring at least 27 DraftKings points in seven of his last eight games while stopping 44 and 36 DK points in his two most recent outings. A matchup with Dallas only adds to his intrigue, with the Mavs maintaining a 22nd OPRK against opposing point guards.

Nick Richards (C – CHA): $5,700 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
This Charlotte frontcourt has been dismantled, but losing Mark Williams and PJ Washington has allowed Richards to take over as the starting center. This guy averages nearly 30 DraftKings points per game in this newfound role, scoring at least 30 DK points in four of his last five fixtures. A matchup with Memphis is enticing, too, because this Grizzlies team is missing most of their rotation.

De’Andre Hunter (SF/PF – ATL): $5,800 DraftKings, $NA FanDuel
Here’s another team that’s been obliterated by injuries. Atlanta has lost four key players over the last three weeks, and the most recent Saddiq Bey injury should force Hunter into the starting lineup. This youngster has been going off in a bench role, averaging 27 DK points per game across his last 11 outings. This guy can get that average above 30 with so many key players missing, and we don’t mind that he faces a 22nd-ranked Portland defense.

Advantageous Pricing

• Dennis Smith (PG/SG – BKN): $4,200 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel
• Simone Fontecchio (SF – DET): $5,100 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel
• TJ McConnell (PG – IND): $4,700 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
• Isaiah Jackson (C – IND): $3,700 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel
• Larry Nance (PF/C – NOP): $3,600 DraftKings, $4,600 FanDuel
• Daniel Gafford (C – DAL): $5,000 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel
• Trayce Jackson-Davis (C – GSW): $4,900 DraftKings, $6,200 FanDuel
• Dereck Lively (C – DAL): $4,100 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel

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