The NBA season is in full swing, making Daily Fantasy even more enticing. NBA DFS can be frustrating at times, but it’s also highly rewarding-the constant lineup changes and injury updates allow savvy players like you to stay ahead and profit throughout the season. I’ll be here on Thursdays and Mondays to share my favourite plays from my morning breakdown of the slate.
Keep in mind how quickly an NBA slate can change; even one lineup announcement can introduce new starters, shifting projections and creating fresh value. If you’re serious about NBA DFS, using late swaps frequently will help you maximize profits over the course of the season.
After a smaller slate yesterday, we have a solid nine or 11-game slate this evening, depending on your sportsbook preference. Let’s get to some of the best DraftKings and FanDuel plays for today’s games.
View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer
NBA DFS Core Plays
- DraftKings: $11,300
- FanDuel: $11,700
For a reliable plug-and-play option on this slate-and likely any slate this season-look no further than Luka Doncic. Luka has been on fire, dropping 40 points in his most recent outing and comfortably surpassing 63.5 and 59 fantasy points on each site. Early returns suggest Utah is a prime matchup for opposing guards, as they’ve allowed a top-three fantasy output to guards in their first few games and led in this category last season. With Utah’s defense ranked 28th overall and expected to pace up Dallas, Luka has a strong chance to notch a triple-double. This one’s a no-brainer.
Quick spoiler: Kyrie Irving ($7,500 on DK, $7,800 on FD) is a fantastic GPP option. With ownership expected to shift toward Doncic as it should, Irving could be a sneaky play in this favourable matchup.
- DraftKings: $9,800
- FanDuel: $10,100
I apologize for starting with multiple-point guards, but I expect Trae Young and/or Luka Doncic to feature in nearly all my lineups tonight. With Dejounte Murray gone, we’ve already seen Young’s production rise; he’s averaging over 30 points and 10 assists across his first three games with increased usage. Although Young’s season may be a bit volatile, with a 70-plus fantasy point performance followed by a 33-point effort, I’m buying into tonight’s matchup. Washington’s high pace and weak defense make them a prime target, and Young’s floor here feels like 50 fantasy points. He’s also a less expensive alternative if you need to pivot from Doncic.
- DraftKings: $5,600
- FanDuel: $6,000
Here’s a forward for your thoughts: Sochan stands out as one of the best values on the slate. His early ownership isn’t high enough to make him a fade in GPPs, and his high floor makes him an ideal cash game fill-in. Facing Houston in consecutive games boosts my confidence in Sochan after he posted nearly 40 fantasy points on both sites in their last matchup. Sunday’s game was a close one, and tonight’s rematch is projected similarly with a three-point spread. His early usage rate of over 25% is a strong improvement from last year’s 18.7%, and I expect his price to keep climbing as the season progresses.
NBA DFS Cash Game Targets
- DraftKings: $7,100
- FanDuel: $7,300
For one of the best value-ceiling combos on the slate, look to the Denver guard, who’s perfect for cash games and a solid GPP option despite likely high ownership. Given his price, he’s positioned as one of the top values. Early indications show Toronto as a favourable matchup, providing a pace-up opportunity and ranking as a bottom-seven defense through three games.
With Russell Westbrook now in the mix, there were concerns about Murray’s court time, but he’s averaged 37 minutes per game so far, with no noticeable drop in usage. Even if Murray hits his averages from last season, he’ll easily cover the 5X value needed to give your lineup a cashing edge. His price makes him an ideal slot-in.
If you’re looking to add more Nuggets to your roster, consider Michael Porter Jr. ($5,800 on DK, $6,200 on FD) as the next man up.
- DraftKings: $9,100
- FanDuel: $8,600
Here’s a versatile combo option for you: consider playing Barnes in cash games on FanDuel and slotting him into some GPPs on DraftKings. After a slow season opener, the Raptors forward has bounced back with 27 and 20 points, totalling 44 and 35 fantasy points on FanDuel. Barnes will likely draw the highest ownership among Raptors players as nine-point underdogs in the game with the lowest total on the slate.
It may not be the flashiest pick, but Barnes’s minutes have increased, logging over 36 in each of the last two games, along with a bump in usage. If R.J. Barrett, who’s questionable with a shoulder injury, sits tonight, Barnes becomes an even stronger play on both sites.
- DraftKings: $5,200
- FanDuel: $5,500
At under $6k on both sites and with dual-forward eligibility, OG Anunoby is hard to pass up tonight. Projected to score over 25 fantasy points, he’s a rare play that fits well on both sites. Anunoby has played over 34 minutes in each of the first two games, and with an uptick in scoring due to average performances against Boston and Indiana, the opportunity is there for the Indiana product.
Last season, Anunoby averaged nearly 15 points, four boards, and two assists per game, which isn’t fully reflected in his current pricing. While facing Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen in the paint poses a challenge, attention on Karl-Anthony Towns could give Anunoby room to operate. This play has some risk as a cash option, but I’m prioritizing Knicks exposure tonight, with Anunoby at the top of my list.
NBA DFS GPP Targets
- DraftKings: $6,900
- FanDuel: $7,200
Boston boasts one of the highest implied totals on tonight’s slate against a Milwaukee team that has allowed high fantasy outputs to opponents this season, particularly to guards. Jrue Holiday is priced attractively, but he’s drawing considerable early ownership. Derrick White offers a perfect pivot and leverage play here. His price has steadily risen this season, as he’s consistently averaging over 35 fantasy points per game on both sites.
While White may not break the slate, he’s expected to log over 30 minutes tonight with a higher-than-usual early usage rate compared to last season. With lower ownership, White is a solid play for added value.
- DraftKings: $9,000
- FanDuel: $8,900
Cade Cunningham offers a solid ceiling for tonight. Yes, it’s one of the lowest totals on the slate, Miami had the second-best defense last season, allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing guards, and, yes, we’re talking about the Detroit Pistons. But just look at the ownership-Cunningham is criminally under-owned, projected at under 2% on both sites.
I project him around 45 fantasy points, which may not be the highest projection, but as a leverage play in large-field GPPs, it’s intriguing. With several chalky guards on the slate, Cunningham presents high leverage for a strong tournament play.
- DraftKings: $7,600
- FanDuel: $7,500
With one of the highest totals on the slate, featuring two of the league’s fastest-paced teams, I’m surprised at how low Desmond Bane‘s projected ownership is as I enjoy my coffee this Monday morning. The Bulls, who rank fourth in fantasy points allowed in 2024, provide a favourable matchup, and Bane projects around 36 points. With dual forward-guard eligibility, he’s positioned as an excellent value-leverage option for lineups.
There’s also a chance Ja Morant sits, as he’s currently questionable, which would significantly boost Bane’s projections, making him a near must-play. As things stand against an Alex Caruso-less Bulls team, Bane is shaping up to be a strong GPP play.
NBA DFS Value Plays
- DraftKings: $4,900
- FanDuel: $5,600
For a DraftKings-focused play, Bilal Coulibaly stands out as the top Washington Wizard on tonight’s slate, with a projected high-scoring game against Atlanta (total near 233). The second-year player has had a strong start, putting up 23 points against Cleveland on Saturday. While FanDuel adjusted its price, DraftKings seems a bit behind.
Coulibaly’s ownership will likely be high, and for good reason-he’s projected for over 25 fantasy points, with even more potential if De’Andre Hunter sits or is limited for Atlanta. His guard-forward eligibility on DraftKings adds versatility to your lineup construction, making him a solid play to help you reach the cash line.
- DraftKings: $5,500
- FanDuel: $4,500
On FanDuel, Patrick Williams is an exceptional value at just $4,500. Projected around 25 fantasy points against Memphis, he’s one of the top values on the slate and remains a solid option on DraftKings as well. There’s a reason Bulls players are drawing higher ownership on both sites tonight, with a total of around 233 and fair pricing across the board.
Chicago and Memphis currently rank first and second in the pace of play, providing Williams with high opportunities. While his ceiling may be somewhat limited, the play volume gives him a secure floor. Last season, Memphis struggled to contain opposing power forwards, and I expect a similar outcome tonight.
- DraftKings: $4,300
- FanDuel: $4,500
McBride’s value tonight largely hinges on Josh Hart‘s questionable status, but with high ownership projected for the Knicks, he offers a higher-leverage option. If Hart sits, McBride becomes a must-play and will likely be one of the more popular options on the slate. Even if Hart plays, McBride has shown promise off the bench this season, with his minutes per game increasing to 23 and his usage rate up around three percentage points over last year. His fantasy output has followed suit; against Boston, he posted over 24 fantasy points across both sites, easily surpassing the 5x benchmark with room for a higher ceiling.
Should Hart be limited at all, McBride’s usage will rise in a favourable matchup, and his sub-$5k price makes him an excellent value. If you’re looking to roster a Knick other than McBride, OG Anunoby ($5,200 on DK, $5,500 on FD) is my next go-to option.
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