I’ve never seen a week of scheduling like the one we have here. All five slates this week are between six and nine games! We’ve discussed how that’s the sweet spot regarding roster construction, and I’m excited to dive into this week’s games. However, this is the most chaotic time of the season because numerous teams are missing half of their roster due to injury. That can make things difficult, but it should open up a ton of value from a DFS perspective!
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 DET (DET -3.5) O/U: 218
- PHX at CLE (CLE -1) O/U: 226
- DAL at CHI (DAL -3.5) O/U: 231
- GSW at SAS (GSW -5.5) O/U: 229
- TOR at DEN (DEN -13) O/U: 225
- BOS at POR (BOS -13.5) O/U: 218
Check out our consensus game odds and the odds from each sportsbook at BettingPros.
I’ve never seen a week of scheduling like the one we have here. All five slates this week are between six and nine games! We’ve discussed how that’s the sweet spot regarding roster construction, and I’m excited to dive into this week’s games. However, this is the most chaotic time of the season because numerous teams are missing half of their roster due to injury. That can make things difficult, but it should open up a ton of value from a DFS perspective!
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 DET (DET -3.5) O/U: 218
- PHX at CLE (CLE -1) O/U: 226
- DAL at CHI (DAL -3.5) O/U: 231
- GSW at SAS (GSW -5.5) O/U: 229
- TOR at DEN (DEN -13) O/U: 225
- BOS at POR (BOS -13.5) O/U: 218
Check out our consensus game odds and the odds from each sportsbook at BettingPros.
Injury Report
Core Plays
Victor Wembanyama (PF/C – SAS): $10,500 DraftKings, $11,300 FanDuel
It sounds like Wemby will be a reason to return here, so we need to consider him for DFS. The rookie has been one of the best players in DFS since his minutes restriction was lifted, averaging 64 DraftKings points per game across his last nine outings. Luka Doncic is the only player with a higher average, and you know Wembenyama will have his way against an undersized Warriors team.
Cade Cunningham (PG – DET): $8,400 DraftKings, $8,600 FanDuel
It’s been a disastrous season for Detroit, but it’s no fault of Cunningham. This guard has been showing why he was the top pick in the draft three years ago, scoring at least 41 DraftKings points in eight of his last nine fixtures. He’s also got 58 and 60 DK points in his two most recent outings, carrying this atrocious offense. Facing Charlotte is the best part of this, with the Hornets ranked 28th in total defense while posting a 25th OPRK against opposing guards.
Darius Garland (PG – CLE): $8,000 DraftKings, $7,600 FanDuel
Garland had a rough stretch in the middle of the season, but he’s taken over this offense since Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley went down. DG has a 31 percent usage rate with those two off the floor, scoring at least 37 DraftKings points in five of his last six games. That’s the stud we’ve been waiting to see, and it looks even better since he dropped 39 fantasy points in his most recent matchup with the Suns.
Cash Game Considerations
Luka Doncic (PG – DAL): $12,400 DraftKings, $12,800 FanDuel
This man has recorded a 30-point triple-double in seven straight games. Most players don’t pick up one of those in their careers, and the level at which this guy is playing is scary. Luka leads the league with 66 DraftKings points per game and has his average north of 70 fantasy points over the last two months. Using a player this expensive is difficult, but nobody has a better floor or ceiling.
Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $11,600 DraftKings, $12,100 FanDuel
The Joker is no longer the top option in DFS, but sitting second is nothing to be ashamed of. The two-time MVP averages over 60 DraftKings points per game while providing a 50-point floor. That’s terrifying for Toronto, ranked 24th in defensive efficiency ratings. They also just lost their starting center to an injury, and Jokic should feast since he had 65 fantasy points against the Raptors earlier in the year.
Jalen Duren (C – DET): $6,400 DraftKings, $7,300 FanDuel
This guy doesn’t necessarily fit with the superstars mentioned above, but Duren has quietly developed into one of the best centers in the NBA. The big man averages nearly 35 DraftKings points per game while looking like a guaranteed double-double every time he takes the floor. That’s way more likely against Charlotte, surrendering the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing centers. In their first matchup, Duren dropped 45 fantasy points!
GPP Targets
Draymond Green (PF/C – GSW): $6,800 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel
Green has been stuffing the stat sheet at will, being asked to run the show for this shorthanded Golden State offense. The big man averaged 33 DraftKings points per game across his last 10 outings, but that could be his floor with Stephen Curry sidelined. The best part of this is the matchup with the Spurs, sitting 23rd in defensive efficiency and 26th in points allowed.
Vasilije Micic (PG/SG – CHA): $5,800 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
This aging rookie looks like a sneaky acquisition by the Hornets, starting at point guard with LaMelo Ball and Tre Mann both injured. That’s led to Micic scoring at least 26 DraftKings points in four of his last five fixtures. He’s also got at least 32 DK points in two of his previous three games and should be locked into 30-35 minutes as the starting point guard. We love that against Detroit, ranked 29th in defensive efficiency ratings.
Alex Caruso (PG/SG – CHI): $5,300 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
Caruso is a volatile player, but his defense makes him one of the sneakiest options in DFS. Since Zach LaVine went down, Caruso has been averaging over 25 DraftKings points per game as a starter. He’s also scored 32 and 36 DK points in two of his last three games and shouldn’t be this cheap in this type of role. The matchup with Dallas is delicious, too, because AC might play 40 minutes to guard Doncic and Kyrie Irving. They also rank 22nd in total defense!
Value Plays
Chris Paul (PG – GSW): $6,900 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel
It looks like Curry might have to sit another game, which means CP3 should start at point guard once again. This former All-Star was an $8K player in that role in the past, scoring 36 DK points in a spot start on Saturday. That was against this subpar Spurs defense, which is sensational since San Antonio is surrendering the second-most fantasy points to opposing guards.
Tre Jones (PG – SAS): $5,500 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
It’s hard to understand why Jones has remained so affordable. This guy has taken over as the Spurs starting point guard over the last two months, averaging nearly 30 fantasy points per game in that expanded role. He’s done that damage with limited scoring, and he’s been much better whenever Wembanyama is in the lineup. We love the wonderful matchup with the Warriors, ranked 20th in total defense!
Nick Richards (C – CHA): $5,700 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
Injury fill-ins have been a major theme in this article, and that’s what we have here. Richards took over as the starting center once Mark Williams got injured, and his value has significantly risen since the PJ Washington trade. Richards has been averaging 28 DraftKings points per game since then, and he should dominate a Detroit team that’s allowing the third-most fantasy points to opposing centers.
Advantageous Pricing
- Ausar Thompson (SG/SF – DET): $5,600 DraftKings, $6,600 FanDuel
- Jalen Duren (C – DET): $6,400 DraftKings, $7,300 FanDuel
- Zach Collins (PF/C – SAS): $5,800 DraftKings, $6,900 FanDuel
- Trayce Jackson-Davis (C – GSW): $4,400 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel
- Daniel Gafford (C – DAL): $5,000 DraftKings, $6,600 FanDuel
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Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.
