NBA

FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Tuesday 8/4/20

After a 4.5-month hiatus, the 2019-20 NBA restart is officially underway.

If you're new to daily fantasy basketball -- maybe you started your DFS journey during the MLB or NFL seasons, or maybe basketball is your sport and this will be your first year giving it a shot -- you're in for a treat. The NBA scene changes on a week-to-week, day-to-day, and -- depending on injury news -- even a minute-to-minute basis, making every slate a unique one that requires an ever-changing approach -- and that's especially the case now.

With so much changing so quickly, we're here with plenty of tools to help you out. We have daily projections, a matchup heat map, a lineup optimizer, and a bunch of other great resources to help give you an edge.

Daily fantasy NBA is very reliant on opportunity, so you'll need to make sure that you're up-to-date with key injuries. Our projections update up until tip-off to reflect current news, we have player news updates, and the FanDuel Scout app will send push notifications for pressing updates regarding your players.

We'll also be coming at you with this primer every day, breaking down a few of the day's top plays at each position.

Let's take a look at who you should target on Tuesday's six-game slate.

Point Guard

Russell Westbrook ($9,600) has dropped 59.2 and 48.2 FanDuel points in his first two bubble contests, yet his price dropped by $300 for Tuesday's slate. Westbrook will be facing a Portland Trail Blazers that's eighth-most generous to opposing point guards in what is bound to be an extremely high-scoring affair. Westbrook has totaled 48.2 or more FanDuel points in seven of his last nine and 19 of his last 23 -- that's notable because he needs just 48 for 5X. He's our model's top projected scorer at the position. Ricky Rubio ($6,000) seems to be very cheap, given his production. Rubio has scored less than 35.7 just once in his last 11 contests, which is remarkable, considering that he only needs 30 for 5X. Take advantage of the favorable price.

In order to afford someone like Westbrook, you'll need to look for some value, and Reggie Jackson ($4,300) should provide that. In his two bubble games, Jackson has posted 19.2 and 33.6 fantasy points, and with Lou Williams still out, he should be able to feast against the Phoenix Suns. The Suns have surrendered the most points to opposing point guards this season.

Chris Chiozza ($4,000) is our model's second-highest projected value at point guard, which makes sense given all of Brooklyn's inactives.

Tuesday morning update: Eric Bledsoe ($4,700) is no longer on Milwaukee's injury report. He's our model's current top projected value at point. Lou Williams is questionable for today's game. His return would knock Jackson down a few pegs. Seth Curry is doubtful, which makes Trey Burke ($3,700) worth a dart throw.

Shooting Guard

In two games since the league restarted, Luka Doncic ($11,000) has popped for 56.6 and 60.1 FanDuel points. That'll play. In fact, Luka's scored 52.7 or more in five straight dating back to March. On Tuesday, he gets to face a Sacramento Kings squad that's second-most giving to the opposition's shooting guards. Even at $11K, he's a stud I want. I'm also more than willing to pay up for Paul George ($7,600). George is fresh off a 42.1-fantasy-point performance despite playing just 25.8 minutes. The Los Angeles Clippers will likely need more from him against a Suns team that has come out hot in the restart. Phoenix is ever-so-generous to opposing backcourts.

As long as he continues to be priced under $7K, I'll be targeting Khris Middleton ($6,900). Middleton has recorded 38 and 44.4 points in his two outings out of hiatus, and he needs just 34.5 for 5X. Our model has Khash eclipsing 40.

On the cheaper end, our algorithm likes both Bogdan Bogdanovic ($5,100) and Garrett Temple ($3,700). With Caris LeVert and approximately 96.8% of Brooklyn's roster sitting, Temple could play big minutes.

In three games against Portland, James Harden ($11,100) is averaging just 42.3 points. I'm avoiding on this slate.

Small Forward

The stud I'm targeting at small forward on Tuesday is Kawhi Leonard ($8,600). At $8.6K, Leonard is the cheapest he's been all season, which means it's "pounce" time. Kawhi has posted 46.6 and 41.7 in his two bubble games, though the latter came in just 26.5 minutes. As is the case with George, the Clippers could need more from Kawhi against a red-hot Suns team. In two of his three games against the Suns, Leonard has managed to total 54.3 and 60.6. That kind of upside is worth spending $8.6K on. I want as much exposure to that Houston-Portland game as I can get, so Carmelo Anthony ($4,800) is someone I'll be considering. Melo's two games in the bubble have seen him yield 30.4 and 21.6, but Houston is fantasy's worst defense against small forwards. And there's always the revenge narrative, if you're into that.

Tim Hardaway Jr. ($5,200) is priced appealingly for a fairly consistent performer. Our model has him eclipsing 5X. numberFire prefers Gordon Hayward ($6,100) to teammate Jaylen Brown ($6,200), though both seem to be good values.

Justin Holiday ($3,800) and Jae Crowder ($4,100) are cheap options worth looking at.

I'm not splurging for Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,600) on this slate. Given the state of Brooklyn's roster, a potential blowout makes him a risk at his slate-high price.

Tuesday morning update: Malcolm Brogdon's return seemed to have no effect on T.J. Warren ($6,400). Warren is worth rostering while he's scorching hot. Dzanan Musa ($3,700) is now our model's top value at the position. He's worth a dart throw if you're loading up on studs.

Power Forward

Kristaps Porzingis ($9,700) is a core play for me. In two games since the restart, Porzingis has exploded for 68.2 and 56.1. Now he gets a matchup with the Kings, who allow the most fantasy points to power forwards. Like Westbrook, I'll be all over Kristaps as long as he's under $10K. Aaron Gordon ($5,600) is cheap enough that he should garner serious consideration in all formats. Gordon hasn't popped since the break, but this could be an opportunity to do so against the Sabonis-less Indiana Pacers. He doesn't even need a ceiling game in order for his price to pay off. Our model has him as the second-best value at power forward.

Robert Covington ($6,800) has been money ever since he joined Houston and should be able to stuff the stat sheet against Portland.

Nemanja Bjelica ($4,000) and Maxi Kleber ($4,000) are our model's respective bargain favorites.

Tuesday morning update: Rodions Kurucs ($3,600) is worth a dart throw if you're in need of salary savings. Someone has to score for Brooklyn.

Center

Brook Lopez ($5,900) has been a man amongst boys so far in the bubble, posting 37.8 and 45.4 in his two games thus far. On Tuesday he'll face a Nets team that will be without their only true center in Jarrett Allen. Brook dropped 40.4 points in his lone matchup against his former team this season.

The Magic haven't been fantastic against centers, making Myles Turner ($6,200) a viable option. P.J. Tucker ($4,000) is the one to look at if you need the savings.

Tuesday morning update: Jusuf Nurkic ($8,200) is someone you should target if you have the salary to afford him. He's going up against a Rockets defense that's third-worst against centers over their last full month worth of games.