3 NBA FanDuel Studs to Target on 3/19/21

Basketball is the most consistent sport for daily fantasy purposes.

A top slugger in baseball will have his fair share of 0-for-4 days, and an elite fantasy football player is at risk of having games where his team's offense as a whole is shut down. A high-salaried NBA stud is generally going to get his, though. With so many possessions in a game providing opportunities to produce, top fantasy basketball options will be posting high scores just about every night.

While this consistency puts us in a good position to identify top plays, it also means you can't afford to miss when you're paying a heavy salary to roster someone. Even with strong value plays in your lineup, getting a dud from a stud is likely going to leave your lineup lacking.

Let's get right into it and look at which top players should be the focal points of your lineups today.

All injury updates are via the NBA's official injury report or numberFire's player news.

Luka Doncic, PG, Dallas Mavericks

FanDuel Salary: $10,400

At this point, passing on Luka Doncic at a salary this friendly is just unwise.

For most of the last two seasons, Doncic's salary was near or above $11,000 -- and it's only a matter of time before it gets back there. The 22-year-old is on a heater, with 60.0 and 73.7 FanDuel points in his last two games, and tonight's matchup is unlikely to slow him down.

The Dallas Mavericks will be taking on the Portland Trail Blazers in a bout that currently has an over/under of 227.0. Per numberFire's DvP tool, the Blazers have ceded the fifth-most fantasy points to point guards this season. Doncic squared off against these Blazers just over a month ago and dropped 44 real-life and 60.9 FanDuel points.

At tonight's salary, Luka would need 52 fantasy points to return 5-times value (or 5.0 fantasy points for every $1,000 in salary), and he has posted at least 54.5 in 9 of his last 16. numberFire's algorithm projects Doncic to be the second-highest scoring player on tonight's slate.

Devin Booker, SG, Phoenix Suns

FanDuel Salary: $7,500

Last night's loss was the second time Devin Booker had squared off against the Minnesota Timberwolves this season -- his two FanDuel totals in those games have been 46.8 and 57.5. That'll do. And he gets those same T-Wolves again today.

In addition to the upside he brings to the table, especially in a matchup like this, Booker also has a rock-solid floor. In his last 17 games, the 24-year-old has posted fewer than 32 fantasy points just once. His ceiling isn't half-bad, either -- he's amassed at least 43.8 FanDuel points seven times during that stretch.

Now, I mentioned the matchup against Minnesota was a good one, and boy, is it ever! The first thing to note is that among the 20 teams taking the court tonight, the Wolves play the third-fastest pace and rank third-worst in defensive efficiency. Minnesota also comes in 20th against shooting guards this season.

numberFire's model projects Booker for 39 FanDuel points and a tasty value figure of 5.2. Sign me up.

Jaylen Brown, SF, Boston Celtics

FanDuel Salary: $7,500

If the Sacramento Kings are on a slate, you're going to want to target the opposing team's studs -- it really is that simple. Tonight, that honor goes to Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics.

Now, I know that Jayson Tatum ($8,900) will be a popular play at the power forward spot, but I prefer to roster Brown. Tatum hasn't topped 51.9 FanDuel points in 12 straight games, and he hasn't exceeded 57.6 all season. That's a fairly limited ceiling for a player in his salary range. In comparison, Brown has garnered 50.5 and 50.6 fantasy points in his last two outings, and his salary is a cool $1,400 lower. That matters.

On the season, the Kings' 118.5 defensive rating is 2.5 points worse than any other team's, according to NBA.com. Sac-Town also enters this contest 24th against small forwards.

Our algorithm projects Brown to be the second-highest scorer tonight at small forward. Let's get him into our lineups.