FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Tuesday 2/1/22

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.

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 basketball is very reliant on a player's 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 break down today's main slate on FanDuel.

The Slate and Key Injuries

Tuesday's seven-game slate has a couple of key injuries at the top.

Nikola Jokic is questionable for Tuesday with toe soreness for Denver. Backup center DeMarcus Cousins is also questionable with a foot injury. That could create an odd situation for them in Minnesota, but the T-Wolves could be missing key pieces as well. Both D'Angelo Russell (shin) and Patrick Beverley (ankle) hold a questionable tag, as well.

The next-largest impact would be felt by Brooklyn. James Harden missed both weekend games with a hand issue, but he did practice on Monday. He's officially questionable while LaMarcus Aldridge (ankle) has already been ruled out.

Jimmy Butler is questionable with the ankle injury that forced him to miss Monday's contest as the Miami Heat travel to Toronto.

Washington will provide an opportunity for value plays as well. Bradley Beal is out at least the next two games with a wrist injury.

Really, the only other situation to monitor will be with the Pelicans. New Orleans did get back several players on Monday, but Brandon Ingram still sat out with his ankle injury and is questionable at best for tonight's game in Detroit.

Guards

Dejounte Murray ($10,200): The Warriors are just two-point favorites against the lowly Spurs, and if this one stays tight, Murray should have a hand in the San Antonio scoring column. Quietly, he's developed the best floor in the NBA at point guard with six straight games above 47 FanDuel points before a day of rest Sunday. He's played over 36 minutes in four of his last five, which has totally eliminated some early-season concerns about his place in the rotation.

Spencer Dinwiddie ($6,300): Since Beal has already missed time for the Wizards this year, we have a good sample to know that Dinwiddie and Kyle Kuzma are under-salaried for that event. Dinwiddie posted 1.09 FanDuel points per minute in January when Beal was off the floor, and only Kuzma eclipsed Dinwiddie's 23.8% usage rate. On a slate devoid of solid mid-range values, he'll be justifiably popular on Tuesday.

Jordan Poole ($5,300): Though not an injury, the Dubs are resting Klay Thompson on the second leg of the back-to-back. That immediately vaults Poole back into the starting 30-minute role we saw him occupy before Thompson's return. Averaging 0.91 FanDuel points per minute with Klay off the floor this season, Poole is really the last viable source of salary relief at guard. He's an even greater priority with the lofty salary on Andrew Wiggins, too.

Others to Consider:
Stephen Curry ($9,300): Seems to have broken out of his shooting slump. His ceiling game likely limits Poole's upside, though, so careful using both in tournaments.
Devin Booker ($9,000): Death, taxes, the lower-salaried Phoenix guard going nuts. Booker can certainly drop 40 on the Nets' weaker D.
Jrue Holiday ($7,500): For the first time in months, Holiday has the potential for a 6.00 value score at his new lower salary. Good tournament option.
Max Strus ($4,400): Started and saw 40 minutes in Butler's place Monday. Frankly, just playing better than Duncan Robinson right now, and the Heat coaches see it.

Wings

James Harden ($10,500): With his return to practice on Monday, I'm fairly certain Harden suits up on Tuesday. That puts him back to his stellar role with Kevin Durant off the floor. Harden averages 1.45 FanDuel points per minute on a 33.5% usage rate with K.D. sitting, and Kyrie Irving's salary got hoisted up to hedge a potential Harden absence. Therefore, it feels like Harden is the lone Brooklyn source to attack the 227.0-point total as Brooklyn visits the Suns.

Kyle Kuzma ($7,200): Kuzma took the lead in January when Bradley Beal was in COVID-19 protocols. He had a team-best 28.9% usage rate that he turned into a stable 1.19 FanDuel points per minute during floor situations without the star guard. Beal's absence was unexpected, so Kuzma remains under-salaried as Washington (17th in pace) should see a massive uptick in possessions against Milwaukee (7th in pace). He's the top overall play on the slate, personally.

Tyler Herro ($6,000): Last night in Boston, nothing went right for Miami as they lost by 30. Still, history suggests Herro should be a top target if Butler joins Kyle Lowry on the sidelines once again Tuesday. Herro has an enormous 33.5% usage rate that carries 30-point upside during floor situations without Butler and Lowry this season. Sure, the return of Bam Adebayo could cap that some, but Herro will still have the primary role as a ballhandler for most of a close contest.

Others to Consider:
Josh Hart ($6,800): If Ingram sits, just a high-floor stud for cash games. The ceiling is iffy.
Franz Wagner ($5,900): This salary has dipped way too low for how little the Orlando guards can be trusted. I'm intrigued.
Cameron Johnson ($5,600): The floor isn't as solid as we thought, but the 30-FanDuel-point upside at this salary is basically unmatched.
Caleb Martin ($4,500): Should see 30-plus minutes if Butler sits for defensive purposes. As of now, that's the best opportunity below $5,000 at small forward.

Bigs

Bam Adebayo ($8,200): During his limited time without Butler and Lowry off the floor this season, Adebayo's 1.35 FanDuel points per minute mark soars past Herro and the rest of his teammates. That pace automatically puts him on the radar should Butler sit once more. Notably, the Raptors have the second-worst defensive rebounding percentage (70.4%) in the NBA as they continue to start the smaller Pascal Siakam at the five. He's a fine play with Butler but an outstanding one without him.

Jonas Valanciunas ($7,400): With the lack of value on the slate, it's hard to reach Jokic and Karl-Anthony Towns when there may not be per-dollar upside over Valanciunas. J.V. returned from another non-COVID illness (gotta up that Vitamin C, big man) on Monday in a brutal matchup with Cleveland, but a better day could start in Detroit. Detroit's 71.2% defensive rebounding percentage is eighth-worst in the league, and Valanciunas averages 1.20 FanDuel points per minute with Ingram off the floor this season.

Aaron Gordon ($6,600): Especially if Jokic and Cousins both sit, you can attack the Minnesota rebounding woes with A.G. Minnesota holds the worst defensive rebounding percentage in the NBA (70.2%). Cousins is a 100% type of play if he is able to suit up, but Jokic's salary is obstructive even with a 231.5-point total in this game. My favorite outcome would be both sitting to target Gordon, JaMychal Green, and Zeke Nnaji for much-needed value. All are forward-eligible, too.

Others to Consider:
Nikola Vucevic ($8,700): Revenge game against Orlando? Broke 50 FanDuel points six times in January regardless.
Jerami Grant ($6,900): Interesting tournament option. Personally, think he sees 30-plus minutes at this lower salary. numberFire's projections agree.
Wendell Carter Jr. ($6,700): Chicago allows the third-most FanDuel points to power forwards. Revenge game here, too.
Kevon Looney ($4,900): Ol' Reliable did it again Monday. 14 rebounds. Another high-totaled contest to snatch boards here.