FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Sunday 2/6/22
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 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, and we also have player news updates. The projected numbers referenced below may change throughout the day.
We'll be coming at you with this primer every day, breaking down a few of the day's top plays at each position. The main slate starts at 6 p.m. EST.
Guards
Luka Doncic, PG/SG, (FanDuel Salary: $11,600) - Doncic is one of two elite high-end plays today as our model has only him and Giannis Antetokounmpo projected for more than 44.0 FanDuel points (as of Sunday afternoon). Doncic is facing an Atlanta Hawks squad that sits 28th in defensive efficiency and allows the eighth-most FanDuel points per game to point guards (48.0). This game has a 221.5-point total and 1.5-point spread. We project Doncic for 57.0 FanDuel points.
Jalen Green, PG/SG, $4,600 - The Houston Rockets-New Orleans Pelicans game should be perfect for fantasy. It's got a slate-best 229.5-point total and 5.0-point spread. Both sides are in the bottom six in defensive efficiency, and Houston plays at the league's fastest pace. Green is a low-salary way to get in on the fun. He's played at least 31 minutes in four of the last five games, with spike outings of 40.5 and 30.5 FanDuel points in that time. Our algorithm has him going for 25.1 FanDuel points (5.46 per $1,000).
Others to Consider: Trae Young ($9,800), Jalen Brunson ($5,800), Malcolm Brogdon ($5,800)
Wings
Giannis Antetokounmpo, SF/PF, $11,400 - According to our model, Giannis doesn't project all that well in terms of point-per-dollar value -- 50.9 FanDuel points (4.46 per $1,000) -- but on a small slate, he is an excellent play. He's scored at least 47.8 FanDuel points in four straight games, and we project just one other player (Luka) to score more than that tonight. Giannis put up 50.8 FanDuel points in only 24 minutes Saturday in a blowout win. The Milwaukee Bucks are just 4.5-point favorites at the Los Angeles Clippers.
Brandon Ingram, SF, $7,800 - I'm really into the Pels for their matchup with Houston. It's a huge pace-up spot against the fastest-paced Rockets as New Orleans is just 19th in pace. That's a lift for all the Pelicans, and Ingram is no exception. BI is scoring 38.3 FanDuel points per game for the season, and he's put up 41.6 and 53.8 FanDuel points in his two games since coming back from injury. I like him more than our model does, and we have him projected for 37.4 FanDuel points.
Others to Consider: Jaylen Brown ($8,200), Josh Hart ($6,700), Dorian Finney-Smith ($4,100)
Bigs
Jonas Valanciunas, C, $8,200 - Sticking with the Pels, Houston is giving up the most FanDuel points per game to centers (60.1). Valanciunas could crush it tonight. Among players salaried above $6,000, JV rates out as the best point-per-dollar option as we peg him to score 39.5 FanDuel points -- 5.48 per $1,000. He hasn't dipped under 30.4 FanDuel points in any of his last six appearances.
Jarrett Allen, PF/C, $7,100 - Allen went nuclear last time out, posting 29 points and 22 boards on his way to 57.4 FanDuel points. While we can't expect him to be that good today, he can succeed against the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers rank 26th in defensive efficiency and have permitted at least 110 points in nine consecutive games. Allen has logged at least 33 minutes in eight of his past nine games. Our algorithm projects Allen for 35.5 FanDuel points (5.0 per $1,000).
Others to Consider: Christian Wood ($8,500), Evan Mobley ($7,300), Bobby Portis ($5,500), Herbert Jones ($5,500)
