FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Wednesday 2/16/22

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

It was a bit of a surprise to see LeBron James back as questionable on today's official injury report. The Lakers' star has knee soreness and has largely been listed as probable, so that's worth noting. Carmelo Anthony (hamstring) also won't suit up for L.A. against Utah.

Ja Morant sat on Tuesday for the Grizzlies as a "game-time decision," so his status is up in the air for Memphis as they host Portland.

Both Anthony Edwards (ankle) and Fred VanVleet (knee) left their last contest early and didn't return. The pair of scorers could be missing as Toronto flies into Minnesota for a Wednesday tilt.

Robert Williams sat out Tuesday with a sore calf, and he's questionable for Boston on the second leg of a back-to-back. Marcus Smart (ankle) also left last night's game early for the C's and is questionable at best.

John Collins is likely out again for Atlanta nursing his foot issue.

The Thunder will be without Luguentz Dort (shoulder) for another contest. Kenrich Williams (knee) is also out of the OKC lineup.

Finally, the Denver Nuggets are hoping to get back Monte Morris (concussion) after a three-game leave as they travel to meet Golden State in the nightcap of the 11 games on tap.

Guards

Josh Giddey ($7,200): Giddey showed what he can do with the main stage in New York on Monday. A 28-point triple-double against the Knicks led to no salary increase as OKC continues to operate without Dort and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Without that pair, the efficiency and viability of the offense should be questioned, but the Spurs are just 7.5-point favorites Wednesday. Another high-usage performance should be on tap for the rookie.

Seth Curry ($5,700): Kyrie Irving can't play for Brooklyn again until February 26th, but Curry made it very clear he'll carry the offense until then. Curry took six more shots than any of his Nets teammates en route to scoring 23 points -- and that was in his debut. Brooklyn is just a 3.5-point underdog to those Knicks that Giddey dismantled, and Curry's salary is far too low for a top offensive option that can fill it up from deep.

Tyus Jones ($3,800): At 0.94 FanDuel points per minute this season, Tyus Jones was a high-floor play at gigantic popularity on Tuesday. He detonated the slate with 27 points and 9 assists. Given that performance, he'll be overwhelmingly popular once again if Ja Morant can't play Wednesday. On an 11-game slate, game theory is a reason to peek elsewhere, but take it from me: the consequences could be dire if Jones is hot from the field again and not in your lineup.

Others to Consider:
Trae Young ($10,200): Back-to-back here is a little concerning, but his role is tops amongst all guards right now.
Devin Booker ($8,800): He has been very quiet at this salary. A date with the league's worst defense (Houston) could change that.
D'Angelo Russell ($7,900): If Edwards can't play, a supreme ball-handling role at a salary that doesn't indicate such.
Derrick White ($6,200): Should slide into the starting lineup for Smart. Wildly productive off the bench since the trade.

Wings

DeMar DeRozan ($10,500): I've been wary to buy into DeRozan's career resurgence in Chicago given he wasn't even this productive in San Antonio with a lead role. However, he's clearly just taken his scoring ability (and shot from outside) to the next level. Posting over 35 points in six straight games, the lone concern about DeRozan here would be a blowout of the Kings, but Sacramento has been playing better and is just a five-point dog in Chicago.

OG Anunoby ($5,700): Both Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr. should be two top value plays if VanVleet is unable to suit up for the Raptors. Anunoby's recent production has absolutely tumbled, but he's averaged 1.02 FanDuel points per minute on a healthy 23.6% usage rate during floor situations without Fred this season. Extra available shot volume could bust Anunoby out of a woeful shooting slump (10-for-34 from the field in his last three games).

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope ($4,200): KCP is such a frustrating fantasy player at times, but he's clearly the number two option in Washington at the moment. He's taken 11.3 shots per game since the Wizards shipped Spencer Dinwiddie off, and he was one of just two Wizards to play at least 35 minutes against Detroit on Monday. This salary doesn't ask for much in return, so at the very least, a player without much upside in a vacuum has a role that can generate some.

Others to Consider:
Kyle Kuzma ($7,700): The "A" role in D.C. 225-point total against an unrested Indiana team could have another huge game in store.
Gary Trent Jr. ($7,000): He dropped 42 points the last time VanVleet sat, so I'd at least peek here if he's confirmed out.
Evan Fournier ($5,800): Back-to-back solid games out of him may be too much to ask, but he'll get every chance with N.Y. still missing RJ Barrett.
Danilo Gallinari ($4,800): Started and played 32 great minutes for Atlanta on Tuesday. Unlike De'Andre Hunter, he comes with scoring upside.

Bigs

Karl-Anthony Towns ($9,600): Oh boy. Ant Edwards got hurt Tuesday, Towns dropped 39 points and 15 boards, and his salary decreased by $300. Many bad processes will arrive on KAT today, but good ones will, as well. Towns sees team-best increases in usage rate (4.8 percentage points) and FanDuel points per minute (0.08) during floor situations without Edwards this season, and Toronto is second-to-last in defensive rebounding percentage (70.4%) this season.

Wendell Carter Jr. ($6,900): Perhaps all Carter Jr. needed was some distance and role security from Mohamed Bamba. In February, Carter Jr. has turned a 24.4% usage rate into 1.22 FanDuel points per minute. It will always come quietly in Orlando, but that's closer to a role and production level from an $8,500 player. He won't face a tough matchup on Wednesday against Atlanta's fourth-worst defensive rating (113.4), either.

Al Horford ($6,000): Apologies if you were around during lock to do your homework. Rob Williams was ruled out, sliding Horford into Boston's center spot. Horford averages 1.11 FanDuel points per minute this season during floor situations without "Timelord," but he immediately fell into foul trouble and couldn't rally from it as the Celtics smashed Philadelphia. He's still a solid process play for Wednesday should Williams take another contest to rest up.

Others to Consider:
Domantas Sabonis ($9,200): This salary is sliding in an offense becoming more efficient. An apex game is around the corner.
Jusuf Nurkic ($7,600): Well-projected by numberFire for a reason. He'll be on the floor plenty against Memphis' pair of big men.
Jarred Vanderbilt ($4,500): The optimal frontcourt tonight could be full of Wolves. Vanderbilt turned 37 minutes into 27.8 FanDuel points without Edwards.
Jaden McDaniels ($3,900): Not to be outdone by Vandy, he turned 37 minutes into 45.3 FanDuel points Tuesday without Ant. Both are stellar.