FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Monday 2/28/22

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

The headline of today's injury report is once again Brooklyn missing their top three players -- including Kyrie Irving for the home game.

Beyond that, Cleveland is still short in the backcourt with both Darius Garland (back) and Caris LeVert (foot) sidelined.

Toronto will be missing OG Anunoby (finger) for quite some time, and Fred VanVleet (knee) could join him on the sidelines against the Nets.

Brandon Clarke is questionable for the Grizzlies after he left Saturday's game and didn't return with an eye issue.

The Heat will be without Kyle Lowry due to personal issues once more.

The Thunder will be without Josh Giddey (hip) and Luguentz Dort (shoulder).

The final note is an impactful addition. The Orlando Magic are expecting Markelle Fultz to make his season debut following last season's ACL tear. It will likely be for a few spare minutes.

Guards

Dejounte Murray ($9,700): A four-digit salary on Murray is a dangerous fade when he's eclipsed 60 FanDuel points in six different 2022 contests. Dejounte will continue to carry his lead role (26.8% usage rate in February; highest on the Spurs) into Memphis. The 236.0-point total in this game is one of three totals exceeding 230 points on Monday; there are some pretty clear directions to go in tournaments.

Malcolm Brogdon ($5,800): Don't be concerned about Tyrese Haliburton when Brogdon is listed at this salary. "Pres" has played at least 29 minutes in both games returning from an Achilles injury, and he's posted 1.17 FanDuel points alongside Haliburton during the pair of contests. The Pacers' trip to Orlando has a 231.0-point total as well, but the muddy rotations might limit the options to high-minute value plays. Brogdon fits that description here.

Gabe Vincent ($3,900): Kyle Lowry's personal situation appears to have returned, so Vincent should slot into the Miami starting five at a near-minimum salary. Vincent has posted average production in this role with Lowry missing key time in January (0.80 FanDuel points per minute last month), but he did not play blowouts in this situation. Still, compared to other low-salary alternatives at guard, Vincent's court time should make the difference.

Others to Consider:
LaMelo Ball ($8,300): This salary is terrifyingly low in a game with a 240.0-point total. Can't fade it even amidst his struggles.
Jrue Holiday ($7,500): He's spent much of the season above $8,000. In a great game environment, he's an interesting choice.
Brandon Goodwin ($5,300): With no Garland or Rajon Rondo, Goodwin should see 35-plus minutes. Total question if he does anything with them.
Patrick Beverley ($5,100): Sees full-time minutes, so he works in this salary area. Projected well by numberFire.

Wings

Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,500): With the highest total of the day in Milwaukee, Giannis is the key pivot point on the slate. He has now wrestled the silver medal for FanDuel points per minute in February (1.82) from Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic, and he only trails Joel Embiid (1.83). The Hornets could come out flat on a back-to-back coming off an overtime loss, but that's just about the only justification for fading the do-it-all star.

Anthony Edwards ($7,000): With a 25.3% usage rate in February, Edwards' role hasn't really gone anywhere. His shot has disappeared, though. Edwards is in a four-game stretch of 9-for-42 shooting (21.4%), and he played 38 minutes in a blowout on Friday against Philadelphia in an effort to break him out of it. Cleveland allows the fourth-best quality of shots in the NBA, so he should get some clean looks on Monday with a salary that carries upside.

Scottie Barnes ($5,700): With Anunoby off the floor this season, Barnes sees increases in usage rate (1.6 percentage points) and per-minute production (0.10 FanDuel points per minute). That's more than enough justification to roster him at a salary that would be justifiable with OG. Toronto (22nd in the NBA in pace) will also see a giant lift of possessions to the Nets (8th in pace) in this contest.

Others to Consider:
Tyler Herro ($6,100): Jimmy Butler is broken at the moment, so Herro is the safest and best way to access the Heat's scoring.
Desmond Bane ($6,000): 30 real-life point upside in a game with a 236.0-point total. He always makes me shy away from Ja Morant in these spots.
Lauri Markkanen ($5,800): Handles the ball quite a bit for the point guard-less Cavs. Up to 34 minutes last game, too.
Franz Wagner ($5,500): With Fultz returning, probably the one spot I target Orlando on their side. Still a great game environment.

Bigs

Domantas Sabonis ($9,700): Admittedly, I've been spoiled by Jokic and Embiid this season to a point where Monday's big men are a disappointment. Sabonis still stands out among the options. Sabonis has posted 1.34 FanDuel points per minute with the Kings, and that even includes his get-up-to-speed transition at the start. The last time Sabonis battled the small, young OKC frontcourt with Indiana, he posted 67.6 FanDuel points in overtime.

Jarrett Allen ($7,200): Yes. That's the answer to the Cavs' big men Allen and Evan Mobley on Monday. The Timberwolves are dead last in the NBA in shot quality (0.50) and defensive rebounding percentage (70.0%). Cleveland (22nd in pace) also sees a massive upgrade in tempo to the top-paced T-Wolves. These two should continue to see extra shots as the backcourt remains injured, and they should have the upside to even pair together on Monday.

James Johnson ($4,500): Despite two straight games of starting and seeing heavy minutes, Johnson's salary hasn't budged. He might be the single best value play on the slate as a result. Andre Drummond might be a little dicey; the Raptors love to play small. Still, the small-ball four should see 30-plus minutes again. He's cashed in on them in February, posting 0.80 FanDuel points per minute in a variety of roles for Brooklyn.

Others to Consider:
Pascal Siakam ($9,100): 4.6 percentage-point increase in usage without Anunoby. This salary has dropped, too.
Jaren Jackson Jr. ($7,000): Clarke sitting would go a long way for his floor. Still viable if he plays.
Andre Drummond ($6,600): 29 minutes against the Bucks on Saturday, but with Steve Nash at the helm, any benching is possible.
P.J. Tucker ($4,100): High-minute, high-floor play. The ceiling is a riskier proposition.