FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Friday 3/4/22

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 surprise news of Wednesday was that Devin Booker was placed into COVID-19 protocols for the Phoenix Suns. He remains out on Friday's official NBA injury report.

The Raptors will once more keep a keen eye on the status of Fred VanVleet (knee). He's questionable.

Anthony Edwards (knee) is out again on Friday after missing Tuesday's contest. Jarred Vanderbilt (quad) is also questionable for Minny.

Both Josh Giddey (hip) and Lu Dort (shoulder) are unknown for Oklahoma City, but given reports of long-term injuries, both are probably closer to doubtful.

Doubtful also would describe John Collins. The Hawks' forward has been listed as doubtful and ruled out all week, and he's carrying that tag again with a slight chance to play. Onyeka Okongwu (concussion) is on the wrong side of questionable.

Finally, even with lesser roles awaiting them, both Lance Stephenson (ankle) and Chris Duarte (toe) are questionable for the Pacers.

Guards

Trae Young ($9,100): You didn't think Trae would miss "Trey Day," did you? Young turned from a game-time decision to 39 points and 13 boards against Chicago on Thursday. Young's salary is reduced well beyond what his 1.40 FanDuel points per minute since February 1st should hold. The 224.0-point total against the Wizards (with just a 4.0-point spread) is a solid game environment that likely goes overlooked compared to some of the other gaudy totals of the day.

Kevin Porter Jr. ($5,900): One of those gaudy totals is in Denver. The Rockets will visit the Nuggets, and the game's 236.0-point projection is the second-highest on Friday's slate. Unfortunately, a high-scoring overtime affair with Utah has most of the Houston salaries elevated, but KPJ got left behind. In a supreme environment, Porter has posted 1.04 FanDuel points per minute since February 1st. He's just returning from injury, but the 39 minutes on Wednesday squashed any concerns.

Alec Burks ($4,600): Burks won't be the popular starting point guard in his game. That'll be Cameron Payne off a 20-minute performance with minimal concrete findings in terms of his role. We do know quite a bit about Burks at this point. Since returning to the starting five on February 25th, Burks has played at least 30 minutes in every contest. His upside hasn't been ideal behind a 13.1% usage rate, but at a lower salary than Payne's and seeing a pace increase, Burks is my preferred low-salary guard.

Others to Consider:
Donovan Mitchell ($8,800): The 224.0-point total in New Orleans is sneaky, as well. Mitchell's 33.1% usage rate will be at the forefront of Utah's attack.
C.J. McCollum ($8,800): Despite plenty of blowouts, 34-plus minutes in every game with the Pels. That's worth something at this salary.
Cameron Payne ($5,000): Lots of questions behind what is sure to be an overwhelmingly popular play. The salary isn't tiny, either.
Patrick Beverley ($4,700): T-Wolves could be extremely shorthanded. Beverley will see plenty of time with block and steal upside.

Wings

DeMar DeRozan ($9,800): The top total of the day is in Chicago. The Bucks are the visitors, and the two fast-paced squads are listed with a 240.5-point total (as of now). DeRozan was extremely over-salaried at five digits, but with DeRozan in a supreme scoring environment, I like buying slightly low in this spot. DeRozan still took 20 shots last night in a blowout. If his role hasn't changed dramatically, this is still a guy who scored 28 points in 10 straight contests before the break. That would work.

Khris Middleton ($7,300): I am always down for Giannis Antetokounmpo; that much should be known. However, I want to make a conscious effort to be overweight on Khris Middleton in a game where points are expected in bunches. Chicago is allowing the fourth-most real-life points per game to small forwards (22.6), and Middleton can score. The recent Jrue Holiday surge has dipped Middleton to this salary, one that is incredibly affordable for a player with easy 30-point scoring upside.

Will Barton ($5,700): Barton is far from the best process play. He and several Nuggets starters were benched Wednesday as they flailed against OKC. However, the center position is the most loaded it has been on a single slate all season, and that means I can't really prioritize Nikola Jokic with minimal value-based upside. Barton is averaging 0.94 FanDuel points per minute this season and is in a game with a massive total. This rough stretch may have dropped his salary to the right mark at the right time.

Others to Consider:
Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,300): He's a phenomenal process play, but he and Middleton probably don't make a perfect lineup together. I'll go there some.
Gary Trent Jr. ($6,700): Still waiting on the outburst sans VanVleet. The team-best 27.2% usage rate without FVV says it's coming.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope ($4,400): Pick your favorite high-minute, low-production guy between KCP, Bojan Bogdanovic, and De'Andre Hunter.
Malik Beasley ($4,300): Would feel better if he starts for Vanderbilt but still should play a key scoring role no matter what with Edwards out.

Bigs

Karl-Anthony Towns ($9,300): I've never been more distraught FanDuel has just one center slot. The position is loaded today, but Towns could leapfrog Jokic and Joel Embiid in raw points at this salary, so he gets pole position. Towns dropped 39 points and 49.3 FanDuel points on Tuesday with no Edwards, and with a 33.0% usage rate in that floor condition this season, KAT could do it again today. Towns also averages 1.48 FanDuel points per minute without Ant -- far, far closer to Jokic's and Embiid's numbers than the salary gap indicates.

Pascal Siakam ($8,100): It feels like the Raptors have played every day this week, and that's invited Siakam to the dance each time. Siakam's shooting slump ended with a 28-point outing on Thursday, but his contributions on the glass have become few and far between. He's dipped to 5.8 rebounds per game in his last five, compared to a season-long mark of 8.8, and he's still starting at center. At this point, with no role change, you just have to believe regression hits soon.

Deandre Ayton ($7,100): As I write up Ayton, today's news could shift my center choices behind Towns. Ayton posted 18 points and 8 boards in three quarters, so he could absolutely smash value at this salary against the Knicks. He's likely Phoenix's best scoring option without CP3 and Booker. Still, Nikola Vucevic, Rudy Gobert, and a full-time role for Clint Capela are all under-salaried at the pivot, as well. Tough choices will have to be made.

Others to Consider:
Nikola Vucevic ($8,200): Because of his game environment, he's probably second or third in my pecking order. Decisions, decisions.
Christian Wood ($7,700): Thankfully, he's forward-eligible. Great game-stack component of Houston-Denver.
Lauri Markkanen ($5,500): Both Lauri and Evan Mobley are on the table dodging the Embiid matchup at lower salaries.
Aaron Gordon ($5,500): If I can't get to Jokic, Gordon is a great pivot. Projected to do more than run sprints like he did Wednesday.