FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Sunday 3/20/22

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

Guards

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10,200) Since the All-Star Break, SAG has been an offensive machine, averaging 30.3 points on 20.1 shot attempts. If Oklahoma City's guard can play through his recent ankle soreness, Gilgeous-Alexander has a good opportunity to eat against an Orlando Magic unit ranked 21st in FanDuel points (48.6) allowed to point guards per game this season.

Devin Booker ($9,600) In 357.6 minutes with Phoenix's current inactives including Chris Paul, Booker has been on a roll, averaging 1.32 FanDuel points per minute with a 31.8% usage rate. The Suns' elite shooting guard should continue his hot streak against a leaky Kings' team ranked 28th in defensive rating.

C.J. McCollum ($8,700) With Brandon Ingram sidelined, McCollum should carry New Orleans' offense against a generous Atlanta unit ranked 26th in defensive rating. In 242.5 minutes with Ingram of the floor, McCollum is averaging 1.34 FanDuel points mostly due to his 0.05 per minute increase in assists and 0.08 boost in real-life points.

Donovan Mitchell ($8,500) Mitchell will return to a lead offensive role after the Jazz ruled out two starters including Mike Conley. In 251.9 minutes with Utah's current inactives, "Spida" is averaging an elite 1.41 FanDuel points per minute and a 36.0% usage rate.

Jordan Poole ($7,600) After a hot stretch in March and Stephen Curry's recent injury, Poole's FanDuel salary has moved to his highest point. The 22-year old is averaging 1.03 FanDuel points and a 30.1% usage rate in 889.7 minutes this season when Curry is off the floor.

Klay Thompson ($6,900) Golden State's offense will likely lean on Thompson and Poole against a Spurs' team ranked 21st in FanDuel points allowed per game to shooting guard this season. The 32-year old Splash Brother sees a 0.10 boost to 1.16 FanDuel points per minute and a 31.1% usage rate in a 165.2 minute sample size when Curry is sitting.

Bogdan Bogdanovic ($6,000) With Trae Young currently questionable, Bogdanovic is a candidate to see more usage if Atlanta's star point guard were to be ruled out again. In 322.2 minutes with Young off the floor and Atlanta's current inactives, the 29-year old is averaging 1.23 FanDuel points per minute.

Torrey Craig ($5,400) Despite a recent salary jump, the Sun's veteran has seen a huge 0.24 boost to 1.10 FanDuel points per minute when Jae Crowder is unable to go. If Crowder were to miss another game with a groin ailment, Craig would be another interesting option if he were to see around 32 minutes.

Dillon Brooks ($4,700) In 468.7 minutes with Ja Morant off the floor this season, Brooks is averaging a solid 1.05 FanDuel points and 0.57 shot attempts per minute.

Delon Wright ($4,400) If Trae Young were to miss his second straight game, Wright is a great valiue play, averaging 0.85 FanDuel points per minute and a 11.6% usage rate in a 411.8 minute sample size.

Tyus Jones ($4,200) At this salary, the Memphis point guard is a free square on Sunday, averaging 0.96 FanDuel points when Morant has been off the court this season.

Forwards

Jayson Tatum ($9,300) In eight games this month, Tatum has produced his best offensive numbers this season, averaging 34.8 points on 23.3 shot attempts. As numberFire's top rated forward, Boston's superstar has an underrated matchup against a Denver unit ranked 22nd in points allowed inside.

Julius Randle ($8,500) At his lowest salary point in March, Randle's current 42.8 projection as numberFire's fourth ranked forward could be an interesting spot to invest in large field GPPs.

Scottie Barnes ($8,000) With Fred VanVleet ruled out, Toronto's rookie will likely see more ball-handling, while also seeing a 0.09 per minute boost to 1.04 FanDuel points. Pascal Siakam also sees a similar benefit, averaging a 1.16 mark in a 471.4 minute sample size with Toronto's current injuries.

Wendell Carter Jr.($6,900) Orlando's big man is on track to return after sitting one game with a left ankle sprain. At his second lowest salary point in March, Carter is a prime candidate for a double-double against a soft Thunder interior ranked 28th in FanDuel points allowed per game to power forwards this season.

Jaren Jackson Jr.($6,900) The Grizzlies' young forward benefits the most this season with today's current injuries, averaging 1.32 FanDuel points per minute and a 30.1% usage rate. Jackson currently ranks as numberFire's tenth overall forward with a 35.9 FanDuel point projection.

Aleksej Pokusevski ($5,300) Even with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander listed as questionable, Poku has a chance for increased playing time regardless on Sunday. In 243.4 minutes this month, Oklahoma City's forward is averaging 1.03 FanDuel points, 0.29 rebounds, and 0.38 shot attempts per minute.

Danilo Gallinari ($4,800) Atlanta's veteran forward has been solid when Trae Young and John Collins have been off the floor this season, averaging 0.98 FanDuel points and 0.44 shot attempts per minute.

Centers

Nikola Jokic ($11,300) The Joker has turned up his offensive usage, producing his best scoring month of the season with a 30.0 mark while also increasing his free throw attempts to 7.6. Denver's center is always an option to consider even in challenging spots, producing a triple double his last time against a Boston unit ranked first in defensive rating and second in points allowed in the paint.

Joel Embiid ($11,200) Despite a difficult matchup against a Toronto team ranked eighth in FanDuel points (51.8) allowed per game to the five spot this season, Embiid's FanDuel salary has moved to his most expensive salary in March. Philadelphia's superstar has been unstoppable since All-Star Break, averaging 31.6 points per game.

Deandre Ayton ($7,500) Phoenix's emerging center has seen a 0.07 per minute boost to 1.23 FanDuel points per minute in a 227.1 minute sample size with Phoenix's current injuries. In a mouth-watering spot against a Kings' unit allowing the second most points in the paint this season, Ayton's FanDuel salary has somehow dropped $200 since Friday.

Goga Bitadze ($6,400) Despite inconsistent playing time in March, Indiana's center has been solid in fantasy, averaging 1.48 FanDuel points in a 91.1 minute sample size. If Bitadze is unable to go due to his questionable designation, Jalen Smith is another candidate to fire up as a value play if he also is active.

Steven Adams ($5,700) With Ja Morant unable to go, Adams sees a sneaky boost to 1.12 FanDuel points per minute in a 506.4 minute sample size. The veteran has the best matchup any big man can ask for against a Houston squad ranked last in the league in points allowed inside.