NBA

3 NBA FanDuel Value Plays to Target on Monday 3/21/22

Thomas Vecchio  —  @Tom_Vecchio1 Mar 21st, 2022

One of the keys to finding success in daily fantasy basketball is uncovering potential value plays. If you're looking to roster a stud player or two, you need to consider squeezing in one of these lower-salaried options into your lineup.

Let's take a look at three players who can help fill in the gaps in your lineup.

Derrick White, PG, Boston Celtics ($4,600)

The Boston Celtics are going to be without Marcus Smart, pushing Derrick White into the starting lineup.

White and the Celtics are massive 14.0-point favorites in a game with a 216.0-point over/under as they visit the Oklahoma City Thunder, putting them in a great matchup. While the larger spread isn't ideal, White is still projected for 32.23 minutes and 31.1 FanDuel points, according to our model, making him the top point-per-dollar value option on tonight's slate.

The Thunder are allowing 48.67 FanDuel points per game to point guards this season, which is the eighth-most in the league. The role in the starting lineup, the increase in minutes, and the soft matchup should put White in a spot to not only hit that projection but to possibly exceed it easily.

Marvin Bagley, PF/C, Detroit Pistons ($5,600)

Jerami Grant is ruled out for the Detroit Pistons, opening up some value.

This means we should be seeing Marvin Bagley III in the starting lineup for the Pistons, who have a very favorable matchup versus the Portland Trail Blazers. This season, Portland allows 45.53 FanDuel points per game to power forwards, which is the ninth-most in the league. Bagley hasn't been with the Pistons for too long, but he has produced 1.20 FanDuel points per minute with a 26.5% offensive usage rate when Grant is off the court.

This matchup features a 222.0-point over/under and a 9.0-point spread in favor of the Pistons. Bagley is projected for 31.81 minutes and 31.9 FanDuel points, making him the sixth-best value option on the slate and the second-best among centers who are salaried under $6,000.

Khem Birch, PF/C, Toronto Raptors ($3,700)

Another team and another injury situation that creates some value.

The player sitting out is Gary Trent Jr., which should put Khem Birch in a spot to be in the starting lineup. This isn't a direct positional replacement since Birch is a power forward and Trent is a shooting guard, but the Toronto Raptors are still without OG Anunoby and Malachi Flynn, which has thinned out their guard rotation.

Birch is only $3,700 and has a good matchup versus the Chicago Bulls, who allow the sixth-most (45.90) FanDuel points per game to power forwards. A 221.0-point over/under and a close 4.0-point spread give this game plenty of fantasy potential.