FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Saturday 3/26/22
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.
| Team | Spread | Implied Total | Key Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHI | 1 | 109.75 | |
| OKC | 13.5 | 107 | Gilgeous-Alexander questionable |
| IND | 10 | 108.5 | Bitadze, Smith questionable |
| SAC | 3 | 110.5 | |
| CLE | -1 | 110.75 | |
| MIA | 3 | 112.5 | Butler, Herro, Tucker, Robinson questionable |
| ORL | -3 | 113.5 | Carter Jr. questionable |
| POR | 4.5 | 114 | |
| SA | 5.5 | 114 | Vassell OUT |
| BKN | -3 | 115.5 | Curry, Dragic probable |
| MIL | 2 | 117.5 | Antetokounmpo questionable, Holiday OUT, Middleton probable |
| HOU | -4.5 | 118.5 | |
| TOR | -10 | 118.5 | Trent Jr. questionable |
| MEM | -2 | 119.5 | Morant OUT |
| NO | -5.5 | 119.5 | Ingram questionable |
| DEN | -13.5 | 120.5 |
Guards
Kyrie Irving ($10,600) - Despite a difficult matchup against a Miami unit ranked fifth in defensive rating, Irving's FanDuel salary has moved to his highest point in March. After a hot stretch in five games this month, Brooklyn's star point guard is averaging 38.8 real life points on 22.4 attempts.
Darius Garland ($9,400) - Since the All-Star Break, Garland has been Cleveland's offensive centerpiece, leading his team with 25.7 points and 11.3 assists per game. As numberFire's fourth ranked guard, the Cavaliers' young star has an underrated matchup against a Chicago unit ranked 21st in FanDuel points allowed to his position.
Jimmy Butler ($8,000) - At his second lowest salary in March, Butler offers intriguing value with his all-around skillset. Since his return from a toe injury on March 21st, Butler has looked like his vintage self, averaging 1.14 FanDuel points per minute and a 26.8% usage rate.
Desmond Bane ($7,800) - The Grizzlies' young shooting guard has been on fire since March 19th, averaging 1.48 FanDuel points per minute and a 25.4% usage rate. Bane currently ranks as our 12th ranked guard on Saturday with a 31.0 FanDuel point projection.
Dillon Brooks ($6,100) - In 527.6 minutes with Ja Morant off the floor this season, Brooks has been a solid contributor to the Grizzlies' offense, averaging 0.58 field goal attempts per minute and a 29.3% usage rate.
Davion Mitchell ($5,900) - Sacramento's offense will likely lean on their rookie point guard against a Magic unit ranked 23rd in FanDuel points allowed to the position. In 124.1 minutes this season with today's current inactives, Mitchell is averaging 0.80 FanDuel points per minute and a 25.9% usage rate.
Tyus Jones ($5,300) - Even at an elevated salary, Jones still offers plenty of fantasy value as numberFire's tenth overall guard with a 32.7 FanDuel point projection. In a 635.5 minute sample size, the 25-year old is averaging 0.93 FanDuel points and 0.33 shot attempts per minute with today's injuries.
Keon Johnson ($3,500) - At FanDuel's minimum salary, Johnson is another value option to consider, averaging 0.67 FanDuel points and a 21.2% usage rate in a 191.2 minute sample size. The 20-year old shooting guard has been fairly aggressive while on the floor, putting up 0.40 shot attempts per minute.
Forwards
Kevin Durant ($10,900)- At his second highest salary in March, Durant could be an contrarian option on Saturday night. As numberFire's second ranked overall player with a 47.2 FanDuel point projection, the Nets' forward has a sneaky spot to attack against a recently weak Miami unit ranked 19th in points allowed in their last three games.
Pascal Siakam ($8,600) - In the past week, Siakam's FanDuel salary has dropped $800 from $9,400. Toronto's forward will likely face little opposition inside against a Pacers' team ranked 26th in points allowed in the paint.
Khris Middleton ($7,700) - With Giannis Antetokounmpo currently questionable and Jrue Holiday ruled out, Middleton is a probable candidate to see more usage if Milwaukee's superstar is inactive on Saturday. In 294.8 minutes with Antetokounmpo off the floor and the Bucks current inactives, the 30-year old is averaging 1.41 FanDuel points per minute and a 40.1% usage rate.
Trendon Watford ($6,100) - Despite inconsistent playing time, Watford is averaging 1.03 FanDuel points and a 19.5% usage rate in a 380.2 minute sample size in March. The 21-year old forward has another chance to impress his team in a mouth-watering matchup against a Houston unit allowing the most FanDuel points per game to the four spot this season.
Kevin Love ($5,500) - Cleveland's big man has recently seen more playing time after Love was named Thursday's starter for Lamar Stevens. In 325.4 minutes with the Cavaliers' current inactives, the veteran sees a 0.04 boost to 1.17 FanDuel points per minute.
Trey Lyles ($4,900) - Sacramento's veteran forward has a favorable opportunity against an Orlando unit ranked 28th in FanDuel points allowed per game to power forwards this season. In the Kings' past four games, Lyles has been a solid contributor, averaging 0.97 FanDuel points, 0.22 rebounds, and 0.08 assists per minute.
Centers
Nikola Jokic ($11,600) - The Joker is in a prime spot against a Thunder unit ranked 27th in FanDuel points allowed to centers this season. Despite tonight's amazing matchup, Jokic's FanDuel salary has somehow dropped $200 from his highest salary this month.
Bam Adebayo ($8,100) - At his lowest salary this month, Miami's star center is an optimal play in all formats against a Brooklyn unit ranked 18th in points allowed in the paint per game this season. In their previous meeting, Adebayo had his way against the Nets, accounting for 30 real-life points, 11 rebounds, and six assists.
Christian Wood ($8,000) - Since March 13th, Wood has produced a double-double in five of his last seven contests while averaging an elite 1.33 FanDuel points per minute. At a relative discount against a leaky Portland unit ranked 25th in FanDuel points allowed to the five spot this season, Houston's big man stands as numberFire's fourth rated center with a 36.9 projection.
Evan Mobley ($7,500) - After two lackluster fantasy performances, Mobley's FanDuel salary has dropped to his third lowest point in March. Cleveland's rookie has sneaky potential to hit his ceiling against a soft Chicago interior allowing 49.7 points per game in the paint this season.
Steven Adams ($5,800) - In 509.2 minutes with the Grizzlies' current injures, Adams' fantasy production has seen a 0.16 spike to 1.18 FanDuel points per minute. During this span, the 28-year old has improved in several categories, increasing his averages to 0.31 real life points, 0.42 rebounds, and 0.13 assists per minute.
