NBA
FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Sunday 3/27/22
With Al Horford out, Jayson Tatum should play a lead role against Minnesota. Which other players are important to Sunday's six-game slate?

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.

TeamImplied TotalTotalSpreadKey Injuries
WSH107221.57.5Kuzma OUT
DET107.752204.5Grant OUT
UTAH1082193
MIN110.75227.56
DAL111219-3
PHI1122295
NY112.25220-4.5Randle Questionable
LAL113.25230.54James Questionable
GS114.5221.5-7.5Curry OUT
CHA115.25237.57
BOS116.75227.5-6Horford OUT
PHX117229-5
NO117.25230.5-4
BKN122.25237.5-7Curry Questionable

Guards

Luka Doncic ($10,200) - At his second lowest salary in March, Doncic will be a main stable in all formats with his all-around contributions. Despite a perceived difficult matchup against a Jazz team ranked 11th in defensive rating, the Mavericks' superstar exploded for 73.7 FanDuel points in their last encounter this month.

James Harden (9,900) - Philadelphia's versatile guard appears to be in form during March, producing 1.22 FanDuel points, 0.19 rebounds, and 0.22 assists per minute in 11 games this month. As numberFire's fifth rated player with a 47.2 FanDuel projection, Harden is a relative bargain against a recently weak Phoenix unit ranked 26th in points allowed per game in their last three contests.

Donovan Mitchell ($8,400) - In 225.5 minutes with today's current inactives, Mitchell ranks as Utah's top offensive producer, averaging 1.24 FanDuel points and 0.67 shot attempts. "Spida" has been extremely aggressive this month, firing up 21.8 shot attempts per game including 11.8 from three-point territory.

C.J. McCollum ($7,800) - If Brandon Ingram is unable to suit up on Sunday, McCollum should play an alpha role in a great spot against a Lakers' unit allowing a generous 112.0 defensive rating. The 30-year old guard sees a 0.04 increase to 1.28 FanDuel points in a 384.5 minute sample size when Ingram is off the floor this season.

Jordan Poole ($7,700) - Golden State's young guard has been on a hot streak in March, accounting for his best output this season with 24.5 real-life points on 16.7 shot attempts. In a favorable opportunity against a Washington unit ranked 25th in defensive rating, Poole has another chance to continue his increased production on Sunday night.

Klay Thompson ($7,500) - After a 50.9 fantasy performance on Friday, Thompson's FanDuel salary has moved to his highest point this month. In 276.2 minutes with Stephen Curry off the floor this season, the Warriors' guard is averaging 1.09 FanDuel points and 0.60 field goal attempts per minute.

Chris Paul ($6,600) - In his first start after All-Star Break, Paul didn't miss a step, accounting for 46 FanDuel points in just 30 minutes. Even with a potential restriction, Phoenix's star guard is still averaging 1.22 FanDuel points this season in a 1946.2 minutes sample size.

Terry Rozier ($6,400) - Despite being part of today's highest projected game total, Rozier's FanDuel salary has moved down to his lowest point in March. As numberFire's ninth ranked guard with a 38.7 FanDuel point expectation, Rozier is an intriguing option especially after Charlotte's guard roasted the Nets for 55.6 FanDuel points earlier this month.

Tomas Satoransky ($3,500) - Washington's veteran point guard has recently seen more playing time with their first unit after Satoransky was named Friday's starter for Raul Neto. In 180.1 minutes with Kyle Kuzma off the floor and today's injuries, the 30-year old is averaging 0.87 FanDuel points and a 13.1% usage rate.

Forwards

Kevin Durant ($11,100) - The Nets are in a favorable spot against a Charlotte Hornets unit ranked 27th in points allowed per game this season. In their previous two matchups, Durant has been uneven against the Hornets, accounting for 48.5 FanDuel points in their first meeting while being held to 23.1 in their second contest.

Jayson Tatum ($9,400) - Boston's superstar forward sees a sizable 0.08 boost to 1.31 FanDuel points per minute and a 30.1% usage rate in 209.3 minutes with Al Horford off the floor and today's inactives. Tatum has a sneaky matchup against a Minnesota defense ranked 28th in points allowed when on the road.

Kristaps Porzingis ($8,700) - Despite a recent salary increase, Porzingis has been extremely productive in March, averaging 1.48 FanDuel points in a 272.0 minute sample size. Washington's 26-year old forward is their clear offensive leader with Kyle Kuzma off the floor, averaging 0.83 real-life points, 0.11 assists, and a 31.4% usage rate per minute.

Jaylen Brown ($7,200) - At his lowest salary this month, Brown stands out in all formats as numberFire's fifth ranked forward with a 39.2 FanDuel point projection. Boston's small forward should have his way against a Timberwolves' team ranked 25th in FanDuel points allowed to his position this season.

Grant Williams ($4,400) - As Horford's probable replacement in Sunday's lineup, Williams is averaging 0.68 FanDuel points and a 12.1% usage rate in a 916.5 minute sample size this season when the veteran is off the court.

Jarred Vanderbilt ($4,200) - In his last ten starts during March, Minnesota's young power forward has produced 0.83 FanDuel points per minute. At his second lowest salary this month, Vanderbilt ranks as numberFire's second rated value option at his position with a 25.7 FanDuel point projection.

Centers

Joel Embiid ($11,000) - Philadelphia's superstar has basically been matchup proof since All-Star Break, producing 30.4 points per game on 19.2 shot attempts. In his previous encounter against Phoenix, Embiid was dominant, accounting for 34 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 assists.

Karl-Anthony Towns ($9,300) - After two mediocre fantasy performances, KAT's FanDuel salary has dropped $700 from $10,000. Despite a challenging spot against a Boston unit rated third in FanDuel points allowed to centers this season, the Timberwolves' star big man currently ranks second among his position with a 45.7 FanDuel point projection.

Rudy Gobert ($7,400) - Since March 14th, Utah's defensive anchor has produced a double-double in five of his last seven contests while averaging 1.15 FanDuel points per minute. At his second lowest salary this month, Gobert is an intriguing option in large field tournaments as numberFire's fourth ranked center with a 37.8 FanDuel point expectation.

Robert Williams ($6,800) - In 178.1 minutes with Boston's current injuries, Williams' fantasy output increases to 1.22 FanDuel points per minute. The Timberwolves have been generally weak inside, allowing 54.9 FanDuel points per game to the five position this season.

Deandre Ayton ($6,800) - Ayton's FanDuel salary remains at his lowest point in March despite an underrated matchup against a Philadelphia team ranked 17th in points allowed in the paint in their last three contests. Phoenix's emerging center is having his best all-around month this season, producing 19.9 points on 13.8 shot attempts.

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