FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Sunday 10/23/22

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.

Guards

Stephen Curry ($10,700): In 68.7 minutes this season, Curry ranks first among his team in fantasy production (1.52 FanDuel points), usage (33.3%), and shot attempts (0.65) per minute. As numberFire's second ranked guard, Curry's projection includes 25.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 5.7% assists against a Sacramento Kings' team allowing opponents to shoot a sizzling 40% from long-range.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($9,600): Currently listed as questionable with a left hip contusion, Gilgeous-Alexander would be a top play if active versus an uptempo Timberwolves' team playing with a 104.0 pace while allowing a 109.1 defensive rating. For the season, the Thunder lead guard is producing an impressive 1.41 FanDuel points per minute.

Donovan Mitchell ($8,500): With Darius Garland inactive, Mitchell's fantasy production is boosted by 0.06 to 1.56 FanDuel points with a 35.6% usage rate. Cleveland's offensive leader is averaging 0.59 shot attempts and 0.27 assists in a 63.1 minute sample size.

De'Aaron Fox ($8,400): Sacramento's point guard has really taken control of his offense, recording 0.65 shot attempts, 0.16 assists, and 1.02 real-life points in 67.6 minutes. With a 39.4 FanDuel points projection, Fox stands as our fourth ranked point guard in an undervalued spot versus a Golden State Warriors team ranked first in pace (110.2) and 14th (108.7) in defensive rating.

Devin Booker ($8,300): Despite averaging 45.9 FanDuel points and a 28.3% usage rate, Booker's FanDuel salary has not moved since his opening contest. Despite his tough matchup against a Los Angeles Clippers giving up a stingy 101.0 defensive rating, the 25-year old ranks second among shooting guards with a 41.9 FanDuel point expectation and fourth in value with a 5.04 rating.

Anthony Edwards ($7,500): "Ant-Man" has been the most aggressive on his team with his shot, recording 0.55 field goal attempts per minute while also contributing in a versatile way with 0.12 assists and 0.18 rebounds per minute.

Josh Giddey ($6,800): Oklahoma City's second year emerging star has displayed an ability rack up the stat sheet, producing a double-double in his first two games. In 66.6 minutes, Giddey is averaging 1.24 FanDuel points, 0.35 rebounds, 0.15 assists, and 0.47 field goal attempts.

D'Angelo Russell ($6,500): Ranking third among guards in value with a 5.19 rating after his FanDuel salary remained stagnant since his last game, Russell has an ideal opportunity against a Thunder team rated second among today's slate in pace while allowing a generous 113.9 defensive rating. Among Minnesota's starters, DLo is second on his team in fantasy production (1.05 FanDuel points) and third in shot attempts (0.45).

Caris LeVert ($5,600): At his lowest salary point this season, LeVert stands as numberFire's top value guard with a 5.61 value rating and a 31.4 FanDuel point expectation. In 62.2 minutes, Cleveland's guard is averaging 0.95 FanDuel points, 0.23 assists, and 0.14 rebounds.

Forwards

Paul George ($9,000): Coming off a monster 61.2 fantasy outing, George's FanDuel salary did not move while the Clippers should be fully healthy. As their current offensive leader with the Clippers' first unit, George's projection includes 20.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 5.2 assists.

Zion Williamson ($8,800): Recording 30 minutes per minute, Williamson has still been efficient with his playing time, rating third among his team with a 1.26 FanDuel point average.

Brandon Ingram ($8,100): After a 53.5 fantasy performance, Ingram's FanDuel salary has moved up to his highest point this season due to his ability to rack up multiple stats, averaging 1.40 FanDuel points, 0.23 rebounds, 0.18 assists, and 0.48 shot attempts per minute.

Kristaps Porzingis ($7,900): Even in a tough spot against a Cleveland team allowing the fourth fewest (39.0) points in the paint, Porzingis ranks as numberFire's fourth rated power forward with a 38.2 FanDuel point projection.

Domantas Sabonis ($7,700): Since Sacramento's first game, Sabonis' FanDuel salary has moved down 10.4% to his lowest point this season. In 67.8 minutes, Sacramento's big man still ranks second among his team's starters in fantasy production (1.07) and usage (20.0%).

Kyle Kuzma ($7,300): Washington's leader in fantasy production (1.17 FanDuel points) has recorded 0.51 shot attempts, 0.28 rebounds, 0.6 assists, and 0.70 real-life points per minute.

Jarrett Allen ($7,100): Despite quiet production in his second game, Allen is averaging 1.07 FanDuel points, 0.50 real-life points, and 0.30 rebounds in a 709.8 minute sample size with Garland off the court.

Andrew Wiggins ($6,700): Golden State's versatile forward has gotten off to a good start this season, registering 1.30 FanDuel points, 0.64 real-life points, 0.21 rebounds, and 0.10 assists in a 66.9 minute sample size.

Keegan Murray ($5,200): In his NBA debut on Saturday night, Sacramento's rookie averaged 0.98 FanDuel points and 0.58 real-life points in 32 minutes off the bench.

Centers

Karl-Anthony Towns ($9,000): After making a combined 11-of-35 field goal attempts in his first two contests, Minnesota's star big man should see some positive regression when evaluating his 47.4% true shooting percentage. Despite his recent struggles, Towns still rates first among his position with a 43.4 fantasy projection against a Thunder team ranked 15th in true shooting.

Rudy Gobert ($8,900): Minnesota's second star big man rates first among Timberwolves in fantasy production (1.29 FanDuel points) and rebounds (0.54) despite taking 0.35 shot attempts per minute. As numberFire's second rated center with 40.6 FanDuel points, Gobert is a top double-double candidate against a Thunder team allowing 44.0 points in the paint.

Jonas Valanciunas ($7,600): While most of the attention is paid to other members of the New Orleans' starting lineup, the Pelicans' center sneakily leads his team with 1.73 FanDuel points per minute. In a 56.1 sample size, Valanciunas is averaging 0.80 real-life points, 0.53 rebounds, and 0.11 assists.

Deandre Ayton ($7,000): Phoenix's center has taken another step in his offensive game, increasing his shot attempts to 16.5 per game and 0.48 per minute.