FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Saturday 11/19/22

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

Damian Lillard ($9,200): At his highest salary point in November, Lillard will face a Jazz unit allowing 48.3 FanDuel points per game to points guards. In 129.7 minutes this season with Portland's current starting five, the 32-year old is averaging 1.16 FanDuel points and a 29.8% usage rate.

Tyrese Haliburton ($8,500): If active, Indiana's point guard ranks first at his position with 44.2 expected FanDuel point versus an Orlando Magic team giving up 49.6 fantasy points to the position.

Anfernee Simons ($7,400): Since the start of this month, Simons' FanDuel salary has moved down 5.1% to his lowest point in November. In 244.0 minutes during this time period, Portland's guard is producing 0.99 FanDuel points per minute and a 29.3% usage percentage.

Anthony Edwards ($7,400): In a matchup against a Philly unit ranked 11th in FanDuel points allowed to shooting guards, Edwards ranks third at his position with a 34.7 FanDuel point projection. While Edwards' production has been inconsistent throughout November, the 21-year old is averaging 0.96 FanDuel points, 0.15 rebounds, and 0.09 assists in a 289.7 minute sample size.

Franz Wagner ($6,800): With a 32.5 FanDuel point projection, Wagner currently rates sixth among guards versus a Pacers' team ranked 19th in points allowed per game and 22nd in opposing true shooting percentage.

Tre Jones ($6,400): San Antonio's third year guard could see a 0.07 increase to 1.05 FanDuel points per minute if Devin Vassell is unable to play through his current questionable designation.

Jalen Suggs ($6,200): Even at his highest salary point this season, Suggs ranks fifth among guards in value with a 5.05 rating and a 31.3 fantasy projection. In his last five appearances, the 21-year old is producing 0.97 FanDuel points, 0.16 rebounds, and 0.19 assists per minute.

Jordan Clarkson ($5,900): Despite inconsistent minutes, Clarkson ranks first among his team in shot attempts (0.51) and usage (25.7%) while recording 0.97 FanDuel points per minute.

Bennedict Mathurin ($5,800): Indiana's rookie could see his production boosted by 0.14 to 1.10 FanDuel points with a 34.1% usage rate if Tyrese Haliburton were to sit.

De'Anthony Melton ($5,600): With Tyrese Maxey ruled out, Melton ranks second overall in value with a 6.17 rating and a 34.6 fantasy point projection against an Indiana Pacers' team ranked 20th in defensive rating and 23rd in FanDuel points allowed to points guards. In 60.0 minutes with Philadelphia's current inactives, Melton is producing 0.91 FanDuel points and a 18.8% usage rate.

Andrew Nembhard ($4,400): In his five starts this season, Indiana's rookie second round pick is averaging 0.81 FanDuel points, 0.27 shot attempts, and 0.13 assists in a 127.0 minute sample size.

T.J. McConnell ($4,000): After Tyrese Haliburton was listed as questionable, McConnell could see an increased role at point guard while producing 0.90 FanDuel points, 0.12 rebounds, and 0.22 assists per minute with Haliburton off the floor this season.

Shake Milton ($3,600): Philadelphia's guard is numberFire's top value option with a 7.08 rating and a 25.5 FanDuel point projection at his second lowest salary point this season. The 26-year old is averaging 0.75 FanDuel points in 79.3 minutes with Maxey and James Harden off the floor.

Forwards

Paul George ($9,600): numberFire's top rated forward with 42.9 expected FanDuel points is averaging 1.13 FanDuel points per minute and a 31.4% usage rate with Los Angeles' current starting five.

Jerami Grant ($7,800): After a lackluster 20.5 fantasy point performance, Grant's FanDuel salary has decreased by 7.1%. The 28-year old has been on fire this month, averaging 23.5 real-life points on 16.3 shot attempts.

Lauri Markkanen ($7,600): Despite a monster 51.7 FanDuel point output, Markkanen's salary did not move versus a Portland team ranked 11th in true shooting percentage and 18th in FanDuel points allowed per game to small forwards. The Jazz forward ranks first among his team's starting five in fantasy production (1.10 FanDuel points per minute) and usage (28.1%).

Buddy Hield ($7,200): In a matchup versus a defense ranked 12th in true shooting percentage, Hield's production could increase by 0.10 to 1.03 FanDuel points in a 217.2 minute sample since last season with Haliburton off the floor.

Keldon Johnson ($7,000): After sitting out one game with an ankle injury, San Antonio's forward is on track to return against a Los Angeles Clippers' squad ranked second in defensive rating and true shooting percentage. At his lowest salary point this month, Johnson rates second among forwards in value with a 5.42 rating and third overall with 38.0 expected fantasy points.

Kawhi Leonard ($6,600): The Clippers' forward is averaging 1.05 FanDuel points, 0.27 rebounds, 0.39 shot attempts, and 0.15 assists in a 66.5 minute sample size this season.

Bol Bol ($6,400): In a 156.8 minute sample size if Wendell Carter Jr. is unable to suit up, Orlando's big man is producing 1.13 FanDuel points per minute and a 20.7% usage rate.

Marcus Morris ($5,700): Even at his highest salary point this season, the veteran is second when his team's starters are on the floor in fantasy production with a 0.85 mark.

Chuma Okeke ($4,900): Since November 9th, Orlando's forward accounts for 0.69 FanDuel points per minute and a 13.1% usage rate in his last five starts.

Centers

Joel Embiid ($11,500): In the past week, Philadelphia's star center has seen his FanDuel salary surge 9.5% after he averaged 79.4 fantasy points in his last three games. With two of Philadelphia's starters already ruled out, Embiid's production see a massive 0.26 boost to 1.86 FanDuel points with a 46.6% usage rate in a 55.6 minute sample size.

Karl-Anthony Towns ($9,300): At this median salary this month, KAT has an underrated spot versus a Sixers' team allowing 43.8 FanDuel points to his position. Minnesota's versatile big man has turned on his production in November, recording 1.29 FanDuel points, 0.29 rebounds, and 0.15 assists per minute.

Myles Turner ($7,900): Indiana's 26-year old center is enjoying his best offensive month this season, accounting for 20.5 real-life points per game on 10.7 shot attempts. In a great matchup versus a Magic team ranked 22nd in FanDuel points allowed per game to centers, Turner ranks fifth among his position with 36.3 expected fantasy points.