FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Saturday 3/4/23

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

Donovan Mitchell ($10,000): After consecutive monster performances in his last two appearances, Mitchell's FanDuel salary has moved 5.2% to his second highest point this season. In a favorable spot versus a Detroit Pistons' unit ranked 28th in defensive rating and 26th in opposing true shooting percentage, "Spida" is eighth overall with 42.0 expected FanDuel points.

James Harden ($9,900): The 33-year old's salary has dropped 3.8% against a tough Milwaukee Bucks' defense allowing points guards to score 46.0 FanDuel points and 23.1 real-life points per game. In his previous meeting in this matchup, Harden accounted for an impressive performance, recording 61.1 FanDuel points and 31.0 real-life points.

Trae Young ($9,700): In his last four games, Atlanta's leading scorer has been in good form, averaging 1.52 FanDuel points per minute and a 35.9% usage rate. While Young was held under his real-life scoring average in both games versus a Miami Heat ranked fifth in defensive rating, the 24-year old still averaged 45.3 FanDuel points.

De'Aaron Fox ($9,300): Sacramento's All-Star has produced at least 31 real-life points in eight straight games while averaging 1.40 FanDuel points and a 33.4% usage rate during this time period. In a good matchup against a Minnesota Timberwolves' allowing 49.5 FanDuel points to his position, Fox is fourth among guards with 42.8 expected FanDuel points.

Anthony Edwards ($8,900): After a 5.3% salary decrease, Edwards ranks third among guards in value with a 5.01 rating and a 44.6 fantasy projection versus a Sacramento Kings' team ranked tenth in pace and 26th in defensive rating.

Dejounte Murray ($8,500): At his third lowest salary during 2023, Murray is sixth among guards with 38.1 expected FanDuel points against a Heat defense ranked sixth in fantasy production (40.1) allowed to his position.

Jalen Green ($7,200): Since his return on February 28th, Houston's second-year guard is recording 1.25 FanDuel points, 0.10 rebounds, and 0.17 assists despite averaging 23.5 minutes.

Jaden Ivey ($6,100): After three starters were ruled out, Detroit's rookie is seventh in value at his position with a 4.78 rating and a 29.2 fantasy projection.

Mike Conley ($5,800): Utah's veteran has produced 0.78 FanDuel points, 0.10 rebounds, and 0.18 assists per minute in his time with the Timberwolves despite recording a low 14.0% usage rate.

Tre Jones ($5,700): At his second lowest salary during 2023, the 23-year old is projected for 25.0 FanDuel points against a Houston Rockets' allowing the most fantasy production to his position.

Hamidou Diallo ($5,500): Even in a potential second unit role, Diallo is fourth among guards in value with a 5.01 rating and a 27.5 fantasy projection. The Pistons' fifth-year player has provided an offensive spark in his last seven games, recording 0.68 real-life points and 0.48 shot attempts per minute and a 26.5% usage rate.

Devonte' Graham ($5,100): With Keldon Johnson unlikely to suit up on Saturday, Graham's fantasy output could see a 0.22 boost to 1.17 FanDuel points per minute with a 22.1% usage rate. The 28-year old is numberFire's top value option with a 5.82 rating and a 29.7 fantasy projection.

Forwards

Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,600): At his lowest salary since January 29th, "The Greek Alphabet" is second overall with 56.7 expected FanDuel points against a Philadelphia 76ers' unit rated 15th in fantasy production (44.1) allowed to his position. Milwaukee's superstar is averaging 23.0 real-life points and 54.2 FanDuel points on 19.0 shot attempts in two prior games versus Philadelphia.

Domantas Sabonis ($9,500): In his last 166.7 minutes, Sacramento's versatile playmaker has produced 1.41 FanDuel points and a 21.5% usage rate since All-Star Break ended while his salary has dropped to his lowest point in 2023.

Jimmy Butler ($8,800): Despite recording 1.44 FanDuel points and a team-high 26.6% usage rate in the past week, Butler's salary has decreased by 8.3%. In a favorable opportunity versus an Atlanta Hawks' defense ranked 21st in FanDuel points (41.1) allowed to his position, Miami's star forward accounted for 31 real-life points and 49.1 fantasy points in their last encounter.

Jarrett Allen ($7,700) / Evan Mobley ($7,600): In a great spot against a Pistons' team ranked 28th in points allowed in the paint, Allen is sixth among forwards with 36.1 FanDuel points while Mobley stands fifth with a 38.4 fantasy projection.

Zach Collins ($7,000): Even at his highest salary this season, San Antonio's big man rates as an optimal mid-salary option with a 34.2 fantasy projection against a Rockets' squad ranked 29th in defensive rating.

Jeremy Sochan ($6,100): In 161.6 minutes with today's current inactives, the Spurs' rookie is averaging 0.95 FanDuel points per minute and a 23.8% usage rate. Despite a 12.9% salary increase, Sochan is fifth overall in value with a 5.07 rating and a 30.9 fantasy expectation.

Kyle Anderson ($6,000): At his highest salary since February 4th, "Slow-Mo" still ranks fourth overall in value with a 5.15 rating and 30.9 expected FanDuel points against a Sacramento unit allowing 42.9 fantasy point to his position.

Kenyon Martin Jr. ($5,900): Houston's third-year forward has provided sneaky production since the start of February, averaging 0.88 FanDuel points, 0.46 real-life points, and 0.19 rebounds per minute with a 16.3% usage rate.

Keita Bates-Diop ($5,300): San Antonio's veteran should be a popular option even at his second highest salary this season, ranking second among forwards in value with a 5.27 rating and a 27.9 fantasy projection

Centers

Joel Embiid ($11,700): In an underrated spot versus a Milwaukee defense allowing centers to score 22.0 real-life points and 52.7 FanDuel points, "The Process" is ranked first overall with 57.2 expected FanDuel points. Embiid has produced uneven performances in this matchup, recording 32.9 and 64.2 fantasy points on 23.5 average shot attempts.

Bam Adebayo ($8,300): After a 5.6% salary decrease, Miami's center is an underrated option with a 40.7 fantasy projection against a Hawks' unit ranked 20th in fantasy production allowed to the five position and 26th in points allowed in the paint.

Rudy Gobert ($7,900): Since Mike Conley's arrival to Minnesota on February 10th, "The Stifle Tower" has displayed improved form, averaging 1.28 FanDuel points, 0.56 real- life points, and 0.41 rebounds per minute.