FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Sunday 4/16/23

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

Ja Morant ($10,400): Despite a recent 7.2% salary increase, Morant stands as numberFire's top ranked guard against a Los Angeles Lakers' defense ranked last in fantasy production (51.2 FanDuel points) allowed to his position among current playoff teams. In two previous meetings in this matchup, the 23-year old has averaged 30.5 real-life points and 50.8 FanDuel points on 29 shot attempts.

Devin Booker ($9,500): In 127 minutes this regular season among Phoenix's projected starting lineup, Booker ranks first among his team in fantasy output (1.18 FanDuel points per minute) and usage rate (29.5%) even with Kevin Durant on the floor.

Anthony Edwards ($9,400): At his highest salary during April, "Ant-Man" is second among guards with 43.8 expected FanDuel points against a Denver Nuggets' team allowing shooting guards to score 22.2 real-life points and 39.4 FanDuel points.

Jamal Murray ($8,400): In a favorable spot versus a Minnesota Timberwolves giving up 49.5 FanDuel points per game to point guards, Murray's salary has moved up 5% to his highest point since March 19th. The 26-year old is averaging 0.95 FanDuel points per minute in two prior encounters against Minnesota.

Chris Paul ($7,900): Even at his highest salary in April. CP3 is sixth among guards in value with a 4.67 rating and a 36.9 fantasy projection versus a Los Angeles Clippers giving up the second most fantasy points (50.0 FanDuel points) to his position among today's playoff teams.

Desmond Bane ($7,800): At his median salary point this month, Bane is tenth overall in value with a 4.71 rating and a 36.8 fantasy projection against a Lakers' defense allowing 41.3 FanDuel points per game to shooting guards.

Russell Westbrook ($7,700): In 316 minutes this season with Paul George off the floor, Westbrook's production stands at 1.16 FanDuel points per minute with a 27.1% usage rate. After a 7.2% salary decline, the veteran is third among guards in value with a 4.72 potential return and a 36.3 fantasy expectation.

Mike Conley ($6,900): Minnesota's point guard has provided consistent production in the past month, scoring 17.3 real-life points and 30.6 FanDuel points per game while his salary has jumped by 18.9% during this time period.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker ($5,400): After logging 37 minutes and 38.8 FanDuel points in this first start with Minnesota, Alexander-Walker's salary has increased by 35%. In 415 minutes as a Timberwolve, Alexander-Walker is recording 0.74 FanDuel points per minute and a 17.0% usage rate.

Austin Reaves ($5,100): The Lakers' shooting guard is fourth overall in value with a 4.93 rating and a 25.1 fantasy projection after his salary dropped 15% to his lowest point in April. In 94 minutes with Los Angeles' first unit, Reaves has accounted for 0.77 FanDuel points per minute and a 13.3% usage rate.

Josh Okogie ($4,400): At his lowest salary since February 10th, Okogie is numberFire's top value option with a 5.19 rating and a 22.8 fantasy projection versus a Clippers' team ranked 13th among playoffs squads in defensive rating.

Forwards

Giannis Antetokounmpo ($12,000): In a matchup against a Miami Heat allowing 43.2 FanDuel points to his position, Milwaukee's superstar is second overall with a 53.4 fantasy projection at his highest salary in April. In 42 minutes this season versus Miami, "The Greek Alphabet" has been dominant, producing an eye-popping 2.07 FanDuel points per minute.

Anthony Davis ($11,500): At his median salary this month, AD is third overall with 51.3 expected FanDuel points against a Memphis defense ranked ninth among playoffs in fantasy production (53.5 FanDuel points per game) to his position. The Lakers' star has played well in two previous encounters, averaging 29.0 real-life points and 60.3 FanDuel points per game.

LeBron James ($11,000): Since his return on March 26th, James is recording 1.29 FanDuel points per minute and a 32.3% usage rate while his salary has increased by 7.8%.

Kawhi Leonard ($10,700): In 654 minutes with Sunday's inactives, Leonard's production stands at 1.24 FanDuel points per minute and a team-high 30.6% usage rate.

Kevin Durant ($10,000): Phoenix's superstar forward is averaging 1.17 FanDuel points per minute and a 28.6% usage in 268 minutes since joining Phoenix. At his highest salary while with the Suns, Durant is 11th among forwards in value with a 4.51 potential return and a 45.1 fantasy projection.

Karl-Anthony Towns ($9,900): Despite a 5.3% salary increase to his highest point this season, KAT is ranked 11th overall with a 40.9 fantasy projection against a Nuggets' team giving up the fourth most points allowed in the paint among playoff teams.

Jimmy Butler ($9,600): At his lowest salary in April, Butler is fifth among forwards in value with a 4.77 rating and 45.8 fantasy expectation. Miami's leading scorer has been inconsistent against Milwaukee this season, averaging 31.3 FanDuel points per game on 14.5 shot attempts.

Jaren Jackson Jr. ($8,300): After a 5.6% salary decrease, the Grizzlies' defensive enforcer is eighth among forwards in value with a 4.7 rating and a 39.0 fantasy projection against a Lakers' defense allowing 45.8 FanDuel points to the four position.

Michael Porter Jr. ($6,600): In 719 minutes with Denver's starting five, Porter Jr. is averaging 0.93 FanDuel points per minute and a 21.3% usage rate.

Kyle Anderson ($6,400): Even in a potential bench role, "Slow-Mo" remains a viable mid-salary option with a 4.65 potential return and a 29.8 fantasy projection at his lowest salary this month.

Aaron Gordon ($6,300): At his lowest salary this month, Gordon is sixth among forwards in value with a 4.73 rating and a 29.8 fantasy projection in a matchup the 27-year old has averaged 38.3 FanDuel points against.

Xavier Tillman ($5,800): If the Grizzlies' big man joins Sunday's Game 1 lineup, Tillman rates as an optimal choice despite inconsistent playing time with a potential 4.97 return and a 28.8 fantasy projection.

Caleb Martin ($4,200): After a 10.6% salary drop, Miami's versatile forward is second overall in value with a 5.18 rating and a 21.8 fantasy projection after he averaged 27.5 minutes during Miami's Play-In contests.

Centers

Nikola Jokic ($12,100): At his highest salary against Minnesota this season, "The Joker" is numberFire's top option with 57.8 expected FanDuel points versus a Timberwolves' unit allowing centers to score 21.8 real-life points and 53.6 FanDuel points per game. Denver's versatile big man is averaging 58 FanDuel points per game and 1.88 FanDuel points per minute in this matchup.

Bam Adebayo ($8,100): At his lowest salary in April, Miami's center is fifth overall in value with a 4.91 rating and a 39.8 fantasy projection against a Bucks' team giving up 53.8 FanDuel points per game to his position.