RADIO
We continue with "Silly Season" in the NBA, where we see a lot of instances of teams resting starters to tank for a better draft pick or preserve health for the playoffs. In these articles, I focus on the top plays, traditionally geared toward cash games. However, with over a decade of NBA DFS experience under my belt—and as someone who rarely dives into cash formats—I'm selecting picks that also typically come with high upside. That means they offer the steady floor needed for cash games while packing the high ceiling we need for tournaments.
I've posted my 'K-Grades' model for three or four years, and I don't think I've ever seen a seven-game slate with no matchups with a 'C' grade or lower. The lowest implied total on the slate is in the Heat-Grizzlies game, but that matchup rates out pretty well since the Grizzlies play at the fastest pace in the NBA. The Nuggets are in the best spot against the Wizards at home, but the Pelicans-Spurs game should be loaded with fantasy goodness as neither team plays any semblance of defense.
This article will provide my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 3/15/25. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our excellent NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 7:00 p.m. EST on DraftKings and FanDuel. Good luck, RotoBallers!
Today's NBA DFS Core Picks
Here is a look at some of the higher-priced players we can use as building blocks for cash and GPP contests.
I'll start with Nikola Jokic. The three-time MVP has produced two consecutive "down" games coming into tonight, scoring 50.25 and 51.5 DK points against the Lakers and Wolves, respectively. Those are two of the better defenses in the NBA, and he'll be playing in the second half of a back-to-back after logging 38 minutes last night. However, this is Nikola Jokic we're talking about. The transcendent star put up 75, 63.25, and 100.25 DK points in the three games prior, and he gets to face the most forgiving defense in the NBA tonight in the Wizards. He finished with 90.5 DK points the last time he played them, which lines up with them allowing the most fantasy points per game overall and to Cs this season.
They're not pictured in the screenshot above, but Devin Vassell and Stephon Castle are too cheap for their current role and favorable matchup against the Pelicans tonight. They both co-lead the team in usage rate (24%) with Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox off the floor this season, averaging nearly 1.00 FPTS/min in the split. Vassell is averaging 41 DK points per game over his last six games, while Castle has exceeded what he needs for 5x value in eight of his previous nine games. The Pelicans can't defend anyone, allowing the second-most fantasy points per game this season and the most over their last 15 games.
Zion Williamson is on the other side of the same matchup. His production has been up and down as the coaching staff has been careful with his minutes, but he has smashed over the last few weeks, particularly in the softer matchups. He has games of 56.5, 55, 48.5, and 63.5 DK points over his last seven games, and tonight he gets a Spurs team that has allowed the most fantasy points per game over their previous 15 games. The Spurs don't have the personnel to slow Zion down; he will demolish the underwhelming frontcourt of Charles Bassey (Q), Jeremy Sochan, and Bismack Biyombo.
I love taking some swings on Jalen Green in a glorious spot against the Bulls. Green needs 37.5 DK points for 5x value tonight, and he has been well over that recently with games of 39.25, 50.25, and 48.75 DK points. The Bulls can't defend guards, allowing the most combo fantasy points per game to PGs and SGs on the slate and the most fantasy points to SGs this season. Green excels when he's making threes and rebounding the ball - the Bulls allow the most rebounds and the third-most threes per game to the SG position this season. Additionally, he leads the team in usage rate (27.9%) and FPTS/min (1.22) in March with Amen Thompson off the floor, as he will be tonight.
Top Core Plays:
- Nikola Jokic, DEN vs. WAS - C ($12,800 DK; $12,800 FD)
- Zion Williamson, NOP @ SAS - SF/PF ($9,400 DK; $9,200 FD)
- Devin Vassell, SAS vs. NOP - SG/SF ($6,400 DK; $6,900 FD)
- Stephon Castle, SAS vs. NOP - PG/SG ($6,200 DK; $7,000 FD)
- Jalen Green, HOU vs. CHI - PG/SG ($7,500 DK; $7,400 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Value Picks
This is where we talk about saving salary. Whether it's a severely underpriced backup or even as simple as a guy playing like someone who should be priced higher, this is where you'll find guys who make lineups work.
Sorting the best value picks of the day by fantasy points per dollar:
There are a lot of Spurs popping in the optimizer shown above, and I can't argue with it as they're in the top game environment on the slate and facing a Pelicans team that can't stop anyone. Castle, Vassell, and Sochan are my favorites, but arguments can also be made for Champagnie, Keldon Johnson, and Chris Paul.
Russell Westbrook gets a smash spot against the Wizards, Tre Jones and Kevin Huerter are getting all the minutes he can handle, and Scotty Pippen Jr. has been productive with a recent increase in minutes. They're all excellent plays on this slate, while I also like getting to the underpriced Alvarado and Wallace.
Top Value Plays:
- Stephon Castle, SAS vs. NOP - PG/SG ($6,200 DK; $7,000 FD)
- Devin Vassell, SAS vs. NOP - SG/SF ($6,400 DK; $6,900 FD)
- Russell Westbrook, DEN vs. WAS - PG ($6,000 DK; $6,300 FD)
- Tre Jones, CHI @ HOU - PG ($5,400 DK; $6,200 FD)
- Scotty Pippen Jr., MEM vs. MIA - PG ($3,700 DK) DraftKings Only
- Aaron Wiggins, OKC @ DET - SG/SF ($4,700 DK) FanDuel Only
Want more NBA DFS tools and exclusive content? Check out our premium daily content from proven winner Will Priester! Grab an NBA season pass and get access to our daily projections, optimizer, Will's personal picks, props, advice, and VIP chat rooms. Use promo code BALLER at checkout to save 10%
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Point Guard
We have Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cade Cunningham, Ja Morant, Stephen Curry, and Damian Lillard at the top, but I'm not getting to any of them with Jokic on this slate. None of them have favorable matchups, and the group cannot match the potential ceiling that Jokic provides. I will be looking at the mid-range and punt options at the position tonight, which includes Jalen Green, Stephon Castle, Russell Westbrook, Scotty Pippen Jr., Tre Jones, and Jose Alvarado.
Westbrook and Jones have solid ceilings for their mid-range salaries, and I give Westbrook the slight edge due to his fantastic home matchup against the Wizards. I prefer to "punt" with Pippen Jr. and Alvarado to save salary and unlock Jokic, with Pippen Jr. being the priority due to his cheaper price tag.
Top PG Options:
- Stephon Castle, SAS vs. NOP ($6,200 DK; $7,000 FD)
- Jalen Green, HOU vs. CHI ($7,500 DK; $7,400 FD)
- Scotty Pippen Jr., MEM vs. MIA ($3,700 DK) DraftKings Only
- Russell Westbrook, DEN vs. WAS ($6,000 DK; $6,300 FD)
- Tre Jones, CHI @ HOU ($5,400 DK; $6,200 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Shooting Guard
I'll take the same strategy with the SG position tonight. Desmond Bane and Tyler Herro are the studs up top, but both are in less-than-ideal matchups, and their price tags leave little room for upside. Jamal Murray is intriguing against the Wizards, but his production is volatile, and cheaper players offer a similar upside on this slate.
Green, Vassell, and Castle are top picks detailed earlier, but I also like Julian Champagnie, Kevin Huerter, and Cason Wallace as punt options. None of them hold high ceilings, but they are a good bet to hit 5x value and will help us spend up on some combination of Jokic, Williamson, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
McBride's minutes have trended up recently with Jalen Brunson off the floor, and he received a significant $700 price increase following monster games of 41.25 and 32.25 DK points. He still looks good, though, as he needs just 27 DK points for 5x value and should see around 30+ minutes of action tonight. The Warriors aren't the best matchup as they feature a shutdown defense, but we can't argue with a projected 35 minutes at a 0.91 FPTS/min rate at his cheap salary.
Top SG Options:
- Stephon Castle, SAS vs. NOP ($6,200 DK; $7,000 FD)
- Jalen Green, HOU vs. CHI ($7,500 DK; $7,400 FD)
- Devin Vassell, SAS vs. NOP ($6,400 DK; $6,900 FD)
- Miles McBride, NYK @ GSW ($5,400 DK) DraftKings Only
- Julian Champagnie, SAS vs. NOP ($3,300 DK) DraftKings Only
- Kevin Huerter, CHI @ HOU ($4,800 DK; $5,300 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Small Forward
As mentioned, I would love to go to Zion as a potentially overlooked stud on this slate. He has a monster ceiling against an overmatched Spurs team that ranks 25th in defensive rating and has allowed the most fantasy points per game over its last seven games.
Josh Hart is an excellent bet for 5x value at his price tag tonight, but he's expensive and facing a tough defense in the Warriors. I prefer to spend down on a player like Justin Champagnie, who has been starting and just put up 37.25 DK points in 33 minutes last time out. The Nuggets aren't an imposing matchup defensively, and they allow the second-most fantasy points per game to SFs this season.
Top SF Options:
- Zion Williamson, NOP @ SAS ($9,400 DK; $9,200 FD)
- Devin Vassell, SAS vs. NOP ($6,400 DK; $6,900 FD)
- Justin Champagnie, WAS @ DEN ($5,100 DK; $5,200 FD)
- Julian Champagnie, SAS vs. NOP ($3,300 DK) DraftKings Only
- Kevin Huerter, CHI @ HOU ($4,800 DK; $5,300 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Power Forward
Top PF Options:
We can also play Zion and the Champagnie brothers at PF, so they will be my primary focus at the position. However, we have other intriguing options, as Aaron Gordon and Jeremy Sochan are underpriced and in potential smash spots tonight.
Gordon is under $5,000 on DraftKings despite producing games with 34.75, 35.25, 38.25, 37.75, and 30.25 DK points over his last seven contests. The Nuggets have the highest implied total on the slate and are facing the Wizards, so I love Gordon's chances of smashing 5x value at his cheap price tag.
- Zion Williamson, NOP @ SAS ($9,400 DK; $9,200 FD)
- Aaron Gordon, DEN vs. WAS ($4,900 DK; $5,700 FD) Prefer on DraftKings
- Jeremy Sochan, SAS vs. NOP ($4,800 DK; $5,500 FD) Prefer on DraftKings
- Justin Champagnie, WAS @ DEN ($5,100 DK; $5,200 FD)
- Julian Champagnie, SAS vs. NOP ($3,300 DK) DraftKings Only
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Center
It's Nikola Jokic's world, and we all live in it. We can play multiple Cs, so getting exposure to a high-upside guy like Jalen Duren and a high-floor play like Jeremy Sochan makes sense.
Duren has been averaging 37.9 DK PPG over his last four games, and he faces a Thunder frontcourt that has bled fantasy points to the position lately. They've allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to Cs over their last seven games and rank 23rd in rebound rate (49.2%) this season. Duren has averaged 13 rebounds per game over his previous four contests, setting him up to smash value in this favorable matchup tonight.
Like a few other Spurs, Sochan is underpriced for his new role sans Wemby and Fox. His minutes are still volatile, but he has exceeded 5x value lately, with outputs of 26.5 and 30.75 DK points coming into tonight's action. The Spurs may be forced to lean on him more with Charles Bassey questionable to play, and the Pelicans are a smash spot for Cs as they allow the most fantasy points per game to the position this season.
Top C Options:
- Nikola Jokic, DEN vs. WAS ($12,800 DK; $12,800 FD)
- Jalen Duren, DET vs. OKC ($7,100 DK; $7,400 FD)
- Jeremy Sochan, SAS vs. NOP ($4,800 DK; $5,500 FD) Prefer on DraftKings
- Nikola Jokic, DEN vs. WAS ($12,800 DK; $12,800 FD)
Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stacks
- Pelicans @ Spurs (238.5 o/u; 102.6 projected pace)
- Wizards @ Nuggets (239 o/u; 104.5 projected pace)
Today's Top NBA DFS Avoids
The "big three" in Memphis: Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane. Bane and Morant are priced up due to Triple-J missing four games, and they get a significant pace-down spot against a Heat squad that ranks 28th in pace this season. Miami also ranks 12th in defensive rating, and they've allowed the fourth-least fantasy points per game over their previous 15 games. This is an ugly spot with the lowest implied total on the slate, so I'd rather avoid this team altogether and focus on players who project much better tonight.
My Favorite NBA DFS Picks for Today
Here is where I leave you with some of my favorites.
- My favorite overall play on the slate: Nikola Jokic
- My favorite CASH play on the slate: Stephon Castle
- My favorite GPP play on the slate: Jalen Green
- My favorite value play: Stephon Castle
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy basketball mobile app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, lineup notifications & DFS articles. All free!
