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.
Welcome to Sunday, RotoBallers. Hopefully, you had some Josh Giddey in your lineups last night because he went ballistic with 73 DK points and a 15/10/17/8 stat line that has never been achieved in NBA history. Tonight's six-game slate features a few exciting real-life matchups (Nuggets-Rockets, Thunder-Clippers) and a 76ers-Hawks showdown that should be stackable from a daily fantasy perspective. The Hornets-Heat game is one to shy away from as it holds an ugly 212.5-point implied total and projects as the slowest game on the slate.
This article will provide my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 3/23/25. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our excellent NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 6:00 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.
Nikola Jokic and Tyrese Maxey are currently listed as "out," while we have crucial questionable tags on Jayson Tatum, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Kristaps Porzingis, and Jamal Murray. We need clarity on those players before finalizing our decisions for tonight's slate.
Trae Young is in a smash spot tonight against the 76ers. Philly is tanking, and their defense has fallen apart due to their injury issues. They're now allowing the most fantasy points per game over their last seven games (second-most over their previous 15 games). Young has exceeded what he needs for 5x value in six of his previous eight games, and while he hasn't hit a true "ceiling" game lately, he's reaching 60+ DK points frequently enough for me to have an interest in tournaments.
We know it's near the end of the NBA season when Quentin Grimes is $9,000, and he's still a player we're interested in getting in lineups. He's averaging 52.75 DK PPG over his last six games and has a glorious matchup against the Hawks, who allow the most combination PG/SG fantasy points per game on the slate. He holds an elite 36.6% usage rate and 1.52 FPTS/min with the current iteration of this Sixers team, and he has shown a monster ceiling in such situations (76.75 DK points on 3/17 @ HOU).
Scottie Barnes is cheap enough to be an appealing tournament option in a favorable matchup against the Spurs. He put up 53 DK points in his last game against the stingy Warriors defense, but now he gets a fast-paced matchup against a San Antonio team that has allowed the third-most fantasy points per game over their last 30 games.
Mid-range options like Deni Avdija, Onyeka Okongwu, Russell Westbrook, Dyson Daniels, and Stephon Castle are popping in the optimizer. This is setting up to be a slate where we get to the second tier of studs and players like those, with Avdija, Okongwu, and Castle being my favorites from the group.
Top Core Plays:
- Trae Young, ATL vs. PHI - PG ($9,800 DK; $9,700 FD)
- Scottie Barnes, TOR vs. SAS - PG/SF ($8,500 DK; $9,000 FD)
- Quentin Grimes, PHI @ ATL - PG/SG ($9,000 DK; $8,500 FD)
- Deni Avdija, POR vs. BOS - SF/PF ($7,500 DK; $8,600 FD) Prefer on DraftKings
- Onyeka Okongwu, ATL vs. PHI - C ($7,400 DK; $8,100 FD) Prefer on DraftKings
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:
I'm not expecting Jokic to suit up, so we get another slate with an underpriced Aaron Gordon to build around. He's averaging 39.9 DK PPG over his last four games, including a 48.5 DK point masterclass where he put up 38 real-life points against the Warriors. Houston has a tough defense, and it's a pace-down spot for the Nuggets, but Gordon becomes a focal point of the offense with Jokic off the floor (25.2% usage rate, 1.14 FPTS/min).
It isn't pleasant, but Jamal Shead should remain in the starting lineup for the tanking Raptors tonight. He played 27 minutes and scored 25.5 DK points in his last game, and that type of production would work perfectly as a lineup-filling value option on this slate. The game should be high-scoring and fast-paced, and it also helps that the Spurs have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points per game to PGs over their last 30 games.
Jonathan Mogbo, Orlando Robinson, and Colin Castleton are a trio of other Toronto options to consider, as they should see plenty of minutes with all their injury woes. Still, I won't be getting too crazy with exposure here. There are many value options on this slate, and if we're not getting to the highly pricey studs (Jokic, SGA, etc.), we don't necessarily need to dip our toes in the sub-$4,000 value on Toronto.
Davion Mitchell stands out due to his salary, minutes projection, and recent form. He's averaging 23.65 DK PPG over his last five games and needs just 18 DK points for 5x value tonight—he should get there as he's playing well over 30 minutes per game lately. The Hornets rank poorly against point guards, allowing the second-most fantasy points per game to the position over their last 15 games.
Top Value Plays:
- Jeremy Sochan, SAS @ TOR - PF/C ($5,400 DK; $6,300 FD)
- Aaron Gordon, DEN @ HOU - PF ($5,700 DK; $6,400 FD)
- Davion Mitchell, TOR vs. SAS - PG ($3,600 DK; $4,200 FD)
- Jamal Shead, TOR vs. SAS - PG ($4,400 DK; $4,500 FD)
- Justin Edwards, PHI @ ATL - SF/PF ($4,500 DK; $5,300 FD) Prefer on DraftKings
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Today's NBA DFS Picks: Point Guard
Young and Barnes are the expensive picks at the position, but I also love getting to a few mid-range options (Daniels and Castle) and cheapies (Mitchell, Shead, and Chris Paul). Daniels and Castle have easy 40+ DK point upside in great matchups against the Sixers and Raptors, respectively. Castle has the higher usage rate between the two, but Daniels gets the better matchup against a Sixers defense that has completely fallen apart as of late.
Mitchell and Shead have already been covered, but the wily veteran Chris Paul is worth considering at his cheap price tag. He needs just 24 DK points for 5x value tonight, and he has scored 28.5, 34, and 31 DK points coming into tonight's action. The Raptors rank surprisingly well in fantasy points allowed to opponents, but Paul should thrive in a game environment that features a high implied total and fast projected pace.
Top PG Options:
- Davion Mitchell, TOR vs. SAS ($3,600 DK; $4,200 FD)
- Trae Young, ATL vs. PHI ($9,800 DK; $9,700 FD)
- Jamal Shead, TOR vs. SAS ($4,400 DK; $4,500 FD)
- Quentin Grimes, PHI @ ATL ($9,000 DK; $8,500 FD)
- Scottie Barnes, TOR vs. SAS ($8,500 DK; $9,000 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Shooting Guard
Tonight, I will be deploying mid-range and punt options at SG. Cason Wallace is about as uninspiring as it gets, but he's cheap, should play around 30 minutes, and is a good bet to score around 30 DK points. We only need 20.5 DK points out of him for 5x value, so I'm comfortable plugging him into lineups and getting to more exciting plays at other positions.
Top SG Options:
- Cason Wallace, OKC @ LAC ($4,100 DK) DraftKings Only
- Quentin Grimes, PHI @ ATL ($9,000 DK; $8,000 FD)
- Dyson Daniels, ATL vs. PHI ($7,000 DK; $5,900 FD) Prefer on DraftKings
- Stephon Castle, SAS @ TOR ($6,800 DK; $7,400 FD) Prefer on DraftKings
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Small Forward
Barnes and Avdija are the expensive options I am interested in for the small forward position. Barnes is a little too cheap for his upside against the leaky Spurs defense, while Avdija has been going nuclear as the top dog in Portland for a while now. The dynamic forward has games with 64, 69, 53.25, and 68 over his last six games - we're not going to find that type of upside in anyone available in this salary range. The matchup against the Celtics is brutal, but we can't ignore what he has been doing lately.
We have cheap mid-range options to consider for the position as well. Justin Edwards is playing all the minutes he can handle with everyone out for Philly, and he has averaged an impressive 33.2 DK PPG over his last three games. The matchup with the Hawks only furthers his appeal, so I'll be getting to a good amount of the rookie out of Kentucky tonight.
Harrison Barnes, Chuma Okeke, and Keldon Johnson are also in play, with Okeke standing out due to his high minute projection in a strapped Sixers frontcourt.
Top SF Options:
- Scottie Barnes, TOR vs. SAS ($8,500 DK; $9,000 FD)
- Deni Avdija, POR vs. BOS ($7,500 DK; $8,600 FD) Prefer on DraftKings
- Justin Edwards, PHI @ ATL ($4,500 DK; $5,300 FD) Prefer on DraftKings
- Chuma Okeke, PHI @ ATL ($4,300 DK; $4,700 FD) Prefer on DraftKings
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Power Forward
Top PF Options:
Jeremy Sochan is my top pick for the PF position tonight. He moved into the starting lineup last game and scored 36.75 DK points in 35 minutes, and that's the type of production I'd expect as long as he remains a starter for tonight's showdown with the Raptors. Toronto isn't a strong defense overall, and they allow the seventh-most fantasy points per game to PFs this season.
I also love Gordon, as stated in the "Values" section. As long as Jokic sits another game out, we have to like his chances at hitting 5x value due to his high usage rate and FPTS/min with the big man off the floor.
- Jeremy Sochan, SAS @ TOR - PF/C ($5,400 DK; $6,300 FD)
- Aaron Gordon, DEN @ HOU - PF ($5,700 DK; $6,400 FD)
- Deni Avdija, POR vs. BOS ($7,500 DK; $8,600 FD) Prefer on DraftKings
- Jonathan Mogbo, TOR vs. SAS ($3,900 DK; $4,400 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Center
Onyeka Okongwu is far too cheap, considering his recent production and favorable matchup tonight. He needs 37 DK points for 5x value and has exceeded 40 DK points in each of his last four games, including two games with at least 51.5 DK points. The 76ers have allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to Cs over their previous seven games as their frontcourt defense has cratered, so I'm all over Atlanta's ascending big man in this spot.
You can also get to a too-cheap Kel'el Ware. The rookie has re-emerged late in the season, scoring 45, 37, and 38.25 DK points over his last three games with at least 30 minutes played. The Hornets can't defend bigs, as they've allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to Cs over their last 30 games. He looks solid with Bam Adebayo projected in, but he would be a smash play if Bam were to be ruled out.
Top C Options:
- Onyeka Okongwu, ATL vs. PHI ($7,400 DK; $8,100 FD)
- Kel'el Ware, MIA vs. CHA ($5,000 DK; $6,000 FD) Prefer on DraftKings
- Jonathan Mogbo, TOR vs. SAS ($3,900 DK; $4,400 FD)
Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stacks
- Sixers @ Hawks (239 o/u; 104 projected pace)
- Spurs @ Raptors (233.5 o/u; 103.0 projected pace)
Today's Top NBA DFS Avoids
Most of the top of the salary board. I don't typically take this route this late in the season because it makes more sense in tournament lineups to go "Stars and Scrubs" if there is enough value present. We have the value, but I don't like the pricing or matchups for most of the studs on this slate.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gets the Clippers, Jayson Tatum hasn't hit value lately and is questionable, James Harden gets the Thunder, and LaMelo Ball is in the worst game environment on the slate on the road against the Heat. None of that appeals to me, so I'll prioritize Young and the "cheaper" studs like Barnes, Avdija, and Okongwu.
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: Trae Young
- My favorite CASH play on the slate: Jeremy Sochan
- My favorite GPP play on the slate: Quentin Grimes
- My favorite value play: Aaron Gordon
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