👉 TAP TO SAVE 30% WITH CODE NEW
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

#1 Expert Projections
Save 30% Now
Import Your Leagues
Props Tool
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
24x7 News and Alerts

FanDuel NBA DFS Lineup Picks (5/3/17): Daily Fantasy Basketball Advice

I hope you're not sick of these two-game slates because we have quite a few of them left as we ride out the NBA playoffs schedule. Normally, I'm much more excited to play when we have more players to choose from, but FanDuel has made sure we stay interested by really juicing up the guaranteed prize pools. One of the main contest tonight has an $8 entry fee and the prize is $100,000 to first, and the rest of the top 10 will be compensated handsomely. Vegas, anyone?

Oh, speaking of Vegas, I have some lines to share with you. We've got eerily similar over/under (point total projections, essentially), with the Cavs and Raptors at 213 and the Rockets and Spurs at 214. As for favorites, the Cavs are favored by 7.5 as of this morning, and the Spurs - who were absolutely blown out in game one - are actually six point favorites. As far as stacking opportunities go, the matchups and upside are fairly similar. I personally think there is a lot of value in the Spurs in this revenge game, as the faster pace the Rockets operate with will lead to more possessions for that offensive unit.

In this article, I will be providing you with daily NBA lineup picks for FanDuel on 5/3/17. The picks will range from some of the elite players, to mid-priced options, and value plays.

Featured Promo: New Novig users get a $25 purchase match (50% discount up to $25) on your first Novig deposit, and 6 free months of RotoBaller's "Big-4" Premium Pass (NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL) which includes exclusive tools for Betting, Props, DFS and more! CLAIM IT NOW

Let's let tonight be our night.

 

FanDuel DFS Guards

Kyle Lowry - PG, at CLE ($8,600)

Lowry didn't have an amazing performance in game one, but it was a welcome change in performance as he had struggled greatly in the Raptors first round series against the Bucks. Luckily for Lowry backers like myself, he has a much easier matchup this time around with the Greak Freak in the rear-view mirror and Kyrie Irving defending him now. One of the biggest things I am chasing in basketball DFS - now more than ever with some rotations being shortended for the playoffs - is minutes. Lowry leads all point guards tonight in projected minutes and he's second in Usage rate at 25 and is second in season-long PER at 22.9. He offers the nice mix of a steady-ish floor and the upside I seek in tournament formats, thanks to his ability to stuff the stat sheet even if his shot isn't falling at a favorable percentage.

Also Consider: Deron Williams  - PG, vs TOR ($2,500)

 

Lou Williams - SG, vs SAS ($4,900)

To afford the top dogs tonight, you have to find value + upside somewhere. I think that combination best manifests itself tonight in the form of Mr. Lou Williams. For a player with a six-man type role, Lou bounces around from the first unit and the second, typically racking up 30+ minutes, double digit shot attempts, and he's somewhat blowout-proof. Of all the shooting guards available tonight, Williams Usage projection of 25+ is topped only be DeMar DeRozan and James Harden.

Also Consider: Danny Green - SG, vs HOU ($3,800)

 

FanDuel DFS Forwards

Kawhi Leonard - SF, vs HOU ($10,900)

With similar projection numbers tonight - in ceiling, floor and everything else - I think the decision between Kawhi comes down to price and preference. I prefer Kawhi a bit as I think his point total will be very similar and his price allows me to fit in studs and above-average plays more easily than rostering LeBron does. That said, in cash games, it would be wise to fit both in your roster. They are nearly locks for 50 points, and in addition to that, the dropoff to the next best plays is quite steep and it would be very difficult to make up those points at other positions. Clearly, Kawhi and his teammates did not perform well in game one, but even in that sloppiness, Leonard only failed to meet salary expectations by a point. Kawhi has been incredibly efficient this seaosn in his time on the court (27 PER) and of all the small forwards in action tonight, Leonard has the highest Usage rate projection (32) and trails only King James in projected minutes.

Also Consider: LeBron James - SF, vs TOR ($12,700)

 

Serge Ibaka - PF, at CLE ($6,200)

Serge is starting to find his rhythm right when Toronto needs him most. His size, quickness and athleticism create a mismatch for the slower Kevin Love, and I think it's something the Raptors will look to exploit more as they try to even the series at one a piece this evening. As for Ibaka compared to the rest of the options tonight at power forward, he has a nice blend of what I'm looking for in projected minutes, efficiency, matchup, ceiling and he can fill it up with steals and blocks. He's top three at the position in fantasy points per minute, Usage projection and minutes projection - plus, he's much more affordable than Kevin Love.

Also Consider: Ryan Anderson - PF, at SAS ($4,600)

 

FanDuel DFS Centers

Clint Capela - C, vs SAS ($6,200)

If you're willing to pay above the median price for a big man today, I think you have to take a long look at Capela and what he was able to accomplish in game one. He was the highest scoring center of the day on Monday - a day that included the same two matchups we have tonight - putting up 40.4 FanDuel points and needing only 24 minutes to do so. In watching that game, you could tell that the slower, older big men of the Spurs were completely outmatched by Capela's quickness around the rim, as he was able to convert several open looks during his 8-for-10 from the field performance. Of all the big men taking the floor tonight, Capela leads them all in PER (21.4) and in fantasy points per minute (1.07).

Also Consider: Tristan Thompson - C, vs TOR ($5,700)

 

NBA DFS News & Injury Alerts

 

NBA & DFS Premium Subscription

Get an edge on your NBA DFS competition, every single night of the week:

  • DFS Cheat Sheets and Lineup Picks: Access to 10 deeply researched lineup picks, and sample lineups - seven days a week! Includes advanced stats to unlock NBA player values, and boost DFS success.
  • DFS Optimizer Tool: Generate optimal DFS lineups in seconds. Use advanced features and stats for including/excluding players, cash games vs. GPPs, stacks and more.
  • DFS Value Picks: Our Optimizer helps you find, sort and filter the best lineup values and DFS sleeper picks. Premium stats like "Usage Rate" and "Points/$1K" give you a leg up on the DFS competition.
  • Daily NBA Projections: Our secret sauce - the Optimizer Tool provides DFS points projections for FanDuel, DraftKings and Yahoo scoring.

Sign Up Now!

 

Lineup Optimizer/Generator & Sleepers Tool

Click here to see a full size version of the tool

Click here to see a full size version of the cheat sheet

 

Premium NBA DFS Lineup Picks & Cheat Sheet

Click here to see a full size version of the cheat sheet

Sign Up Now!




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

#1 Expert Projections
Save 30% Now
Import Your Leagues
Props Tool
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Jock Landale

Hawks Plan to Re-Evalute Jock Landale in Two Weeks
Mike Trout

Hits Five Homers in Series Versus Yankees
Jonathan Isaac

Considered Questionable for Matchup Versus Hornets
Moussa Diabaté

Moussa Diabate Listed as Questionable for Friday
Paris Johnson Jr.

Cardinals Pick Up Paris Johnson Jr.'s Fifth-Year Option
Joel Embiid

Expected to Miss Start of Playoffs
CGY

Arsenii Sergeev to Make NHL Debut Thursday
Aleksander Barkov

Cleared for World Championship
New York Giants

Giants Want "a Lot" for Dexter Lawrence
Pierre-Luc Dubois

Dealing With Fractured Hand
Zach Whitecloud

Ready to Rock Thursday
Los Angeles Chargers

Chargers, Derwin James Expected to Pick Up Contract Talks After Draft
Matt Coronato

Available Against Kings
Josh Manson

Expected to Return for Postseason
Nathan MacKinnon

Martin Necas Sit Out Regular-Season Finale
New York Jets

Jets Cancel Visit With David Bailey
NFL

K.C. Concepcion Visits With Chargers, 49ers
Arizona Cardinals

Cardinals a Real Threat to Select Jeremiyah Love at No. 3 Overall
Cameron Ward

Should Throw at Minicamp
De'Von Achane

Spotted at Dolphins Training Facilities
Spencer Arrighetti

Fans 10 in Season Debut, to Remain a Focal Point in Rotation?
Nick Pivetta

Dealing With Flexor Strain, Could Miss Months
Nico Hoerner

Homers, Drive in Five in Win Over Phillies
Shota Imanaga

Strikes Out 11 in First Win of the Season
Sal Stewart

Continues to Hit, Goes Deep Twice on Wednesday
Shohei Ohtani

Strikes Out 10 in Win Over Mets
NFL

Can Zacharia Branch Actually Succeed for Fantasy Managers?
Cade Otton

Could be at Risk on Day 1 of NFL Draft
Connor Bedard

Has Two Assists in Season Finale
Claude Giroux

Sends Out Two Assists in Battle of Ontario Win
Tetairoa McMillan

It's Possible That Tetairoa McMillan Has Only Shown His Floor
Tye Kartye

Registers First Career Three-Point Game
T.J. Hockenson

Should Still Have More to Give
Owen Power

Records Two Assists Wednesday
Jordan Love

a Middle-of-the-Road Superflex Option
Esa Lindell

Tallies Two Points in Regular-Season Finale
Reilly Smith

Produces Three-Point Performance Wednesday
Shane Wright

Returns With a Goal Wednesday
Bennedict Mathurin

Leads Clippers in Scoring Wednesday Night
Kristaps Porzingis

Impresses in Play-In Win
Stephen Curry

Leads Warriors to Vital Victory With 35 Points
Desmond Bane

Scores Game-High 34 Points in Play-In Loss
Tyrese Maxey

Guides 76ers Into Playoffs With 31-Point Effort
LaMelo Ball

Receives $60,000 Fine for Tuesday's Actions
Thomas Bryant

Practices in Limited Capacity Wednesday
Spencer Jones

Limited at Wednesday's Practice
Peyton Watson

Limited to Non-Contact Work at Practice
Bam Adebayo

NBA Investigating LaMelo Ball's Trip of Bam Adebayo
Isaiah Jackson

Cleared for Wednesday
Terrance Ferguson

Can Terrance Ferguson Establish a More Consistent Role in 2026?
Dalton Schultz

Could See a Reduced Role in Houston in 2026
Kimani Vidal

Playing Time in Los Angeles an Open Question Heading into 2026
Juwan Johnson

Looking to Build on Breakout 2025 Campaign
Chuba Hubbard

Set to Re-Emerge as a Top-24 Running Back?
Gunnar Helm

Poised for Expanded Role in 2026
Immanuel Quickley

Remains Day-to-Day After Workout
Isaiah Jackson

Probable to Return for Play-In Game
Tyler Kolek

Returns to Practice Ahead of Playoffs
Trendon Watford

Active on Wednesday
Jonathan Isaac

Ruled Out for Play-In Game Wednesday
Dylan Harper

Expected to Suit Up for Game 1 on Sunday
Shohei Ohtani

Will Pitch on Wednesday, But Won't DH
Nick Pivetta

Confident he'll Pitch Again This Year
Alex Lyon

Expected to Miss Playoff Opener
Zach Hyman

Set to Return Thursday
Sam Steel

Back in Action Wednesday
Gustav Forsling

Sits Out Season Finale
Matthew Tkachuk

Rejoins Panthers Lineup Wednesday
TB

Max Crozier Available Against Rangers
Brandon Hagel

Returns for Regular-Season Finale
Trevor Story

Carries Red Sox With Five RBI on Wednesday
Sam Antonacci

Officially Called Up by White Sox
Jorge Soler

Suspension Reduced to Four Games
Harrison Bader

Giants Place Harrison Bader on 10-Day Injured List With Hamstring Strain
Matthew Golden

Packers "Clearing the Way" for Matthew Golden on WR Depth Chart
CFB

Michigan Lands Commitment From Quarterback Kamden Lopati
Arizona Cardinals

Ty Simpson Visiting With Cardinals on Wednesday
Ketel Marte

Serving as Designated Hitter on Wednesday
Kevin McGonigle

Tigers, Kevin McGonigle Agree to Eight-Year Contract Extension
Sahith Theegala

Brings Strong Form Into Harbour Town
Wyndham Clark

Needs Putter to Show Up at RBC Heritage
Ryan Weathers

Allows Four Homers, Strikes Out 10 on Tuesday
Byron Buxton

Sets the Tone for Twins With Two Homers on Tuesday
Hunter Goodman

Homers Twice in Loss to Astros
JJ Wetherholt

Goes Yard Twice in Win Over Guardians
Jacob Bridgeman

Looks to Return to Elite Form at Harbour Town
J.J. Spaun

a Volatile Option at RBC Heritage
PGA

Sungjae Im Offers High-Upside Value at RBC Heritage
Matt Fitzpatrick

Set for Another Strong Showing at RBC Heritage
Jason Day

Eyes Bounce-Back After Sunday Struggles at the Masters
Akshay Bhatia

Looking to Rebound at Harbour Town
Ketel Marte

Diamondbacks Expect Ketel Marte to Return on Wednesday
Cameron Young

Hoping to Secure Second Win of Season at RBC Heritage
Scottie Scheffler

Looks to Win Again at RBC Heritage
Shane Lowry

Has Disappointing Final Round at Masters
Viktor Hovland

Hoping to Build on Final Round at Masters
Brian Harman

Struggling For Consistency Heading to RBC Heritage
Chris Gotterup

Putting Together Outstanding 2026 Season
Emilio Pagán

Emilio Pagan Getting Hamstring Checked After Earning Save on Tuesday
Justin Thomas

Looks to Defend in Hilton Head
Jordan Spieth

in Search of Improved Putting at RBC Heritage
Marco Penge

May Continue Up-and-Down Ride at the RBC Heritage
Xander Schauffele

Could Get The Job Done at RBC Heritage
Jake Knapp

Keeps Building Strong Results in 2026
Kurt Kitayama

Trying to Regain Form From Florida
Collin Morikawa

Continues to be a Scary DFS Play at RBC Heritage
CFB

Tramell Jones Jr. Outperforms Aaron Philo During Florida's Spring Scrimmage
CFB

Keelon Russell Flashes in Alabama's Spring Game
Ty Gibbs

Holds off the Field for His First Cup Series Victory at Bristol
Ryan Blaney

Earns His First Runner-Up Finish at Bristol
Kyle Larson

Dominant Performance At Bristol Falls Short of Victory
Tyler Reddick

Matches his Career-Best Finish at Bristol
Alex Bowman

Crashes Early at Bristol in Return From Injury
Carlos Ulberg

Is The New Light Heavyweight Champion
Jiří Procházka

Jiri Prochazka Suffers First-Round Knockout Loss
Azamat Murzakanov

Suffers His First Loss
Paulo Costa

Wins Back-to-Back Fights
Curtis Blaydes

Drops Decision At UFC 327
Josh Hokit

Remains Unbeaten
Carson Hocevar

Is Carson Hocevar A Worthy DFS Option for Bristol Lineups?
NASCAR

Could Bubba Wallace Be A Solid DFS Option for Bristol Lineups?
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF