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

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
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: Get any DFS Premium Bundle for for 50% off using code SMASH! Win more with expert advice from proven winners and exclusive DFS tools. Get instant access to RotoBaller's Lineup Optimizers, Research Stations, daily picks and VIP chat rooms across 10 sports! Go Premium, Win More!

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

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Beneil Dariush

Benoit Saint Denis Knocks Out Beneil Dariush In 16 Seconds
Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Clears 100-Yard Mark Again in Loss to Rams
Jahmyr Gibbs

Leads Lions in Receiving in Week 11 Loss
Christian Watson

Breaks Out With First Two Touchdowns of the Year
Josh Naylor

Mariners Finalizing Five-Year Contract
Derrick Henry

Breaks Two-Game Scoreless Streak in Week 11
George Kittle

Hauls in Two Touchdown Grabs in Week 11 Win
Drake London

Knee Injury "Not Thought to be Overly Serious"
Aaron Rodgers

May Have "Slight Break" in Left Wrist, Likely Out for Week 12
Jacoby Brissett

Sets Completion Record in Loss to 49ers
Trey McBride

Extends Touchdown Streak in Busy Outing Against 49ers
Michael Wilson

Peppered With Targets Amid Teammate's Absence
Christian McCaffrey

Scores Three Touchdowns in Divisional Win
Michael Penix Jr.

Aggravates Knee Injury, Could Miss More Time
Dillon Gabriel

to Remain the Starter if Healthy
Travis Etienne Jr.

Scores Two Touchdowns in Run-Heavy Blowout
P.J. Washington

Active Against the Trail Blazers
Anthony Davis

Won't Play on Sunday Night
Kenneth Gainwell

Catches Two Touchdown Passes in Elevated Role
Zion Williamson

Remains Sidelined on Sunday
Bijan Robinson

Scores Twice in Overtime Loss to Panthers
Jrue Holiday

Won't Play Sunday
Dillon Gabriel

Ruled Out With a Concussion Against Ravens
Kristaps Porzingis

to Miss Another Game on Sunday
Bam Adebayo

Not Ready to Return Monday
Josh Jacobs

Not Believed to Have Season-Ending Knee Injury
Jalen Brunson

Unavailable Monday
OG Anunoby

to Sit Out at Least Two Weeks
Bilal Coulibaly

Back in Action Sunday
Tetairoa McMillan

Sets New Career-Highs in Overtime Win
Scott Mayfield

Available Sunday
Stephon Castle

Won't Return on Sunday Night
Sean Tucker

Scores Three Times in Lead-Back Role
Josh Allen

Scores Six Touchdowns in Thrilling Victory
NYI

Max Shabanov Returns From 12-Game Absence Sunday
Derrick Jones Jr.

Won't Return on Sunday
Samuel Honzek

Out Week-to-Week
Kirby Dach

Sidelined for 4-6 Weeks
Kristaps Porzingis

Questionable for Sunday's Meeting with Phoenix
Thatcher Demko

Considered Week-to-Week
Filip Hronek

Good to Go Sunday
Quinn Hughes

Back in Action Sunday
CFB

Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate Not Dealing With Long-Term Injuries
Grayson Allen

Sidelined With Quad Contusion
Viktor Arvidsson

Injured in Saturday's Win
Jonathan Kuminga

Knee Issue Keeps Him Out of Weekend Action
Nick Foligno

Ruled Out for Four Weeks
Bilal Coulibaly

Questionable With Calf Issue Against Nets
Samuel Honzek

Hurt in Collision With Teammate
Precious Achiuwa

Questionable With Illness For Sunday
Drew Doughty

Exits With Lower-Body Injury
P.J. Washington

Expected Back From Shoulder Issue Sunday
Charlie McAvoy

Sustains Upper-Body Injury Against Canadiens
Tre Jones

Uncertain for Sunday With Minutes Set to Tighten
Thomas Harley

Out Week-to-Week
CFB

Virginia Tech Close To Naming James Franklin As Head Coach
Coby White

Could Make Season Debut Sunday
Josh Giddey

Set to Return Sunday
Zion Williamson

Tagged as Questionable for Sunday
Jeff Skinner

Placed on Injured Reserve
Matt Duchene

Continues to Sit Saturday
Thomas Harley

a Game-Time Call Saturday
Kaapo Kakko

Out Week-to-Week
Joseph Woll

Starts on Saturday
John Carlson

Out on Saturday
Rasmus Dahlin

Rejoins Sabres Lineup Saturday
Jack Hughes

to Miss Eight Weeks After Finger Surgery
CFB

Garrett Nussmeier Doubtful vs. Arkansas On Saturday
Edwin Díaz

Blue Jays Interested in Signing Edwin Diaz?
Jacob deGrom

Named AL Comeback Player of the Year
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Wins NL Comeback Player of the Year Award
Aroldis Chapman

Named AL Reliever of the Year
Edwin Díaz

Edwin Diaz Named NL Reliever of the Year
Justin Thomas

Will Miss Start Of 2026 After Undergoing Back Surgery
Islam Makhachev

Set For UFC 322 Main Event
Jack Della Maddalena

Set For His First Title Defense
Zhang Weili

Can Become The New Women's Flyweight Champion
Valentina Shevchenko

Set For UFC 322 Co-Main Event
Michael Morales

Looks To Remain Undefeated
CFB

Mario Craver a Game-Time Decision for Week 12
Sean Brady

Set For Title Eliminator Bout
Carlos Prates

A Favorite At UFC 322
Leon Edwards

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Benoît Saint Denis

Benoit Saint Denis Set To Open Up UFC 322 Main Card
Beneil Dariush

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
CFB

Virginia's Chandler Morris Trending Toward Facing Duke on Saturday
Edwin Díaz

Edwin Diaz Says There's a "50-50" Chance he Returns to Mets
Shohei Ohtani

Wins his Fourth MVP Award
Aaron Judge

Wins AL MVP Award Again
Raisel Iglesias

Dodgers Interested in Signing Raisel Iglesias
Pete Alonso

Orioles Could be in the Mix to Sign Pete Alonso
Félix Bautista

Felix Bautista Could Return in Second Half in 2026
Kodai Senga

Attracting Trade Interest, Will the Mets Move him?
Yordan Alvarez

Expected to be Ready for Spring Training
Byron Buxton

Could Waive his No-Trade Clause
Paul Skenes

the Unanimous NL Cy Young Winner
Tarik Skubal

Wins AL Cy Young for Second Straight Year
CFB

Still No Update on Jermod McCoy's Return Timeline
Sami Valimaki

Riding Momentum Into Bermuda
Matthieu Pavon

Struggling Through a Rough Season
Taylor Montgomery

Hopes to Get Back on Track at Port Royal
Ben Martin

a Risky Play at Bermuda Championship
Mark Hubbard

Primed for a Bounce-Back Week in Bermuda
Lee Hodges

Searching for a Spark in Bermuda
Stephen Vogt

Wins Back-to-Back AL Manager of the Year Honors
Milwaukee Brewers

Pat Murphy Named NL Manager of the Year Again
Patrick Fishburn

Looking to Bounce Back in Bermuda
Eric Cole

Carrying Momentum into Bermuda
Tommy Edman

to Have Ankle Surgery Next Week
Ketel Marte

Diamondbacks Unlikely to Trade Ketel Marte
Sahith Theegala

Finishes Tied for 27th at Bank of Utah Championship
Sam Stevens

Finishes Tied for 36th at Baycurrent Classic
Patrick Rodgers

Finishes Tied For Sixth at World Wide Technology Championship
Luke List

Finishes 75th at World Wide Technology Championship
Ben Kohles

Finishes Tied for 63rd at World Wide Technology Championship
PGA

Nico Echavarria Finishes Tied for 14th at World Wide Technology Championship
Luke Clanton

Finishes Tied for 46th at World Wide Technology Championship
Blades Brown

Finishes Tied for 18th at Korn Ferry Tour Championship

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP