👉 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

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
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

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Orion Kerkering

to Throw on Saturday
Grae Kessinger

Suffers Knee Injury on Friday
Jake Meyers

Scratched Due to Back Spasms
Harrison Bader

Exits with Thumb Injury
Tyler Seguin

Offically Out for Rest of Season
Zach Benson

Could Be an Option Friday
Tom Wilson

Good to Go Friday
John Carlson

to Miss At Least Two More Games
Connor Hellebuyck

Set to Start Friday Night
Samuel Girard

Evaluated for Lower-Body Injury
Hyeseong Kim

Rebuilt Swing Already Generating Results
Bailey Ober

Focusing on Mechanics in Camp
Devin Williams

Sees Struggles Continue in Spring Debut
Rafael Devers

Scratched With Hamstring Tightness
Marcelo Mayer

Stronger and Faster Entering 2026 Season
Kutter Crawford

Set for Live Batting Practice on Friday
Shane Baz

Strikes Out Four in Spring Debut on Friday
Blake Snell

Making Progress, Will be "Hard" to be Ready for Opening Day
Corey Seager

Scratched Due to Illness
Elly De La Cruz

Feels Fully Healthy This Spring
Stephen Kolek

Being Shut Down With Grade 1 Oblique Strain
Lone'er Kavanagh

Set For UFC Mexico City Main Event
Brandon Moreno

Looks To Bounce Back
Samuel Basallo

Thinks he Can Play This Weekend
David Martinez

Set For UFC Mexico City Co-Main Event
Marlon Vera

In Dire Need Of Victory
King Green

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Daniel Zellhuber

Aims To Snap Two-Fight Skid
Sergei Bobrovsky

Sharp In Victory
Brad Marchand

Scores Two Goals in Victory
Noah Dobson

Scores Twice in Overtime Loss
Matthew Schaefer

has Two-Goal Game
Felipe Bunes

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Édgar Cháirez

Edgar Chairez A Favorite At UFC Mexico City
Konnor Griffin

Back in the Lineup After Injury Scare
Troy Melton

Needs Extended Rest, Unlikely to be Ready for Opening Day
Royce Lewis

MRI Comes Back Clean on Royce Lewis
George Pickens

Cowboys Not Interested in Trading George Pickens
Cedric Coward

to Miss Sixth Straight Game
Taj Gibson

Agrees to Deal With Grizzlies
Memphis Grizzlies

Kyle Anderson Agrees to Buyout, Plans to Join Timberwolves
Jabari Smith Jr.

Exits with Right Ankle Injury
Norman Powell

Leaves Game with Groin Injury
Joe Musgrove

Sharp in Simulated Game, Quickly Approaching Spring Training Debut
Alexandre Sarr

Considered Week-to-Week
Kyle Freeland

Nearing Spring Debut
Lauri Markkanen

to Miss At Least Two Weeks
Matt Boldy

Makes History With Another Four-Point Performance
Jake Guentzel

Sets Up Three Goals Thursday
Leon Draisaitl

Tallies Four Points Against Kings
Joel Kiviranta

Sustains Undisclosed Injury Thursday
Filip Gustavsson

Makes Late Exit Thursday
Joel Armia

Sustains Upper-Body Injury
Drew Doughty

Exits Loss With Lower-Body Injury
Jordan Binnington

on Non-Roster List
Mackenzie Blackwood

Starting in Net Versus Wild
Jaxson Hayes

Good to Go Thursday Night
Robert Williams III

Donovan Clingan Out, Robert Williams III and Yang Hansen Cleared
Patrick Williams

Jalen Smith, Patrick Williams Out At Least One Week
Keldon Johnson

is Active on Thursday
Khris Middleton

Available Thursday Against Sacramento
Daniel Gafford

Ruled Out Thursday vs. Kings
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Remains Out on Thursday
Stephon Castle

Cleared to Play Thursday vs. Nets
Davion Mitchell

is Available on Thursday
Joel Embiid

is Cleared for Thursday's Game
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Off the Injury Report for Friday
Norman Powell

Active On Thursday
Zaccharie Risacher

Available Against Washington
Andrew Nembhard

Set to Suit Up Thursday
Dylan Holloway

Rejoins Blues Lineup Thursday
Simon Edvinsson

Back in Red Wings Lineup Thursday
Ashton Jeanty

Not in Line for Workhorse Role in 2026?
Anthony Richardson Sr.

Colts Give Anthony Richardson Sr. Permission to Seek a Trade
Kyler Murray

Prefers to be Released
Derek Carr

"Strong Belief" That Derek Carr is "Very Serious" About Unretiring
Andy Dalton

Is Andy Dalton Available for a Trade?
Keith Mitchell

Making The Comfortable Return to PGA National
CFB

Chandler Morris Suing NCAA for Seventh Year of Eligibility
Chris Kirk

Searching for a Spark at Cognizant Classic
Brooks Koepka

Making Third PGA Tour Start at Cognizant Classic
Mackenzie Hughes

a Steady Option at Cognizant Classic
Seamus Power

Seeking More Green in Florida
PGA

Haotong Li Back From a Break as Florida Stretch Starts
Stephan Jaeger

Trying to Put Four Rounds Together in Florida
PGA

Nico Echavarria Again Attempting to Make the Weekend
Patrick Fishburn

Looking for a Spark at Cognizant Classic
Blades Brown

Set for Cognizant Classic Debut
Michael Thorbjornsen

Looking to Bounce Back at Cognizant Classic
Maxx Crosby

Raiders Expect Maxx Crosby to Return
Billy Horschel

Looks to Improve Season at Cognizant Classic
Kyle Pitts Sr.

Falcons Place Franchise Tag on Kyle Pitts Sr.
Joe Highsmith

Returns to Defend at Cognizant Classic
Quinshon Judkins

Out of Walking Boot, Will be Ready for Training Camp
Breece Hall

Jets Will Use Franchise Tag on Breece Hall if Extension isn't Reached
Joel Dahmen

Needs Better Consistency Heading Into The Florida Swing
Daniel Berger

Looks to Improve Putting as PGA Tour Begins Its Florida Swing
Kirk Cousins

Falcons Plan to Release Kirk Cousins
Zach Ertz

Plans to Return for 14th Season
Davis Thompson

Struggling to Find Birdies as Florida Looms
Tom Kim

Not Quite Cutting It in 2026
Nicolai Hojgaard

Wants to Build Momentum from Scottsdale
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Returns After Extended Break for Florida Event
CFB

Gunner Rivers Follows His Father, Commits To North Carolina State
Will Zalatoris

Set to Make Tournament Debut at Cognizant Classic
Rasmus Hojgaard

Trending Up at the Cognizant Classic
Anthony Hernandez

Suffers Third-Round TKO Loss
Sean Strickland

Gets Back In The Win Column
Kyle Pitts Sr.

Falcons Planning to Use Franchise Tag on Kyle Pitts Sr.
Geoff Neal

Suffers Back-To-Back Knockout Losses
Uros Medic

Shines At UFC Houston
Dan Ige

Gets Finished For The First Time In His Career
Melquizael Costa

Extends His Win Streak To Six
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Falls Short of Victory at EchoPark Speedway
Carson Hocevar

Rallies to Fourth At EchoPark Speedway After Early Struggles
Ross Chastain

Finishes Third At EchoPark Speedway
Chase Briscoe

Scores First Career Top-Five Finish at EchoPark Speedway
Tyler Reddick

Nabs His Second Win of the Season At EchoPark Speedway
Joey Logano

Will Be Popular DFS Pick at EchoPark Speedway
Tyler Reddick

on Pole After Qualifying Rained Out at EchoPark Speedway
Chase Elliott

Could Chase Elliott Be Worth Rostering At EchoPark Speedway?
Ryan Blaney

Is Ryan Blaney Worth Rostering for DFS at EchoPark Speedway?
William Byron

Is William Byron Worth Rostering for DFS at EchoPark Speedway?
Rondale Moore

Passes Away
Denny Hamlin

Is Worth Consideration for EchoPark Speedway DFS Lineups
Brad Keselowski

Is A Tournament Option for DFS At EchoPark Speedway
NASCAR

Is Bubba Wallace Rosterable In DFS At EchoPark Speedway?
Austin Cindric

Should DFS Managers Roster Austin Cindric at EchoPark Speedway?
Ross Chastain

Is Ross Chastain A Sneaky DFS Option for EchoPark Speedway?
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Is Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Worth Rostering for DFS at EchoPark Speedway?
Alex Bowman

Will Start Towards the Rear At EchoPark Speedway
Javonte Williams

Cowboys Sign Javonte Williams to Three-Year, $24 Million Extension
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF