RADIO
Welcome to Saturday, RotoBallers. We have a medium-sized slate on our hands tonight in the NBA as we have six games, featuring the Spurs-Jazz affair that currently holds an implied total north of 240 points. In an odd development, no star players are currently listed as questionable on the injury report. That can change in a moment's notice, so keep an eye out for updates. Aaron Gordon, Kelly Olynyk, Tre Jones, Jeremy Sochan, and Dyson Daniels are the rotational players with questionable designations. Let's get to it.
Here is my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel and DraftKings on 2/25/23. Keep an eye on RotoBaller’s NBA injury news and also our full NBA injury report today to stay up to date before lineups are locked.
DraftKings and FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Talen Horton-Tucker, vs. SAS (FD: $5,900, DK: $5,500)
"THT" has been a steady source of value lately, scoring at least 31.25 DK points in four of his last five games despite shooting poorly in three contests. He's getting there by contributing in all of the other stats, most notably on the defensive side of the ball. His salary jumped after he entered the starting lineup last game, but he's still not priced where he should be given his new role with Collin Sexton out of the lineup. He will obliterate his salary-based expectations if he can ever get his shot to fall, and the opportunity to do so doesn't get more fruitful than going up against the Spurs. San Antonio allows the most fantasy points per game to opposing teams and the second-most fantasy points per game to shooting guards. Fire him up.
Josh Richardson, vs. NYK (DK: $4,200) DraftKings Only, if he's still starting
If we want to fit Joker, Markkanen, and another mid-high range piece, we'll need to find some value we can be comfortable with. Richardson has been playing solid ball lately, and while he was disappointing with 25.25 DK points in his first game as part of the Pelicans' starting lineup, the fact that he's in the starting lineup is something we need to take advantage of. He got ejected in his second game, but he has now played 34 and 29 minutes in his other two games with his new squad. That type of workload translates to a value player we want to get exposure to at his low salary, regardless of the opponent. J-Rich plays a bit of a hybrid off-guard/wing position, but it's worth noting that the Knicks allow the most fantasy points per game to opposing small forwards this season.
Also consider: Jordan Clarkson, Markelle Fultz, Andrew Nembhard, Ja Morant, Jalen Brunson, Terry Rozier
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DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Lauri Markkanen, vs. SAS (FD: $8,600, DK: $9,300)
Markkanen, fresh off his first-ever All-Star Game appearance, went out and had one of his best games of the entire season last night. The sixth-year forward out of Finland - "The Finnisher" - produced 59.5 DK points against the Thunder, scoring 43 points and securing ten boards in the narrow victory. He's playing the lead dog role for this team, leading to him scoring at least 29 points in three straight games, which I believe will continue tonight. Utah gets the elite spot of all elite spots tonight against the Spurs, who allow the most fantasy points per game to opposing teams this season and play at the seventh-fastest pace in the league (Utah ranks 13th in pace). They also allow the most fantasy points per game to opposing power forwards, so Markkanen will have every opportunity to feast tonight.
Wendell Carter Jr., vs. IND (FD: $6,700, DK: $6,500)
The Pacers are excruciatingly bad defensively, and they play at the eighth-fastest pace in the NBA. That means we will want to get to select pieces of the almighty Orlando Magic tonight (fun). Carter Jr. is my pick, as he has seen a bit of a resurgence following the trade of Mo Bamba and the reduction in Bol Bol's role. He has put up 43 and 41.5 DK points in consecutive games coming into tonight's action, and he secured his first double-double (14 points, 14 rebounds) against the Pistons in his last game on Thursday. If he can continue to rack up boards, he won't have trouble exceeding value at his current price tag. The matchup against Indiana is among the best for opposing big men as they allow the fourth-most fantasy points per game to opposing centers and hold the worst defensive rebounding rate in the NBA. Their total rebounding rate ranks 28th out of the 30 teams.
Also consider: Kevin Love (if starting), Brandon Clarke (if starting), Aaron Nesmith, Kelly Olynyk, Dillon Brooks, Jaren Jackson Jr., Keldon Johnson
DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Nikola Jokic, vs. MEM (FD: $11,800, DK: $11,700)
If Jokic is on the slate, he will be a focus for my DFS lineups. It's as simple as that. He's the most expensive player on the DraftKings slate, but I have no issues getting to him as he's averaging 60 DK points per game this season and puts up 70 burgers in his sleep. The back-to-back MVP has produced 72 and 71.5 DK points in two of his last four games, and he's averaging a triple-double for the season (which still feels like it's not being talked about enough). Tonight, he gets a Grizzlies team that has seen its usual elite frontcourt defense take a major step back without the services of Steven Adams. Memphis has allowed the 10th-most fantasy points per game to centers over their last seven games.
Walker Kessler, vs. SAS (FD: $7,400, DK: $6,300)
Keep playing this dude. He's a rebounding and shot-blocking machine, and the matchup against the Spurs is close to as good as it gets. They are allowing the third-most fantasy points per game to opposing centers this season.
I'll keep trying to hide my disgust as a Timberwolves fan.
Also consider: Zach Collins, Myles Turner, Bam Adebayo
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