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NBA DFS sleepers and values plays for DraftKings and FanDuel on March 1, 2023. Juan Carlos Blanco gives you his top NBA DFS picks and lineup targets.
We have a second consecutive busy slate Wednesday, as there are nine games on tap. The outlook for offense is pretty bright, as there are four games with projected totals over 230 points as of early Wednesday.
There are plenty of appealing options across the salary cap, and a number of players that could benefit from key injuries on their squads. As such, there should plenty of ways to differentiate for tournaments, and a solid array of value plays to help you cram in multiple superstars.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for the respective main slates on DraftKings and FanDuel on 3/1/23. Remember to monitor the NBA injury report as the slate can completely change before lineups lock, which is at 7:00 pm ET. Good luck, RotoBallers.
DraftKings and FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Damian Lillard - PG, POR vs. NOP ($11,900 DK, $11,000 FD)
Lillard is coming off a memorable 71-point performance two games ago against the Rockets that netted well over 80 fantasy points on each site, and even in coming back down to earth Tuesday, he still generated 45.3 DK/46.1 FD points in a loss to the Warriors. Dame now gets a crack at old friend CJ McCollum and a Pelicans squad that's allowed over 47 DK and over 45 FD points per game to point guards in the last 30 contests.
Lillard has been at his most productive at home by far with averages of 33.9 points, 7.4 assists and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 48.5 percent, including 39.2 percent from deep. What's more, he's thrived on the second night of back-to-back sets, putting up 35.3 points, 7.8 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game in that split while shooting 52.8 percent overall (43.5 percent from three-point range).
CJ McCollum - PG, NOP at POR ($7,500 DK, $7,800 FD)
McCollum has the ability to go toe to toe with his old Blazers teammate, making him a very appealing option at his salary. The veteran has scuffled with his shot some the last two games, but he naturally carries no shortage of upside and is also well-equipped to exploit the fact Portland allows an NBA-high 38.7 percent success rate from three-point range on its home floor.
McCollum put up 38.3 DK/38.9 FD points against the Blazers in his one prior encounter with Portland, and the Blazers check in allowing the eighth-highest offensive efficiency rating to point guards (28.1). Moreover, they're yielding just over 50 DK and over 49 FD points per game to the position in the last 30 games, along with an NBA-high 26.6 assists per home contest.
Dennis Smith Jr. - PG, CHA vs. PHO ($5,100 DK, $6,100 FD)
LaMelo Ball's season has come to an end due to the ankle fracture he suffered versus the Pistons on Monday night, which means Smith should be in for a starting role the rest of the way. The 2017 first-round pick of the Mavericks has made good use of his starting opportunities this season, averaging over 30 fantasy points per game while generating 10.0 points, 6.8 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals across 12 contests.
Smith won't walk into the easiest matchup for point guards on Wednesday against Chris Paul, but it's worth noting the Suns are still allowing 48.1 DK/46.5 FD points per contest to ones in the last 15 games. Smith's salaries are also such that he won't have to do an inordinate amount to justify rostering him, yet they'll also offer you plenty of flexibility in terms of filling out out the rest of your roster.
ALSO CONSIDER: Ja Morant - PG, MEM at HOU ($9,900 DK, $10,000 FD)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Jayson Tatum - PF, BOS vs. CLE ($10,600 DK, $10,700 FD)
Tatum turned in a dud by his standards Monday night against the Cavaliers while struggling badly from three-point range, but he carries a ceiling north of 60 fantasy points on either site each time he takes the floor. Wednesday, his attention turns toward a Cavaliers team he's enjoyed success against this season, putting up 29.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 2.5 blocks and 1.0 steal across 42.3 minutes per contest in two games this season.
Cleveland is allowing 50.1 percent shooting, including 43.2 percent from three-point range, to power forwards on the season. Tatum is also at his most productive at home, where he's averaging 53.7 DK/51.8 FD points per contest and 31.5 points, 8.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.2 steals across 29 games while also shooting a rock-solid 47.1 percent.
Jaren Jackson Jr. - PF/C, MEM at HOU ($7,700 DK, $8,200 FD)
Jackson always runs the risk of getting into some serious foul trouble, but his upside and matchup against the Rockets is too good to bypass Wednesday if you're looking to invest in the mid-range at one forward spot. The stellar rim protector bounced back from an abbreviated outing against the Nuggets two games ago to generate 34.3 DK/37.4 FD points versus the Lakers on Tuesday, and he now faces a Houston squad allowing the fifth-highest offensive efficiency rating to power forwards on the season (27.7).
Houston is also conceding over 45 DK and over 44 FD points per game to fours on the campaign, and just as important when considering Jackson's ability to contribute heavily on the defensive end, the Rockets are allowing an NBA-high 5.9 blocks per game as well. Meanwhile, Jackson has at least four blocks in eight of the last 10 contests, making him a great option to target that weakness with.
Jalen Williams - SF/PF, OKC vs. LAL ($6,200 DK, $6,200 FD)
Williams has been showing impressive glimpses of his talent all season, and he's particularly stepped it up in the last three games during the absence of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander due to ankle and abdomen injuries. The rookie has put up 21.3 points, 5.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds in that span while scoring over 35 fantasy points on each site in two of those contests. SGA looks almost certain to sit out Wednesday as well, considering that in addition to his pair of injuries, he also entered COVID-19 protocols Tuesday.
Williams put up 50.8 DK/54.4 FD points against the Lakers the one previous time he saw them, and Los Angeles is naturally now playing short-handed due to LeBron James' foot injury. L.A. checks in allowing the 11th-highest offensive efficiency rating to power forwards (26.8) as well, along with an NBA-high 51.7 DK points and 49.6 FD points to power forwards in the last 15 games.
ALSO CONSIDER: Giannis Antetokounmpo - PF, MIL vs. ORL ($12,300 DK, $11,800 FD)
DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Anthony Davis - C, LAL at OKC ($10,200 DK, $11,500 FD)
Davis makes for an intriguing option on the other side of the Lakers-Thunder battle, considering James' absence and the fact AD shot a blistering 66.7 percent the one previous time he faced OKC this season. Davis also sports a 31.1 percent usage rate and averages 60.2 DK/61.8 FD points per 36 minutes with LeBron off the floor this season, and he's also likely to play without D'Angelo Russell (ankle) on Wednesday as well.
The Thunder make for good targets from a matchup perspective also, as they're ranked in the bottom of the league in offensive efficiency rating surrendered to centers (32.4) and conceding 55.8 DK/54.9 FD points per contest to the position on the season. The Thunder is also allowing the second-most rebounds per home game (54.0) and third-most blocks per contest overall (5.5), furthering Davis' case.
Deandre Ayton - C, PHO at CHA ($8,100 DK, $9,200 FD)
Ayton draws what has consistently been a top-3 matchup for centers this season in the Hornets, which are allowing an NBA-high 36.6 offensive efficiency rating to fives, along with an NBA-high 60.3 DK/59.5 FD points per contest to the position. Charlotte has been even more generous late with 64.9 DK/64 FD points per game surrendered to centers in the last seven, and Ayton checks in running hot with four double-doubles in the last five games alone.
The big man has been consistently impressive since returning from a three-game absence in late January, averaging 22.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.2 blocks across his last 13 contests. That stretch has seen Ayton eclipsed 40 DK points seven times and 40 FD points on six occasions, including four tallies of over 50 on each site. Charlotte is also yielding the second-most blocks per game (5.8), affording Ayton even more appeal despite the fact Kevin Durant is expected to debut for Phoenix on Wednesday.
Xavier Tillman Sr. - C, MEM at HOU ($4,600 DK, $5,300 FD)
Tillman has played well with extended opportunity in Steven Adams' ongoing absence due to a knee injury, averaging 8.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.2 steals across 25.9 minutes over the last 10 games. The third-year big is coming off an especially productive two-game stretch that included an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double in his most recent outing, one that netted over 40 fantasy points on either site.
The combination of his salaries and the matchup make Tillman a good candidate to overdeliver once again Wednesday. The Rockets have proven vulnerable to frontcourt players as already detailed in Jackson's entry, and they've given up over 58 fantasy points per game on either site to centers in the last seven contests. Tillman has shown a consistent ability supplement his production nicely with steals and blocks lately as well, and in addition to Houston surrendering 5.9 rejections per contest, the Rockets are also conceding a league-high 9.4 steals per home game.
ALSO CONSIDER: Joel Embiid - C, PHI at MIA ($11,200 DK, $12,000 FD)
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