The top daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on March 1, 2018. Dennis Clausen's NBA DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.

It's Thursday and the league will feature a four game slate filled with some decent games. If you factor in the limited amount of options, there isn't much room for error. Due to the slow projected pace of the Minnesota/Portland game, I am omitting anyone from that matchup.

In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 3/1/18.

These DFS lineup picks can vary from higher-priced players and elite options, to lower-priced players and value picks on DraftKings. Also, give me a follow on Twitter @Den_Clausen and let me know how well I did, or didn't do. Good luck!

DraftKings DFS Guards

Ben Simmons - PG/SF, @ CLE ($8,600)

Despite getting a slew of new talent, the Cavs haven't made much improvement on the defensive end. With the defensively inefficient group of George Hill, Jordan Clarkson, J.R. Smith and Rodney Hood averaging a combined defensive rating of 108.3, Simmons will have plenty of room to make some waves on the fantasy end. He struggled a bit against the Heat a few nights ago, but if you factor in the slow pace that Miami forces it's opponents to play, that isn't surprising.

Goran Dragic - PG, vs. LAL ($7,400)

Speaking of the slow Miami pace, the Heat will be forced to pick up the pace against a Lakers squad that loves to turn up the volume on the floor. Though Los Angeles isn't that bad on the defensive end, the speed in which they play allow for opponents to get plenty of chances on the offensive end. With the Lakers giving up 52.9 fantasy points per game to opposing playmakers, Dragic could be in store for a nice fantasy outing.

D'Angelo Russell - PG/SG, @ SAC ($7,300)

With Sacramento ranking 11th in the league against opposing point guards, and 16th against opposing off guards, it is easy to shy away from a matchup against them in favor of matchups against Los Angeles or Cleveland, where statistics show that they give up more fantasy points per game. However, let's not misconstrue their defensive numbers against those positions with the idea that the Kings are actually good on the defensive end because they aren't. Sacramento is sporting the worst defensive efficiency rating in the league and the only thing that saves them from getting more points scored on them is the turtle-like pace in which they play. Just like the Lakers against the Heat, Brooklyn will force Sacramento to pick up the tempo, making Russell a good fantasy candidate on Thursday. If you wanna' throw Spencer Dinwiddie into the mix, I have no problems with that either.

DraftKings DFS Forwards

Zach Randolph - PF/C, vs. BKN ($6,300)

Coach Joerger has been playing it safe with the 36-year-old and held him out against the Timberwolves on Monday, which was the first of back-to-back games for the team. However, he returned on Tuesday against the Trail Blazers and dropped 20 points. Though there is a chance that he may play sparingly in favor of the team's younger squad, Randolph may be too risky for some, but rewarding for others who are willing to take a chance.

Josh Richardson - SG/SF, vs. LAL ($5,800)

Richardson struggled against the Sixers a few nights ago, but that is nothing to be surprised about since they have one of the best defenses in the league. Prior to that, he had 30.5 fantasy points against Memphis, and 41.8 fantasy points against New Oleans, two teams with much weaker defenses. Knowing what we know about the Lakers and Brandon Ingram's 105.3 defensive rating, it is very possible for Richardson to eclipse the five times value mark.

DraftKings DFS Centers

Hassan Whiteside - C, vs. LAL ($8,000)

Whiteside has seen his price slowly creep up as of late, and for good reason. He is averaging 14.4 points, 11 boards and shooting nearly 60 percent from the field over the past five games. Whiteside's unproductive play earlier in the season was largely due to a nagging knee issue, but with that seemingly behind him, he is back to playing productive, high-caliber basketball.

Willie Cauley-Stein - C, vs. BKN ($7,100)

In case you haven't noticed, the Nets are horrendous in the middle. Though Jarrett Allen has been offering a glimpse of what could be a promising future, the team is still allowing a league-worst 26.5 points and 18.2 rebounds per contest against opposing big men. Cauley-Stein is no joke, and could easily exploit an inferior, interior Brooklyn defense.

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