RADIO
The Trade Deadline has come and gone, with a group of stars and plenty of role players now finding themselves on new teams in preparation for the home stretch. In these articles, I focus on the top plays, traditionally geared toward cash games. However, with over a decade of NBA DFS experience under my belt—and as someone who rarely dives into cash formats—I'm selecting picks that also typically come with high upside. That means they offer the steady floor needed for cash games while packing the high ceiling we need for tournaments.
We have a seven-game slate on DraftKings tonight, while FanDuel is including both the late games to bump their slate to nine games. This is a tricky slate, as we have six games with lofty implied totals of over 232 points and a handful of matchups with blistering projected pace of play. The Nuggets-Suns, Pelicans-Kings, and Celtics-Knicks games stand out from a DFS-stacking perspective, while the Thunder-Grizzlies matchup also looks great as it holds the highest implied total on the slate at 243 points. There will also be some appeal in the Hawks-Wizards and Warriors-Bulls games, as they both project as high-paced affairs with little defense. Let's get to it.
This article will provide my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 2/8/25. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our excellent NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 3 p.m. EST on DraftKings and FanDuel. Good luck, RotoBallers!
Today's NBA DFS Core Picks
Here is a look at some of the higher-priced players we can use as building blocks for cash and GPP contests.
As always, it's Jokic, and nothing else matters at the top. He's pushing $13,000 on both sites, but I don't care because the man cannot be stopped. He needs 64 DK points to hit 5x value on DraftKings tonight, and he has exceeded that mark in eight of his last 11 games. He's the only player on the slate consistently putting up 70+ DK points, and he's also the only player on the slate who is even capable of hitting the 80-90+ DK point mark. He will be playing in the top game environment on the slate tonight, and the Suns are allowing the seventh-most fantasy points per game to Cs this season.
If you're looking for a pivot, or if we find enough value to get to a second stud with Jokic, my eyes are on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Trae Young. SGA has tournament-winning upside in the rare competitive games he plays in, as evidenced by his 74.5 DK point explosion in 34 minutes against the Suns on 2/5. A matchup with Memphis should mean he gets his full allotment of minutes, and we could see a ceiling game with the Grizzlies allowing the 10th-most fantasy points per game this season.
Young has been up-and-down lately, but he put up 68.75 DK points against the Pacers on 2/1, and he gets a similar game environment tonight against the Wizards. It will be a fast-paced, high-scoring showdown between two teams that don't play any defense, and we have to like Young's chances in those spots. The Wizards allow the most fantasy points per game overall and the third-most fantasy points per game to PGs, so the sky is the limit on his potential ceiling tonight.
Top Core Plays:
- Nikola Jokic, DEN @ PHX - C ($12,800 DK; $12,900 FD)
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC @ MEM - PG ($10,900 DK; $11,600 FD)
- Trae Young, ATL @ WAS - PG ($9,600 DK; $9,800 FD)
- Onyeka Okongwu, ATL @ WAS - C ($6,500 DK; $7,200 FD)
- Naz Reid, MIN vs. POR - PF/C ($6,700 DK; $7,300 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Value Picks
This is where we talk about saving salary. Whether it's a severely underpriced backup or even as simple as a guy playing like someone who should be priced higher, this is where you'll find guys who make lineups work.
Sorting the best value picks of the day by fantasy points per dollar:
The Wizards will need to be monitored. Alex Sarr, Malcolm Brogdon, and the newly acquired Khris Middleton are true question marks, and their availability will significantly impact what we can do for value on the Washington side. Richaun Holmes, Kyshawn George, and (to a lesser extent) Tristan Vukcevic popped up as values in their absence, while Carlton Carrington, Jordan Poole, and Bilal Coulibaly could be great plays if the news breaks right. We'll have to wait for injury updates before making any decisions here.
One guy we know we can confidently play is Onyeka Okongwu, who is finally seeing starter-level minutes for the first time in his career. He has run with the opportunity, posting 52.75, 45.75, 47.75, 46.5, 46, and 57 DK points within his last 14 games. It doesn't get any better than a matchup against Washington, as the game will be played at a blistering pace (ATL #2 in pace, WAS #4 in pace), and the Wizards have allowed the most fantasy points per game to Cs this season.
Lastly, Aaron Gordon is firmly in play at under $5,000 on DraftKings. He's back to playing around 30 minutes per game, and while he hasn't shown consistent production this season, he has finished with 34.5 and 27.25 DK points over his last two contests. The game environment is stellar, so I like rolling the dice on an underpriced Gordon in this spot.
Top Value Plays:
- Wizards TBD
- Onyeka Okongwu, ATL @ WAS - C ($6,500 DK; $7,200 FD)
- Bilal Coulibaly, WAS vs. ATL ($5,700 DK; $6,400 FD) Prefer on DraftKings
- Aaron Gordon, DEN @ PHX - PF/C ($4,800 DK; $5,500 FD) Prefer on DraftKings
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Today's NBA DFS Picks: Point Guard
Carrington and Poole are projecting as great plays regardless of the pending injury news. Poole went bonkers with 60 DK points in his previous game, while Carrington has put up games with 22 and 41 DK points over his last two outings. They both get a usage bump with Kyle Kuzma shipped out, and the fastest-paced matchup on the slate significantly benefits the point guards in Washington. Additionally, Atlanta has allowed the 10th-most fantasy points per game to PGs this season, so I like them both in this spot.
Mike Conley is an intriguing option on the cheaper end of the salary scale, as he has scored at least 27 DK points in three of his last four games and gets a matchup against a Portland team that has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game to PGs this season. He'd see some extra appeal if Anthony Edwards were to be ruled out (currently questionable with hip soreness).
Top PG Options:
- Jordan Poole, WAS vs. ATL ($7,100 DK; $7,300 FD)
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC @ MEM ($10,900 DK; $11,600 FD)
- Trae Young, ATL @ WAS ($9,600 DK; $9,800 FD)
- Mike Conley, MIN vs. POR ($4,800 DK; $4,900 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Shooting Guard
Bilal Coulibaly is the SG for me tonight. The rookie is averaging 40 DK PPG over his last four games, including the first triple-double of his career on 2/5 against the Nets. The fast-paced matchup against the vulnerable Hawks' defense can't be overstated enough - Coulibaly will be a key part of my lineup construction tonight.
This position is in flux, depending on the injury news. Edwards getting ruled out would open up Nickiel Alexander-Walker for starter-level minutes at just $4,400 on DraftKings, while Lu Dort and Cason Wallace are both questionable for the Thunder. Desmond Bane, Jamal Murray, Jalen Suggs, Bradley Beal, Malcolm Brogdon, Lonzo Ball, and Caris LeVert are also all questionable, so we'll have to take a "wait and see" approach here.
Top SG Options:
- Bilal Coulibaly, WAS vs. ATL ($5,700 DK; $6,400 FD) Prefer on DraftKings
- Carlton Carrington, WAS vs. ATL ($5,700 DK; $4,900 FD)
- TBD (need injury updates)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Small Forward
Kyshawn George is a top-value pick at SF, and we continue recommending Wizards on this slate. He is just $4,300 despite games of 33.25 and 36.25 DK points over his last two outings. This position is hideous tonight, so he will probably be one of my most popular SF picks, regardless of the injury news.
Zaccharie Risacher looks decent on the other side of the matchup, but his production has been volatile, and the new pieces on the Hawks (Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, Terance Mann) may suit up tonight. Coby White is a mid-range option I'm interested in, as he's averaging 31.7 DK PPG over his last five games and could see a minutes and usage bump if Ball sits this one out.
Top SF Options:
- Kyshawn George, WAS vs. ATL ($4,300 DK; $4,900 FD)
- Coby White, CHI vs. GSW ($6,400 DK; $6,500 FD)
- TBD (need injury updates)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Power Forward
It's Naz Reid time. Reid has seen his salary increase by $1,300 since 1/20, and it's because he's crushing value since being moved into a starting role. He has scored 44.25, 52.5, and 37.25 DK points over his last three games (1.3 FPTS/min), and he'd carry even more of the offensive burden if Ant gets ruled out. The Blazers have been solid defensively against bigs, but we can't even think about fading Reid when he's on the heater he's currently on.
Top PF Options:
- Naz Reid, MIN vs. POR ($6,700 DK; $7,300 FD)
- Aaron Gordon, DEN @ PHX ($4,800 DK; $5,500 FD)
- Kyshawn George, WAS vs. ATL ($4,300 DK; $4,900 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Center
Jokic and Okongwu are the top plays at center, as referenced in the "Core Picks" and "Value Picks" sections. There are other intriguing options at the mid-range and high-end of the player pool, though. Alexandre Sarr is questionable, but he's too cheap if he's ruled in tonight, as he has put up 29.5, 33.5, and 32 DK points over his last three (full) games. Nikola Vucevic is now the star of the show in Chicago with Zach LaVine shipped out, so he has a solid potential ceiling against a Warriors team that has allowed the ninth-most fantasy points per game to Cs over their last seven games.
Top C Options:
- Nikola Jokic, DEN @ PHX ($12,800 DK; $12,900 FD)
- Onyeka Okongwu, ATL @ WAS ($6,500 DK; $7,200 FD)
- Nikola Vucevic, CHI vs. GSW ($8,000 DK; $8,000 FD)
- Alexandre Sarr, WAS vs. ATL ($5,500 DK; $5,800 FD)
Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stacks
- Nuggets @ Suns (o/u 237.5; 102.6 projected pace)
- Thunder @ Grizzlies (o/u 243; 105.3 projected pace)
- Hawks @ Wizards (o/u 236.5; 106.1 projected pace)
Today's Top NBA DFS Avoids
I can't get to Victor Wembanyama tonight. He doesn't hold a candle to the potential ceiling Jokic brings, and he gets a pace-down spot against a stout Orlando defense. The Magic allow the least fantasy points per game overall and to Cs, and they rank 29th in pace. Additionally, Wemby has only cracked 60 DK points once over his last six games. I'd instead prioritize Jokic and try to sprinkle in cheaper studs with similar upside like SGA, Towns, and Young tonight.
My Favorite NBA DFS Picks for Today
Here is where I leave you with some of my favorites.
- My favorite overall play on the slate: Nikola Jokic
- My favorite CASH play on the slate: Trae Young / Onyeka Okongwu
- My favorite GPP play on the slate: Nikola Jokic (currently 9% pOwn%)
- My favorite value play: Bilal Coulibaly
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