RADIO
We continue with "Silly Season" in the NBA, where we see a lot of instances of teams resting starters to tank for a better draft pick or preserve health for the playoffs. 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 tiny four-game NBA slate on this fine Saturday in late March. The Bulls-Lakers game has the highest implied total and the most intrigue, but the Warriors-Hawks matchup is a better target for daily fantasy as it has the highest implied total, the fastest projected pace, and a bottom-five defense (Atlanta). We will need to get the news on LeBron James's status before finalizing our lineups for tonight, but we can mine through the rest of the slate for plays in the meantime.
This article will provide my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 3/22/25. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our excellent NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 7:00 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.
Whether or not LeBron James returns to action tonight is one of the biggest keys on this slate. Getting to Luka Doncic and/or Austin Reaves is a little dicier if he's playing, but both are excellent plays against a putrid Bulls defense if he sits out another game. I recommend building around Doncic regardless, but I'd feel better if James and his 33.3% usage rate were ruled out.
The Lakers hold the highest implied total on the slate, and the Bulls play fast (#3 in pace) while ranking poorly on defense (24th in defensive rating; fourth-most fantasy points per game allowed). They particularly struggle against point guards, allowing the second-most fantasy points per game to the position this season.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a core piece to consider, but his recent form and lingering knee injury give me pause for concern at his lofty $12,000 price tag. The Bucks hold the lowest implied total on the slate and get a pace-down matchup against the Kings, so I'm not sold on him hitting 60+ DK points in this spot.
I prefer to sprinkle in some Karl-Anthony Towns, who sees a massive 5.3% usage rate increase (27.4% to 32.7%) with Jalen Brunson off the floor this season. He hasn't been lighting the world on fire recently, but a matchup with the Wizards is precisely what the doctor ordered. Washington plays at the fourth-fastest pace, allowing opponents the most fantasy points per game this season. They also allow the most fantasy points per game to Cs, and the fourth-most three-point makes (14.3) per game, which plays right into Towns' strong suit.
Top Core Plays:
- Luka Doncic, LAL vs. CHI - PG ($12,600 DK; $12,000 FD)
- Karl-Anthony Towns, NYK vs. WAS - C ($10,000 DK; $9,800 FD)
- Trae Young, ATL vs. GSW - PG ($9,900 DK; $9,700 FD)
- Josh Giddey, CHI @ LAL - PG/SF ($8,600 DK; $8,800 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:
Damian Lillard has already been ruled out, so we can enjoy another game of a dirt-cheap Ryan Rollins. He started the last game and put up 30.75 DK points in 29 minutes of action, and we should expect a similar output tonight. Despite his impressive finish, he shot just 3-for-11 from the field, so there's room for even more upside here. He averages a solid 0.92 FPTS/min with the future Hall of Famer off the floor this season and shouldn't have issues navigating the Kings, who have allowed the 11th-most fantasy points per game over their last 15 games.
Tristan Vukcevic isn't playing heavy minutes, but that hasn't stopped him from crushing value at his cheap salary lately. He's averaging 33.5 DK points per game over his last four games, including a 39 DK point output against the Magic in his previous game. The Knicks are elite at limiting fantasy production from opposing bigs, but the second-round pick in the 2023 draft is too cheap to ignore tonight.
Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski are back for the Warriors. I like them both in a favorable matchup against the weak Hawks defense, but I prefer to play Podziemski, as the coaching staff seems more comfortable with him playing heavy minutes while they ease Kuminga back in. Quinten Post is also viable, but I wouldn't go too crazy with him due to his limited minutes projection.
Keep an eye on Miles McBride's status. He projects well if he's in, but we could see Cameron Payne pop as a value if he's ruled out.
Top Value Plays:
- Ryan Rollins, MIL @ SAC - PG ($3,800 DK; $4,800 FD)
- Tristan Vukcevic, WAS @ NYK - C ($4,400 DK; $5,100 FD)
- Brandin Podziemski, GSW @ ATL - PG/SG ($6,000 DK; $6,100 FD)
- Jonathan Kuminga, GSW @ ATL - PF ($5,300 DK; $5,500 FD)
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Today's NBA DFS Picks: Point Guard
I will try to make Trae Young a core piece in lineups tonight. He's in excellent form, exceeding what he needs for 5x value tonight in six of his last seven contests while popping for a 62.75 DK point game on 3/12 against the Hornets. Tonight's matchup won't be as forgiving against the stifling Warriors defense, but the elite game environment and fast projected pace have me wanting to get to the heavy shot volume from Young.
Rollins will be a key piece in everyone's lineup tonight, but we can get a little different by getting to Luka, Young, and players like Podziemski, McBride, and Dyson Daniels. Daniels is on a mini-heater, posting at least 41 DK points in three of his last five games (including two straight coming into tonight). He won't be popular, so taking some shots on him as a mid-range piece makes a ton of sense on this slate.
Top PG Options:
- Ryan Rollins, MIL @ SAC ($3,800 DK; $4,800 FD)
- Luka Doncic, LAL vs. CHI ($12,600 DK; $12,000 FD)
- Brandin Podziemski, GSW @ ATL ($6,000 DK; $6,100 FD)
- Trae Young, ATL vs. GSW ($9,900 DK; $9,700 FD)
- Josh Giddey, CHI @ LAL ($8,600 DK; $8,800 FD)
- Dyson Daniels, ATL vs. GSW ($7,000 DK) DraftKings Only
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Shooting Guard
The shooting guard position is bleak tonight; there's no way around it. Mikal Bridges and B-Pod are my favorite mid-range picks, as both should play heavy minutes in very favorable matches against the Wizards and Hawks, respectively. Bridges sees modest jumps in usage rate and FPTS/min with Brunson off the floor, but this recommendation is all about the Thibs-centric minute projection and the matchup against a team that allows the most fantasy points per game.
Top SG Options:
- Brandin Podziemski, GSW @ ATL ($6,000 DK; $6,100 FD)
- Mikal Bridges, NYK vs. WAS ($6,200 DK; $6,600 FD)
- Miles McBride, NYK vs. WAS ($5,500 DK; $5,900 FD)
- Cameron Payne, NYK vs. WAS ($3,100 DK) DraftKings Only
- Dyson Daniels, ATL vs. GSW ($7,000 DK) DraftKings Only
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Small Forward
Bridges is also a top pick at SF tonight, but there are a few other options. Kyle Kuzma sees a massive jump in usage rate (19.8% to 24.9%) and FPTS/min (0.79 to 0.99) with Lillard off the floor. He hasn't been too impressive lately but has exceeded 5x value with 29.5 and 33.75 DK points over his previous two games.
Josh Giddey's price tag might make you think twice, but he has exceeded 5x value at his current salary in nine of his last ten games. He's averaging an elite 1.52 FPTS/min over that stretch, and while the Lakers hold solid defensive numbers this season, they're not good enough to shy away from the type of production Giddey has produced. He's not going to be a popular high-priced player to build around, and I love the all-around production he brings to the table (season averages: 13.9 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 6.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.6 BPG).
Top SF Options:
- Mikal Bridges, NYK vs. WAS ($6,200 DK; $6,600 FD)
- Josh Giddey, CHI @ LAL ($8,600 DK; $8,800 FD)
- Kyle Kuzma, MIL @ SAC ($5,400 DK) DraftKings Only
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Power Forward
Top PF Options:
If you have the salary to afford him, Jimmy Butler is in incredible form and gets a glorious matchup against the Hawks tonight. He has produced 47.5, 48.5, and 59.75 DK points coming into tonight's action, and Atlanta allows the second-most fantasy points per game to SFs this season (third-most to PFs).
As stated in the "Values" section, Kuminga is also worth taking shots at his mid-range salary. OG Anunoby looks excellent for the same reason all the Knicks do - he should play all the minutes he can handle against the worst defense in the NBA.
Lastly, unpopular plays like Georges Niang, Draymond Green, and Trey Lyles are worth gambling on since this is a small four-game slate. Someone will outperform their expectations, so I like taking shots on players who either have upside at their salary or would see blowout run in uncompetitive situations.
Green, in particular, has been rejuvenated by the Warriors' recent success. He averages 35.4 DK points per game over his last five games, including a 45.75 DK point output his last time out.
- Jonathan Kuminga, GSW @ ATL ($5,300 DK; $5,500 FD)
- Kyle Kuzma, MIL @ SAC ($5,400 DK) DraftKings Only
- Jimmy Butler, GSW @ ATL ($8,500 DK; $8,400 FD)
- Draymond Green, GSW @ ATL ($6,700 DK; $7,000 FD)
- Georges Niang, ATL vs. GSW ($4,200 DK; $4,000 FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Center
Towns and Vukcevic were covered earlier, so let's show some love to a few other options for the position. Post doesn't play heavy minutes, but he needs just 18 DK points for 5x value and has games with 26 and 27.5 DK points coming into tonight. He would also be a benefactor if this game turns into a blowout, but that doesn't seem too likely, as the spread is just 2.5 points in favor of Golden State.
Top C Options:
- Karl-Anthony Towns, NYK vs. WAS ($10,000 DK; $9,800 FD)
- Tristan Vukcevic, WAS @ NYK ($4,400 DK; $5,100 FD)
- Draymond Green, GSW @ ATL ($6,700 DK; $7,000 FD)
- Quinten Post, GSW @ ATL ($3,600 DK; $4,300 FD)
Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stacks
- Hawks @ Warriors (231.5 o/u; 104.7 projected pace)
- Bulls @ Lakers (234 o/u; 103.9 projected pace)
Today's Top NBA DFS Avoids
The Kings. Zach LaVine has been playing like the season is over, averaging 25.8 DK points per game over his last four games. DeMar DeRozan hasn't been as awful, but he rarely pops for ceiling games, and he is priced up with Domantas Sabonis out of the lineup. Malik Monk has stepped up lately, but that has resulted in his salary rising to a spot where we can't be comfortable rolling him out in our lineups. Jonas Valanciunas posts games with less than 20 DK points more often than not, and the coaching staff doesn't trust him as he has averaged 16.3 minutes per game over his last five games.
No one looks good on Sacramento aside from Lyles, who is cheap enough to take shots on and has games with 37.5 and 31.25 DK points over his previous two contests.
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: Luka Doncic
- My favorite CASH play on the slate: Ryan Rollins
- My favorite GPP play on the slate: Josh Giddey
- My favorite value play: Ryan Rollins
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