NBA DFS: Top Daily Fantasy Expert Picks for DraftKings, FanDuel (3/8/25)

Welcome to "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 get a rematch of the Pacers-Hawks matchup tonight, and it's the only game environment on this slate that stands out as it holds a 242.5-point implied total and the fastest projected pace on the slate. The Pistons-Warriors and Pelicans-Rockets games feature implied totals of at least 230 points, so they will be the two other games with some appeal from a daily fantasy perspective. The Lakers-Celtics showdown is the best "real life" game on the slate, while we will surely be mining out options in the Bulls-Heat, Wizards-Raptors, and ugly Magic-Bucks contests.

This article will provide my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 3/8/25. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our excellent NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 6:00 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.

We're playing Luka Doncic if he's going to be contrarian. The superstar has officially found his groove on his new team in LA, scoring at least 67 DK points for the fourth time since joining the team and in two straight contests coming into tonight's action. The Celtics, of course, are one of the most stingy defenses in the NBA. But he's one of the more matchup-proof players in the league, as he just showed in his 67.75 DK point effort against the elite Knicks' defense on Thursday night. He's averaging 1.62 FPTS/min and holds a sky-high 34.8% usage rate over his last seven games, so I have no issue spending up as long as we get enough value to pair him with as the day progresses.

Pascal Siakam doesn't see his rates inflate with Tyrese Haliburton off the floor, but he will still be one of my core plays if Haliburton gets ruled out again. He produced 50.75 DK points in this matchup on Thursday with Hali ruled out, shooting 12-for-18 for 35 points, nine rebounds, and three assists over 34 minutes of action. He'll be the centerpiece of the offense in the top game environment on the slate, and the Hawks struggle to defend PFs as they allow the second-most fantasy points per game to the position this season.

Tyler Herro, Scottie Barnes, and RJ Barrett are a few other options below the top-tier salary guys. The Heat are shorthanded and face the Bulls, who allow the most fantasy points per game to guards on the slate. Barnes and Barrett are underpriced and facing the Wizards, who allow the most fantasy points per game in the league.

Alperen Sengun is an excellent spend-up option against the putrid Pelicans defense tonight. The Rockets' big man has exceeded what he needs for 5x value in four of his last six games, and he has seen a noticeable spike in usage rate (30.2%) while averaging a solid 1.37 FPTS/min during that stretch. This game should remain competitive enough for him to see his full allotment of minutes, and we could see a ceiling game out of him with the Pelicans allowing the second-most fantasy points per game to Cs this season.

Top Core Plays:

1. Luka Doncic, LAL @ BOS - PG ($11,500 DK; $11,600 FD)
2. Scottie Barnes, TOR vs. WAS - PG/SF ($7,700 DK) DraftKings Only
3. Pascal Siakam, IND @ ATL - PF ($7,900 DK; $8,200 FD) only if Haliburton is ruled out
4. Alperen Sengun, HOU vs. NOP - C ($9,500 DK; $8,600 FD)
5. Tyler Herro, MIA vs. CHI - PG/SG ($8,700 DK; $8,600 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 value board looks OK as it stands, but we will 100% see value options open up as the day goes on. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Haliburton, Kristaps Porzingis, Jordan Poole, RJ Barrett, Brandon Podziemski, Jakob Poeltl, and Caris LeVert are all questionable and must be monitored.

I don't think Haliburton will suit up, which frees up T.J. McConnell for starter-level minutes at a modest price tag. He exceeded 5x value on Thursday in this spot with 27.5 DK points, but there was plenty of unrecognized upside as he shot just 4-for-10 from the field. The game environment is fantastic, so we'll want to get to McConnell and other value pieces from the Pacers if their star guard sits another game.

The Raptors' value is intriguing, especially if we get Barrett sitting out. Jakob Poeltl, Ja'Kobe Walter, Jamaal Shead, and Orlando Robinson are the main beneficiaries of Toronto's shorthandedness. Robinson and Shead are the "punt" options, while Poeltl and Walter are the "upside" options. The Wizards can't defend anyone and bleed fantasy points to opponents, so we need to be interested in this spot.

Tari Eason has scored 41 and 40 DK points in his last two games, and he will continue to be a usable mid-range piece as long as he's getting around 30 minutes of playing time. He's averaging 1.14 FPTS/min this season with Fred VanVleet off the floor, and he gets an advantageous matchup against a Pelicans team that has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game this season.

Top Value Plays:

1. Orlando Robinson, TOR vs. WAS - C ($3,400 DK; $4,000 FD)
2. Jamal Shead, TOR vs. WAS - PG ($6,600 DK; $3,900 FD)
3. Jakob Poeltl, TOR vs. WAS - C ($5,600 DK) DraftKings Only
4. Tari Eason, HOU vs. NOP - PF ($5,600 DK; $6,500 FD) Prefer on DraftKings
5. Ja'Kobe Walter, TOR vs. WAS - SG/SF ($4,100 DK; $4,400 FD)
6. Tre Jones, CHI @ MIA - PG ($4,600 DK; $5,100 FD) Prefer on DraftKings

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Today's NBA DFS Picks: Point Guard

Luka doesn't project well, but I'm all in if he will finish anywhere close to the 2% ownership he currently holds. The potential upside is too juicy to pass up despite a difficult matchup on the road against the vaunted Celtics defense.

There are plenty of non-Doncic options to like at the position, though. Shead and Tre Jones are viable punt options who should see around 30 minutes; Jones is the priority as he should start and has scored at least 31 DK points in two straight contests coming into tonight's action. Herro went for 49 DK points despite shooting 9-for-21 from the field last game - he should have no problem going off against a Bulls squad allowing the most fantasy points to guards on the slate.

Barnes is still underpriced despite going for 47, 48.75, and 56 DK points in three of his last four games. It doesn't get any better than a matchup with the Wizards, so he's all systems go for me on this slate. Lastly, Dyson Daniels deserves a mention. He doesn't possess the highest ceiling in the world, but he has consistently been right at 5x value for a few months, and he gets the top game environment on the slate in a high-paced spot against the Pacers.

Top PG Options:

1. Luka Doncic, LAL @ BOS ($11,500 DK; $11,600 FD)
2. Scottie Barnes, TOR vs. WAS ($7,700 DK) DraftKings Only
3. Tyler Herro, MIA vs. CHI ($8,700 DK; $8,600 FD)
4. Jamal Shead, TOR vs. WAS ($6,600 DK; $3,900 FD)
5. Tre Jones, CHI @ MIA ($4,600 DK; $5,100 FD) Prefer on DraftKings

Today's NBA DFS Picks: Shooting Guard

Shooting guard is a little barren on this slate, so I will likely be punting with Walter and mixing in Barrett, Herro, and Daniels at the position. Walter left last game early and is questionable to play, so we could get a minimum-priced AJ Lawson entering the picture as a punt option. We want to get to the Toronto value because they're facing the Wizards, but we will have to wait until we get further injury news to solidify our strategy.

Top SG Options:

1. Ja'Kobe Walter, TOR vs. WAS ($4,100 DK; $4,400 FD)
2. Tyler Herro, MIA vs. CHI ($8,700 DK; $8,600 FD)
3. RJ Barrett, TOR vs. WAS ($7,100 DK; $7,600 FD)
4. Jalen Green, HOU vs. NOP ($6,800 FD) FanDuel Only

Today's NBA DFS Picks: Small Forward

Barnes will be my key piece at SF, but we have other options. Georges Niang has popped for 37.5 and 41.25 DK points over his last five games, and he should continue to see enough playing time to be a viable value option in the top game environment on the slate. He's getting a lot of shot volume on his new team, and he will benefit if we get one (or both) of Caris LeVert and Vit Krejci sitting out again.

Top SF Options:

1. Scottie Barnes, TOR vs. WAS ($7,700 DK) DraftKings Only
2. Ja'Kobe Walter, TOR vs. WAS ($4,100 DK; $4,400 FD)
3. Georges Niang, ATL vs. IND ($4,200 DK; $4,700 FD) Prefer on DraftKings
4. Andrew Wiggins, MIA vs. CHI ($6,300 FD) FanDuel Only
5. Dillon Brooks, HOU vs. NOP ($4,600 FD) FanDuel Only

Today's NBA DFS Picks: Power Forward

Top PF Options:

As mentioned in the "Core" and "Values" sections, Siakam and Eason are among my top picks on this slate. Eason is too cheap for his upside against the Pelicans' vulnerable defense, while Siakam would be a smash play against the Hawks if we get Haliburton ruled out again.

Wiggins doesn't have a ton of upside, but he's too cheap on FanDuel for his current role and gets a matchup against a Bulls defense that can't defend SFs (sixth-most fantasy points per game allowed to SFs this season). Lastly, George represents a viable run-back option for all the Raptors pieces we want to play tonight. He's not exactly cheap, but he's a centerpiece of this team with Jordan Poole off the floor. He has seen dramatic spikes in his usage rate (20.4%) and FPTS/min (0.96) over his last three games with Poole out, so he's a fun mid-range piece if we get Poole out again.

1. Tari Eason, HOU vs. NOP - PF ($5,600 DK; $6,500 FD) Prefer on DraftKings
2. Pascal Siakam, IND @ ATL - PF ($7,900 DK; $8,200 FD) only if Haliburton is ruled out
3. Andrew Wiggins, MIA vs. CHI ($6,300 FD) FanDuel Only
4. Kyshawn George, WAS @ TOR ($5,300 DK) DraftKings Only

Today's NBA DFS Picks: Center

Center is an exciting position tonight, and it may be the pivotal point in determining whether lineups will cash or not. We have Robinson and Jalen Smith as viable punt options, with Robinson being the chalky pick and Smith being the high-risk, high-upside pick. Smith rarely sees more than 20 minutes of action, but his chances go up with Vucevic out, and he averages a stellar 1.24 FPTS/min with the big man off the floor this season.

We also have some mid-range options in Jakob Poeltl, Draymond Green, Onyeka Okongwu, and Myles Turner. Poeltl looks the best of the group right now due to his matchup with the Wizards, but Okongwu and Turner both have plenty of appeal in the top game environment on the slate.

Lastly, Sengun will be overlooked tonight, which is a mistake. He's in excellent form and gets a matchup against a vulnerable Pelicans frontcourt that has allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to Cs this season. They also rank 29th in defensive efficiency and 13th in pace, so we should see some extra possessions on both sides tonight.

Top C Options:

1. Orlando Robinson, TOR vs. WAS ($3,400 DK; $4,000 FD)
2. Jakob Poeltl, TOR vs. WAS ($5,600 DK) DraftKings Only
3. Orlando Robinson, TOR vs. WAS ($3,400 DK; $4,000 FD)
4. Alperen Sengun, HOU vs. NOP ($9,500 DK; $8,600 FD)

Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stacks

1. Pacers @ Hawks (242.5 o/u; 105.2 projected pace)

Today's Top NBA DFS Avoids

I'm riding with Doncic tonight, so I will take a stand and say I don't believe this will be a game that LeBron James continues rolling. He's expensive due to the big games he has produced recently, and he has only exceeded 5x value at his current tag in three of his last seven games. If there will ever be a game for the 40-year-old to come back down to earth, it's this one. He played a grueling 44 minutes two days ago and now faces a top-5 defense in a pace-down spot.

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: Scottie Barnes
• My favorite CASH play on the slate: Scottie Barnes
• My favorite GPP play on the slate: Luka Doncic / Alperen Sengun
• My favorite value play: Jakob Poeltl

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