FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Saturday 11/12/22
If you're new to daily fantasy basketball -- maybe you started your DFS journey during the MLB or NFL seasons, or maybe basketball is your sport and this will be your first year giving it a shot -- you're in for a treat. The NBA scene changes on a week-to-week, day-to-day, and -- depending on injury news -- even a minute-to-minute basis, making every slate a unique one that requires an ever-changing approach.
With so much changing so quickly, we're here with plenty of tools to help you out. We have daily projections, a matchup heat map, a lineup optimizer, and a bunch of other great resources to help give you an edge.
Daily fantasy basketball is very reliant on a player's opportunity, so you'll need to make sure that you're up-to-date with key injuries. Our projections update up until tip-off to reflect current news, we have player news updates, and the FanDuel Scout app will send push notifications for pressing updates regarding your players.
We'll also be coming at you with this primer every day, breaking down a few of the day's top plays at each position.
Let's break down today's main slate on FanDuel.
| Team | O/U | Spread | Implied Total | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHA | 212.5 | 10 | 101.25 | Smith, Ball questionable |
| POR | 215.5 | 5 | 105.25 | Lillard not listed / Nurkic questionable |
| DET | 226 | 9.5 | 108.25 | Cunningham OUT |
| ATL | 220 | 3 | 108.5 | |
| DAL | 215.5 | -5 | 110.25 | Wood probable |
| HOU | 232.5 | 10.5 | 111 | |
| MIA | 212.5 | -10 | 111.25 | Herro questionable |
| PHI | 220 | -3 | 111.5 | Harden OUT / Melton questionable |
| TOR | 228.5 | 1.5 | 113.5 | VanVleet OUT |
| IND | 228.5 | -1.5 | 115 | |
| BOS | 226 | -9.5 | 117.75 | Brogdon, Brown, Horford OUT |
| NO | 232.5 | -10.5 | 121.5 |
Guards
Luka Doncic ($12,200): After his first two games under 30 real-life points this season, Doncic's FanDuel salary has moved down 2.4%. In a matchup against a Portland team ranked 13th in points allowed in the paint and seventh in fantasy points allowed to his position, the Mavericks' superstar ranks as Saturday's second overall option with a 55.1 FanDuel point projection.
Trae Young ($9,800): At his median salary point this month, Young has an underrated spot versus a Philly unit ranked 21st in true shooting percentage and 15th in defensive efficiency. In five previous contests versus the 76ers since last season, Young is averaging 24.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 7.8 assists while shooting 40.2% from the field.
Tyrese Haliburton ($8,800): Even at his highest salary point this season, Haliburton is an undervalued play against a Toronto Raptors' team allowing 42.1 FanDuel points per game to point guards this season. In 370.5 minutes this season, Indiana's guard is averaging 1.33 FanDuel points per minute and a 24.2% usage rate.
Damian Lillard ($8,500): Since the start of November, Lillard's FanDuel salary has remained at his median point while the Portland guard has missed some time with a calf strain. Despite his tough matchup against a Dallas Mavericks' unit ranked second in FanDuel points (39.7) allowed per game to his position, Dame stands as numberFire's sixth rated guard with a 39.1 fantasy projection.
Terry Rozier ($8,000): After his return last Saturday, Rozier has been the lead offensive producer among his team's starters, averaging 0.11 assists and 0.61 shot attempts per minute with a 29.3% usage rate.
Tyrese Maxey ($7,700): In 205.3 minutes with James Harden off the floor this season, Maxey sees an eye-popping 0.20 boost to 1.11 FanDuel points per minute with a 31.8% usage rate.
Kevin Porter Jr. ($7,400): At this lowest salary point in November, Houston's 22-year old guard has an underrated spot against a New Orleans Pelicans' team ranked 15th in defensive rating and 17th in FanDuel points (47.3) allowed per game to point guards this season. In 421.3 minutes this season, Porter is averaging 1.04 FanDuel points and a 25.9% usage rate.
Jalen Green ($6,000): The Rockets' second-year shooting guard ranks sixth among his position in value with a 5.09 rating at his second lowest salary point this season against a Pelicans' team allowing 36.7 fantasy points per game to the two spot.
Gary Trent ($5,800): numberFire's third ranked guard in value with a 5.39 rating is producing 0.93 FanDuel points per minute in a 96.6 minute sample with Toronto's current inactives.
De'Anthony Melton ($5.800): Philadelphia's 24-year old guard is recording 0.94 FanDuel points and a 16.4% usage rate in 150.6 minutes with Harden off the floor.
Derrick White ($4,500): In 77.1 minute with Boston's inactives, White's production increases by 0.19 to 1.03 FanDuel points per minute.
Andrew Nembhard ($3,500): In his two career starts, Indiana's rookie is averaging 0.80 fantasy points. 0.11 rebounds, and 0.14 assists in 62.5 minutes.
Forwards
Jayson Tatum ($10,300): numberFire's top rated forward with a 45.1 FanDuel point projection will face a Detroit Pistons' team ranked 14th (39.6 FanDuel points) in fantasy points allowed to small forwards. In a 70.5 minute sample size with Boston's current inactives, Tatum's production jumps by 0.33 to a robust 1.66 FanDuel points per minute.
Jimmy Butler ($9,300): After a vintage 63.0 fantasy point performance, Butler's FanDuel salary has moved to his highest point this season against a Charlotte Hornets' unit ranked 16th in defensive rating and 17th in fantasy points allowed per game to his position.
Zion Williamson ($8,700): In a soft matchup versus a Portland squad standing 13th in points allowed in the paint and 23rd in FanDuel points allowed per game to the four spot, the Pelicans' big man is ranked second among forwards with a 42.0 FanDuel point projection.
OG Anunoby ($8,500): With the Raptors' current injury situation, Toronto's versatile forward sees a 0.08 boost to 1.03 FanDuel points per minute. In a great spot against a Indiana Pacers' team ranked 23rd in FanDuel points allowed to small forwards, Anunoby rates sixth at his position with a 34.3 FanDuel point expectation.
Brandon Ingram ($8,000): In a 91.0 minute sample size this season with New Orleans' starting five, Ingram is averaging 1.05 FanDuel points and a 28.2% usage rate.
Tobias Harris ($7,800): The 30-year old forward sees a lofty 0.18 increase to 1.16 FanDuel points mostly due to a 7.6% jump in assist rate in 126.9 minutes with Philadelphia's current inactives.
Scottie Barnes ($7,700): With VanVleet listed as questionable and Siakam ruled out, Barnes is producing 0.92 FanDuel points in a 144.7 minute sample size if VanVleet is unable to suit up.
Kelly Oubre ($6,000): In the past week, Oubre is second among Charlotte's starters in usage (28.0%), fantasy production (0.87 FanDuel points), and shot attempts (0.54).
Jalen Smith ($5,500): Despite a tough matchup against a Raptors' team ranked third in FanDuel points allowed to his position, Indiana's 22-year old stands third among forwards in value with a 5.36 rating.
Centers
Joel Embiid ($10,500): In an underrated spot against a Hawks' team ranked 21st in points allowed in the paint and 19th in fantasy production versus centers, Embiid stands as numberFire's top option with 56.1 expected FanDuel points. In 119.0 minutes with Harden off the floor, the 28-year old is recording 1.18 FanDuel points per minute and an elite 37.2% usage rate.
Bam Adebayo ($8,100): Even after a 5.2% salary increase, Miami's big man is seventh in value with a 4.92 rating and second among his position with 39.9 expected fantasy points.
Myles Turner ($7,100): Turner's FanDuel salary has moved up 7.5% after Indiana's defensive leader averaged 51.5 fantasy points in his past two appearances. When the 26-year old takes at least 11 shot attempts, he is averaging 52.7 FanDuel points in three games since his return on October 26th.
Alperen Sengun ($6,700): In his seven starts this season, Sengun has been super efficient with his playing time, accounting for 1.31 FanDuel points, 0.34 rebounds, 0.09 assists, and 0.63 real-life points per minute.
