FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Sunday 3/5/23

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.

Guards

Damian Lillard ($11,000): At his second highest salary this season, Portland's leading scorer will face an Orlando Magic defense allowing point guards to record 23.4 real-life points and 47.2 FanDuel points. In 421.1 minutes with today's current inactives, Lillard is averaging 1.65 FanDuel points per minute and a 41.5% usage rate.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10,500): After a five game absence, Gilgeous-Alexander will return against a Utah Jazz team ranked 25th in defensive rating at his third highest salary in 2023. In their last meeting, the 24-year old torched the Jazz for 39.0 real-life points and 66.1 FanDuel points.

Paul George ($9,000): Since February 26th, George's FanDuel salary has not moved despite producing 50.4 fantasy points in his last appearance on Friday night. "PG13" is ninth overall with 40.6 expected FanDuel points versus a short-handed Memphis Grizzlies' team down three starters after Dillon Brooks, Ja Morant, and Steven Adams were ruled out.

Jalen Brunson ($8,700): In an underrated spot against a Boston Celtics' team ranked 14th in fantasy production (47.0) allowed to his position, Brunson is fifth among guards with a 38.8 fantasy projection. The 26-year old is averaging 22.7 real-life points and 39.4 FanDuel points on 18.0 shot attempts in three prior encounters.

Bradley Beal ($8,300): After Kyle Kuzma was ruled out for the second half of Washington's back-to-back, Beal's fantasy output sees a 0.14 boost to 1.25 FanDuel points per minute with a 33.2% usage rate.

Terry Rozier ($8,100): In 231.1 minutes with Sunday's expected rotation, Rozier is producing 0.98 FanDuel points and a 28.1% usage rate. Since the start of March, Rozier's FanDuel salary has increased by 12.5% while Charlotte's guard has averaged 0.83 FanDuel points per minute.

Desmond Bane ($8,000): At his median salary this month, Bane is ranked seventh in value among guards with a 4.83 rating and a 38.6 fantasy projection. The Grizzlies' third-year star is averaging 1.30 FanDuel points and a 29.4% usage rate this season with today's current inactives.

Spencer Dinwiddie ($7,600): During his time with Brooklyn, Dinwiddie has produced 0.97 FanDuel points, 0.11 rebounds, and 0.20 assists per minute with a 23.1% usage rate while his FanDuel salary has dropped by 3.7% since his first appearance on February 9th.

Jordan Clarkson ($6,900) / Talen Horton-Tucker ($6,300): After Lauri Markkanen was ruled out, the Jazz will need both of their guards to carry their offense versus an Oklahoma City Thunder squad ranked 11th in defensive rating. In 85.9 minutes this season with today's expected lineup, Clarkson is averaging 1.05 FanDuel points per minute and a 33.8% usage rate while Horton-Tucker's production stands at 1.12 FanDuel points per minute with a 26.3% usage rate.

Marcus Smart ($6,100): At his lowest salary since January 12th, Smart is ranked fifth among guards in value with a 5.06 rating and a 30.9 fantasy projection against a New York Knicks team allowing 48.8 FanDuel points to his position.

Tyus Jones ($6,000): In an increased role versus a Los Angeles Clippers' unit ranked 14th in defensive rating, the Grizzlies' point guard is third overall in value with a 5.58 rating and a 33.5 fantasy projection despite a recent 13.3% salary jump. Jones has recorded 1.07 FanDuel points per minute and a 20.5% usage rate in 148.0 minutes with Sunday's inactives.

Cam Reddish ($5,400): The 23-year old is averaging 0.72 FanDuel points, 0.45 real-life points, and 0.32 shot attempts per minute in 136.3 minutes with Jusuf Nurkic and Anfernee Simons off the floor.

Ochai Agbaji ($3,900) Despite consecutive disappointing performances, Utah's rookie is third among guards in value with a 5.47 rating and a 21.3 fantasy projection against a Thunder defense ranked 16th in opposing three point percentage.

Luke Kennard ($3,600): Even in a potential second unit role, Kennard is numberFire's top value option with a 5.81 rating and a 20.9 fantasy projection at his highest salary with Memphis.

Forwards

Giannis Antetokounmpo ($12,000): At his highest salary this month, Milwaukee's two-time MVP winner is ranked first overall with 55.7 expected FanDuel points versus a Washington Wizards' team ranked 19th in defensive rating and points allowed in the paint. In his first meeting against the Wizards, Antetokounmpo had a ceiling performance with 55.0 real-life points and 78.5 FanDuel points.

Jayson Tatum ($11,200): In an underrated matchup against a Knicks' defense allowing 24.2 real-life points and 43.1 FanDuel points per game to his position, Tatum is third overall with a 49.7 fantasy projection at his second highest salary this season. The 25-year old is averaging 1.32 FanDuel points per minute and a 32.5% usage rate with today's current inactives.

Kawhi Leonard ($10,100): "The Claw" has accounted for 1.11 FanDuel points per minute and a 25.6% usage rate in the past week while his FanDuel salary has decreased by 1.9%.

Julius Randle ($9,700): Since his first appearance after All-Star Break, New York's All-Star forward has produced 1.32 FanDuel points, 0.19 rebounds, and 0.13 assists per minute. In three prior meetings versus Boston, Randle is averaging 29.7 real-life points and 41.6 FanDuel points on 20.0 shot attempts.

Jaylen Brown ($9,100): After a 56.0 fantasy performance in his last contest, Brown's FanDuel salary has moved up 5.8% to his second highest point in 2023. The 26-year old is tenth overall with 40.4 expected FanDuel points against a New York defense ranked fourth in opposing true shooting percentage.

Kristaps Porzingis ($8,800): At his third lowest salary in 2023, Washington's big man is seventh overall with 42.8 expected FanDuel points despite a tough matchup versus a Milwaukee Bucks defense ranked fourth in fantasy production (42.0) allowed to his position. "The Unicorn" is producing 1.37 FanDuel points per minute and a 28.8% usage rate with Kuzma off the floor.

Mikal Bridges ($8,400): In 272.4 minutes with the Nets, Bridges is leading his team in fantasy production (1.19 FanDuel points per minute), usage rate (26.9%), and offensive output (0.74 real-life points per minute).

Jaren Jackson Jr. ($8,000): At his lowest salary during March, the Grizzlies' defensive enforcer is sixth among forwards in value with a 5.11 rating and a 40.9 fantasy projection. Jackson Jr. is averaging 1.27 FanDuel points per minute and a 30.9% usage rate with today's inactives.

Kelly Oubre ($8,000): In his last two starts, Oubre has displayed improved form, recording 0.70 real-life points and 1.11 FanDuel points per minute while his salary has skyrocketed 25% to his highest point this season.

Cameron Johnson ($6,000): Even at his highest salary this season, Johnson offers underrated value with a 4.85 rating and a 29.1 fantasy projection versus a Charlotte team ranked 22nd in defensive rating and 21st in opposing true shooting percentage.

Kelly Olynyk ($5,800): Utah's veteran provides optimal value in an increased offensive role, ranking second overall with a 5.77 rating and a 33.5 fantasy projection against an Oklahoma City giving up 45.6 FanDuel points to the four position.

Xavier Tillman ($5,700): Despite a 7.5% salary spike, Tillman will be a popular mid-salary option on Sunday, averaging 0.99 FanDuel points per minute with today's short-handed rotation.

Cneters

Walker Kessler ($8,000): At his highest salary this season, Utah's rookie is still worth considering versus a Thunder unit allowing 55.1 FanDuel points per game to centers this season. Kessler is producing 1.48 FanDuel points per minute with Sunday's inactives after his fantasy output is boosted by 0.24.

Nicolas Claxton ($7,200): In a ceiling matchup against a Charlotte defense allowing the most fantasy points to the five spot, Brooklyn's center is ranked fourth at his position with 37.5 expected FanDuel points at his third lowest salary in 2023. Claxton has played well against the Hornets this season, averaging 41.6 FanDuel points in 29.0 minutes in three previous contests.