FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Saturday 4/8/23
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.
| Team | Opp | O/U | Spread | Implied Total | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POR | LAC | 225.5 | 17 | 104.25 | Grant, Lillard, Little, Nurkic, Simons, Thybulle, Winslow, Eubanks, Reddish OUT / Watford, Sharpe active |
| SA | MIN | 234 | 14.5 | 109.75 | Graham, McDermott, Sochan, Vassell, Johnson, Collins OUT |
| UTAH | DEN | 226 | 6.5 | 109.75 | Clarkson, Horton-Tucker, Kessler, Markkanen, Olynyk, Sexton OUT |
| DEN | UTAH | 226 | -6.5 | 116.25 | Caldwell-Pope, Gordon, Jokic, Murray, Porter Jr. active / Brown OUT |
| LAC | POR | 225.5 | -17 | 121.25 | Morris, George OUT |
| MIN | SA | 234 | -14.5 | 124.25 | Nowell, Rivers, Towns questionable / Reid OUT |
Guards
Anthony Edwards ($9,300): After a 9.4% increase to his highest salary this month, "Ant-Man" will have a favorable spot against a San Antonio Spurs' team allowing 25.1 real-life points and 50.4 FanDuel points per game to his position. Despite averaging 20.3 real-life points and 36.8 FanDuel points in three prior meetings this season versus San Antonio, Edwards is ranked third overall on Saturday with 41.8 expected FanDuel points.
Russell Westbrook ($9,000): Since the start of April, Westbrook's salary has increased by 2.2% to his highest point this season while averaging 1.20 FanDuel points per minute. The Clippers' point guard is ranked fourth overall with 39.9 expected FanDuel points against a Portland Trail Blazers' defense allowing 49.3 to his position.
Tre Jones ($7,300): In 201.6 minutes with today's current inactives, Jones' fantasy output sees a 0.12 boost to 1.12 FanDuel points per minute with a 19.6% usage rate while his salary has skyrocketed 25.8% to his highest point this season in the past week.
Kris Dunn ($6,300): In an increased offensive role with Utah's short-handed rotation, Dunn is ranked fifth overall in value with a 5.95 rating and a 37.5 fantasy projection against a Denver Nuggets' unit allowing 48.6 per game to point guards this season. The seventh-year guard ranks first among his team's projected starters in fantasy production (1.04 FanDuel points per minute) and usage (25.6%) in 60.6 minutes this season with today's current injuries.
Norman Powell ($6,100): The Clippers' veteran sees a 0.17 boost in his fantasy production to 1.12 FanDuel points per minute with a 29.5% usage rate in 734.6 minutes with Marcus Morris and Paul George off the floor this season.
Skylar Mays ($5,900): Since Mays has joined Portland's starting lineup on March 31st, the 25-year old is averaging 1.08 FanDuel points per minute and a 18.1% usage rate.
Mike Conley ($5,800): After a 12.1% salary decrease, Minnesota's veteran is ranked fifth among guards with a 5.24 rating and a 30.4 fantasy projection against a Spurs' team ranked 27th in fantasy production (50.4 FanDuel points) allowed to his position.
Shaquille Harrison ($5,200): Even in a second unit role, Harrison has provided underrated production during his brief time with Portland, recording 1.06 FanDuel points, 0.17 rebounds, 0.21 assists, and 0.07 steals per minute.
Ochai Agbaji ($5,100): In his last five appearances, Utah's rookie has been fairly consistent offensively, averaging 15.2 real-life points per game and 0.75 FanDue points per minute.
Jeenathan Williams ($4,900): Despite a 16.6% salary increase, the 24-year old remains an optimal value option, ranking fourth among guards with a 5.47 rating and a 26.8 fantasy projection.
Forwards
Kawhi Leonard ($10,600): Since April 1st, Leonard's salary has jumped by 6% to his highest point this season while averaging 1.13 FanDuel points per minute and a team-high 28.4% usage rate. In a great matchup versus a Portland team ranked 27th in defensive rating and 25th in opposing true shooting percentage, the Clippers' forward is second overall with 44.3 expected FanDuel points.
Karl-Anthony Towns ($8,300): Even at his highest salary this month, Minnesota's versatile big man is second among forwards in value with a 5.4 rating and a 44.8 fantasy projection. In three meetings against San Antonio this season, KAT has played well in this matchup, averaging 24.7 real-life points and 45.7 FanDuel points on 16.7 shot attempts.
Kyle Anderson ($6,400): "Slow-Mo" remains an important part of Minnesota's rotation despite coming off the bench, producing 1.02 FanDuel points, 0.18 rebounds, and 0.20 assists per minute since March 29th.
Jaden McDaniels ($5,900): Despite a 13.4% salary jump, the 22-year old is sixth among forwards in value with a 4.83 rating and a 28.5 fantasy projection in a great matchup against a Spurs' team ranked last in defensive rating.
Luka Samanic ($4,700): Utah's forward will likely be a popular value option on Saturday, ranking first overall with a 6.88 rating and a 32.2 fantasy expectation after the Jazz ruled out seven players in their normal rotation. In 100.5 minutes with the Jazz, Samanic is recording 0.87 FanDuel points per minute and a 16.7% usage rate.
Simone Fontecchio ($4,400) / Johnny Juzang ($3,900): In an underrated spot against a Denver squad ranked 18th in defensive rating, Fontecchio is averaging 0.57 FanDuel points per minute and a 26.7% usage rate with Saturday's rotation while Juzang's production stands at 0.66 FanDuel points per minute with a 23.7% usage rate.
Centers
Rudy Gobert ($7,400): At his lowest salary this month, Gobert is fifth overall with 39.6 expected FanDuel points versus a Spurs' defense allowing the second most fantasy points (58.3) per game to centers this season.
