FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Sunday 4/9/23
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHX | LAC | 225 | 10.5 | 107.25 | Paul, Payne, Booker, Durant, Ayton, Biyombo OUT / Warren doubtful |
| UTAH | LAL | 231.5 | 16.5 | 107.5 | Markkanen, Horton-Tucker, Clarkson, Sexton, Kessler OUT |
| POR | GS | 234.5 | 17 | 108.75 | Lillard, Nurkic, Simons, Grant, Thybulle OUT / Eubanks, Reddish questionable / Watford, Sharpe probable |
| NO | MIN | 227 | 3.5 | 111.75 | Williamson, Alvarado OUT |
| DEN | SAC | 230.5 | 4.5 | 113 | Brown, Caldwell-Pope, Gordon, Green, Jokic, Murray, Porter Jr. questionable |
| SA | DAL | 229.5 | 3 | 113.25 | Johnson, Collins, Vassell, Sochan, Graham, McDermott OUT / Langford questionable |
| OKC | MEM | 229.5 | 1 | 114.25 | Dort, Giddey, Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Jaylin Williams, Kenrich Williams OUT |
| MEM | OKC | 229.5 | -1 | 115.25 | Adams, Clarke OUT / Morant, Bane, Jackson Jr., Brooks, Jones, Aldama doubtful |
| MIN | NO | 227 | -3.5 | 115.25 | Towns, Gobert questionable |
| DAL | SA | 229.5 | -3 | 116.25 | Bullock, Doncic, Irving, Green, Hardaway Jr, Kleber OUT |
| SAC | DEN | 230.5 | -4.5 | 117.5 | Fox, Sabonis not listed / Monk, Mitchell questionable |
| LAC | PHX | 225 | -10.5 | 117.75 | |
| LAL | UTAH | 231.5 | -16.5 | 124 | Davis, James, Schroder questionable / Russell probable |
| GS | POR | 234.5 | -17 | 125.75 | Curry probable |
Guards
Stephen Curry ($10.400): At his highest salary this month, Curry is ranked first among guards with a 43.6 fantasy projection versus a Portland Trail Blazers allowing 23.1 real-life points and 49.3 FanDuel points per game to his position.
Anthony Edwards ($9,300): In his last three appearances, Edwards has been on fire, averaging 31.0 real-life points per game and 1.51 FanDuel points per minute while his salary has increased by by 8.1%. "Ant-Man" has played well in two prior meetings against New Orleans, recording 32.0 real-life points and 44.9 FanDue points in 38.0 minutes.
Shaedon Sharpe ($8,200): Since March 26th, the 19-year old has been in a groove, producing 1.06 FanDuel points per minute and a team-high 28.8% usage rate.
C.J. McCollum ($8,000): After a 2.4% salary decrease, New Orleans' point guard offers underrated production with a 4.97 potential return and a 39.8 fantasy projection versus a Minnesota Timberwolves' defense ranked 24th in fantasy production (49.3 FanDuel points per game) allowed to his position.
Kris Dunn ($7,000): Despite a 11.1% salary bump, Dunn is ranked seventh among guards in value with a 5.75 rating and a 40.3 fantasy expectation. The 29-year old is averaging 1.17 FanDuel points per minute during April despite recording a 17.5% usage rate.
John Konchar ($6,000) / Luke Kennard ($5,600): After the Grizzlies listed four of their starters as doubtful, Konchar should play an increased offensive role, recording 0.93 FanDuel points per minute in this split while Kennard's production stands at 0.98 FanDuel points in a 61.0 minutes sample size.
Isaiah Joe ($5,300): Even at his highest salary during April, Oklahoma City's long-range specialist still rates as an optimal mid-salary option after the Thunder ruled out their normal starting unit. In a matchup versus a short-handed Memphis rotation, Joe's projection includes a 4.99 potential return with a 26.4 fantasy projection.
Tre Mann ($4,400): In 99.8 minutes with today's expected rotation, Mann is producing 0.92 FanDuel points per minute and a 26.2% usage rate. The second-year player is fifth among guards in value with a 6.17 rating and a 27.1 fantasy projection.
Saben Lee ($4,100): Phoenix's 23-year old should operate as their starting point guard versus a Clippers' unit ranked 26th in fantasy production (50.2 FanDuel points) allowed to his position. Lee is averaging 0.98 FanDuel points per minute and a 17.2% usage rate with Sunday's current inactives.
McKinley Wright IV ($4,000): The 24-year old point guard sees a noticeable 0.37 boost in his fantasy output to 1.25 FanDuel points per minute and a 23.3% usage rate with today's expected rotation.
Vince Williams Jr. ($3,500): In 56.6 minutes this season, Williams is recording 0.74 FanDuel points, 0.12 rebounds, and 0.07 steals per minute during his first NBA season.
Forwards
Anthony Davis ($11,400): In an appealing spot versus a Jazz defense allowing 55.2 FanDuel points per game to his position, Davis is ranked first overall with 50.6 expected FanDuel points. AD is averaging 24.0 real-life points and 46.0 FanDuel points in three prior encounters in this matchup.
LeBron James ($10,800): Since his return on March 26th, James is averaging 1.32 FanDuel points per minute and a 32.8% usage rate while his salary moved up 5.8%. With a 45.0 fantasy projection, LBJ is second overall versus a Jazz team ranked 23rd in defensive rating.
Kawhi Leonard ($10,600): The Clippers' leading scorer is having a great month during April, recording 1.23 FanDuel points per minute and a team-high 29.4% usage rate. At his highest salary this month, Leonard is sixth among forwards with 41.0 expected FanDuel points.
Brandon Ingram ($9,800): In a matchup versus a Timberwolves' team allowing 40.3 fantasy points to his position, Ingram is fourth among forwards with a 43.7 fantasy expectation at his median salary in April.
Karl-Anthony Towns ($8,300): If KAT can play though his current questionable designation, Minnesota's star big man is projected for 41.0 FanDuel points versus a New Orleans' unit ranked 13th in points allowed in the paint.
Kyle Anderson ($6,400): Even in a second unit role, "Slow-Mo" offers plenty of value with a 5.29 rating and a 33.9 fantasy projection at his lowest salary this month.
Xavier Tillman ($6,200): With today's short-handed rotation, Tillman's projection includes a 5.41 value and a 33,5 fantasy expectation against a Thunder team ranked 16th in points allowed in the paint.
Sandro Mamukelashvili ($5,300): In 52.7 minutes with Sunday's injuries, Mamukelashvili's fantasy production is boosted by 0.14 to 1.11 FanDuel points per minute with a 20.8% usage rate.
Luka Samanic ($5,200): Since Samanic was named Utah's starter on April 4th, Samanic is averaging 0.93 FanDuel points and a 17.0% usage rate in 83.4 minutes.
Dario Saric ($4,400): Oklahoma City's veteran should see plenty of minutes on Sunday, ranking seventh among forwards in value with a 6.24 rating and a 27.5 fantasy projection.
David Roddy ($4,200): The Grizzlies' rookie is third overall in value with a 7.83 rating and a 32.9 fantasy projection with Sunday's current inactives.
Kenneth Lofton Jr. ($3,800) / Ziaire Williams ($3,700): With a versatile skillset to accumulate peripheral statistics, the 20-year old is numberFire's top value option with an eye-popping 11.63 value rating and a 44.2 fantasy projection while Willaims is seventh overall with a 6.71 rating and a 24.8 fantasy projection.
Centers
Jock Landale ($5,200): After Deandre Ayton and Bismack Biyombo was ruled out, Landale will get a heavy workload versus a Los Angeles Clippers' defense ranked 23rd in fantasy production allowed (54.7 FanDuel points) to centers this season. In 297.3 minutes with Sunday's expected rotation, the 27-year old is producing 1.08 FanDuel points per minute and a 22.9% usage rate.
