FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Saturday 4/15/23

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

Stephen Curry ($10,200): At his lowest salary this month, Curry is ranked as numberFire's top guard with 47.9 expected FanDuel points versus a Sacramento Kings' defense allowing points guards to score 24.6 real-life points and 48.5 FanDuel points per game this regular season. In four previous meetings, the Warriors' leading scorer averaged 33.0 real-life points and 49.3 FanDuel points on 19.3 shot attempts.

Donovan Mitchell ($9,900): Despite a tough matchup against a New York Knicks' team allowing 40.8 FanDuel points per game to shooting guards, Mitchell's salary stands at his second highest point during 2023. "Spida" has brought his game versus the Knicks, producing 1.37 FanDuel points per minute and 53.4 FanDuel points per game.

James Harden ($9,600): Since March 29th, Harden has recorded 1.03 FanDuel points per minute and a 25.0% usage rate while his salary has increased 1.0%. In an underrated spot against a Brooklyn Nets unit ranked 16th in defensive rating during the regular season, "The Beard" is ranked fourth among guards with 42.7 expected FanDuel points.

Trae Young ($9,500): After a 2.0% decrease, Young's salary has moved down to his lowest point in April against a Boston Celtics' squad allowing points guards to score 21.9 real-life points and 40.0 FanDuel points per game. Despite this difficult matchup, Young is currently ranked fifth among guards with 42.2 expected FanDuel points.

De'Aaron Fox ($9,000): At his lowest salary since February 11th, Fox will challenge a Golden State Warriors' team allowing the third most fantasy points (43.1 FanDuel points) to points guards among current playoff teams. In three previous encounters, the 25-year old is averaging 25.3 real-life points and 44.0 FanDuel points per game on 18.7 shot attempts.

Jalen Brunson ($8,700): After a 7.4% salary drop, New York's point guard could be an underrated option if Julius Randle is unable to play through his questionable designation. Brunson's fantasy output is boosted by 0.19 to 1.20 FanDuel points per minute with Randle off the court this season.

Dejounte Murray ($7,700): Atlanta's guard is ranked fifth overall in value with a 4.82 rating and a 37.1 fantasy projection after his salary decreased 9.4% to his lowest point this month. The 26-year old has recorded 16.5 real-life points and 29.9 FanDuel points per game in two previous meetings against Boston.

Spencer Dinwiddie ($7,600): In an underrated matchup versus a Philadelphia 76ers' defense allowing 42.1 FanDuel points per game to his position, Dinwiddie could be an undervalued option with a 4.69 potential return and a 35.6 fantasy expectation.

Darius Garland ($7,500): Since the start of April, Garland's salary has moved down 7.4% to his lowest point in 2023. Cleveland's fourth-year player is third overall in value with a 5.3 rating and a 39.7 fantasy projection against a Knicks' team allowing 40.8 FanDuel points to point guards.

Klay Thompson ($7,300): In a favorable spot versus a Kings' team ranked last in three point shooting percentage among playoff teams (37.3%), Golden State's Splash Brother rates as an optimal mid-salary option with a 4.79 potential return and 35.0 expected FanDuel points.

Marcus Smart ($5,800): At his lowest salary this month, Boston's defensive leader is third among guards in value with a 4.96 rating and a 28.8 fantasy projection versus an Atlanta Hawks allowing 46.5 fantasy points to his position.

Kevin Huerter ($5,500) / Malik Monk ($5,200): After a 16.6% salary drop, Huerter is another potential value option with a 4.87 rating and a 26.8 fantasy projection while Monk's expectation stands at 21.7 FanDuel points with a 4.18 potential return at his lowest salary point during April.

Forwards

Jayson Tatum ($11,000): Boston's All-Star is second overall with 48.3 expected FanDuel points versus a Hawks' defense allowing power forwards to score 23.3 real-life points and 47.4 FanDuel points per game. In two previous meetings against Atlanta this season, Tatum averaged 1.56 FanDuel points per minute and 53.2 FanDuel points per game.

Domantas Sabonis ($9,800): At his lowest salary since March 6th, Sacramento's versatile big man is fourth overall with 47.7 expected FanDuel points against a Warriors' team giving up 53.9 to his position. Sabonis has accounted for 21.3 FanDuel points and 49.0 FanDuel points per game versus Golden State this season.

Jaylen Brown ($8,800): Ranking fourth among forwards with a 39.2 fantasy projection, Brown provides undervalued production with a 4.45 rating after his salary declined to his lowest point in April.

Mikal Bridges ($8,300): In 921 minutes with Brooklyn, Bridges is first among his team's starting unit in fantasy production (1.08 FanDuel points per minute) and usage rate (30.7%).

Evan Mobley ($7,900): Since April 2nd, Mobley's salary has dropped by 10.2% while the 21-year old averaged 1.05 FanDuel points per minute and a 18.7% usage rate during this time period. Cleveland's emerging big man has produced 13.3 real-life points and 35.3 FanDuel points per game versus New York.

Draymond Green ($6,400): After a 12.3% salary drop, Green is first overall in value with a 5.33 rating and a 34.1 fantasy projection versus a Kings' team ranked last in defensive rating among current playoff squads.

Cameron Johnson ($5,800): At his lowest salary since March 10th, Johnson is seventh among forwards in value with a 4.92 rating and a 28.5 fantasy expectation.

Al Horford ($5,700): In a matchup against a Hawks' defense allowing 54.6 FanDuel points per game to his position, Boston's veteran is another value option to consider with a 5.12 rating and a 29.2 fantasy projection at his lowest salary in April.

Harrison Barnes ($5,000) / Keegan Murray ($4,800): After an eye-popping 20.6% salary decrease, Barnes is fifth among forwards with a 5.12 potential return and a 25.6 fantasy projection while Murray is third in value with a 5.28 rating and 25.3 expected FanDuel points.

Centers

Joel Embiid ($11,800): Philadelphia's superstar is numberFire's top option with 58.1 expected FanDuel points against a Nets' team allowing centers to score 23.6 real-life points and 53.6 FanDuel points. "The Process" has accounted for 1.45 FanDuel points per minute and 52.5 FanDuel points per game in this matchup.

Jarrett Allen ($7,000): Despite a tough opportunity versus a New York defense ranked first in fantasy production (44.4 FanDuel points) allowed to his position, Allen is another option to consider after his salary declined by 7.8%.