NBA DFS: Top Daily Fantasy Expert Picks for DraftKings, FanDuel (2/19/25)

NBA DFS lineup picks for Wednesday, February 19th, 2025. Koby's top FanDuel, DraftKings daily fantasy basketball value plays.

Welcome Back, RotoBallers! Welcome back to our daily DFS picks! Hopefully, everyone had a good break with the All-Star weekend and the last few days off. To start the season back up again, we have a make-up game between the Charlotte Hornets and the Los Angeles Lakers. Uh... Awkward.  The only injury news we need to watch is whether or not LeBron James plays. Mark Williams and LaMelo Ball are both back for this one, which could make this one closer than the odds appear as the Hornets are nearly 13-point underdogs.

I love playing the NBA showdowns daily; it has become one of my favorite forms of DFS. Nothing is more thrilling than having a lineup of players from one game and sweating it out while watching it live. There is a lot less room for error, though with there being fewer options to choose from. Hopefully, with all the advanced stats, I can bring you the best analysis possible and get you some extra cash for the weekend ahead. 

I will provide you with daily fantasy basketball picks on FanDuel and DraftKings for the Hornets vs. Lakers NBA DFS showdown slate on February 19. These NBA DFS lineup picks can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced players and value picks on both DraftKings and FanDuel. If you have any questions, you can follow me on Twitter/X @DFSKoby, and please feel free to ask any questions about upcoming slates, as I'm happy to answer any DMs or in our RotoBaller Discord!

MVP/Captain Plays

Austin Reaves- PG/SG, $12.6K (DK), $12.5K (FD)

Key Stats

• 2024 Avg. Season Stats: 19.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists with a combined 1.4 STOCK average.

There is a bit of uncertainty regarding LeBron James playing, on top of that, JJ Reddick has said that Luka Doncic will remain on a minutes limit for Wednesday but should increase going forward. If that's the case, then I don't want much of Luka, especially at his price. Austin Reaves, however, has been playing extremely well, even with Luka and Lebron on the court. Putting up 40 and 45 FP in those two games. If, for some reason, LeBron doesn't play, then I will be all over Reaves at his price.

JJ Redick said that the team will keep Luka Doncic on a minutes restriction tomorrow against Charlotte, but he’s hopeful there won’t be a minutes restriction moving forward.

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) February 19, 2025

LaMelo Ball - PG, $14.7K(DK) $15K (FD)

Key Stats

• 2024 Avg. Season Stats: 27.3 points, 7.2 assists, and 5.1 rebounds with a combined 1.6 STOCK average

In games where LaMelo has played 30+ minutes across the last eight games, he has had 40 FP in seven of them! Lamelo is probable for this one, and with the last week off for rest, he should be good to go for the entire game. The Lakers are middle of the pack against PGs, but Ball should have no issue exploiting this defense and having a big game in the first game back. LaMelo will be a chalky piece when it comes to top Hornets players, but I think it'll be necessary to play him.

Other Captains/MVPs: Mark Williams, LeBron James

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DFS Flex Plays

Mark Williams- C, $8.6K (DK) $11.5K (FD)

Mark Williams looks like he is back in shape, and I think he is going to show up in this one. The Lakers don't have a big man who can stop him and will probably be running Alex Len out there. Mark Williams should be able to feast in this matchup. He has had nine straight games of 35 FP or more when he played 29+ minutes, with five of those games being in the 50+ range. I expect everybody to be on Williams, but I think it's for good reason.

Rui Hachimura- SF/PF, $7K (DK) $10K (FD)

Rui has taken on a larger role since Anthony Davis left the Lakers. He has 30+ FP in four of those six games, and if, for any reason, Lebron is limited/out, then I would expect Rui's usage to fly through the roof. He's the perfect flex guy and is still priced quite reasonably. I prefer him if LeBron is out, but he would make for a solid GPP play if LeBron does end up playing in this one.

Rui Hachimura over his last six games:

19.8 PTS, 5.3 REB, 1.2 AST, 59% FG, 52.7% 3PT

He's 9-4 without AD, 9-6 without LeBron and the Lakers are 88-57 with Rui on the floor since signing him. pic.twitter.com/edqekuRVgD

— Basketball Forever (@bballforever_) February 13, 2025

Other Flex Options: Miles Bridges, Jaxson Hayes

DFS Value Plays

Nick Smith Jr. - SG/SF, $4.2K (DK) $8.5K (FD)

I like this play quite a bit more on DK, as he is filthy cheap but can be used on FD as well. Even with LaMelo back, he has played well. Just in their last game together, he finished with 30 FP. That type of production is solid value at his price,e and as long as he doesn't get randomly phased out of the offense, I could see him continuing to be a shooter for LaMelo to pass to.

Alex Len - C, $4.4K (DK) $8K (FD)

Alex Len makes for an intriguing value play. Jaxson Hayes is projected to play in this one, but I could see Len still getting 20+ minutes. He did that when Hayes went out with an injury in their last contest. He finished with 18 FP in that time but will get an elite matchup going up against a Hornets frontcourt that gives up the most fantasy points to centers across the last fifteen games. I think a lot of people will go to Jaxson Hayes but Len could be an interesting GPP play and a way to get different.

Other Value Plays: Josh Green, Moussa Diabate, Dalton Knecht, Dorian Finney-Smith

Have a great night and let's make some cash!

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