NBA DFS: Top Daily Fantasy Expert Picks for DraftKings, FanDuel (4/21/25)

These are your lineup cornerstones, players with safe floors and matchup-driven upside for both cash and GPP formats.

Nikola Jokic - DEN - C ($11.5K DK, $12.5K FD)

Jokic is the slate’s must-have stud. Fresh off a near triple-double in Game 1 (29 points, nine rebounds, 12 assists), Jokic showed why he’s a DFS cheat code. The Clippers are no slouches defensively, boasting a third-ranked defensive rating and fourth-ranked points allowed per game, but Jokic’s unique skill set makes him just impossible to cover. His 29 percent usage rate and insane 1.84 DK points per minute give him a rock-solid 50+ fantasy point floor, with 70+ upside if this game stays close like Game 1.

Ivica Zubac is a strong defender and held his own, but Jokic’s ability to score in the post, pop out for threes, and facilitate for teammates like Aaron Gordon keeps him a step ahead. The Clippers’ fourth-ranked rebounding rate is stout, but Jokic can still exploit their 10th-ranked 3-point attempts allowed with his outside touch. He’s your anchor for cash games and a GPP monster with that ceiling.

Karl-Anthony Towns - NYK - C ($9.3K DK, $10.1K FD)

If you’re looking to save some salary or pivot off Jokic, Towns is an absolute gem. KAT was a force in Game 1, dropping 23 points and grabbing 11 rebounds while shooting an absurd 71.4 percent from the field. Detroit’s frontcourt, led by Jalen Duren, is solid on the boards (fifth in rebounding rate), but their 14th-ranked points allowed leaves the door open for Towns to dominate. Rocking a 27 percent usage rate and 1.41 DK points per minute, he’s got a safe 40+ fantasy point floor with 50+ upside if he gets hot.

The real kicker? Detroit’s 25th-ranked 3-point percentage allowed means Towns can stretch the floor and bury open looks from deep while still doing damage inside. He’s a fantastic cash game play with the consistency to shine in GPPs, especially in a game with a juicy 114.3 implied total for the Knicks.

Jalen Brunson - NYK - PG ($8.3K DK, $8.8K FD)

Jalen Brunson is your guy if you want a guard who can take over a game. In Game 1, he shook off a slow start and a tweaked ankle to drop 34 points and lead the Knicks’ epic comeback. With a 29 percent usage rate that climbs to 33 percent in crunch time, Brunson is a steal at sub-$9K on both sites, offering a 40+ fantasy point floor and 50+ ceiling. Detroit’s defense isn’t elite (14th in points allowed, 10th in defensive rating), and Cade Cunningham isn’t exactly locking down the perimeter, which sets Brunson up to feast.

The Pistons’ 12th-ranked 3-point attempts allowed could let him catch fire from deep, and with the Knicks’ 114.3 implied total signaling a high-scoring game, Brunson’s scoring and assist potential make him a cash game lock. If he goes full takeover mode again, you’re looking at GPP-winning production.

These players offer high ceilings at potentially lower ownership, perfect for GPPs where differentiation is key.

Cade Cunningham - DET - PG ($9.1K DK, $10.3K FD)

If you’re hunting for a GPP game-changer, Cade Cunningham is worth a long look. He had a solid but frustrating Game 1, putting up 21 points and 12 assists but struggling with his shot (8-for-21). That inefficiency might scare some folks off, which is precisely why he’s a sneaky tournament play. With a 32 percent usage rate and 1.45 DK points per minute, Cunningham’s got the kind of ceiling that can match the slate’s top dogs, especially with Detroit’s 107.8 implied total suggesting they’ll hang around.

The Knicks’ ninth-ranked points allowed and 26th-ranked pace could turn this into a slower-paced game, but if Cade is more efficient than Game 1, he could rack up plenty of points and assists. Brunson is not an elite defender, and New York’s eighth-ranked rebounding rate gives Cunningham a chance to sneak in some boards for extra fantasy juice. If his shot starts falling, we’re talking 50+ fantasy points, making him a high-upside pivot at potentially lower ownership.

Aaron Gordon - DEN - PF/C (DraftKings Only) ($5.9K DK, $6K FD)

Want a budget-friendly GPP dart throw? Aaron Gordon’s your guy. He went off in Game 1, dropping 25 points and eight rebounds by attacking the rim and capitalizing on Denver’s need for secondary scoring. At just $5.9K on DK, his 19 percent usage rate (which spikes when Jokic or Murray aren’t cooking) and 30+ fantasy point ceiling make him a steal. The Clippers’ elite defense (third in defensive rating, fourth in points allowed) is no joke, but their 21st-ranked 3-point attempts allowed and 22nd-ranked pace keep this game fast enough for Gordon to shine on cuts and in transition.

Kawhi Leonard’s a tough matchup, but Gordon’s athleticism and ability to crash the glass against L.A.’s fourth-ranked rebounding rate give him sneaky upside. With most DFS players locking in Jokic or Jamal Murray, Gordon’s lower ownership makes him a perfect differentiator for those big tournament payouts.

OG Anunoby - NYK - SF/PF ($6.8K DK, $7.3K FD)

OG Anunoby is the kind of under-the-radar play that can win you a GPP. In Game 1, he quietly dropped 23 points and seven rebounds, stepping up with a 20 percent usage rate that shows he’s more than just a defensive stud. Detroit’s 14th-ranked points allowed and 12th-ranked 3-point attempts allowed set up nicely for Anunoby’s two-way game, and with the Knicks’ 114.3 implied total, he’s got a shot at 35-40 fantasy points if his shot is on.

Ausar Thompson’s a pesky defender, but Anunoby’s size and shooting give him the edge, especially since Detroit ranks 25th in 3-point percentage allowed, leaving the door open for some open looks from deep. While Brunson and Towns soak up most of the ownership, Anunoby’s ability to contribute across the stat sheet—points, rebounds, steals, and blocks—makes him a sneaky pivot for those looking to zig when others zag.