FanDuel NBA DFS Lineup Picks (4/9/18): Daily Fantasy Basketball Advice

April 9, 2018

Kevin Luchansky highlights the top FanDuel NBA DFS lineup picks for 4/9/18, and a couple of sleepers to consider while building daily rosters.

It is here - the final Monday of the regular season. We've got a nice little nine game slate on deck for this evening. If I'm being honest, the beginning of "the end of the season" came real fast, and this last month has dragged for a few reasons. I don't particularly love tank-and-sit season, and as such, I am anxious for the start of the playoffs for entertainment and DFS reasons. That said, let's try to fatten our wallets a big more in this final stretch.

As has been the case throughout much of late March and early April, Vegas is being cautious with spreads and point total projections. Why? Because we don't really know who is going to start-or-sit tonight with many of the teams. Of the nine games on the board, just five of them have Vegas figures to analyze. Of those five, thankfully, there are three with high point projections that look to be worth targeting due to the aforementioned point projections, and also because the spreads are all eight points or less. The Bulls at Nets (219.5) have a lofty projection, but they don't have much to play for. I prefer the other two in this range, Pelicans at Clippers (228) and Blazers at Nuggets (218) as there are sides there with something left to play for in the wild, wild Western Conference playoff picture.

Below you will find our daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 4/9/18. These DFS lineup picks can vary from higher-priced players and elite options, to lower-priced players and value picks on FanDuel. You can also read more DFS lineup picks for DraftKings and other sports too.

FanDuel DFS Guards

Delon Wright - PG, at DET ($4,400)

While this hasn't been 100% confirmed yet as to who is sitting, Raptors head coach Dwane Casey has mentioned he will be sitting a few starters over the last week of the season, just as he did yesterday in sitting DeMar DeRozan and Jonas Valanciunas. As others have speculated around the industry, Kyle Lowry and another starter may take a seat in street clothes tonight, which would make Wright an excellent value play in cash formats and a solid punt in tournaments - especially as Wright's price is not reflective of someone who could be getting starters' minutes and a staters role this evening. While the matchup from a pace and +/- perspective is fairly neutral, the price tag is far too low for someone who could see 30+ minutes. Adding to Wright's allure is the fact that he has absolutely smashed his price implied value in six of the last seven games where he saw 22 minutes or more of court time.

Trey Burke - PG, vs CLE ($6,400)

In tournament formats tonight, I have pretty high interest in Burke. The game environment has appeal, and the fast paced nature suits his style of play well. Burke has cooled off a bit over the last trio of games, but he's managed to cash or come within a point or two. The appeal tonight is he still has the ceiling games in him, and he has the green light in this offense. The minutes are consistently there for him (30+ a night) and the Usage rate rarely, if ever, dips under 20%.

Also Consider: Frank Ntilikina - PG, vs CLE ($4,000); Eric Bledsoe - PG, vs ORL ($8,600)

Ben McLemore - SG, at MIN ($3,600)

I think Jamal Crawford will draw a lot of attention at this position and in this exact price range, but McLemore is a nice GPP pivot off of the likely-to-be-popular Crawford - and in the same game environment. Ben's fantasy scoring output hasn't blow anyone away, but he has beaten his price implied value in three of his last four games and often posts an attractive Usage rate above 25%. As the Grizzlies have nothing to play for and several starters hurt, McLemore should be given the green light in what's a pace up game for he and his Grizzlies teammates.

Jrue Holiday - SG, at LAC ($8,900)

When paying up tonight, Holiday is my favorite back court target. This should be a fast paced, high scoring game - so we have a positive game environment that makes it easier to stomach paying up, as we do have a lot of value spots at the two-guard position. That said, none of those value options represent a median and ceiling that Holiday possesses and he's a huge value relative to Anthony Davis' price. Holiday has been humming along nicely of late while he and his teammates are in need of every win, beating value in three of his last four and absolutely crushing it in the two most recent competitions. Tonight, the defensive matchup is one to target, as the Clippers don't defend very well and can/should be without a few key pieces of their now-eliminated-from-the-playoffs team.

Also Consider: Dwyane Wade - SG, vs OKC ($5,100); Jamal Crawford - SG, vs MEM ($3,900)

FanDuel DFS Forwards

LeBron James - SF, at NYK ($12,200)

By now we should all be familiar with just how great and ultra-valuable Point-Lebron is. (For those unfamiliar, it's when Lebron handles point guard duties). While it hasn't been 100% confirmed yet, the Cavaliers could be without Jose Calderon and George Hill tonight. Even the absence of just one of those two would hand some of the ball-handling and playmaking responsibilities over to LeBron. Seeing as Lebron is a guy who averages more than 1.5 FanDuel points per minute and .315 points per touch - getting Lebron into your lineup when his minutes could possibly go up and his touches will definitely go up, is certainly a priority of mine. On top of all that, this is a good game environment, a poor defensive opponent, and James absolutely loves playing in Madison Square Garden.

Also Consider: Josh Richardson - SF, vs OKC ($6,100); E'Twaun Moore - SF, at LAC ($4,400)

Larry Nance Jr. - PF, at NYK ($4,600)

Despite his shaky play over the past week, I think this is a strong bounce back spot for Larry Nance. His price is an absolute bargain, and unless I hear that his minutes will be limited or that he's in Coach Lue's doghouse, I will be loading up on in him in tournaments. The Knicks don't defend the paint well, and as such, Nance should have more opportunities to score than usual. In addition to that, the Knicks (already a poor rebounding team) will likely be without Enes Kanter. The rebounds Nance should pull in help to create a nice floor and the game environment elevates his status.

Also Consider: Nikola Mirotic - PF, at LAC ($6,900); Montrezl Harell - PF, vs NOP ($5,400)

FanDuel DFS Centers

Jonas Valanciunas - C, at DET ($5,600)

Going back to the Toronto well here as this is a good matchup and Valanciunas was one of the Raptors in street clothes their last time out. He should be entered back in the rotation tonight as starters not named Valanciunas or Derozan will be the ones with the night off. Jonas has posted really impressive averages on a per minute basis throughout the season at 1.22 - and he's improved that number fairly drastically in the past month, posting a 1.44 Fanduel point-per-minute mark in that stretch. Detroit's interior is weakened without the presence of Blake Griffin, which makes this play a bit safer, too.

Also Consider: Nikola Jokic - C, vs POR ($11,500); Deyonta Davis - C, at MIN ($3,800)

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