RADIO
This should be an exciting slate, to say the very least. We have two matchups (Spurs-Celtics, Rockets-Cavaliers) with spreads of at least 14.5 points. At the same time, a group of the 14 teams in action tonight are either blatantly tanking or blatantly resting players in preparation for the playoffs. This is the time of the year when players like Damian Lillard are inactive due to a mysterious "calf injury" that came out of nowhere. It's not a coincidence that the Blazers' other three key starters (Jerami Grant, Jusuf Nurkic, Anfernee Simons) have all also been ruled out for tonight's game against the Thunder.
We're well into "Silly Season" in the NBA, a time when coaches around the league are assessing their end-of-year situations and either being extra cautious with their star players' minutes or holding them out entirely in preparation for the offseason or playoffs. This leads to players like Kris Dunn and Eric Gordon receiving significant minutes, which we must consider with how salaries work in daily fantasy basketball. Keep an attentive eye on the news and be ready to pivot anytime. Let's get to it.
Here is my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel and DraftKings on 3/26/23. Keep an eye on RotoBaller’s NBA injury news and also our full NBA injury report today to stay up to date before lineups are locked.
NBA DFS Matchup Rankings
DraftKings and FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Shaedon Sharpe, vs. OKC (FD: $6,400, DK: $5,900)
The Blazers have seemingly led the charge in deploying their bench lineups in "Silly Season," and that's completely fine with me because it opens up a lot of value we can feel good about. Sharpe has recently put up some big numbers when given minutes, producing 34.5 and 49.25 DK points over his last two games in the starting five. He'll continue to see as many minutes as he can handle tonight against the Thunder, a team that allows the seventh-most fantasy points per game and the sixth-most fantasy points per game opposing point guards this season.
Mikal Bridges, vs. MIA (FD: $7,800, DK: $7,400)
It feels like Bridges' salary is stuck on his past role with the Suns, where he played third or fourth fiddle to the stars in Phoenix. He's the main guy now on a new-look Brooklyn squad, and he shouldn't still be under $7,500 like he's an everyday role player. He put up 41.5 DK points against a tough Cavaliers defense on 3/23 and dropped 45.75 against an equally tough Heat defense last night. Now he gets the Magic, a team that surprisingly limits fantasy points to opposing teams (15th-most) but struggles against opposing small forwards (fourth-most). The game has a low implied total of 226 points, but it should stay competitive enough for Bridges to hit his full minutes workload and put up a helpful fantasy score.
Ja Morant, vs. ATL (FD: $9,700, DK: $8,700) If starting
Also consider: Stephen Curry, Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Keon Johnson
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DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Keon Johnson, vs. OKC (DK: $3,500) DraftKings Only
See Sharpe, Shaedon, and Eubanks, Drew. The Blazers continue running very short-handed and have a dreamy matchup against a vulnerable Thunder defense tonight. Johnson is an unassuming name, but he's a player who can be valuable at his bargain-bin salary tonight. In the Blazers' last game, he saw 26 minutes and put up 31 DK points (10.3x value at his previous $3,000 salary). His price tag barely increased, and if he's going o see that kind of run again, he will be someone we want to have in our lineups for value.
Jaylen Brown, vs. SAS (FD: $8,700, $DK: 9,100) If Tatum is inactive
Brown will be one of my favorite pay-up options tonight, as long as Jayson Tatum is ruled out with a bruised left hip injury. Brown has consistently been at the 40-55 DK point range for the last 10 games or so, and the thought is that he'll be able to hit the higher range of outcomes tonight with Tatum out and in one of the top possible matchups for fantasy production. The Spurs allow the most fantasy points per game to opposing teams and the third-most fantasy points per game to opposing shooting guards this season.
The sizeable 14-point spread may scare people off, but that number will likely shrink once Tatum is ruled out, and it's not good practice to shy away from players in projected blowouts. Someone needs to score the points (and fantasy points) to get and hold that lead, and that player will likely be Jaylen Brown tonight.
Also consider: Jalen Williams, Evan Mobley, Draymond Green, Scottie Barnes, Jaren Jackson Jr., Kristaps Porzingis
DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Drew Eubanks, vs. OKC (FD: $5,000, DK: $4,000)
Eubanks is far too cheap for his projected role and fantasy production tonight. Starting center Jusuf Nurkic has been ruled out - along with Lillard, Simons, and Grant - so there will be more than enough frontcourt minutes and fantasy points available for the taking. The Blazers have started Eubanks alongside Trendon Watford in a two-center lineup with Nurkic out, and I expect that trend to continue tonight against the Thunder. Eubanks isn't likely to put up a 20-20 double-double any time soon, but he's more than capable of hitting and exceeding salary-based expectations at his cheap price tags tonight. The Thunder allow the seventh-most fantasy points per game overall and rank 26th in rebounding rate (29th in defensive rebounding rate).
Also consider: Robert Williams, Trendon Watford, Kevon Looney, Daniel Gafford, Jarrett Allen
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