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The top daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on March 8, 2022. Euan Leith provides NBA DFS analysis and sleeper picks for building optimal DFS rosters.
Happy Tuesday, Rotoballers! The Association has six games on the schedule for the early portion of the week, with some surprising matchups to watch for an early March evening. First, Brooklyn versus Charlotte has the chance of being a playoff preview. Meanwhile, the surging Pelicans visit the newest apple of the national media's eye in the Memphis Grizzlies. Plus, we will see if the Warriors, with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson returning, can stop the slide and pick up a crucial win over the Clippers.
On Tuesday, the Nets-Hornets game looks like the one you want to hitch your wagon to for fantasy points. With a 241.5-point over/under, both teams are projected to score at least 119 points, the second and third highest marks between the 12 teams taking the court. The top spot belongs to Milwaukee because they are 14.5-point road favorites against the Thunder. However, a spread that big causes me some concern, and I can see a world where many of the key players for the Bucks will be getting some rest in the final quarter of that contest.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 3/8/22. Remember to monitor the NBA injury report as the slate can completely change before lineups lock. Good luck, RotoBallers.
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DraftKings and FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Brandon Ingram - SG/SF, NOP at MEM ($8,500 DraftKings; $8,700 FanDuel)
It looks like Ingram and his newly acquired teammate, CJ McCollum, can coexist. While Zion Williamson (foot) remains without a timetable for his return, New Orleans is playing some of its best basketball of the season. They won four games in a row since the All-Star break before blowing a double-digit lead in Denver on Sunday night. In that same stretch, Ingram put up 29.4 points, 7.2 assists, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.2 threes while shooting 58.5 percent from the floor. As long as Zion remains out, Ingram and McCollum can carry the Pellies to a play-in berth by themselves, and that's terrific news for fantasy managers.
Terry Rozier - PG/SG, CHA vs. BKN ($8,200 DK; $8,300 FD)
Hornets guard Terry Rozier believes he is one of the premier guards in the NBA. While that may be a little hyperbolic on his part, I am buying that this will help him have a great game on Tuesday night when Charlottle welcomes Brooklyn. With Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant on the other side of the court, Rozier will take it upon himself to make sure the Hornets put up a good fight in this potential play-in tournament preview. Plus, the 27-year old from Ohio is playing some of his best basketball of the season. Rozier averaged 26.2 points on 52.8 percent shooting in his previous five contests, with 6.4 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 4.2 triples, and two stocks (steals+blocks) for 47.65 DK FPPG (DraftKings Fantasy Points Per Game). With a 241.5-point game total in Vegas, there are fantasy points to be earned in Charlotte this evening. Rozier is definitely getting his fair share of them with his current form.
Cameron Payne - PG, PHX at ORL ($5,300 DK; $6,600 FD)
Phoenix guards Devin Booker (protocols), and Chris Paul (hand) will watch Tuesday's road contest from their couches in Arizona. Therefore, Cameron Payne will be in line for another fantastic fantasy performance. The 27-year old guard recently returned from an injury of his own (out since Jan. 22) but has thrived in the previous two games without Booker or CP3 on the court. Against the Knicks and Bucks, Payne averaged 20 points on 17.5 attempts, 12 assists, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.5 threes in 34.1 minutes. Those stats added up to an average of 42.87 DK FPPG, and it provides an avenue to an elite return for only $5,300 of your budget on DraftKings this evening.
Also consider: Jrue Holiday at OKC ($7,300 DK; $9,000 FD), Tre Mann vs. MIL ($5,500 DK; $5,500 FD), Jordan Poole ($5,300 DK; $5,600 FD)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Kevin Durant - SF/PF, BKN at CHA ($11,100 DK; $10,300 FD)
DFS managers can be excused for thinking there would be some rust for Kevin Durant to shake off after a month and a half absence from the court. However, those doubts should be put to rest after the two games he put together in his return. Against the Heat and Celtics, the 2014 MVP averaged 34 points, six assists, five rebounds, three triples, and 1.5 blocks in 37.1 minutes. The Nets desperately need to get back on track if they want to reach the upper portion of the Eastern Conference play-in bracket, and they'll need to ride Durant for a while to accomplish that feat. However, tonight is an opportunity to pick up a win versus a potential play-in opponent. Over the last 15 games, Charlotte allows the eighth-most DK FPPG to small forwards. With the form KD is in since his return, I fully expect the 12-time All-Star to punish the Hornets and come through with a huge DFS performance.
Cedi Osman - SG/SF, CLE at IND ($4,500 DK; $4,700 FD)
While Osman will see a few more looks with Jarrett Allen (finger) out of the offensive pecking order, it's not the only reason to pick the 26-year old from Macedonia tonight. In his last five games, Osman shot the lights out with four outings of at least 17 points and averaged three made triples per outing. While the massive upside we want from most of our picks may not reside within Osman, he is a perfect lineup filler with a price-friendly salary. Over their last 15 games, Indiana has a 117.1 defensive rating, the worst mark among the 12 teams competing on Tuesday. I expect the Cavs to win this game comfortably, and Osman is a budget-friendly option to have a piece of this offense.
Jordan Nwora - PF, MIL at OKC ($3,100 DK; $4,000 FD)
I wanted to feature Giannis Antetokounmpo in the center's portion of this article. Still, a 14.5-point spread in favor of the Bucks on the road has me picturing a fourth quarter where the two-time MVP is wearing a warmup top and not playing a lot of basketball. Therefore, I'm searching for value in Buck's frontcourt, and I landed on Jordan Nwora. With Grayson Allen (hip/rest) out for the first portion of a back-to-back set, Milwaukee will likely shuffle the deck and provide more opportunity for Nwora to feature in the second unit. He had 12 points, five rebounds, a steal, and a three in 26 minutes versus Phoenix on Sunday. However, I'm betting on him getting a lot more run on Tuesday and exploiting a Thunder defense that gives up 48.92 DK FPPG to power forwards, the seventh-highest mark in the league.
Also consider: Miles Bridges vs. BKN ($7,900 DK; $6,900 FD), Franz Wagner vs. PHX ($6,000 DK; $5,700 FD)
DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Evan Mobley - PF/C, CLE at IND ($7,000 DK; $8,100 FD)
Jarrett Allen (finger) is out indefinitely for the Cavaliers. As a result, they'll need Evan Mobley and others (like Cedi Osman above) to step up if they want to hold onto the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. Mobley has all the tools, and he's shown us on multiple occasions that he can handle being the primary go-to guy in the Cleveland frontcourt. Mobley came through for his squad in a 104-96 win against the Raptors when Allen went down for the count on Sunday. The third overall pick in this year's draft erupted for 53.25 fantasy points thanks to 20 points, 17 rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and one three-pointer. With Allen out of the picture, Mobley has all the capabilities to go solo and crush a Pacers frontcourt allowing the ninth-most DK FPPG to centers.
Deandre Ayton - C, PHX at ORL ($6,600 DK; $7,300 FD)
Much of the logic I used in my Cameron Payne pick from earlier applies to Deandre Ayton. With Booker and Paul away from the team, there are a ton of shots and offensive opportunities to be had in the Sun's offense. In Sunday's loss versus Milwaukee, Ayton took advantage of those opportunities as he produced 30 points, eight rebounds, two assists, a steal, and a three-pointer across 33 minutes of action. The 23-year old's 30 points came on 19 shots, which tied a season-high (Nov. 30 vs. GSW) for attempts. Phoenix is a road favorite in Orlando tonight, and I expect Ayton to be a primary option if the Suns want to their fourth loss in their last six games. At $6,600 on DraftKings, if he can combine the points-scoring ability with a big rebounding night, he's going to erupt in your lineup.
Also consider: Ivica Zubac at GSW ($6,900 DK; $7,300 FD), Kevin Love at CLE ($5,800 DK; $6,400 FD)
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