RADIO
NBA DFS sleepers and values plays for DraftKings and FanDuel on March 8, 2023. Juan Carlos Blanco gives you his top NBA DFS picks and lineup targets.
We have a relatively modest slate by Wednesday standards, as there are seven games on tap. Much like Monday's six-game ledger, that number of contests could be considered a perfect middle ground for those who are looking to have an easy time differentiating for tournaments without being presented with an untenable amount of decisions.
The injury report isn't particularly extensive either, which helps keep the player pool robust. There are also plenty of solid options at each price point across the salary cap, which should make for a fun night of lineup construction.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for the respective main slates on DraftKings and FanDuel on 3/8/23. Remember to monitor the NBA injury report as the slate can completely change before lineups lock, which is at 7:00 pm ET. Good luck, RotoBallers.
DraftKings and FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Devin Booker - PG/SG, PHO vs. OKC ($9,500 DK, $10,300 FD)
Booker's DK salary is especially eye-catching, considering his overall ceiling and the fact he's in the midst of a torrid three-game stretch. Booker has averaged 36.0 points, 7.7 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 1.0 block in that span while shooting 56.0 percent, including 50.0 percent from three-point range. The stellar numbers have led to averages of 59.4 DK/58.2 FD points in that span, and he now faces a Thunder team that's been vulnerable to two-guards.
The Thunder comes in allowing the eighth-highest offensive efficiency rating to shooting guards (24.5), as well as 46.8 DK/47.2 FD points per contest to the position in the last seven games. OKC will also be depleted defensively without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (injury management) and Jalen Williams (wrist), adding to Booker's chances of a strong performance.
Bradley Beal - SG, WAS vs. ATL ($8,100 DK, $8,600 FD)
Beal is another guard that has amply proven capable of outpacing his current salaries and also faces a favorable matchup Wednesday. The veteran wing is also running hot over his last three games, putting up 28.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.0 block in that span while taking a robust 25 shots per contest.
Beal also notably generated 52.8 DK/52.1 FD points against the Hawks in his one prior encounter with them this season. Then, Atlanta comes in allowing over 44 DK and over 43 FD points per contest to shooting guards in the last 30 games, along with 36.9 percent three-point shooting on the road for the season and 40.8 percent in the last three contests.
Josh Giddey - PG/SG, OKC at PHO ($7,600 DK, $8,400 FD)
As alluded to earlier, OKC will be without both Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (injury management) and Jalen Williams (wrist) on Wednesday, a scenario that serves to brighten Giddey's prospects. Even with his backcourt mate next to him against the Warriors on Tuesday night, Giddey still went off for 59.8 DK/52. 7 FD points on the strength of 17-point, 17-assist, 11-rebound triple-double, his third straight game with at least 50 DK points and second consecutive over 50 FD points.
Giddey is now averaging 40 DK/37.9 FD points per 36 minutes without his two teammates on the floor, along with sporting a 25.5 percent usage rate in that scenario. The matchup against the Suns for shooting guards hasn't necessarily been prohibitive, either, as Phoenix is allowing 36.9 percent three-point shooting to the position, along with the fourth-most DK (46.4) and FD (45.0) points to the position in the last 30 games.
ALSO CONSIDER: Malcolm Brogdon - PG, BOS vs. POR ($6,200 DK, $5,700 FD)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Kevin Durant - SF/PF, PHO vs. OKC ($9,800 DK, $10,100 FD)
Durant has already hit the ground running in his new Phoenix digs, unsurprisingly looking better with each game. The future Hall of Famer will have a bit of extra incentive Wednesday, as he'll be making his home floor debut, and against a depleted Thunder team at that. KD just scored a game-high 37 points against the Mavericks on Sunday, his first performance of over 50 fantasy points on each site as a member of the Suns.
The short-handed Thunder figure to have an uphill battle defending Durant, who's shot an eye-popping 69.0 percent, including 53.8 percent from three-point range, in his first three games with Phoenix. OKC is also allowing the second-highest offensive efficiency rating to power forwards (28.4), along with 37.7 percent three-point shooting for the season and the third-most DK (50.4)/fourth-most FD (48.5) points per game to the position in the last seven.
Aaron Gordon - PF, DEN vs. CHI ($6,400 DK, $7,200 FD)
Gordon is often understandably overshadowed by some of his first-unit mates, but the veteran forward has been a key source of complementary production all season for Denver and is locked into a favorable matchup Wednesday. The Bulls come in allowing the ninth-highest offensive efficiency rating to power forwards (27.1), as well 48.7 DK/45.8 FD points to the position in the last seven games.
Gordon is averaging 30.9 DK/FD points per game at home across 31 games this season as well, and Chicago is surrendering a robust 52 rebounds per road contest along with elevated 39.7 percent three-point shooting over the last three games. Meanwhile, Gordon has been especially locked in since the calendar flipped to 2023, putting up 16.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per contest while shooting 55.2 percent across a 23-game sample.
Al Horford - PF/C, BOS vs. POR ($5,500 DK, $5,700 FD)
Horford's salaries are quite the bargain considering both the matchup and his upside, as well as the fact he'll once again take the floor without fellow big and frontcourt mate Robert Williams (hamstring). Horford racked up 57 DK/54.8 FD points in the first game of Williams' absence before sitting out the second night of a back-to-back set against the Cavs on Monday, but he'll be rested and ready to go for Wednesday's favorable matchup.
The Trail Blazers are allowing 50.0 percent shooting to power forwards on the season and are ranked No. 20 in offensive efficiency rating surrendered to power forwards overall (81.6). Additionally, the Blazers are allowing the third-most DK (50.5) and FD (49.4) points per game to the position in the last 15 games, as well as 37.0 percent three-point shooting for the season overall.
ALSO CONSIDER: Kawhi Leonard - SF/PF, TOR at LAC ($9,000 DK, $10,000 FD)
DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Kristaps Porzingis - C/PF, WAS vs. ATL ($8,900 DK, $9,800 FD)
Porzingis is always a consideration, especially at his very reasonable DK salary. The fact he also draws one of the better frontcourt matchups in the league certainly doesn't hurt his case, as the Hawks are ranked No. 27 in offensive efficiency rating surrendered to power forwards and centers (85.9).
Atlanta is allowing the seventh-highest offensive efficiency rating to power forwards specifically, as well as the second-most DK (50.8) and FD (48.8) points per game to fours in the last 30 games. For his part, Porzingis checks in on quite the extended run of success, as he's averaging 25.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.6 blocks across his last 14 games while shooting 55.1 percent, including 46.1 percent from three-point range.
Jonas Valanciunas - NOP vs. DAL ($6,900 DK, $6,400 FD)
Valanciunas has enjoyed success against the Mavericks previously this season and comes in having put together a big performance in his return from a calf injury Monday, as he posted a 19-point, 12-rebound double-double against the Kings that netted 42.5 DK/40.9 FD points. The big man has two games of more than 35 DK points against the Mavs this season and one over that mark on FD.
Dallas has been generous overall to centers throughout the season and especially recently, as the Mavericks are surrendering the third-most DK (62.5) and fourth-most FD (61.3) points per game to the position in the last seven contests.
Clint Capela - C, ATL at WAS ($6,300 DK, $7,200 FD)
Capela has been a fairly steady bet for 30-plus fantasy points per night for a good chunk of the season, and he now draws a favorable matchup against a Wizards squad he already dropped 47.8 DK/50.5 FD points against in one prior meeting this season. Capela also comes into Wednesday with some impressive recent momentum, as he's averaging a solid 12.1 points, 11.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.4 blocks across his last 10 games while scoring 34.8 DK points or more in six of them.
The Wizards are ranked No. 19 in offensive efficiency rating allowed to centers (32.4), and Washington has also allowed an elevated 58.3 DK/58.9 FD points per game to the position in the last seven games. Capela always offers the possibility of capturing the double-double bonus on DK, and he's proven very capable of overdelivering on his current salaries.
ALSO CONSIDER: Nikola Jokic - C/PF, DEN vs. CHI ($11,600 DK, $11,900 FD); Deandre Ayton - PHO vs. OKC ($7,400 DK, $8,500 FD)
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