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The top daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on March 24, 2019. Jake Finnen provides NBA DFS analysis and sleeper picks for building optimal DFS rosters.
The past few nights have been the perfect indicator that NBA DFS is at a very weird point right now. Prediction seem random and trying to guess which players are going to play and which aren't is just downright annoying. Yes, the best teams will rest their best players, but as of right now, the Warriors are resting Shaun Livingston, Andrew Bogut, Andre Iguodala, and DeMarcus Cousins. That doesn't even include the grouping of Celtics that are also missing time.
In the grand scheme of things, rest is probably best for some of these teams. But who cares about that? There's money to be made and while some are considering this the worst part of the season, even the sharks are beginning to sweat. If you can support the habit, keep going. It's risky, but this part of the season has the potential to introduce ideal late-season sleepers and the fewer players that play on nights with small slates, the smaller the repetition will be.
With the NCAA Tournament underway, there is going to be slightly less interest in DFS as a whole, especially with all the unpredictability that comes with this part of the season. I don't watch college basketball outside of viewing prospects, so feel free to bother me while I play some type of battle royale on Xbox. I'll also be in the NBA Chat Room and @HalfCourtJester on Twitter.
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DraftKings DFS Guards
Chris Paul - PG @ NO ($7,000)
Hopefully the Pelicans can keep this game close for at least the first half so Chris Paul can exceed his projected. Since New Orleans has been and continues to be one of the worst teams at guarding opposing point guards, this is too easy. He's been consistent lately and I don't see that changing tonight unless the Rockets absolutely crush New Orleans early on. James Harden is always set for a massive night and other than just having a hunch he might have an off night and only score 30, it allows the rest of the Rockets to feel like they matter too.
Marco Belinelli - SG/SF @ BOS ($3,400)
Might as well stick with veterans right? They might not have the most upside each night, but at this point in the season we just need consistency. Marco Belinelli is clearly not the same player he was years ago, but acting like he can't be a productive DFS option on any given night is just leaving production on the table. His price is so cheap and since the Celtics are lacking their firepower all over their rotation, I'm taking all the shooters in this game that I can. It might only be Belinelli and LaMarcus Aldridge, but still worth it.
DraftKings DFS Forwards
Harrison Barnes - SF/PF @ LAL ($5,400)
Since the Kings are traveling to LA, and playing in Los Angeles seems to have some type of an effect on players, ride the only starting "veteran" on this team. This game isn't as much a rivalry as it is an example of how a young team that plays well together can beat a young team that is stacked with talent. The Lakers being talented is up for debate, but since both teams are in a rebuilding process and the Kings are light-years ahead of the Lakers, there's no reason to ignore the upside in this game. Marvin Bagley III, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Harrison Barnes are my three sleepers for this game. It doesn't hurt that Barnes has already lit this team up for 29 points once this season.
Blake Griffin - PF/C @ GSW ($7,900)
While the Pistons have been frustrating to watch all season, Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond have both been extremely productive in the box scores. If you are even the slightest bit unsure about Griffin tonight, just look at his recent usage rates. As long as the Pistons are playing, Griffin and Drummond are solid plays, ESPECIALLY against a team like the Warriors. They lack the frontcourt to compete with one of the most skilled bigs in the game. Neither one is the tippy-top of the scale, but together they make a tandem that most teams can't contain. Detroit played yesterday as well, but I still think the effort level stays at the same, medial level.
DraftKings DFS Centers
Julius Randle - PF/C vs. HOU ($8,100)
Much like Blake Griffin versus the Warriors, this is simply taking the "best" player on the Pelicans, against a good team that will struggle to contain skilled big men. The Rockets are going to come out of this game feeling good because the Pelicans defense is going to do minimal if anything to stop them. Every Rocket has upside, because both Harden and Chris Paul have upside. On the reverse side, Randle has a limit-less ceiling right now because the Pelicans will literally need him shoulder the weight on offense. Ok so he might not literally shoulder the weight, but I wouldn't be surprised if most of his production came off of strong drives to the rim, resulting in a shot or pass out to the wing.
