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The top daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on March 9, 2022. John Brubaker provides NBA DFS analysis and sleeper picks for building optimal DFS rosters.
Happy Wednesday, RotoBallers! I hope last night's slate of NBA DFS treated you well. I'm continuing to work on my NBA model, trying to gather more information to make sure all of you are as armed as possible going into each slate. Even with the small adjustments I've made so far, it seems to be working. I'm trying to implement different factors to separate cash options against GPP options. I'll continue to keep you all updated with the adjustments I make, and with all of that said, let's get to tonight!
Tonight we have a nice slate, with twelve games on tap. With now both FanDuel and DraftKings having multi-position eligibility players, we'll have to attack slates a bit differently to make our lineups as optimal as possible. That's where I come in! I'll look to find my personal top plays and values for tonight's slate. Things can change during the day as well, so I'll do my best to update as news comes out!
Here are my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel and DraftKings on 3/9/22. 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.
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DraftKings and FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
LaMelo Ball - vs BOS (FD: $7,600, DK: $8,800)
I'll start tonight's slate off with LaMelo Ball, as it seems I do every Wednesday of late. He remains a 1.25 FanDuel and 1.3 DraftKings point per minute player with Gordon Hayward off the floor and should play north of 32 minutes tonight. The Celtics have been playing at a high pace and scoring in bunches of late, so LaMelo will need to be at his best in this second leg of a back-to-back. While the Celtics rank third in point guard efficiency, they do rank in the bottom third of DvP on both sites. I prefer Ball on FanDuel due to the price difference, but he's certainly playable on both sites.
Russell Westbrook, at HOU (FD: $6,800, DK: $8,500)
The price difference on Westbrook here is just silly. It's obvious that he's a better play on FanDuel, but depending on who ends up sitting for the Lakers tonight, he's a solid option on DraftKings as well. Westbrook is a 1.09 FanDuel and 1.07 DraftKings points per minute player should all of those three play and is averaging over 25% usage over the last four games. He draws a fantastic matchup against the Rockets who rank dead last in both point guard efficiency and DvP, making him a solid upside play regardless of price.
Brandon Williams, at UTA (FD: $3,500, DK: $5,500)
Unlike Westbrook, the staunch difference in price doesn't deter me from playing Williams on DraftKings as well. He's an absolute 100% must play on FanDuel in cash games if Anfernee Simons doesn't play, and I was able to cash in on this Monday night while most pivoted to the aforementioned Westbrook. The usage was there, as he netted over 26% as well as playing through the blowout. Anfernee Simons is questionable heading into this one, but should he play, Williams is still a 0.99 FanDuel and 1.04 DraftKings points per minute player with him on the floor. His minutes, particularly during garbage time, in Simons's absence Monday has me optimistic, but we'll have to stay tuned to the news here.
Also consider: Alec Burks (FD: $5,300, DK: $5,600), Cory Joseph (FD: $3,500, DK: $3,500)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
LeBron James, at HOU (FD: $10,400, DK: $11,600)
LeBron disappointed many on Monday night when he was ruled out after lock. He should be back tonight, and in this situation without AD and others, LeBron is a 1.52 FanDuel and 1.54 DraftKings points per minute player. The Lakers are in must-win territory now, and each game means more and more. Knowing LeBron, I don't doubt that he'll be coming with everything he has. He should be able to take care of business against the Rockets, who are below average in both small forward efficiency and DvP.
Jerami Grant, vs CHI (FD: $6,400, DK: $6,600)
Everyone hop aboard the Jerami Grant rollercoaster. He's been good enough lately for me to trust him in this spot, especially with Frank Jackson and Isaiah Stewart likely out for this one. With those two off the floor, Grant is a 1.08 FanDuel and 1.07 DraftKings points per minute player. I have him projected for 35 minutes, with a usage rate over 23%. He's worth a shot in GPPs at this price every time he's on the slate, and while I'm not certain as I'm typing this, I'll consider him in cash tonight.
Trendon Watford, at UTA (FD: $4,100, DK: $5,700)
One thing I noticed on Monday watching the Blazers game was Watford playing somewhat of a point-forward role, taking the ball up frequently. I can't confirm that he'll do the same should Simons play, but I rate him as a solid play regardless. He's a 1.04 point per minute player on both sites in this situation, and the Blazers' roster is so bone dry right now that he'll likely be forced to play 28 minutes at minimum. The matchup against the Jazz is tough, but I'll be looking to play Watford on both sites.
Also consider: Marcus Morris (FD: $4,600, DK: $5,900), Nicolas Batum (FD: $3,600, DK: $4,600)
DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Rudy Gobert, vs POR (FD: $7,700, DK: $7,800)
On the other side of the Blazers-Jazz matchup, I like Rudy Gobert at the center position tonight. Gobert sits in the "sweet spot" of center pricing which often goes overlooked by DFS players, who typically either look to pay up or grab a value center on most slates. The Jazz lead the NBA in offensive efficiency this season, and Gobert currently leads the Jazz with 1.31 FanDuel and 1.27 DraftKings points per minute. He should take advantage of the matchup with the Blazers who rank bottom five in both center efficiency and DvP.
Drew Eubanks, at UTA (FD: $4,000, DK: $4,800)
The final Blazer of the slate, I rate Eubanks tonight for all the same reasons I mentioned with Trendon Watford. While he doesn't have the same point per minute upside, he'll play enough minutes and his price is cheap enough for consideration here. Like I had mentioned with Watford, the matchup with the Jazz is tough, but I could see the Blazers trying to attack Rudy Gobert with the pick and roll, similar to how the Mavericks did with Dwight Powell on Monday night.
Also consider: Deandre Ayton (FD: $7,200, DK: $7,300), Alperen Sengun (FD: $4,600, DK: $5,100)
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