FanDuel NBA DFS Lineup Picks (3/31/21): Daily Fantasy Basketball Advice

March 31, 2021

Stan Son highlights the top FanDuel NBA DFS lineup picks for 3/31/21, and a couple of sleepers to consider while building daily rosters.

We've got a ten-game slate for Wednesday. PHX is the only team playing the second leg of a back-to-back.

There are two games at 7:00 pm ET (MIA @ IND and POR @ DET), two games at 7:30 pm (DAL @ BOS and HOU @ BKN), three games at 8:00 pm (UTA @ MEM, NY @ MIN, and TOR @ OKC), one game at 8:30 pm (SAC @ SA), and the late-night hammers at 10:00 pm are MIL @ LAL and CHI @ PHO.

Here are my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 3/31/21. You can also check out today's DraftKings lineup picks. Keep an eye on Rotoballer’s injury news to stay up to date before lineups are locked.

FanDuel DFS Guards

Kyrie Irving, PG - vs. HOU ($9,600)

On the season, Irving is averaging 1.28 FD points per minute. Over the last three games, he's gone for over 50 FD points in each game and garnered a usage rate of 30.4, 37.4, and 39.3. Now he gets a matchup with a Rockets team that plays at the fifth-fastest pace and boosts the fantasy points per minute to shooting guards by 14.12% above league average. Kevin Durant is unlikely to play again so the usage and fantasy production should continue being robust.

Cory Joseph, PG - vs. POR ($4,500) 

Since arriving in Detroit, Joseph has played 18, 29, and 24 minutes despite coming off the bench. He's still been productive, though, producing 14.4, 23.2, and 36.3 FD points. The Trail Blazers are 29th in defensive efficiency and boost the fantasy points per minute to point guards by 8.9% above league average.

James Harden, SG -vs. HOU ($11,500)

REVENGE!!! I kid. The last time he faced Houston back on March 3rd, he went for 66 FD points. In the last two games, Harden has gone for 72.8 and 70.7 FD points. He is so ridiculously good. The usage rate was 39.5 and 41.1 and, on the season he's averaging 1.45 FD points per minute.

Gary Trent Jr., SG - @ OKC ($4,700)

Since arriving in Toronto, Trent has started all three games and received 31, 29, and 38 minutes of playing time. He shot terribly from the field in his first two games, going 4-for-11 and 2-for-10, but contributed 32.3 FD in his most recent game. The shooting wasn't great as he shot 6-for-15, but it was still an improvement. The contributions in assists and steals really elevated his production. Trent will be inconsistent due to the poor shooting efficiency and lack of periphery stats on a nightly basis, but he has access to ceiling and he's playing a ton of minutes.

Also consider: De'Aaron Fox ($10,000), Saben Lee ($5,000), Devin Booker ($8,200), Jordan Clarkson ($5,000)

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FanDuel DFS Forwards

Jimmy Butler, SF - @ IND ($9,000)

Butler has contributed 41.5 and 44 FD points over the last two games. He faced this Pacers team four games ago and produced 47.5 FD points. He played 42 minutes in that contest and went for 21 points, 15 rebounds, and seven assists. The usage rate is usually in the low-to-mid 20s range but he contributes in every category so the floor is relatively high.

Saddiq Bey, SF - vs. POR ($4,800)

Over the last seven games, Bey has averaged 33.6 minutes, 11.6 field goal attempts, 15.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. That's been good for 19.43 FD points. I know, not exciting but there was a 7.8 FD game in there with a high of 51.4. He also went for at least 25 FD points in four of the other games. The usage rate hasn't been great, as it's been in the 18 range, but he's playing a ton of minutes, attempting double-digit shots, and the game environment should be a good one as the Trail Blazers are 29th in defensive efficiency.

Julius Randle, PF - @ MIN ($9,300)

Randle is averaging 1.21 FD points per minute and 37 minutes per game. The usage rate has been above 30 in three of the last four games. Now, he's only produced 31.1 and 31.8 FD points in the two most recent games, but the environment against the Timberwolves doesn't get much juicier as they play at the third-fastest pace and are 27th in defensive efficiency. Over the last 10 games, Randle has gone for at least 50 FD points in four games with two of those over 60. He faced the Timberwolves on February 21st and put up 43.8 FD points.

Jaden McDaniels, PF - vs. NYK ($4,600)

McDaniels has started the last four games and averaged 33.8 minutes per game. Playing time is half the battle, Yo, Joe! On the season, he's averaging 0.74 FD points per minute but he's coming off a 42.4 FD performance in his most recent game. In the other three games, he went for 22.5, 24.8, and 20.9. The matchup and game environment aren't great, as the Knicks play at the slowest pace in the league and are fourth in defensive efficiency, but minutes are minutes.

Also consider: OG Anunoby ($6,600), Kevin Porter ($5,500), Jae'sean Tate ($6,000), Isaiah Roby ($5,000)

FanDuel DFS Centers

Bam Adebayo, C - @ IND ($9,400)

Over the last five games, Bam has gone for 54.4, 34.6, 63.3, 36.6, and 55 FD points. If the SATs taught me anything, it's that he's going to score 38 in this one. Bam is averaging 1.25 FD points per minute and he faced this Pacers team five games ago. He only produced 55 FD points. On the season, the Pacers boost the fantasy points per minute to centers by 12.03% above league average, third-most generous.

Kelly Olynyk, C - @ BKN ($5,500)

Olynyk has played two games as a member of the Rockets. All he's done is average 29.4 minutes, 20.5 points, two three-pointers, 6.5 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block while garnering a usage rate of 22.4. That's translated to 46.8 and 34.8 FD points. Now, Olynyk has been inconsistent all season long. He's had heaters like this before only to score 14 FD points the next game. So beware. With that said, the matchup and environment are good ones, as the Nets boost the fantasy points per minute to centers by 6.9% above league average, with a 9.99% boost in three-pointers, an Olynyk specialty. In addition, the Nets play at the 13th-fastest pace.

Also consider: Rudy Gobert ($8,200), Jakob Poeltl ($6,100)

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