FanDuel NBA DFS Lineup Picks (5/26/21): Daily Fantasy Basketball Advice

May 26, 2021

Stan Son highlights the top FanDuel NBA DFS lineup picks for 5/26/21, and a couple of sleepers to consider while building daily rosters.

We've got a three-game Eastern Conference playoff slate for Wednesday. The Wizards and 76ers start at 7:00 pm ET. The Hawks and Knicks tip-off at 7:30 pm ET while the Grizzlies and Jazz play at 10:00 pm ET. PHI, ATL, and MEM all lead 1-0 in their series. PHI is favored by 8 points, NYK is favored by 2.5 points, and UTA is favored by 8.5 points. The O/U is 230.5 for the WAS/PHI game, 212.5 for the ATL/NYK game, and 218.5 for the MEM/UTA game.

Here are my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 5/26/21. 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

Ben Simmons, PG - vs. WAS ($8,100)

This is the perfect matchup for Simmons, as the Wizards like to push the pace and provide plenty of opportunities in transition. On the season, Washington boosted the FPPM to point guards by 6% above the league average. Simmons went for 50.5 FD points on Sunday and in two prior meetings in the regular season, he went for 48.3 and 45.2 FD points.

Derrick Rose, PG - at DAL ($5,900) 

Rose was averaging 25.8 minutes per game during the regular season then played 38 minutes in Game 1 and put up 31.5 FD points. The usage rate was 24%. A similar workload should be in the works as it's winning time now. Rose averages 1.01 FD points per minute.

Donovan Mitchell, SG - vs. MEM ($8,000)

There's obvious risk here since Mitchell hasn't played since April 17th. I'll take the $1,500 discount from Bradley Beal and probable decrease in roster percentage for the immense upside, though. I don't see a minutes limit for him and he should garner a sky-high usage rate. Mitchell averaged 1.22 FD points per minute and in two regular-season meetings with the Grizzlies, he went for 52 and 47.9 FD points.

Alec Burks, SG - vs. ATL ($5,500)

Burks played 26 minutes off the bench on Sunday and went ballistic. He scored 27 points and chipped in three rebounds and four assists. The usage rate was a robust 29%. He's been the microwave off the bench for the Knicks most of the season and should remain a significant part of the rotation. Burks averages 0.95 FD points per minute.

Also consider: Russell Westbrook ($11,600), Ish Smith ($5,000), Bradley Beal ($9,500), Seth Curry ($4,900)

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FanDuel DFS Forwards

Kyle Anderson, SF - at UTA ($6,600)

Mr. Anderson will rarely have a usage rate above 20% and hoist up more than 10 shots. That said, he contributes in every category, which provides a high floor. On the season, he averages 1.09 FD points per minute and has played 31, 39, and 32 minutes over the last three games. It's money time so it's time to shorten rotations and play the best players as often as possible. Mr. Anderson has put up 40.3, 39, and 28.2 FD points over the last three games.

Danny Green, SF - vs. WAS ($4,100)

Green played 31 minutes on Sunday after not exceeding 29 minutes in the prior three games. It's money time so he should continue to play over 30 minutes. Like Mr. Anderson, Green doesn't garner a high usage rate or score many points, but he contributes everywhere, especially in the defensive categories. In three regular-season meetings with Washington, Green went for 10, 31.1, and 34.2 FD points. In that 10-FD game, he only played 18 minutes as it was the first game of the season.

Julius Randle, PF - vs. ATL ($0,800)

Randle was horrible in Game 1, as he shot 6-for-23 from the field. The usage rate was 32 percent and he played 36 minutes. He averaged 1.21 FD points per minute and went for 57.9, 59.3, and 61.2 FD points in three games against the Hawks during the regular season. The minutes and usage will still be there and hopefully, the roster percentage is lowered due to recency bias.

Daniel Gafford, PF - vs. NO ($5,500)

Gafford averages 1.35 FD points per minute but only plays 20 minutes. Sadness. Over the last three games, Gafford has put up 25.2, 46.6, and 24.5 FD points. Hopefully, the coaching staff realizes that he is the best option and plays him more. If so, then the ceiling is sky-high.

Also consider: Bogdan Bogdanovic ($7,600), Bojan Bogdanovic ($5,600), Tobias Harris ($7,400), Davis Bertans ($3,800)

FanDuel DFS Centers

Joel Embiid, C - vs. WAS ($10,100)

Embiid only put up 39.7 FD points in 29 minutes last game because Embiid had some foul trouble and Tobias Harris went bonkers shooting 15-for-29 from the field. Embiid averaged 1.58 FD points per minute and went for 48.8, 68.1, and 38.9 FD points in three meetings with Washington during the regular season. In that 38.9 game, Embiid only played 21 minutes because the 76ers won by 26 points. The usage is 36% and, if he gets the minutes, a sub-40 FD game is highly unlikely.

Derrick Favors, C - vs. MEM ($4,200)

I'm not crazy about the value at center so Favors it is. During the season, he averaged 1.12 FD points per minute but only played in the teens. Well, in Game 1 against the Grizzlies, Favors played 22 minutes and put up 36.2 FD points.

Also consider: Jonas Valanciunas ($8,800), Nerlens Noel ($4,500)

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