FanDuel NBA DFS Picks for Today (Monday 3/3/25): Daily Fantasy Basketball Advice

These players might fly under the radar ownership-wise but have ceilings that rival the chalk.

Desmond Bane - MEM - SG/SF ($8,000)

Bane’s my favorite tournament pivot in the Memphis-Atlanta track meet (253.5 Vegas total). Ja Morant’s shoulder injury has him questionable, and if he’s sidelined, Bane steps up as the Grizzlies’ offensive engine. He’s already averaging 18.1 PPG and 5.5 APG on 22% usage, but his minutes have ballooned to 38.1 over the last three games. Atlanta’s defense is a sieve, 27th in points allowed per game and 25th in 3-point percentage allowed, making this a golden spot for Bane.

If Morant sits, Bane could see 25+ shots and push his usage into the high 20s, giving him a clear path to 45-50 FD points. Even if Morant plays, the pace-up environment (projected 104.2) keeps his ceiling in play. At $8,000, he’s $800 cheaper than Jaren Jackson Jr. and likely lower-owned, making him a sneaky leverage play to differentiate your GPP lineups.

Jalen Green - HOU - SG ($7,100)

Houston’s injury chaos could turn Jalen Green into a one-man wrecking crew against OKC, and at $7,100, he’s a steal for his upside. Fred VanVleet is out (ankle), Alperen Sengun (back) and Amen Thompson (shoulder) are questionable, and Dillon Brooks (knee) is a long shot to play. That leaves Green, who’s already humming with a 27% usage rate, as the Rockets’ go-to guy. He’s been on fire lately, averaging 23.7 PPG over his last three games, with a FD points-per-minute clip of 0.97 that spikes when he’s the focal point.

OKC’s defense is elite (2nd in PAPG), but with Houston’s rotation gutted, Green could see 20+ field goal attempts just out of necessity. A 30-point, 5-rebound, 5-assist line isn’t far-fetched, putting him in the 40-45 FD point range. The big names like Shai and Maxey will draw the ownership, so Green’s a perfect contrarian play at this price, low ownership, high ceiling, and a desperate team leaning on him. Don’t sleep on this potential blowup spot.

Dyson Daniels - ATL - SG/PG ($7,800)

Daniels has quietly morphed into a DFS darling, and this Memphis matchup has all the makings of a breakout. The Hawks play at the league’s 2nd-fastest pace, and with Memphis’ implied total at a slate-high 130.8, this game could be a fantasy goldmine. Daniels thrives is averaging 14 PPG, 4 APG, and 5.6 RPG on the season, and his last three games show a juicy uptick to 17.3 PPG and 1.08 FD points per minute.

The Grizzlies’ perimeter defense is shaky (25th in 3P% allowed, 17th in 3PA), and Daniels’ knack for scoring, crashing the boards, and racking up steals (he’s good for 1-2 per game) fits the bill perfectly. At $7,800, he’s priced in that awkward mid-tier range where ownership tends to dip, but his ceiling is legit 40-45 FD points if this game stays tight. Pair him with a chalky stud like SGA or Maxey, and you’ve got a lineup with balance and differentiation. He’s my sneaky Hawks play in this barnburner.

Jonas Valanciunas - SAC - C ($5,700)

With Domantas Sabonis sidelined (hamstring), Valanciunas steps into the spotlight against Dallas, and at $5,700, he’s a budget-friendly tournament dart with serious pop. JV’s been efficient in limited minutes, averaging 11 PPG and 7.8 RPG on 23% usage, with a stout 1.31 FD points-per-minute rate. Sabonis’ absence likely bumps him to 25-30 minutes as the Kings’ starting center.

Dallas ranks 16th in points allowed and 18th in defensive rating, so it’s not a cakewalk, but Valanciunas’ veteran savvy and rebounding prowess. A 15-point, 10-rebound double-double is well within reach, with a sprinkle of assists or blocks pushing him to 30-35 FD points. The big dogs like Bam Adebayo and JJJ will soak up ownership, leaving JV as a low-owned pivot with a ceiling that rivals pricier centers. He’s not a cash game play, too much risk, but for GPPs, this is the kind of cheap upside that can catapult you up the leaderboards.

Let’s dig into some salary savers who can help you fit those studs into your lineup.

Bub Carrington - WAS - PG ($5,300)

Jordan Poole’s elbow injury has him ruled out, and that thrusts rookie Carlton Carrington into the starting point guard gig against Miami. At $5,300, this is a screaming value play you can’t ignore. Carrington’s been logging 29.3 minutes per game, averaging 9 PPG, 3.9 APG, and 4 RPG with a tidy 0.72 FD points-per-minute rate.

The Heat’s defense is no picnic (7th in PAPG, 11th in D-Rating), but Washington’s offense is so thin without Poole that Carrington should see 30+ minutes and 10-12 shot attempts, plus a handful of assists running the show. His floor is a safe 20-25 FD points, think 10 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, but if he gets hot or snags a couple steals, 30+ is in play. He’s a cash game staple to pair with a high-end stud like SGA, and even in GPPs, his low price keeps your lineup flexible. Don’t overthink this one, opportunity meets affordability right here.

Quentin Grimes - PHI - SG/SF ($6,200)

If Paul George sits, Grimes could see 25-30 minutes against Portland. He broke the slate yesterday and exploded for 44 real life points and 63 Fanduel Points. At $6,200, he’s a bargain for a potential 25-30 FD point night, say, 12 points, 5 rebounds, and a couple assists or steals. His multi-category upside shines in a pace-down game, and if George is out, Grimes becomes a near-lock for 1.0 FD points per minute. He’s a cash game filler with GPP appeal if the injury dominoes fall his way, keep an eye on that Sixers update.

Donovan Clingan - POR - C ($6,100)

Clingan’s a per-minute monster, and at $6,100, he’s my favorite value big against Philly. The rookie center’s averaging just 16.6 minutes per game, but that’s spiked to 20.9 over his last three, and he’s producing at an elite 1.24 FD points-per-minute clip. With 5.6 PPG, 6.9 RPG, and a knack for blocking shots, Clingan’s a stat-stuffer waiting to happen.

The Sixers’ interior defense isn’t imposing, 24th in defensive rating, and 16th in rebounding rate, and with Andre Drummond likely starting, Clingan could exploit 20-25 minutes against a beatable frontcourt. A 10-point, 8-rebound, 2-block line gets him to 25-30 FD points, and at this price, that’s a massive win. He’s a plug-and-play option for cash games to save salary, and in GPPs, his ceiling could touch 35 if Portland leans on him in a close game.