FanDuel NBA DFS Picks for Today (Tuesday 2/25/25): Daily Fantasy Basketball Advice

These are the studs I’m building around tonight—guys with matchup-proof upside and salaries that make sense for FanDuel lineups.

Jayson Tatum - BOS - SF/PF ($10,200)

Tatum’s heading into Toronto against a Raptors squad that’s been leaky on defense, ranking 25th in defensive rating. Boston is an 11-point favorite with a 118.5 implied total, and with Jrue Holiday out, Tatum’s usage could tick up even more. He’s averaging 26.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 5.7 assists, and over his last three, he’s bumped that assist number to 8.7 while still grabbing nearly 12 boards.

At $10,200, he’s a premium price, no doubt, but you’re paying for a guy who’s got a legit shot at 50-60 FanDuel points in this spot. He’s a no-brainer for cash games where you want that high floor, and in GPPs, his ceiling could bury the field. Lock him in and sleep easy.

Donovan Mitchell - CLE - SG/PG ($8,700)

Mitchell’s my next anchor, especially with Darius Garland listed as questionable with a hip issue. If Garland sits, Mitchell’s usage jumps into the mid-30s, and he’s already in the low 30% range this season. Orlando’s defense is stingy (2nd in D-Rating), but they’ve struggled with elite guards, and Cleveland’s 115.5 implied total suggests this game stays competitive. Mitchell’s been on fire lately, averaging 28.7 points over his last three, and at $8,700, he’s a steal compared to some of the pricier guards.

Even if Garland suits up, Mitchell’s volume and the Cavs’ need to keep pace with Orlando’s physicality keep him firmly in play. He’s got 45+ FD point upside, and I’m loving him as a core piece tonight.

Alperen Sengun - HOU - C ($8,600)

Sengun’s been a beast this year, and tonight he gets a Bucks team that’s middle-of-the-pack against centers. Houston’s got a 115.3 implied total, and with Fred VanVleet questionable (ankle), Sengun could see more playmaking duties. He’s averaging 19.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 4.9 assists, and his last three games show a usage spike to 34%. Milwaukee’s frontcourt isn’t as intimidating without a healthy Lopez guarding the paint full-time, so Sengun’s got a legit shot at 45-50 FanDuel points here.

At $8,600, he’s my favorite center on the slate because he’s got a clear path to 45-50 FanDuel points, especially if VanVleet sits and the Rockets lean on him even more. Cash game stability meets GPP ceiling, Sengun’s the total package tonight.

These guys might fly under the radar ownership-wise but have the ceiling to win you a GPP. Let’s get sneaky.

Evan Mobley - CLE - PF/C ($8,800)

Mobley’s been quietly crushing it, and if Garland’s out, he’s in line for another usage bump alongside Mitchell. Over his last three, he’s averaging 21.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists, with a FanDuel points-per-minute rate of 1.35. Orlando’s tough up front, but their 10th-ranked rebounding rate leaves room for Mobley to clean up on the glass.

At $8,800, he’s not going to draw the same ownership as a Giannis or Sengun, but a 20-point, 12-rebound, 5-assist line with a couple of blocks, very much in his wheelhouse, could easily top 50 FanDuel points. He’s the perfect pivot off the chalkier bigs for tournament players looking to zag when others zig.

Amen Thompson - HOU - SG/SF ($8,900)

Here’s where we get spicy. Thompson’s been a minutes monster lately, averaging 35.4 over his last three, and with VanVleet questionable and Dillon Brooks also iffy (illness), he could see point guard duties against Milwaukee. His stat line has been solid, 13.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and defensive stats galore. The Bucks play fast (9th in pace), and Houston’s 115.3 total keeps this game in range.

If he gets 38-40 minutes and flirts with a triple-double, say, 15-10-7 with a couple of steals, you’re looking at 50+ FanDuel points at low ownership. He’s a GPP gem with chaos-agent vibes, my kind of play.

Bradley Beal - PHO - SF/SG ($7,100)

Beal’s been heating up, and this Suns-Grizzlies game could turn into a track meet with a 245-point total. Memphis ranks 8th in defensive rating but struggles with perimeter defense, and Beal’s averaging 24.7 points over his last three with a 23% usage rate. At $7,100, he’s way too cheap for a guy who could flirt with 40 FanDuel points in a pace-up spot (projected pace of 101.6).

If he drops 28 points with a handful of rebounds and assists, very doable against Memphis’s aggressive but sometimes overextended defense, you’re laughing all the way to the top of the leaderboard. Beal’s my favorite tournament differentiator on this slate.

We need some salary relief to fit those studs, so here are the best value plays who can outperform their price tags tonight.

Derrick White - BOS - SG/PG ($6,900)

With Jrue Holiday out, White’s stepping into a bigger role, and he’s been delivering. He’s averaging 33.6 minutes, but over his last three, he’s up to 18.0 points and 6.0 assists with a FanDuel points-per-minute rate of 0.96. Toronto’s backcourt defense is shaky (25th in points allowed to guards), and at $6,900, White’s a cash game lock with GPP upside if he hits a few threes.

I’m pegging his floor at 30-35 FanDuel points, and if he gets hot, 40+ isn’t out of reach. He’s the kind of value that lets you pay up elsewhere without sweating it.

Wendell Carter Jr. - ORL - C ($5,300)

Carter’s back in the starting lineup for Orlando, and at $5,300, he’s a steal against Cleveland. He’s averaging 25.3 minutes, but his last three show 10.0 points and 11.7 rebounds with a 0.95 FanDuel points-per-minute clip. The Cavs are tough inside, but their 10th-ranked rebounding rate means Carter can still feast on the glass.

At this price, 25-30 FanDuel points are a breeze, and that’s all you need to unlock the likes of Tatum or Mitchell up top. He’s a budget-friendly cornerstone tonight.

Gradey Dick - TOR - SG/SF ($4,700)

If Jakob Poeltl sits with his hip issue, Toronto’s offense could lean more on its wings, and Dick’s been a minutes magnet at 29.5 per game. He’s averaging 14.8 points, but his price hasn’t caught up to his role yet. Boston’s defense is elite (5th in D-Rating), but their pace (26th) keeps this game in a spot where Dick can get enough shots to hit 20-25 FanDuel points.

The upside’s there if he gets hot against a Celtics team that might focus more on Toronto’s stars like Barnes and Barrett. Dick’s your low-risk, high-reward flier tonight.