NBA DFS: Top Daily Fantasy Expert Picks for DraftKings, FanDuel (4/13/25)

April 13, 2025

Free daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for today's slate on DraftKings and FanDuel. Use Kyle Ringstad's NBA DFS expert picks to building winning DFS lineups on April 13th, 2025.

It's the final day of the regular season. Seeding is on the line for several teams, and of course, the rest of the teams on the slate are either actively trying to lose or simply resting players for the playoffs. I always write this article with a cash game floor in mind, but as a tournament-heavy player, the picks are generally packed with tourney-winning upside — high-minute roles, clean paths to value, and ceiling exposure in the right spots.

There are two slates today: one starting at 1:00 p.m. ET with seven games and one beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET with eight games. We'll focus on the second slate of games as it is both sites' main/featured slate. It's the Western Conference slate, and it's pretty insane as seven teams haven't solidified their playoff seeding heading into the season's final game. Four teams (GSW, DEN, LAC, MIN) are vying for three playoff spots, with the odd team out being relegated to the play-in tournament. There is no shortage of teams with something to play for today, and we also shouldn't struggle to find value with the remaining teams actively trying to lose to improve their draft position.

This article will provide my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 4/13/25. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our excellent NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 3:30 p.m. EST on DraftKings and FanDuel. Good luck, RotoBallers!

Today's NBA DFS Core Picks

Here is a look at some of the higher-priced players we can use as building blocks for cash and GPP contests.

We have to consider playing Nikola Jokic on every slate due to the unparalleled upside he brings to the table. He needs 65 DK points for 5x value, and these are his last five finishes: 72, 63.5, 89.25, 66, and 98 DK points. We also have unlimited value with teams resting players for the playoffs, so Jokic easily fits into lineups. However, I'm hesitant to put all my eggs in the Jokic basket if he's projected to be 76% owned. That's way too high on an eight-game slate.

Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Devin Booker, and Kevin Durant have already been ruled out, which makes our high-priced options much more limited. Domantas Sabonis looks fine against the Suns, but I'm more interested in a lower-owned Anthony Edwards and Ivica Zubac on this slate.

Edwards isn't projecting well due to the assumed limited minutes in a likely blowout (MIN -23.5), but he's the guy I'd want in lineups if the game stays somewhat competitive. He likely plays a big part in building a lead if the game does blow out, so I'm all over Ant in this spot against the most forgiving defense in the NBA.

Zubac has put up ceiling games with some regularity lately, posting 52.25, 59, 44, and 51.5 DK points over his last seven contests. The Warriors have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game over their last seven games, and they don't have the personnel to keep Zubac off the glass or scoring down low.

Top Core Plays:

1. Nikola Jokic, DEN @ HOU - C ($13K DK; $13K FD)
2. Anthony Edwards, MIN vs. UTA - SG ($9.9K DK; $9.6K FD)
3. Ivica Zubac, LAC @ GSW - C ($8.2K DK; $8.3K FD)
4. James Harden, LAC @ GSW - PG ($10.4K DK; $9.5K FD)

Today's NBA DFS Value Picks

This is where we talk about saving salary. Whether it's a severely underpriced backup or even as simple as a guy playing like someone who should be priced higher, this is where you'll find guys who make lineups work.

Sorting the best value picks of the day by fantasy points per dollar:

The Grizzlies have listed seven players (Ja Morant, Desmon Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr., Zach Edey, Santi Aldama, Scottie Pippen Jr., Luke Kennard) as doubtful. As a result of their moves and both OKC and LAL resting players, we have unlimited value on this slate. The Grizzlies get a great matchup against the AD-less Mavericks, so guys like Gregory Jackson, Yuki Kawamura, John Konchar, Marvin Bagley III, Jay Huff, Vince Williams Jr., and Lamar Stevens are all firmly in play.

OKC gets the Pelicans, who have allowed the third-most fantasy points per game this season. Adam Flagler, Kenrich Williams, Dillon Jones, Jaylin Williams, Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins, and Ajay Mitchell are the players for the Thunder today. Wiggins and Jaylin Williams are the popular picks and safest options, but we should be taking shots on the low-owned guys like Flagler, Carlson, and Jones on this slate.

The bench Lakers face Portland, who will likely rest their studs and roll out a bench lineup. Dalton Knecht, Jordan Goodwin, and Shake Milton are great value picks who will see the bulk of the minutes, but Bronny James will also get enough minutes to be considered at the minimum salary.

Lastly, I love Brandon Williams as a contrarian value pick on this slate. He should see over 30 minutes as Dallas' starting PG, and he's just $3,100 on DraftKings. He has shown 50+ DK point upside when given the opportunity this season, and he'll face all bench players against Memphis this afternoon. He averages 1.28 FPTS/min with the players available tonight, putting him at 41 DK points and 13x value at 32 minutes.

Top Value Plays:

1. Gregory Jackson, MEM vs. DAL - SF/PF ($3K DK; $4K FD)
2. Brandon Williams, DAL @ MEM - PG ($3.1K DK) DraftKings Only
3. Yuki Kawamura, MEM vs. DAL - PG ($3K DK; $3.5K FD)
4. Dalton Knecht, LAL @ POR - SG/SF ($3.3K DK; $4.1K FD)

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Today's NBA DFS Picks: Point Guard

I like taking shots at James Harden in a critical game against the Warriors. The Beard has exceeded 60 DK points in three of his last four games, and even though the game environment and matchup aren't great, we need someone to provide the raw points on this slate. Pairing Jokic with Harden and filling in value is one of my preferred routes today, though I'd rather get to the upside of Edwards in his smash spot against Utah.

Otherwise, it's all value, all day at PG. Williams, Kawamura, Flagler, Bronny James, AJ Lawson, Milton, Collin Gillespie, Jamal Shead, Ajay Mitchell, Mike Conley, Dante Exum, Elfrid Payton, Delano Banton, Donte DiVincenzo, and Jaden Hardy make up the giant list of value options, and that's not even the whole list. Blake Wesley, Stephon Castle, Jordan McLaughlin, and Tyus Jones are also projected for over 5x value.

I like taking shots at guys with the highest upside potential, so Castle, Williams, Shead, Lawson, and Kawamura are my preferred targets.

Top PG Options:

1. James Harden, LAC @ GSW ($10.4K DK; $9.5K FD)
2. Brandon Williams, DAL @ MEM ($3.1K DK) DraftKings Only
3. Stephon Castle, SAS vs. TOR ($7.4K DK; $8K FD) Prefer on DraftKings
4. Yuki Kawamura, MEM vs. DAL ($3K DK; $3.5K FD)
5. Jamal Shead, TOR @ SAS ($5.1K DK; $5.9K FD)

Today's NBA DFS Picks: Shooting Guard

It's a similar story at SG as we have our one stud (Anthony Edwards) and unlimited value. I'm not sold on getting heavy exposure to Flagler as he's projecting for just 22 minutes, but he's a solid per-minute player at 1.3 FPTS/min, and the matchup can't get much better against the Pelicans. I'll sprinkle him in, but I'm more interested in players with higher minutes projections, such as Jordan Goodwin, Lester Quinones, Isaiah Joe, Ochai Agbaji, AJ Lawson, Aaron Wiggins, Antonio Reeves, Cam Spencer, Jaden Springer, and Delano Banton.

Knecht, Williams Jr., Goodwin, Joe, Agbaji, Lawson, Wiggins, Reeves, and Banton have the highest ceiling projections from that group. Still, I'd recommend mixing and matching this group of value picks on this slate. Wiggins looks the best from a "raw points" perspective, but he's also projected to be the most popular pick at 38% owned.

Top SG Options:

1. Jordan Goodwin, LAL @ POR ($3.2K DK; $4.2K FD)
2. Vince Williams Jr., MEM vs. DAL ($3.3K DK; $4.1K FD)
3. Dalton Knecht, LAL @ POR ($3.3K DK; $4.1K FD)
4. AJ Lawson, TOR @ SAS ($3.7K DK; $4.9k FD)
5. Isaiah Joe, OKC @ NOP ($4.4K DK; $4.7k FD)

Today's NBA DFS Picks: Small Forward

It's just value at the SF position today. We could entertain Kawhi Leonard at the top of the board, but I'd rather get to Jokic, Ant, Harden, and Zubac on this slate. A lot of the SG value picks qualify at SF. Still, we also have John Konchar, Jamal Cain, Jamison Battle, Ryan Dunn, Max Christie, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Julian Champagnie, Svi Mykhailiuk, and Grayson Allen entering the fold. I like Konchar and Cain the most from the group due to their upside, but I can't argue against any of these options as they all look excellent.

Top SF Options:

1. Gregory Jackson, MEM vs. DAL ($3.0K DK; $4.0K FD)
2. Jordan Goodwin, LAL @ POR ($3.2K DK; $4.2K FD)
3. Vince Williams Jr., MEM vs. DAL ($3.3K DK; $4.1K FD)
4. Dalton Knecht, LAL @ POR ($3.3K DK; $4.1K FD)
5. John Konchar, MEM vs. DAL ($3.0K DK; $3.7K FD)
6. Jamal Cain, NOP vs. OKC ($3.5K DK; $3.9K FD)
7. Isaiah Joe, OKC @ NOP ($4.4K DK; $4.7k FD)

Today's NBA DFS Picks: Power Forward

Top PF Options:

There is nothing to analyze at the top of the salary board, so let's check out even more insane value options to consider on this slate. Kenrich Williams, Lamar Stevens, Dillon Jones, Jeremiah Robison-Earl, Jonathan Mogbo, and Dunn should see at least 30 minutes at dirt-cheap salaries, so they're all firmly in play. Williams, Jones, JRE, and Mogbo are my favorites from that group due to their higher potential ceilings, and it appears that Williams and Jones will be low-owned players in a matchup that projects for a high 235-point implied total.

Jackson is the smash play at his minimum salary, but we shouldn't forget about the mid-range option in Wiggins. Wiggins has exploded for monster games when OKC rests its starters, and the matchup against the Pelicans can't get much better.

1. Gregory Jackson, MEM vs. DAL ($3.0K DK; $4.0K FD)
2. Kenrich Williams, OKC @ NOP ($3.5K DK; $4.3K FD)
3. Aaron Wiggins, OKC @ NOP ($5.8K DK; $6.4K FD)
4. Dillon Jones, OKC @ NOP ($3.4K DK; $4.6K FD)
5. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, NOP vs. OKC ($3.8K DK; $4.4K FD)
6. Jonathan Mogbo, TOR @ SAS ($5.8K DK; $6.2K FD)

Today's NBA DFS Picks: Center

Top C Options:

I like Jokic and Zubac on the higher end, but we also have many value options at the center today. Only Williams, Mogbo, and Oso Ighodara project for over 30 minutes, though, so I'd be cautious with rolling out too many of the ultra-cheap guys at this position. If you want to go the punt route, I'd start with Williams and mix in small exposures to Branden Carlson, Marvin Bagley III, Jay Huff, Jaylin Williams, Mamukelashvili, and Oscar Tschiebwe.

I will focus on Jokic, Zubac, Williams, and Mogbo at this position.

1. Nikola Jokic, DEN @ HOU ($13K DK; $13K FD)
2. Kenrich Williams, OKC @ NOP ($3.5K DK; $4.3K FD)
3. Ivica Zubac, LAC @ GSW ($8.2K DK; $8.3K FD)
4. Jonathan Mogbo, TOR @ SAS ($5.8K DK; $6.2K FD)
5. Branden Carlson, OKC @ NOP ($3K DK) DraftKings Only

Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stacks

1. Nuggets @ Rockets (234.5 o/u; 103.3 projected pace)
2. Thunder @ Pelicans (235 o/u; 103 projected pace)

Today's Top NBA DFS Avoids

I will avoid most of the higher-priced options on this slate. Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Jamal Murray, Scottie Barnes, and Jimmy Buttler will not be in my player pool today, and it's a matter of opportunity cost. With our unlimited value on this slate, I will utilize a "stars and scrubs" approach, which means it will be Jokic + Ant/Harden/Zubac and value picks filling out the rest of the lineup.

My Favorite NBA DFS Picks for Today

Here is where I leave you with some of my favorites.

• My favorite overall play on the slate: Nikola Jokic
• My favorite CASH play on the slate: Nikola Jokic
• My favorite GPP play on the slate: Anthony Edwards (Value GPP: Brandon Williams)
• My favorite value play: Gregory Jackson

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