NBA DFS: Top Daily Fantasy Expert Picks for DraftKings, FanDuel (4/9/25)

April 9, 2025

Free daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for today's slate on DraftKings and FanDuel. Use Koby's NBA DFS expert picks to building winning DFS lineups on April 9th, 2025.

Welcome Back, RotoBallers! We only have a few days left of the regular season, and having to deal with the chaos of the tanking season. We are at that point in the season when cash games are not as great of a play with so many high-leverage spots for tournaments. Keeping an eye on the injury report is still crucial, as guys can get ruled in or out within minutes of games starting.

We have a ten-game slate for us, but it seems FanDuel is the only one doing the whole slate, so for DraftKings, it will be the first six games on the slate. I will note which guys are both and which will just be on FanDuel below. For the early slate, the Trail Blazers/Jazz and the Raptors/Hornets are gonna be the games you want to target for your value.

This article will provide my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 4/9/25. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our excellent NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 7:00 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.

Nikola Jokic is the play and will be the rest of the season. He is averaging over a 40-point triple-double across the last six games! He is showing why he deserves to be the MVP this season. He is expensive, but at this point, with a better playoff position on the line here, Jokic is going to be one of the first guys I add to the majority of my lineups.

Shaedon is pushing into the 8k range, which is getting crazy, but he gets an elite matchup here against Utah, which gives up the most fantasy points to opposing SGs this season. Shaedon is going to be the primary scorer with Deni Avdija likely out and Portland playing for the lottery at this point. He has averaged 44 FP across the last five games and will benefit big time from all the guys out on the injury report.

James Harden is in a prime spot to avoid the play-in here. They are only half a game back from Memphis, Denver, and Golden State. That being said, we should get prime Harden here. He is fresh off a 60 FP night against Dallas and now gets a tough Houston team that guards the PG position well. This should be one of the closer games on the slate as it is only a 6.5-point spread in favor of L.A.

Top Core Plays:

1. Nikola Jokic, DEN at SAC - C ($12.9K FD)
2. Shaedon Sharpe, POR at UTA - SG/SF ($8.3K DK; $8K FD)
3. James Harden, LAC vs. HOU - PG ($9.6K 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.

Kyle Anderson is a bit on the high end of value, but he has been producing quite well in recent games. On top of that, he gets an elite matchup against the Bulls, who have given up the fifth most fantasy points to opposing SFs across the last 30 games. He has seen 25 and 32 minutes in the last two games and has pushed 30+ FP in both.

If Nikola Vucevic is still out for this one, then I like Jalen Smith quite a bit. He played 31 minutes and finished with a 32 FP double-double. Miami is a tough matchup, but he should be good for 6x his price as long as he gets the minutes here.

Kris Murray might bring us the most value on the slate. Portland has a multitude of injuries that allow Murray to play 30+ minutes. He has played 30+ minutes three times in his career, and they have all resulted in a 30+ FP night. He should continue to see that, especially if Deni is out, which he should be considering Portland has nothing to play for in this one. Even if the shot isn't falling for Murray, he is very comfortable getting boards and being a menace on defense.

Top Value Plays:

1. Kyle Anderson, MIA at CHI - SF/PF ($4K DK; $5.4K FD)
2. Jalen Smith, CHI vs. MIA  - C ($3K DK; $5.1K FD)
3. Kris Murray, IND at DEN - SF/PF ($3.9K DK; $4K FD)
4. Jabari Smith Jr., HOU at LAC - PF  ($5.3K FD)(If he plays)
5. A.J. Lawson, TOR vs. CHA - SG/SF ($3.8K DK; $4.3K FD)

Note: With the Lakers playing their starters last night, they could rest a lot of guys in tonight's game, so keep an eye on that, as it adds a ton of value to that game.

Today's NBA DFS Picks: Point Guard

Immanuel Quickley could end up being one of the best PGs on the slate. He gets a great matchup, and with so many players out, he is bound to get big minutes. Scottie Barnes may sit out of this one again after two straight sits. Quickley has been eating in limited minutes. Playing roughly around the 25-30 minutes range, he is still scoring in the high 30s when it comes to fantasy points. It is a bit of a risk, but with how injured this Raptors lineup is, they might not have a choice but to play him.

Isaiah Collier could be out for this one, which should slot Keyonte into a starting role. He has had 30+ FP in five of his last six games and gets a solid matchup against Portland which is giving up the fifth most fantasy points to opposing PGs this season. He had a 35-point game in his last outing, and I think he continues the hot streak into this game that should be a close one between two tanking teams.

Keyonte George today:

35 Points
4 Rebounds
2 Assists
52% FG pic.twitter.com/c23Fua8God

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 7, 2025

Top PG Options:

1. James Harden, LAC vs. HOU ($9.6K FD)
2. Immanuel Quickley, TOR vs. CHA ($7.9K DK; $7.1K FD)
3. Keyonte George, UTA vs. POR ($6.5K DK; $6.1K FD)

Today's NBA DFS Picks: Shooting Guard

🇨🇦 Represent The Canadians 🇨🇦

Shaedon Sharpe | vs. San Antonio

21 POINTS
10 REBOUNDS
6 ASSISTS pic.twitter.com/BwDNEQfCxl

— NBA Canada (@NBACanada) April 7, 2025

I'm surprised to see Jalen Green still below 8k. He gets a close matchup against a hungry LAC team. Jalen Green has eight straight games of at least 30 FP and in 14 of his last 15. He has an elite floor with the potential for a big ceiling in games he has shown multiple times with 50+ FP. I like this game a lot since it should be close and should have a high pace of play.

Pelle Larsson took a bit of a hit when it came to production, but still produced nicely with Duncan Robinson coming back into the lineup. Both guys are decent value in what should be a battle for ninth place in the standings and what could be a home-court advantage in the first game of the play-in. Both guys can shoot, and with a higher total, these guys could provide some much-needed relief with guys like Jokic on the slate.

Top SG Options:

1. Shaedon Sharpe, POR at UTA - SG/SF ($8.3K DK; $8K FD)
2. Jalen Green, HOU at LAC ($7.6K FD)
3. Pelle Larsson, MIA at CHI ($4.7K DK; $5.4K FD)
4. Duncan Robinson, MIA at CHI ($3.9K DK; $4.6K FD)

Today's NBA DFS Picks: Small Forward

Small Forwards have been able to beat down on the Nuggets' defense recently. They have given up the third most fantasy points to opposing small forwards across the last 30 games. DeMar DeRozan has had 45+ FP in four of his last five games and has been a big reason why this Kings team has locked its spot in the play-in.

I like DeRozan in this spot, and with them fighting for homecourt advantage, I expect DeRozan and the Kings to be at full force for this one.

KRIS! MURRAY!! POSTER!!! pic.twitter.com/Eea60ONrpm

— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) March 18, 2025

Top SF Options:

1. DeMar DeRozan, SAC vs. DEN ($8.2K FD)
2. Kris Murray, POR at UTA ($3.9K DK; $4K FD)
3. A.J. Lawson, TOR vs. CHA ($3.8K DK; $4.3K FD)

Today's NBA DFS Picks: Power Forward

Paolo looks like a solid GPP option. He has had two phenomenal games in a row, but now gets a tough matchup against Boston. Orlando is locked into the play-in, but I don't see them resting guys here. Paolo has been running hot, and even though it's a tough matchup, Boston has its fair share of players who are out, which could make this game not only closer but a better matchup for Paolo to exploit. He is 10k but has three straight double-doubles, and if he gets anything over 50+ FP, I would call that a win.

Jabari Smith Jr. has been playing extremely well lately. In his last seven games, he has played 26+ minutes and has scored 25+ FP in all of them. He is a good PPM guy and is still relatively cheap with 6-7x potential in what should be a close battle.

Top PF Options:

1. Paolo Banchero, ORL vs. BOS ($10K DK; $10K FD)
2. Jabari Smith Jr., HOU at LAC - PF  ($5.3K FD)(If he plays)
3. Kyle Anderson, MIA at CHI - SF/PF ($4K DK; $5.4K FD)

Today's NBA DFS Picks: Center

Top C Options:

The center position is pretty straightforward on FD, just play Jokic and watch the points roll in. I also mentioned Jalen Smith for value, I think he makes for a great value play as long as Vucevic doesn't start.

Donovan Clingan should be a force in the paint against Utah. They will be without their big man Walker Kessler, so Donovan should be able to eat, and as long as he stays out of foul trouble, he should be good for a big game. The Jazz give up the most fantasy points to opposing Centers this season, and even with Clingan not seeing full minutes, he is still seeing 30-40 FP a night.

Jalen Smith swatted it off the glass 🚫 pic.twitter.com/pfWQi5w5Bu

— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 9, 2025

Top C Options:

1. Nikola Jokic, DEN at SAC ($12.9K FD)
2. Donovan Clingan, POR at UTA  ($5.8K DK; $6.4K FD)
3. Jalen Smith, CHI vs. MIA ($3.8K DK; $5.1K FD)

Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stacks

1. Trail Blazers @ Jazz (229.5 o/u)
2. Nuggets @ Kings (234.5 o/u)
3. Heat @ Bulls (226.5 o/u)

Today's Top NBA DFS Avoids

I'm going to be more cautious on the Spurs game and the Thunder game as the high spreads worry me and the possibility of some guys sitting. If the right guys sit, then it may be different, but if there is too much unknown about those games that I might outright avoid them.

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: Shaedon Sharpe
• My favorite GPP play on the slate: DeMar DeRozan
• My favorite value play: Kris Murray

NBA DFS News and Injury Alerts

More DFS Lineup Picks and Analysis