NBA DFS: Top Daily Fantasy Picks for DraftKings, FanDuel (3/17/24)

Free expert daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for today's slate on DraftKings and FanDuel. Use John's NBA DFS expert picks to building winning DFS lineups on March 17, 2024.

Happy Sunday and Happy St. Patrick's Day, Rotoballers. I hope you all had a fantastic start to 2024, and let's head forward with a massive win and get our bankrolls prepared for the coming week.

We have two teams on a back-to-back on tonight's slate: the Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets. Let's see how that affects some of our lineups and how we want to attack this slate.

This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 3/17/24. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our awesome new NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 6:00 p.m. EDT on FanDuel and DraftKings.

Today's NBA DFS Core Plays

I have to start this slate with Jayson Tatum. Tatum is in a prime spot tonight as he takes on a Washington team that ranks first in pace (105.3), but last in defensive efficiency (117.2). This is a smash spot for basically everyone on Boston's club, but it should be noted that the blowout potential is very real here. Nevertheless, Tatum projects to 30.09 points, 8.14 rebounds, and 5.21 assists in roughly 35 minutes tonight.

GO OFF 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/R7aPG5ogYp

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 15, 2024

I'll look at another scorer in Cam Thomas for my second core play of the night. Thomas and the Nets are in a solid game spot here as well against a Spurs team that ranks third in pace (102.9) and 24th in defensive efficiency (115.4). They rank in the middle of the pack against shooting guards in terms of efficiency (23.6, 15th), but given Thomas's projected usage rate of 29.81%, I don't think they'll have the juice to stop him possession in and possession out. Thomas projects to 23.02 points, 4.31 rebounds, and 3.42 assists in this one.

ISO Cam?

Let him cook pic.twitter.com/oc0foO6RCl

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) March 16, 2024

Top Core Plays:

1. Jayson Tatum, BOS vs. WAS  – SF/PG ($10K DK; $10.1K FD)
2. Cam Thomas, BKN vs. SA – SG ($6.9K DK; $7.5K FD)

Today's NBA DFS Value Plays

Let's start value plays with Wendell Carter Jr. who has been one of my favorite DFS plays year in and year out. While he does not see as much game action as in previous years, he at least has a price drop to match. I tend to opt for games that are higher in pace, and per projection, this isn't one of those that fits the bill (98.86). However, Toronto ranks 24th in efficiency against centers, and WCJ projects to 13.09 points, 8.95 rebounds, and 2.06 assists in roughly 27.5 minutes tonight.

I'll turn back to Boston for my second value play, Sam Hauser. Hauser cracks the starting lineup in Derrick White's absence and gets to benefit against this Wizards team that ranks 28th in defensive efficiency against shooting guards (26.3). He projects to 28.5 minutes of game action tonight, and projects to log 13.38 points, 4.96 rebounds, and 1.47 assists in this one.

Top Value Plays:

1. Wendell Carter Jr., ORL vs. TOR - C ($5.7K DK; $6K FD)
2. Sam Hauser, BOS vs. WAS - SG/SF ($4.7K DK; $4.5K FD)

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Today's NBA DFS Lineup Picks: Point Guard

I'll start things off at the point guard position, which I'll be using to target value on this small slate. The top (and only non-value) option here is Jrue Holiday. If you want to pay up elsewhere but still obtain starter value at the point guard position, I like Dennis Schroder in this spot against the Spurs. Otherwise, I'll be aiming for Holiday's backup, Payton Pritchard, who should see plenty of court action against a poor Wizards team.

Top PG Options:

1. Jrue Holiday vs. WAS ($6.6K DK; $7.1K FD)
2. Dennis Schroder vs. SA ($6.4K DK; $6.3K FD)
3. Payton Pritchard vs. WAS ($4.6K DK; $4.1K FD)

Today's NBA DFS Lineup Picks: Shooting Guard

I mentioned my top option at the shooting guard position when discussing core plays in Cam Thomas, and another in the value plays section with Sam Hauser. We'll have Celtics all over the board tonight, and Jaylen Brown isn't the worst guy in this spot to be sure, but I don't like the idea of having a lot of Jayson Tatum AND Jaylen Brown lineups. I'll opt for a cheaper option in Bogdan Bogdanovic instead, who will get you a similar, if not better, point per dollar value on tonight's slate.

Top SG Options:

1. Cam Thomas vs. SA ($6,9K DK; $7.5K FD)
2. Sam Hauser vs. BOS ($4.7K DK; $4.5K FD)
3. Bogdan Bogdanovic vs. LAC ($6.7K DK; $7K FD)

Today's NBA DFS Lineup Picks: Small Forward

I'll opt to pay up at the forward positions tonight, obviously noting Jayson Tatum as my top option on this slate. As far as the small forward position goes, there is likely to be a lot of "retread". I'll opt to fill my lineups with previously mentioned guys like Jayson Tatum, Sam Hauser, and Bogdan Bogdanovic here. Paul George isn't a bad option either, but I have him ranked below the three aforementioned players.

Top SF Options:

1. Jayson Tatum vs. WAS ($10K DK; $10.1K FD)
2. Sam Hauser vs. WAS ($4.7K DK; $4.5K FD)
3. Bogdan Bogdanovic vs. LAC ($6.7K DK; $7K FD)

Today's NBA DFS Lineup Picks: Power Forward

Power forward seems like it'll be the "money" position, or pay-up position tonight. You can certainly play Tatum here given his eligibility, but if you want to place Tatum at small forward there are multiple other pay-up options with power forward eligibility as well. The first is Kawhi Leonard, who draws a strong matchup against a poor Hawks defense. Another is Paolo Banchero, who should see the lion's share of usage for Orlando tonight.

Top PF Options:

1. Jayson Tatum vs. WAS ($10K DK; $10.1K FD)
2. Kawhi Leonard vs. ATL ($8.6K DK; $9.1K FD)
3. Paolo Banchero  vs. TOR ($9K DK; $8.7K FD)

Today's NBA DFS Lineup Picks: Center

The center position is a bit nuanced tonight, given that we don't have a "true" top option on the board. Of course, every time Victor Wembanyama is on a slate he'll garner at least 10%+ ownership, but I won't be on the Wemby train tonight. I'll opt for the other center in that game, Nicolas Claxton, who I rate as my second option behind the previously mentioned Wendell Carter Jr. I'll round things out at the center and wrap things up as far as players go with my fellow Croatian Ivica Zubac, who should have no issues dominating the inside against the Hawks bigs.

Top C Options:

1. Wendell Carter vs. TOR ($5.7K DK; $6K FD)
2. Nicolas Claxton vs. SA ($6.8K DK; $7.3K FD)
3. Ivica Zubac vs. ATL ($5.6K DK; $6.1K FD)

Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stacks

1. Celtics @ Wizards (230.5 total)
2. Hawks @ Clippers (223.5 total)

Today's Top NBA DFS Avoids

1. It's incredibly difficult to completely avoid a team, and sometimes even a noteworthy individual player, on a four-game slate. I suppose I could place Victor Wembanyama in this field, but I'm personally not fading him completely on this slate. I won't have very many Toronto Raptors, as I can't see them scoring a ton of points against the staunch Orlando defense tonight.

My Favorite NBA DFS Lineup Picks for Today

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

• My favorite overall play on the slate: Jayson Tatum
• My favorite CASH play on the slate: Wendell Carter Jr. 
• My favorite GPP play on the slate: Bogdan Bogdanovic
• My favorite value play: Sam Hauser

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