Today's NBA DFS Picks: DraftKings, FanDuel DFS Lineups, Values, Stacks (Thursday, 3/12/26)

March 12, 2026

Today's free NBA DFS picks for DraftKings, FanDuel (March 12th, 2026). Zach's daily fantasy basketball lineups, values, stacks, pivots, sleepers for NBA DFS.

Welcome Back, RotoBallers! This Thursday, the NBA has nine games on the scoreboard, and the first eight of those games make up the main DFS fantasy basketball slate on DraftKings and FanDuel. At this point in the season, injury reports are critical to monitor when setting up your lineups. Be sure to be aware and available to adjust your roster leading up to the 7:00 p.m. ET contest lock and the tipoff of your players' games on Thursday.

Coming into the day, some important players like Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, Jalen Williams, Michael Porter Jr., Kelly Oubre Jr., and Norman Powell have been ruled out. Key guys like Victor Wembanyama, Jayson Tatum, LeBron James, Derrick White, Tyler Herro, Kevin Porter Jr., Dyson Daniels, and Andrew Nembhard are all questionable, while Pascal Siakam, Ty Jerome, Marcur Smar, and Klay Thompson are doubtful. Additionally, the Nuggets and Magic are playing for the second day in a row, which could make their injury reports significant when they are released later in the day. All the absences will lead to fantasy implications for rotations across the Association. Keep an eye on the injury reports throughout the day.

This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 3/12/26. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our awesome NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 7:00 p.m. ET on FanDuel and DraftKings. To keep up with all the latest developments and get access to updated projections, grab the RotoBaller Premium Pass, which is highly discounted and includes DFS, betting, props, and season-long tools like the Team Sync platform. Also, gain access to our RotoBaller Premium Discord, where our experts are talking about the slate up until lineups lock!

Today's NBA Projections

Let's take a quick peek at our RotoBaller projections for tonight's slate.

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NBA DFS Core Picks

Cooper Flagg, DAL - PG/SF on DK, PG/SG/SF on FD

• DraftKings: $8,500
• FanDuel: $8,800

The Mavericks are in a great matchup in Memphis against the Grizzlies, who continue to deal with a variety of injuries. Flagg returned from his injury four games ago and stepped right back into a key role for Dallas, who has clearly chosen to build around the impressive young star.

1,000 CAREER POINTS FOR COOPER FLAGG 👏

He becomes the second-youngest player in NBA history to reach that mark! pic.twitter.com/4YGBaRSWcV

— NBA (@NBA) March 6, 2026

He has ramped back up to a pretty full workload and is coming off a double-double on Tuesday. He had 14 points, 12 boards, 37.5 DraftKings points, and 39.5 FanDuel points in that contest while playing 32 minutes. He has over 45 FanDuel points in two of his four games since returning, and in those two games, he played fewer minutes against tougher opposition than he'll face on Thursday.

Flagg brings elite upside on this slate against Memphis, and he'll look to continue his impressive rookie season as a nice centerpiece to build your lineup around on this Thursday.

De'Aaron Fox, SA - PG

• DraftKings: $6,900
• FanDuel: $7,100

In one of the biggest matchups of the night, Fox's Spurs host the Denver Nuggets in a big Western Conference showdown. The Spurs have been on an impressive run, going 16-1 since Feb. 1, and they just ran off four straight impressive home wins over the Pistons, Clippers, Rockets, and Celtics. Fox was a key contributor in those games on both ends of the floor.

Swipa no swiping 🤭 🦊

📺 @FanDuelSN_SW, @NBAonNBC pic.twitter.com/GSFhDkPkDm

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) March 11, 2026

In those four games, Fox has averaged 23.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 7.8 assists, 1.0 steals, 41.8 DraftKings points, and 40.8 FanDuel points per game.  He has been both effective and efficient while taking on more offense for the Spurs as they push toward the playoffs.

With Victor Wembanyama questionable, he could be even more of the focus of the offense on Thursday night, giving him both a high ceiling and high floor in this marquee matchup.

NBA DFS Tournament Pivots

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC - PG

• DraftKings: $11,200
• FanDuel: $11,200

For tournaments, Gilgeous-Alexander is my top pay-up play for the night, as he and the Thunder host the Celtics. Nikola Jokic is also worth considering, especially if Wembanyama is out, but Gilgeous-Alexander has shown he can step up and deliver in big matchups like this one, and is coming off a prototypical MVP performance against Jokic and the Nuggets on Monday.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 35 PTS, 9 REBS, 15 ASTS, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TOVs, 3/7 3PT, 4/4 FT on 14/21 FG vs Nuggets

MVP lock? https://t.co/hFABRFAoQJ pic.twitter.com/SeyYwlhKHj

— NBA Performances (@NBARewinds) March 10, 2026

After posting 74.3 FanDuel points and 75.75 DraftKings points in 39 minutes in that win, I think it's safe to say he's recovered from his abdominal injury and ready to carry OKC once again. Chet Holmgren is off the injury report after missing two games, but Gilgeous-Alexander will still have a heavy workload with Williams and Isaiah Hartenstein out.

Quentin Grimes, PHI - PG/SG on DK, SG/SF on FD

• DraftKings: $7,400
• FanDuel: $6,700

Quentin Grimes is another player who has to carry a heavy workload on Thursday. The Sixers ruled out Maxey, Embiid, and Oubre, while Paul George is suspended as well, leaving Grimes the focus of the offense. He had 32.75 DraftKings points against the Grizzlies on Tuesday, and he got a lot of help from Cameron Payne.

Payne is still in the mix on Thursday, along with VJ Edgecombe, but Grimes will need to stuff the stat sheet against the Pistons for the Sixers to have a chance to keep up. When he has been asked to step up over the last few years, he has regularly posted big numbers, and he has enough upside to be a GPP option on Thursday.

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Today's NBA DFS Value Picks

Javon Small, MEM - PG

• DraftKings: $5,500
• FanDuel: $5,700

Small will likely have to carry the load for the Grizzlies, who are in a good matchup against Flagg and the Mavs. This game should offer plenty of value potential in both lineups as cheaper players step into prominent roles.

With Jerome doubtful and Scotty Pippen Jr. and Ja Morant out, Small will likely be the team's primary point guard on Thursday. He has over 29 DraftKings points in three of his last four games and has the potential for a double-double or triple-double since he brings good production across the board.

6'1'' Javon Unique Small with the ferocious dunk and later on the putback dunk (with replays)

Also on YouTube:https://t.co/mlWfGa1elw pic.twitter.com/2MojvXkqRC

— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) March 10, 2026

Danny Wolf, DAL - PF/C on DK, SF/PF on FD

• DraftKings: $4,800
• FanDuel: $5,300

Wolf should get a chance to produce in an expanded role with Porter Jr. out against the Hawks. The rookie forward has over 30 DraftKings points in each of his last two games and went off for 46.75 DraftKings points on March 1 against the Cavaliers. He has a very high ceiling for a player with a mid-range salary, and the Nets are likely to give him plenty of run as they try to evaluate his role going forward.

Marvin Bagley III, DAL - C

• DraftKings: $4,200
• FanDuel: $5,000

If you need a cheap play at center to round out your lineup (especially on DraftKings), Bagley is a great option to consider. Since joining the Mavericks at the trade deadline, he has stepped into a significant role. He has at least 23 DraftKings points in five of his last six games and is in a great spot against the thin front line of the Grizzlies.

He's a little more expensive on FanDuel, so on that site, you may want to consider Adem Bona or Dominick Barlow of the Sixers instead as a bargain big.

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: De'Aaron Fox
• My favorite CASH play on the slate: Cooper Flagg
• My favorite GPP play on the slate: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
• My favorite VALUE play: Javon Small

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