Please note that players on DraftKings and FanDuel have multi-position eligibility and may not always match their position between each other. In this article, we will be breaking down some of our favorite plays on the slate at their positions. Remember to always keep your eye on the news as the day progresses, as NBA news changes the slate frequently.
Guard
De’Aaron Fox ($8,800 DK, $8,900 FD)
| Team Total | Usage Rate | Fantasy Points Per Minute | Opponent Defensive Net Rating Rank | Fantasy Points Allowed Per Game to Position |
| 110.25 | 28.4% | 1.07 | 19th | 49.47 |
This is a back-to-back for the Kings, but Fox has been playing heavy minutes over his last three games, including 40 or more in three of his last five games. Fox has also eclipsed 6x value on his salary in three of his last five games, those Wednesday’s performance against the Pelicans left a lot to be desired. In the end, the Kings ended up losing by 30, so Fox still playing 37 minutes is a strong sign for the overall usage here. Despite the big loss, Fox still shot 50% from the field and had 25 points and two boards and three assists. This is shaping to be a slate where you either go all-in on Point Guard or you don’t, as Doncic, Curry, Murray, Young, and Morant all make up the top-five guards priced on this slate. I am not in love with the back-to-back, but the Spurs have been a soft defensive draw this season.
Marcus Smart ($6,400 DK, $6,100 FD)
| Team Total | Usage Rate | Fantasy Points Per Minute | Opponent Defensive Net Rating Rank | Fantasy Points Allowed Per Game to Position |
| 111.50 | 17.2% | 0.88 | 8th | 41.54 |
While the usage boost to Marcus Smart isn’t nearly as high as it is to Jayson Tatum with no Jaylen Brown on the court, there is at least a small boost to be looked at. You can read more on Tatum shortly, but for now, Jaylen Brown has already been ruled out for the Celtics on Thursday against the Grizzlies. Smart is in the midst of four solid games, scoring 26 or more fantasy points in seven of his last eight also. While Smart’s usage only jumps a few percentage points with Brown off of the floor, we still have a different look guard team here with Derrick White and no Dennis Schroeder. Brown exited Tuesday’s game very early on which led to Smart playing 37 minutes, which was his second-highest since the beginning of January.
Forward
Jayson Tatum ($10,000 DK, $9,400 FD)
| Team Total | Usage Rate | Fantasy Points Per Minute | Opponent Defensive Net Rating Rank | Fantasy Points Allowed Per Game to Position |
| 111.50 | 31.8% | 1.28 | 8th | 45.82 |
The Celtics will be without Jaylen Brown for today’s matchup against the Grizzlies. While Tatum already carries a huge 31.8% usage rate for the Boston offense, with Jaylen Brown off the court it actually jumps to 35.4%. Tatum has attempted 20 or more shot attempts in each of his last four games and that number feels pretty safe and then some without Brown and his average of 18 shots per game. The price is high here, but the matchup with the Grizzlies presents on paper a matchup with a 225 total. If we are looking at guys who could break the slate, I think Tatum is that guy.
Scottie Barnes ($6,400 DK, $6,600 FD)
| Team Total | Usage Rate | Fantasy Points Per Minute | Opponent Defensive Net Rating Rank | Fantasy Points Allowed Per Game to Position |
| 112.25 | 18.9% | 0.93 | 26th | 45.25 |
This is going to be on a bit of a need-to-know basis as some key injuries for the Raptors can affect the usage here. Fred VanVleet has been sidelined the last two games and is questionable for tonight’s contest, while OG Anunoby has missed the last two weeks and is questionable. Barnes has played 34 and 41 minutes over his last two games, averaging over 21% usage. He has pulled down double-digit boards in both while scoring 18 and 28 points. Barnes was in the midst of a bit of a slower stretch, mostly just with Siakam and FVV soaking up the top usage. Barnes has seen a nice two-game stretch and still has a very affordable price here. If FVV is active, this is just a tournament option for me, if FVV and Anunoby are active, I may relinquish my liking of this play. No matter how we slice it, Barnes is always in play for tournaments at price, especially against Detroit’s poor defense and the team allowing the most fantasy points to the small forward position on the year.
Power Forward/Center
Clint Capela ($5,900 DK, $6,400 FD)
| Team Total | Usage Rate | Fantasy Points Per Minute | Opponent Defensive Net Rating Rank | Fantasy Points Allowed Per Game to Position |
| 113.75 | 15.2% | 1.15 | 20th | 53.79 |
Capela has been hit or miss recently, but the Hawks should still be without John Collins and Onyeka Okongwu for this matchup with the Bulls. This is a rematch of a game played a week ago where Collins scored 14 points with 17 boards and two blocks leading to 7x value on Capela’s salary. With Okongwu out of the picture for this one with a concussion, there are roughly 24ish minutes up for grabs at the center spot, while Capela has bounced between the 20’s and low 30’s for minutes, all signs here point to him being guaranteed at least 30. At a 1.15 fantasy point per minute average and a matchup with a defense ranked in the middle of the NBA, the salary on Capela makes a lot of sense here.
