FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Tuesday 4/20/21

The NBA scene changes on a week-to-week, day-to-day, and -- depending on injury news -- even a minute-to-minute basis, making every slate a unique one that requires an ever-changing approach.

With so much changing so quickly, we're here with plenty of tools to help you out. We have daily projections, a matchup heat map, a lineup optimizer, and a bunch of other great resources to help give you an edge.

Daily fantasy NBA is very reliant on opportunity, so you'll need to make sure that you're up-to-date with key injuries and COVID-19 situations. Our projections update up until tip-off to reflect current news and we also have player news updates.

We'll also be coming at you with this primer every day, breaking down a few of the day's top plays at each position.

Please note: When I'm referencing a player's value figure, it is the number of fantasy points scored for every $1,000 in salary. Typically, a value figure of 5.0 (meaning, 5.0 FanDuel points for every $1,000 in salary) is the minimum baseline we'll be targeting.

Let's take a look at who you should target on tonight's five-game slate, which locks at 7:30 PM Eastern.

All injury updates are via the NBA's official injury report or numberFire's player news.

Slate Overview

This table is via Brandon Gdula's matchup sheet -- it shows the over/under for each game, as well as each team's spread and implied total. The table also includes each squad's offensive rating, adjusted for opponent, as well as opponent-adjusted defensive rating for the opposing team, including the respective league-wide ranks for each of those ratings.

Teams are sorted by their implied total.

Point Guard

Stud

Kyrie Irving ($9,400) - The Brooklyn Nets are extremely shorthanded, as Kevin Durant, James Harden, Nicolas Claxton, Tyler Johnson, and Chris Chiozza are all out for tonight's matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans. In 194.4 minutes without those players on the court, Irving is averaging a rock-solid 1.53 FanDuel points per minute, according to RotoGrinders. The Pels enter tonight ranking 28th against point guards, per numberFire's DvP tool. Irving has recorded 51.9 or more FanDuel points in 9 of his last 15 outings, and a number in the mid-50s is easily attainable tonight.

Other Studs to Consider (listed in order of preference): De'Aaron Fox ($9,900), Trae Young ($9,500), Terry Rozier ($7,800)

Value Play

Anfernee Simons ($3,700) - Damian Lillard is out tonight, which means the Portland Trail Blazers' backcourt will be shared by Simons and C.J. McCollum. In four games with Dame off the court this season, Simons has averaged 21.9 FanDuel points, including more than 20 in three of them. Tonight, he'll face a Los Angeles Clippers that has surrendered the 11th-most fantasy points to point guards over their last 30 games, according to FantasyPros.

Other Mid-Range and Value Options: Cole Anthony ($5,600), R.J. Hampton ($3,500)

Shooting Guard

Stud

C.J. McCollum ($8,100) - Given Lillard's absence, I highlighted McCollum as a core target in today's studs column. In nine outings with Lillard off the court over the last two seasons, C.J. has averaged 48.8 FanDuel points, including posting at least 42.2 in all but two of them. numberFire's algorithm pegs McCollum to be the slate's top shooting guard at a projection of 43.5 FanDuel points -- which is 11.6 more than the third-best two-guard.

Other Stud to Consider: Paul George ($9,000)

Value Play

Dwayne Bacon ($3,800) - The Orlando Magic will be sans Michael Carter-Williams, James Ennis, Terrence Ross, and Otto Porter tonight, which means that Bacon is about to bring home the bacon (get it?). In a team-leading 267.2 minutes with those players off the court in 2020-21, Bacon averages an additional 0.20 FanDuel points per minute. Over their last 15 games, the Atlanta Hawks have been the league's fifth-most-generous team to opposing shooting guards.

Other Mid-Range and Value Options: Tyrese Haliburton ($5,200), Reggie Bullock ($3,800), Landry Shamet ($4,400)

Small Forward

Stud

Bogdan Bogdanovic ($7,100) - As I mentioned in the studs piece, I'm targeting Bogdanovic as a potential differentiator in tournaments tonight. The 28-year-old has been fantastic in recent weeks, especially with Danilo Gallinari inactive (Gallinari is out tonight). In his last six games without Danillo on the floor, Bogdanovic has averaged 43.3 FanDuel points, including a low-water mark of 36.2. Tonight's salivating matchup is the icing on the cake. Throughout their last 30 games, the Orlando Magic have given up the second-most fantasy points and the most made three-pointers to small forwards.

Other Studs to Consider: Anthony Edwards ($7,100), Brandon Ingram ($8,600), Kawhi Leonard ($9,900)

Value Play

Joe Harris ($4,600) - Given all the players out for Brooklyn, Harris being listed here should come as no surprise. The sharpshooter has topped 27 FanDuel points in 5 of his last 10 games, and he should be able to feast on a New Orleans defense that's allowed the sixth-most fantasy points and second-most made threes to small forwards over their last 15 games.

Other Mid-Range and Value Options: Carmelo Anthony ($4,200), Norman Powell ($6,200), RJ Barrett ($5,800)

Power Forward

Stud

Julius Randle ($9,400) - Randle has eclipsed 50 FanDuel points in five of his last eight efforts, including performances of 65.0 and 69.5 in his last two games. Tonight, he'll square off against a Charlotte Hornets interior that's allowed the second-most fantasy points to power forwards per 48 minutes this season. Randle is our model's top-projected scorer at the position, and his projection is a whopping 16.2 FanDuel points higher than the third-best player at the position.

Other Stud to Consider: Zion Williamson ($9,800)

Value Play

Chuma Okeke ($5,400) - With all the injuries the Magic have, Okeke is another player who should return great value. The first-year pro is fresh off a 34.8-fantasy-point performance, which was the eighth time in his last 12 games that he'd exceeded 27 FanDuel points. Okeke also draws a titillating matchup tonight, as Atlanta has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to power forwards over their last 15 contests.

Other Mid-Range and Value Options: Harrison Barnes ($6,000), Jaden McDaniels ($4,200), Rondae Hollis-Jefferson ($3,500)

Center

Core Play

Enes Kanter ($5,500) - In 34 games without Jusuf Nurkic in the lineup this season, Kanter has averaged 34.5 FanDuel points per contest, and that includes 36.5, 42.7, 53.8, and 68.0 in his last four in that split. Though the Clippers have been stingy to opposing centers this season, numberFire's algo projects Kanter to be the third-best point-per-dollar play on the entire slate.

Other Center Options: Hassan Whiteside ($5,400), Karl-Anthony Towns ($10,800), Nerlens Noel ($5,100)