FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Tuesday 6/8/21
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 two-game playoff slate, which locks at 7:30 PM Eastern.
All injury updates are via the NBA's official injury report or numberFire's player news.
Point Guard
Ben Simmons ($8,600) - While Trae Young ($10,200) might have slightly better upside, Simmons has held his own this postseason. Through six playoff games, Simmons has recorded at least 46.8 FanDuel points four times, including more than 50 on three different occasions. According to numberFire's DvP tool, the Atlanta Hawks ranked 21st against point guards in 2020-21, so there's no reason for Simmons to slow down now. I'd rather save the $1,600 and roster Simmons over Young.
Reggie Jackson ($4,800) - Jackson is our algorithm's top-projected value at point guard, and it's not particularly close. The 31-year-old recorded 23.6 or more fantasy points in five of the final six games of the series against the Dallas Mavericks, including a 40.8-point performance in Game 6. numberFire projects Jackson to drop 25.3 FanDuel points tonight, which makes him the third-best point-per-dollar play on the slate.
Shooting Guard
Donovan Mitchell ($9,000) - To me, the choice is between Mitchell and Paul George ($9,400), and I'd rather save the $400 and roster the player with higher upside. Mitchell's production has increased with every game this postseason -- after totaling 28.4 fantasy points in Game 2 against the Memphis Grizzlies, he followed it up with 39.9 in Game 3, 49.4 in Game 4, and 52.2 in Game 5. The All-Star produced 53.1 and 55.3 FanDuel points versus the Los Angeles Clippers in his final two matchups against them in the regular season, and he could easily be in the mid-50s (or higher) tonight. With Mike Conley (hamstring) out, Mitchell should see sky-high usage and volume.
Seth Curry ($5,200) - Through six playoff games, the younger Curry has amassed at least 27 fantasy points four times, including outputs of 30.3 and 31.0 in his last two. At tonight's salary, the 30-year-old sharpshooter would need 26 fantasy points to achieve five-times value (or 5.0 fantasy points for every $1,000 in salary), and he's already proven that he can surpass that with ease.
Small Forward
Bojan Bogdanovic ($5,400) - There are enough studs on this two-gamer to justify avoiding Kawhi Leonard ($11,000), and instead we'll save some coin at the small forward position. Bogdanovic recorded at least 23.1 fantasy points in four of the five games against Memphis, including two outings where he put up 35.6 and 37.0. With Conley set to miss Game 1, Bojan will be one of a few Utah Jazz players who stand to benefit from the added usage.
De'Andre Hunter ($4,800) - Hunter (knee) didn't play in Game 1 against the Philadelphia 76ers and is questionable to suit up tonight, but if he does play, our model projects him to be the top overall point-per-dollar option on tonight's two-gamer. The 23-year-old posted at least 22 FanDuel points in three of the final four games of the series against the New York Knicks, and numberFire has him projected for 28.1 tonight. If he can't go, Nicolas Batum ($5,600) and Danny Green ($5,000) are viable alternatives.
Power Forward
Royce O'Neale ($5,500) - Let's get this out of the way -- if Joel Embiid doesn't play tonight, Tobias Harris ($8,800) is far and away the top option at the position. Harris is worthy of consideration regardless of Embiid's status, but if Embiid is active, we'd want to save salary for the big man. Meanwhile, O'Neale averaged 34.5 minutes of action in the first round as Utah shortened their rotation for the playoffs, and he racked up 23.4, 27.1, 30.3, and 42.2 FanDuel points in the final four games. The matchup here isn't fantastic, but it's a two-game slate, so we can't afford to be too picky.
Marcus Morris ($5,300) - Morris put up 32.0 and 37.9 FanDuel points in two of the four games after being moved to the five spot against Dallas, and he certainly carries that kind of upside tonight. The role and minutes will be there, it's just a matter of hitting his shots, as Morris knocked down four and seven threes in those two outings. I'd rather roster the 31-year-old than pay an additional $1,200 for John Collins ($6,500), who hasn't showcased much upside at all in the postseason.
Center
Joel Embiid ($10,500) - After sitting out the final game against Washington, Embiid returned in Game 1 versus Atlanta and seemingly didn't miss a beat. The 27-year-old garnered 39 real-life points and 63.8 of the fantasy variety in the loss. If he's a go again tonight, he should be a priority. If Embiid doesn't suit up, Rudy Gobert ($8,800) is a more-than-viable alternative. Gobert eclipsed 50 FanDuel points in two of his final four games in the opening round.
