FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Friday 2/25/22

If you're new to daily fantasy basketball -- maybe you started your DFS journey during the MLB or NFL seasons, or maybe basketball is your sport and this will be your first year giving it a shot -- you're in for a treat. 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 basketball is very reliant on a player's opportunity, so you'll need to make sure that you're up-to-date with key injuries. Our projections update up until tip-off to reflect current news, we have player news updates, and the FanDuel Scout app will send push notifications for pressing updates regarding your players.

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.

Let's break down today's main slate on FanDuel.

The Slate and Key Injuries

It's the first game coming out of the break for many teams, so it's necessary to get set using today's official injury report.

Teams at full strength to their season norm include Houston, Orlando, San Antonio, Miami, Philadelphia, Minnesota, and New Orleans.

For Indiana, Myles Turner (foot) and T.J. McConnell (wrist) remain out, and Chris Duarte (toe) is questionable. Oklahoma City played on Thursday, and they were down Luguentz Dort (shoulder) and Kenrich Williams (knee). Both are questionable for Friday's back-to-back.

Washington's viable options should be good to go except newly acquired Kristaps Porzingis (knee).

Charlotte hosts Toronto, but they'll still be without Gordon Hayward (knee). Fred VanVleet (knee) is listed as questionable, but he played in Sunday's All-Star game. He should be good to go.

The Knicks have RJ Barrett (ankle) listed as questionable, but Derrick Rose (ankle) was a surprise promotion to doubtful coming out of the break. He may be nearing a return.

Phoenix played Thursday without Chris Paul (thumb) and Cameron Payne (wrist). They should be without the pair again Friday.

Tim Hardaway Jr. (broken foot) remains out for the Mavericks, and Rudy Gay (knee) is questionable on the other side for the Jazz.

The Clippers will still be without Norman Powell (foot) and Paul George (elbow). On the other side, the Lakers will be missing Anthony Davis (ankle), and Carmelo Anthony (hamstring) is considered questionable. LeBron James (knee) is listed questionable despite playing heavy minutes in the All-Star Game. Rumors of discontent in L.A. have to bring his status for Friday into some sort of doubt.

Guards

Luka Doncic ($11,200): Even though Utah should be a stiff matchup with Rudy Gobert back in the fold, it'd be a fireable offense to not consider Doncic with his February track record. He's led the league in real-life points this month, and he's posted 1.64 FanDuel points per minute on a gaudy 41.1% usage rate. He's simply the do-it-all option in Dallas. That keeps his floor at this salary sky-high, and it comes with 60-FanDuel-point upside.

Malik Monk ($4,900): There are memes that Monk might be the Lakers' second-best player when A.D. is hurt. They may not be memes. Monk's 0.98 FanDuel points per minute when Davis and Russell Westbrook are off the floor is the second-best mark amongst rotation players. Westbrook hasn't co-existed well with LeBron all season, and the Lakers could be turning to Monk for buckets late with A.D. out of the fold.

Jalen Green ($4,300): Despite boring everyone to tears in the dunk contest, Green did find something in the games that mattered before the break. In February, the rookie has played more than 31 minutes in six of the eight contests, and he's posted 0.80 FanDuel points per minute -- his personal high for a month this season. Importantly, he's started seeing minutes in blowouts, and that makes his floor supreme for this salary.

Others to Consider:
Dejounte Murray ($10,000): If not for Luka, runaway winner for point guard of the month. Up to 1.51 FanDuel points per minute in February.
Devin Booker ($9,000): Salary slightly higher than it was Thursday, but it's the 7.5-point spread that's the concern. Still a fine option.
Russell Westbrook ($7,000): I want to be in a spot -- in tournaments -- where I can pivot to him in places if LeBron ends up sitting.
Cole Anthony ($6,100): Lower salary than Jalen Suggs puts him on the map but far from a level of consistency to feel solid.

Wings

James Harden ($9,600): When the going gets tough, upgrade teams. Harden makes his 76ers debut in a game with a 229.0-point total. Importantly, Joel Embiid is salaried as normal, and it's just not possible his role stays as concentrated as it's been with Harden joining the fray. Meanwhile, "The Beard" is at a lower salary than we've seen him most of the season in Brooklyn. Given it's hard to trust LeBron with a late lock for L.A., Harden is far from a poor consolation prize.

OG Anunoby ($5,400): Sometimes, a mental break can really help. Anunoby has been flat broken in February (0.72 FanDuel points per minute), but he's still in a full-time role and is averaging 0.89 FanDuel points per minute this season. He should rebound to be a value at this salary sooner than later. OG shot just 31.1% from the field in the four games before the break. Hopefully, the time off brings the return of his shot.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope ($4,400): Averaging 11.1 shots per game this month, Caldwell-Pope's offensive role on this new-look Wizards squad is just be better than this salary. He can be a frustrating one to roster at times, but with minimal injury-based value coming out of the break, he's among the best low-salary options available. numberFire's projections believe in a solid night for KCP, too.

Others to Consider:
Jimmy Butler ($8,700): Buying his pre-break dip. At 1.26 FanDuel points per minute overall but just 1.14 in February.
Anthony Edwards ($7,600): Speaking of broken, Edwards has single-digit real-world points in three straight. Regression at a roster rate next to 0%?
Scottie Barnes ($5,800): A safer bet than Anunoby to fill categories, but his offensive role is just naturally quieter. Not as high of upside.
Franz Wagner ($5,600): Prefer him to Anthony, but both are viable in a top-tier matchup with the Rockets.

Bigs

Julius Randle ($10,200): All season, we've been asking what's wrong with Randle. I figured it out -- RJ Barrett's emergence. Barrett has been sidelined for much of February with an ankle issue, and Randle has shot back to a rate of 1.40 FanDuel points per minute that closely resembles his 2020-21 season. Barrett's status should be available before lock, and Randle is a safe option if RJ sits once more. The big man has posted at least 50 FanDuel points in five straight.

Rudy Gobert ($8,300): Before his unfortunate calf issue, Gobert was having a breakout fantasy season at 1.31 FanDuel points per minute. With two part-time games before the break, his salary has dropped to this mark. He should be closer to normal in a matchup with a Mavs squad that's really struggled on the glass lately. Dallas has just a 68.7% defensive rebounding percentage in February (third-worst in the NBA). Enter the league leader in boards.

Jarred Vanderbilt ($4,500): His balance with Jaden McDaniels in Minny's frontcourt is annoying, but Vanderbilt actually has the lower salary despite being the starter. That could work. It's no secret that Embiid will be a tougher matchup for Karl-Anthony Towns, so pivoting to the value option who will instead draw Tobias Harris could pay off handsomely. Vanderbilt is among numberFire's favorite value power forwards of the day as of early Friday.

Others to Consider:
Christian Wood ($7,800): Salary is a bit rich, but he still has upside in a game I want tons of exposure to.
Wendell Carter Jr. ($7,300): With Mo Bamba stapled to the bench, Carter's ceiling has been released. Has 40-plus FanDuel points in two of his last five.
Deandre Ayton ($7,000): Thursday box score was ugly, but I believe he'll eventually have a monstrous offensive game sans CP3. Maybe Friday.
PJ Washington ($5,200): He's posted at least 27 FanDuel points in two games starting at power forward. Could be a valuable find for Charlotte.