FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Saturday 4/23/22

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.

Guards

Kyrie Irving ($9,900) - After a lackluster 22.1 fantasy performance in Game 2, Irving's FanDuel salary has moved down 5.7% to his lowest point this postseason. Brooklyn's superstar currently ranks fourth among guards in today's four-game slate with a 47.0 FanDuel point projection.

Ja Morant ($9,700) - In 105.9 minutes this series, Morant is averaging 1.38 FanDuel points and 0.49 shot attempts per minute against a Minnesota Timberwolves' unit allowing 46.6 FanDuel points per game to point guards this season.

Luka Doncic ($9,500) - At his lowest salary point in April, Doncic is an intriguing play in tournaments if he is active against a Jazz squad ranked seventh among today's eight teams in defensive rating. In three prior meetings during the regular season, the Mavericks offensive leader was unstoppable, recording 56.3 FanDuel points in 35.3 minutes.

Donovan Mitchell ($8,500) - As numberFire's second rated guard with a 47.9 FanDuel point projection, Mitchell is an optimal play in all formats after his salary also decreased by 5.5%. In 121.2 minutes against Dallas, "Spida" has recorded 1.14 FanDuel points and 0.66 field goal attempts per minute.

Fred VanVleet ($8,000) - Despite shooting 35% in Toronto's first three games, VanVleet is still averaging 0.96 FanDuel points in a 125.3 minutes sample size this postseason. The Raptors' point guard has contributed in other categories, producing 0.17 assists and 0.05 steals per minute.

Marcus Smart ($6,000) - In 442.8 minutes this regular season with today's projected lineup including Robert Williams, Smart has registered 0.94 FanDuel points and a 16.9% usage rate.

Mike Conley ($5,800) - Conley finally broke out of his slump in Game 3 with a 37.4 fantasy performance. The veteran currently rates ninth among his position in value with a 5.22 rating and a 30.3 FanDuel point projection.

Gary Trent Jr. ($5,400) - Toronto's shooting guard appears back at full health after Trent registered 45 minutes in Game 3's overtime loss. In 81.5 minutes against a Philadelphia unit allowing a 112.0 defensive rating, the 23-year old is averaging 0.40 real-life points and 0.40 shot attempts per minute.

Danny Green ($4,200) - Philly's veteran is numberFire's fifth rated guard in value with a 5.58 rating and a 23.5 FanDuel point projection.

Forwards

Kevin Durant ($10,700) - Durant's FanDuel salary is at his lowest point this month after Brooklyn's star forward averaged 34.2 FanDuel points in Boston. Durant has been heavily involved in the Nets' offense despite his struggles from the field (31%), accounting for 0.59 real-life points and 0.49 shot attempts per minute.

Jayson Tatum ($9,400) - In 85.9 minutes this postseason, Tatum has registered 1.08 FanDuel points and 0.39 shot attempts per minute. Brooklyn has struggled overall defensively in the playoffs, ranking sixth among today's eight teams in defensive rating and points allowed in the paint.

James Harden ($8,700) - At his cheapest salary point all season, Harden is a relative bargain in all formats with his 5.49 value rating. Philadelphia's polarizing superstar has quietly been effective this series, producing 1.10 FanDuel points and 0.25 assists in 119.5 minutes against Toronto.

Pascal Siakam ($8,400) - After a poor performance in Game 3, Siakam's FanDuel salary has plummeted 6.6% to his lowest mark since February 28th. Toronto's forward sees a noticeable 0.14 boost to 1.29 FanDuel points minute and a 29.0 usage rate in a 822.9 minutes sample size if Scottie Barnes (doubtful) is unable to suit up on Saturday.

Jaylen Brown ($8,200) - Boston's forward ranks second among his team in fantasy production (1.09 FanDuel points) and usage (28.6%) in 442.8 minutes with today's expected lineup.

Anthony Edwards ($7,600) - With Karl-Anthony Towns attracting so much attention against a Grizzlies' unit ranked first among today's slate in defensive rating, Edwards is averaging 0.65 real-life points and 0.45 field goal attempts in 114.1 minutes.

OG Anunoby ($6,200) - Toronto's forward is another mid-range option to consider with his 5.39 value rating and 33.4 FanDuel point expectation. Anunoby's FanDuel salary has moved up to his highest point this month after he registered 0.90 FanDuel points per minute in Toronto's three playoff losses.

Desmond Bane ($6,000) - If Dillon Brooks cannot play with his questionable designation, Bane ranks third among Memphis in usage (24.3%) and fantasy output (1.02 FanDuel points) in 1760.9 minutes with Brooks off the floor.

Brandon Clarke ($5,500) - With Steven Adams likely out of the rotation, Clarke has played a key role off the bench for the Grizzlies, accounting for 1.18 FanDuel points and 0.59 real-life points per minute.

Maxi Kleber ($4,400) - Another potential value play seeing key minutes off the bench. The Mavericks' forward is averaging 27.4 FanDuel points in 26.0 minutes per game in a small ball role against a Jazz team allowing 42.4 fantasy points to power forwards this season.

Precious Achiuwa ($4,100) - numberFire's fourth ranked value play with a 6.02 rating and a 24.7 FanDuel point projection. Despite a potential second unit role, Achiuwa is still seeing 31.6 minutes against a 76ers' unit allowing 44.7 points in the paint this postseason.

Centers

Joel Embiid ($10,500) - At his second lowest salary in April, Embiid will be a key decision point with reports emerging about his potential thumb injury. The 76ers are in underrated spot against a Raptors' team ranked last among today's playoff teams in defensive rating.

Karl-Anthony Towns ($8,900) - In the past week, Towns' FanDuel salary has moved down 5.3%. In a middling spot against a Memphis team allowing 41.3 points inside this postseason, Minnesota's big man has surprisingly been held to 0.27 field goal attempts and 0.50 real-life points per minute.

Rudy Gobert ($7,300) - After a 5.1% decrease in salary, "The Stifle Tower" rates second in value among the center position with a 5.33 rating despite a 12.5 real-life point projection.