FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Saturday 1/28/23

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

Damian Lillard ($10,400): After a vintage 85.4 fantasy point performance in his last outing, Lillard's FanDuel salary has moved up 2.9% to his highest point this season against a Toronto Raptors' team ranked sixth (45.4) in FanDuel points allowed per game to point guards this season. In their last encounter, Portland's star produced 34.0 real-life points and 52.8 fantasy points at a salary point 14.4% lower than today's.

Trae Young ($9,600): Atlanta's leading scorer ranks fourth among guards with 42.8 expected FanDuel points in an underrated spot versus a Los Angeles Clippers' defense allowing 48.6 fantasy points per game to his position.

Anthony Edwards ($9,300): In the past week, Edwards' FanDuel salary has increased 6.8% to his highest point this season while averaging 1.41 FanDuel points per minute and a 34.7% usage rate.

Dejounte Murray ($8,500): The 26-year old is having his best offensive month this season, recording 22.0 real-life points per game on 18.6 shot attempts and 1.05 FanDuel points per minute.

Jaylen Brown ($8,400): In an appealing spot versus a Los Angeles Lakers' defense allowing shooting guards to score 22.8 real-life points and 41.3 fantasy points per game, Brown is ranked third among his position with a 41.5 fantasy projection. The Celtics' star is averaging 1.20 FanDuel points and a 31.2% usage rate in 541.6 minutes with Marcus Smart off the floor this season.

De'Aaron Fox ($8,300): At his lowest salary point during January, Fox is seventh among guards with 41.4 expected FanDuel points against a Minnesota Timberwolves ranked 21st (48.5) in fantasy production allowed to point guards this season.

Chris Paul ($8,100): Since his return on January 22nd, CP3 is producing 1.30 FanDuel points, 0.16 rebounds, and 0.31 assists per minute. At his second lowest salary this month, the Suns' veteran is fifth among guards in value with a 5.63 rating while ranking second with a 45.6 fantasy projection.

Spencer Dinwiddie ($8,000): In 170.7 minutes this season with today's current inactives, Dinwiddie sees an eye-popping 0.33 bump to 1.19 FanDuel points per minute with a 33.3% usage rate.

D'Angelo Russell ($7,200): Despite a 5.8% increase in the past two weeks to his highest salary this month, Russell is an underrated option at his positions, recording 0.99 FanDuel point per minute during this time period.

Malcolm Brogdon ($5,800): Even in a bench role, Brogdon has averaged 32.7 minutes since January 14th while producing 0.96 FanDuel points, 0.16 rebounds, and 0.09 assists per minute.

Tim Hardaway Jr. ($5,300): The Mavericks' three-point specialist sees a 0.08 increase to 0.86 FanDuel points per minute with a 25.0% usage in 88.6 minutes this season with Saturday's expected rotation. Hardaway Jr. ranks second among guards in value with a 5.94 rating and a 31.5 fantasy projection at his second lowest salary this month.

Alec Burks ($5,000): In a great matchup versus a Houston Rockets' team ranked last in fantasy production allowed to his position, Burks is seventh overall in value with a 5.72 rating and a 28.6 FanDuel point projection.

Josh Green ($4,300): After Luka Doncic was ruled out with an ankle sprain, the 22-year old rates as an optimal lower salary option in a potential increased role with a 6.23 value rating and a 26.8 fantasy expectation.

Forwards

Jayson Tatum ($11,200): At his second highest salary point in January, Boston's superstar is numberFire's top overall option with 49.3 expected FanDuel points versus a Los Angeles Lakers' team ranked 20th in defensive rating. In their last meeting, the 24-year forward destroyed the Lakers, accounting for 44.0 real-life points and 62.8 FanDuel points on 29 shot attempts .

LeBron James ($10,800): After scoring 20 real-life points in his last appearance, James' FanDuel salary has decreased 2.7% to his lowest point this month. Even with the return of Anthony Davis, "King James" is second overall with 48.3 expected FanDuel points against a Boston Celtics' unit ranked fifth in opposing true shooting percentage and ninth in points allowed in the paint.

Pascal Siakam ($9,900): Despite a lackluster 33.9 fantasy performance on Friday, Siakam's salary increased by 3.1% versus a Portland Trail Blazers' defense allowing 26.4 real-life points and 57.0 FanDuel points per game to his position.

Domantas Sabonis ($9,800): In the past week, Sacramento's versatile big man has seen as 4.8% salary drop while averaging 0.94 FanDuel points, 0.26 rebounds, and 0.24 assists per minute.

Kawhi Leonard ($9,500): "The Claw" has found his vintage form during January, recording 26.7 real-points per game in 34.2 minutes and 1.31 FanDuel points per minute.

DeMar DeRozan ($8,900): Since his return on January 19th, DeRozan has produced at least 26 real-life points in each of his appearances and 1.19 FanDuel points per minute.

Kyle Kuzma ($8,500): With Kristaps Porzingis unlikely to suit up on Saturday night, Kuzma's fantasy output would see a 0.04 boost to 1.09 FanDuel points per minute.

Mikal Bridges ($7,200): In a great matchup against a San Antonio Spurs' team ranked last in defensive rating and opposing true shooting percentage, numberFire's models project Bridges for 32.6 FanDuel points and 18.0 real-life points.

Kyle Anderson ($6,500): Despite a 14.8% usage rate, "Slow-Mo" has provided efficient fantasy production in January, averaging 1.08 FanDuel points, 0.18 rebounds, and 0.19 assists per minute.

Kenyon Martin Jr. ($5,600): After Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. were ruled out, Houston's third year forward ranks eighth among his positions in value with a 5.23 rating and a 29.3 fantasy projection.

Precious Achiuwa ($5,600): The 23-year old could see an increased role on Saturday after OG Anunoby was unable to return last night with a left wrist sprain. If starting, Achiuwa currently ranks second among forwards in value with a 6.03 rating and a 33.8 fantasy expectation.

Dorian Finney-Smith ($4,900): The Mavericks' defensive leader sees a difference-making 0.22 increase in his fantasy production to 0.82 FanDuel points per minute in 83.6 minutes with today's injuries.

Centers

Dwight Powell ($4,900): Despite a 13.9% salary spike, Powell is numberFire's top value option with a 6.35 rating and a 31.1 FanDuel point projection versus a Jazz team ranked last (59.1) in fantasy production allowed to centers this season.