NBA

FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Sunday 2/5/23

Despite a recent dip in scoring, Cleveland's Donovan Mitchell is fourth among guards with 41.3 FanDuel points against the Pacers. Who else ranks as a top option on Sunday?

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.

Team Opp O/U Spread Implied Total Injuries
NY PHI 226 5.5 110.25
IND CLE 226.5 5 110.75 Theis questionable
TOR MEM 231 4.5 113.25 Anunoby OUT
NO SAC 228.5 1 113.75 Williamson, Ingram OUT / Valanciunas doubtful
SAC NO 228.5 -1 114.75 Fox OUT
DEN MIN 232.5 2.5 115 Murray, Caldwell-Pope, Gordon, Jokic doubtful
CLE IND 226.5 -5 115.75 LeVert questionable
PHI NY 226 -5.5 115.75 Embiid questionable
MIN DEN 232.5 -2.5 117.5 Towns, Rivers OUT / Anderson, Gobert questionable
MEM TOR 231 -4.5 117.75 Adams, Brooks OUT / Jackson Jr, Morant questionable

Guards

Ja Morant ($10,400): If Morant is active on Sunday, the Grizzlies' star point guard is fourth overall with 46.1 FanDuel points versus a Toronto Raptors' defense ranked eighth (45.8) in fantasy production allowed per game to his position. In 222.0 minutes season with Dillon Brooks and Steven Adams off the floor, Morant's fantasy output sees a 0.11 boost to 1.57 FanDuel points per minute.

James Harden ($9,200): At his lowest salary point in 2023, "The Beard" is second among guards with a 44.2 fantasy projection in an underrated spot against a New York Knicks' team standing 17th in defensive rating. In his last encounter versus New York, Harden accounted for 29.0 real-life points and a monster 67.3 fantasy performance.

Fred VanVleet ($9,000): In the past week, Toronto's lead guard has provided underrated production, averaging 30 real-life points per game while recording 1.38 FanDuel points per minute. With today's current injuries, VanVleet leads his team in fantasy output (1.23 FanDuel points per minute) and usage (27.5%) in a 562.6 minutes sample size.

Tyrese Haliburton ($8,800): Since his return on February 2nd, Haliburton has recorded 1.22 FanDuel points, 0.30 assists, and 0.52 shot attempts per minute while his FanDuel salary has moved down 3.2% during this time period.

Donovan Mitchell ($8,200): At his second lowest salary point this season, Mitchell is second among guards in value with a 5.04 rating and a 41.3 fantasy projection versus an Indiana Pacers' unit ranked 22nd in defensive rating and 21st in opposing true shooting percentage.

Darius Garland ($8,100): In the past month, Cleveland's emerging point guard has produced 1.20 FanDuel points, 0.67 real-life points, and 0.26 assists per minute while his salary has only moved up by $100.

Jalen Brunson ($7,900): Since the start of 2023, Brunson is first on his team in assists (0.14) and second in fantasy production (1.12 FanDuel points per minute) and usage rate (29.8%).

C.J. McCollum ($7,500): At his lowest salary in the last two months, McColllum is fourth among his positions in value with a 5.21 rating and a 39.1 fantasy projection versus a Sacramento Kings' ranked 18th in defensive rating.

D'Angelo Russell ($7,400): After consecutive games producing 29 real-life points, Russell's FanDuel salary has jumped by 5.7% to his highest point in 2023. "3'Angelo" has a sneaky opportunity to continue his hot streak versus a Denver Nuggets defense allowing point guards to score 26.2 real-life points and 48.6 fantasy points.

Desmond Bane ($7,000): The Grizzlies' shooting guard sees a 0.06 increase to 1.16 FanDuel points per minute with a 29.1% usage rate in 332.5 minutes with Sunday's current inactives. At his lowest salary point since January 9th, Bane is seventh among guards in value with a 5.0 value rating and a 35.0 fantasy projection.

RJ Barrett ($6,600): In an underrated matchup against a Philadelphia 76ers' squad ranked 19th (42.1) in FanDuel points allowed to his position, Barrett's salary stands at his third lowest point in 2023.

Kevin Huerter ($5,700) / Malik Monk ($5,500): With De'Aaron Fox off the floor this season, Huerter's fantasy production stands at 0.89 FanDuel points per minute while Monk's output is boosted by 0.04 to 1.06.

Bruce Brown Jr. ($5,500): After four starters were listed as doubtful, Brown should see plenty of run on Sunday, averaging 0.80 FanDuel points per minute with a 23.3% usage rate with Jamal Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Aaron Gordon, and Nikola Jokic off the floor.

John Konchar ($3,900): The 26-year old should see increased minutes after Dillon Brooks was suspended on Sunday versus a Toronto team ranked 29th in opposing true shooting percentage. Konchar is averaging 0.81 FanDuel points per minute and a 11.0% usage rate in 303.8 minutes with today's current inactives.

Forwards

Domantas Sabonis ($9,600): Sacramento's versatile big man is third overall with 48.7 expected FanDuel points at his lowest salary in 2023 against a New Orleans Pelicans' unit ranked eighth in defensive rating. In 629.2 minutes with today's expected rotation, Sabonis is averaging 1.32 FanDuel points, 0.36 rebounds, and 0.21 assists per minute.

Anthony Edwards ($9,400): Despite ranking eighth overall with 43.0 expected FanDuel points, Edwards could be an underrated option on Sunday at his lowest salary point this month after a 3.0% decrease.

Julius Randle ($9,100): Since the start of January, Randle's FanDuel salary has dropped 10.7% despite producing 1.29 FanDuel points, 0.35 rebounds, and 0.13 assists per minute. The 28-year old has performed well against Philly, recording 35 real-life points and 58.6 FanDuel points in their last meeting.

Pascal Siakam ($8,600): After a 6.5% salary decrease, Siakam is ranked fourth in value among forwards with a 5.09 rating and a 43.9 FanDuel point projection versus a Memphis team allowing 45.9 fantasy points to his position.

Evan Mobley ($7,600): Even at his third highest salary this season, Cleveland's second-year big man is an appealing option versus a Pacers' defense ranked 22nd (45.4) in fantasy production allowed to his position. In his most recent 554.3 minutes this season, Mobley has recorded 1.05 FanDuel points, 0.49 real-life points, and 0.26 rebounds per minute.

Jarrett Allen ($7,000): At his second lowest salary in 2023, Allen is third among his positions in value with a 5.14 rating and a 36.0 fantasy projection against an Indiana team rated 19th in points allowed in the paint this season.

Harrison Barnes ($5,900): Sacramento's veteran sees a 0.05 increase to 0.82 FanDuel points per minute with a 20.7% usage in 523.4 minutes with Sunday's inactives.

Michael Porter Jr. ($5,700): Denver's forward could lead their offense on Sunday, producing 1.09 FanDuel points per minute and a 25.4% usage rate with today's expected rotation.

Isaiah Hartenstein ($5,000): Despite operating in a bench role, Hartenstein has averaged 32.6 minutes in his last three contests while recording 0.92 FanDuel points per minute.

Xavier Tillman ($4,900): The third-year big man has seen an uptick in his role since January 29th, logging 26 minutes in three appearances and an efficient 1.03 FanDuel points per minute.

Naji Marshall ($4,700): After Brandon Ingram was ruled out, Marshall ranks an optimal value option with a 6.36 rating and a 29.9 fantasy projection.

Centers

Joel Embiid ($11,300): Even in a tough spot versus a Knicks' unit ranked second (43.8) in fantasy production allowed to centers and points allowed in the paint, Embiid is second overall with a 49.3 fantasy projection at his lowest salary in the last two months.