NBA

5 NBA FanDuel Value Plays to Target on Friday 3/17/23

One of the keys to finding success in daily fantasy basketball is uncovering potential value plays.

If you're looking to roster a stud player or two, you need to consider squeezing one of these lower-salaried options into your lineup.

Let's take a look at some players who can help fill in the gaps in your lineup on FanDuel tonight, using numberFire's daily fantasy basketball projections as a guide.

Xavier Tillman, PF/C, Memphis Grizzlies

FanDuel Salary: $5,400

The top value play of the night is Xavier Tillman for the Memphis Grizzlies in a game against the San Antonio Spurs, who rank 30th in defensive rating on the season.

Tillman is projected for 28.9 minutes while the Grizzlies are wiped out in the frontcourt. In those minutes, Tillman is projected for a 12.6-point, 7.7-rebound line plus solid peripherals for 30.6 total FanDuel points. That works out to 5.67 FanDuel points per $1,000 in salary, a sitewide-best value projection.

In 18 starts this season, Tillman has averaged 27.7 minutes, 9.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.0 combined steals and blocks for 0.96 FanDuel points per minute.

Devin Vassell, SG, San Antonio Spurs

FanDuel Salary: $5,900

On the other side of that game, we have some value, too. The Grizzlies/Spurs matchup boasts a 234.5-point total, which would be a slate high if not for a bonkers outlier we'll get to in a second.

Devin Vassell is projected for 5.41 FanDuel points per $1,000, second-best behind only Tillman.

Vassell is expected to play 32.7 minutes here and is projected to drop 31.9 FanDuel points on a robust line.

Although Vassell missed the team's most recent game, over his four prior games, he averaged 31.5 minutes and 22.5 FanDuel points.

Injected into this high-totaled situation, he makes for a nice bring-back option.

Donte DiVincenzo, SG/SF, Golden State Warriors

FanDuel Salary: $5,700

The matchup between the Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks has a 247.5-point over/under, easily a slate best and -- by my account -- the highest of the season.

So, naturally, we'll look for value in this spot.

Donte DiVincenzo can offer it from the starting two-guard slot for the Warriors. He has played 30-plus minutes in 10 of his past 11 games. In that 11-game stretch, DiVincenzo has averaged 27.1 FanDuel points over 32.9 minutes (0.82 fantasy points per minute).

He's no stranger to a 30- or 40-fantasy-point outburst, and betting on him in such a good game environment is a pretty easy case to make.

John Collins, PF/C, Atlanta Hawks

FanDuel Salary: $5,000

Again, sticking in that same game, we can look to the Hawks for a value play with John Collins, who can only benefit from the suspension of Draymond Green, due to too many technical fouls.

Collins' production has been down substantially lately, and he has maxed out at 25.3 FanDuel points over his past 10 games. That being said, he's drawing one of the best composite matchup ratings of the night and is playing minutes in the upper-20s consistently.

Even 25.0 FanDuel points at this salary is a fine return, and in this game environment, he has the potential to break through the recent low ceiling.

Marcus Smart, PG, Boston Celtics

FanDuel Salary: $5,600

Third on the value list in numberFire's projections for tonight is actually Marcus Smart, whose Boston Celtics play on the road against the Portland Trail Blazers.

That means Smart will face a bottom-five defense.

Smart, in games against teams in the bottom 10 in defensive rating, has averaged 0.92 FanDuel points per minute, which works out to 28.2 per game across his average of 30.7 minutes.

numberFire's model projects Smart to play 33.7 minutes and secure 29.1 FanDuel points.