FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Tuesday 3/28/23

Since it's much simpler to predict than baseball or football, daily fantasy basketball would get plenty of votes as the best sport to play on FanDuel. Players usually stick to the same minutes and produce at roughly the same rate. Sounds easy, right?

As a result, NBA daily fantasy is highly reliant on a player's opportunity, so you'll need to ensure 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.

With so much changing so quickly, we're here with plenty of tools to help you. We have daily projections, a matchup heat map, a lineup optimizer, and a bunch of other great resources to help give you an edge.

We'll also come at you with this primer daily, 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

Just as Ja Morant came back, he's now gone again. Per Tuesday's official injury report, Morant (thigh) is doubtful to play for Memphis tonight as they host the Magic.

Oklahoma City could be the slate's messiest spot. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (ankle) is questionable to suit up, and the Thunder are also missing Lindy Waters III (foot). However, the visiting Hornets are much worse off. Terry Rozier (foot) and Mark Williams (rest) will sit, Gordon Hayward (thumb) is doubtful to play, and Kelly Oubre (shoulder) is questionable.

The Wizards' playoff window is nearly shut, and they'll be without Kyle Kuzma and Bradley Beal again tonight. That only makes it more likely that some combination of Daniel Gafford (foot) or Monte Morris (groin) joins them on the sidelines from a questionable status.

Kyle Lowry (knee) is questionable to make a homecoming in Toronto tonight for Miami. On the other side, the Raptors aren't sure they'll have Gary Trent Jr. (elbow) back in the fold. Will Barton (ankle) is doubtful.

Cleveland could also be down a starter or two with Jarrett Allen (groin) and Isaac Okoro (knee) both listed as questionable. They're in Atlanta.

Finally, New Orleans is on a back-to-back against Golden State, so there is potential for injury news later today, but it's that time of year when key guys know they need every game possible.

Guards

Without the best selection of guards at the top, it's easier to welcome Fred VanVleet ($8,900) than on a larger slate.

Once just another cog in Toronto's messy tree, Freddy has separated from his teammates since the Raps acquired Jakob Poeltl. He's posted 8.61 assists per 36 minutes with the additional playmaking opportunities, and that's led to 43-plus FanDuel points in six of his last seven. This might just be his new profile.

C.J. McCollum ($8,300) and Darius Garland ($8,100) are another pair of explosive scorers with projected game totals of at least 234.0. With that said, I'm not sure the Cavs (30th in pace) have a 236.0-point total in them, but oddsmakers are banking on Atlanta's porous defense.

I'd guess Gilgeous-Alexander sits on Tuesday, which would firmly bring Josh Giddey ($7,900) into the mix. He's averaged 44.4 FanDuel points per 36 since the break with SGA off the floor. Of course, Dennis Smith Jr. ($6,500) should have another sizable role with Rozier sidelined on the other side, and OKC has allowed the eighth-most FanDuel points to point guards this year.

Though it's easier to write about, I hate the silly NBA DFS chalk that Tyus Jones ($5,600) brings on random days like this. Jones has averaged 36.0 FanDuel points per 36 minutes with Ja off the floor since the break, which is one of the league's worst-kept secrets. His low usage rate (18.0%) also means his production is very stable. He's pretty darn close to -- if not on -- the lock button.

With Washington's injuries, expect another heavy dose of Delon Wright ($5,800) and Jordan Goodwin ($4,800) from their backcourt as value plays. Charlotte's Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk ($4,200) is another full-timer projecting well on the slate.

Wings

With a large spread and unforgiving salaries, I'm not sure Boston's duo is the best fit today. Marcus Smart ($6,000) might be the best way to run back Washington's value if expecting a closer game.

Thankfully, we're chock full of alternatives. One of the best parts of covering the NBA is watching young players ascend, and Brandon Ingram ($9,200) has taken another step. He's averaged 9.0 assists per game in his last three, which now brings triple-double upside into his range of outcomes.

Desmond Bane ($7,800) and Dillon Brooks ($5,200) both get solid bumps with Morant sidelined. In tournaments, you'd hope for one to get red hot if coming in underweight on Tyus Jones.

On a similar note, if SGA sits, Jalen Williams ($7,000) and Luguentz Dort ($5,700) should see upticks in usage like Giddey. Eclipsing 40 FanDuel points in four of his past nine, I might get to J-Dub even if Gilgeous-Alexander is good to go.

I'm also intrigued by Tyler Herro ($7,300) below his median salary considering the Raptors have a reputation for heavy ball pressure with stars. That could free him up if Jimmy Butler gets doubled.

Other value plays could come from Atlanta, which has today's highest projected total. Caris LeVert ($6,200) would likely start for Okoro if he's sidelined, and De'Andre Hunter ($5,600) plays a boatload of minutes with a decent usage rate (19.8%) for a projected shootout.

Bigs

I spoke about a leap with Ingram, but Evan Mobley ($8,600) appears to have made one, as well. He's the headliner here in the game environment du jour.

Nearing 40 minutes a night, Mobley has eclipsed 42 FanDuel points in six of his last seven. He's likely a better tournament play if Jarrett Allen ($7,600) suits up, but with bumps across the board sans Allen, he's just more stable if he sits. I'd love both -- if active -- facing a Hawks squad allowing the sixth-most FanDuel points per game to combo bigs.

Bam Adebayo ($8,100) is another secondary Heat scorer that could benefit if Toronto does indeed sell out to stop Miami's top scorer. Averaging 41.3 FanDuel points per 36 this year as a whole, Bam feels under-salaried on a slate where few studs fit that description.

I've discussed all year that Jaren Jackson Jr. ($8,800) gets a massive lift with Morant off the floor, averaging 51.2 FanDuel points per 36. Xavier Tillman ($5,500) also returned to 30 minutes last time out. Orlando's backcourt is a bit hairy with Jalen Suggs back in the fold, so Wendell Carter Jr. ($7,100) is projecting as the best bring-back option from Orlando to all of Memphis' value.

OKC has been destroyed by bigs this year, so PJ Washington ($7,000) and Nick Richards ($5,300) both make a ton of sense. Richards will return to the lineup with Mark Williams resting. In that role, he's eclipsed 26 minutes in six of his eight games.

Opposite Mobley and Allen, John Collins ($5,600) is one more piece projecting well as a value play here. He might earn more minutes over Saddiq Bey with Cleveland routinely playing two-big lineups.