FanDuel NBA Picks and DraftKings NBA Picks - Wednesday, 2/29/20

After a monster night on Friday, we're looking at an eight-game slate for this Saturday schedule. With that said, there is a New York-Chicago matchup early in the day, so, we're going to omit those teams from this article. The big thing that we need to keep an eye on is the LeBron James injury. His absence would completely change the slate and it'll be key to monitor all of the injury reports prior to tip!

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Point Guard

Trae Young FD - $10000 DK - $10300
Opponent - POR
Proj Pts FD - 51.39 DK - 56.49

I'm not sure people realize just how ridiculous this dude has been this season. Young is actually third on this slate with 52 DraftKings points per game, trailing only James Harden and LeBron James. He's actually been even better recently, averaging 54.3 fantasy points per game across his last eight outings. It's the role that's made him so valuable, averaging 23 shots, 39 minutes played and 11 free-throw attempts per game in that span. The best part of all of this might be the matchup though, facing a Portland team who owns a 26th OPRK against opposing point guards this season. That was pretty clear when Trae dropped 65.5 DK points in their one meeting earlier this season. I love Young in all formats.

Markelle Fultz FD - $5500 DK - $5600
Opponent - SA
Proj Pts FD - 29.12 DK - 29.07

Fultz has quietly found his way with the Magic ever since D.J. Augustin got injured. While Augustin is back now, Fultz has established himself as the primary point guard. That's evident when you see that he's averaging 30 DK points per game across 31 minutes of action over his last 25 games played. That's stellar production from a player south of $6,000 and it's hard to understand why he remains so affordable. Getting to face the Spurs isn't too shabby either, with San Antonio sitting 24th in defensive efficiency.  

Rajon Rondo (FD $4200 DK $4200) would be one of the best value plays out there if King James sits again. 

Shooting Guard

DeMar DeRozan FD - $7500 DK - $7600
Opponent - ORL
Proj Pts FD - 42.64 DK - 42.92

We hate playing players against the Magic but this is a spot we can overlook the matchup. The reason for that is because DeRozan is the star of the show with LaMarcus Aldridge sidelined. In fact, DD is averaging 1.3 DK points per minute with LA off the floor while leading the club with a 33 percent usage rate. That looks even better when you consider DeRozan's recent form, with the shooting guard averaging 42 DraftKings points per game since the end of December. That means he should be closer to $8,500 and Orlando owning a 20th OPRK against opposing shooting guards tells us that the SG position is one of their only weaknesses on this roster. 

Gary Trent Jr. FD - $4400 DK - $4300
Opponent - ATL
Proj Pts FD - 26.65 DK - 26.68

Trent has been a stud when Damian Lillard has been out this season and it's amazing that these DFS sites haven't risen his price more. If you look at the eight games that Trent has played at least 30 minutes, he's averaging 29.8 fantasy points per game. That's spectacular news when you see that he's averaging 35.3 minutes per game since Lillard's injury four games ago. That would equate to nearly 40 DK points in that amount of playing time and we can't overlook the fact that the Hawks surrender the most fantasy points in the league to opposing shooting guards.

James Harden (FD $11200 DK $10900) is always in play with his 70-point upside. 

Small Forward

Gordon Hayward FD - $6100 DK - $7400
Opponent - HOU
Proj Pts FD - 37.96 DK - 39

Everybody is talking about Jayson Tatum and rightfully so but Hayward has quietly had a great bounceback season as well. Averaging 17.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game is the Hayward of old and it's clear that he's one of the primary ball-handlers in the absence of Kemba Walker. That's led to him scoring at least 39 DraftKings points in seven of his last 12 games, playing over 36 minutes per game in that span. Getting to face Houston is the biggest reason we like Hayward though, with the Rockets allowing the most fantasy points in the league to opposing SFs. That was on full display when he dropped 41 fantasy points against them in their one meeting earlier this year. 

Carmelo Anthony FD - $5700 DK - $5700
Opponent - ATL
Proj Pts FD - 32.07 DK - 32.69

All of these Trail Blazers have seen an increase in usage with Dame off the floor and it's really forced Melo into a monster role. In fact, Anthony has a 26 percent usage rate with Lillard off the floor, behind only C.J. McCollum. He's also averaging 14 shots and 34 minutes a game over his last 20 fixtures and that sort of role is huge for a guy below $6,000, especially with Lillard's 30 percent usage, 35 minutes and 20 shots out of the lineup as well. It also doesn't hurt that Atlanta ranks 29th in points allowed and 28th in defensive efficiency. 

Mikal Bridges (FD $5100 DK $5200) has been playing more with Kelly Oubre Jr sidelined and that makes him intriguing against a porous Warriors team. 

Power Forward

Anthony Davis FD - $10700 DK - $10200
Opponent - MEM
Proj Pts FD - 64.63 DK - 64.15

Davis would be the best play of the day of LeBron sits but he still remains a great value no matter what. The main reason we like him today is his matchup, facing a Memphis team who sits 26th in total defense and sixth in pace. That's a recipe for dominance with an athlete like Davis, particularly with Memphis missing Jaren Jackson Jr and Brandon Clarke. That should leave Davis to feast on this thin frontcourt and it's scary that he's also averaging 57 fantasy points per game across his last eight outings. In addition, Davis has a 34 percent usage rate with James off the floor while averaging 1.72 DK points per minute. If LeBron is out, just lock in Davis. 

Daniel Theis FD - $5200 DK - $4900
Opponent - HOU
Proj Pts FD - 28.71 DK - 27.63

Theis has been an undervalued asset ever since he took over the starting role and he's truly been one of the key pieces for the Celtics. We're talking about a guy who's averaging over 23 fantasy points per game for the season and is averaging 28 DK points per game since the middle of January. That even includes three games where he was dealing with injury, as that average could be even higher. Getting to face the Rockets is simply a bonus, with Houston sitting second in pace and 21st in points allowed. Some might worry about him being limited because of small-ball but collecting 26 DK points across 29 minutes in their one meeting earlier this season would indicate otherwise. 

Dario Saric (FD $3800 DK $4900) Saric has been the one starting for Oubre and should continue to see 25-30 minutes a game. His price is too rich on DraftKings but on FanDuel he should see high ownership once again. 

Center

Hassan Whiteside FD - $9600 DK - $9300
Opponent - ATL
Proj Pts FD - 49.18 DK - 48.58

Whiteside has been an absolute monster this season. While averaging 43 DraftKings points per game is impressive, he's been much better recently. This is a dude who's averaging 46 DK points per game since the end of November while scoring at least 45 fantasy points in four-straight fixtures coming into this matchup. There's simply no better bet for a double-double in the NBA right now and it's scary that he's adding about four blocks per game to that prowess. All of that doesn't even take into consideration that he faces a Hawks team who surrenders the most fantasy points in the league to opposing centers. Don't be surprised to see Whiteside flirt with a 20-20 game and provide about five blocks. 

Myles Turner FD - $6000 DK - $5300
Opponent - CLE
Proj Pts FD - 33.26 DK - 31.65

Turner has been frustrating to own for season-long fantasy players but his price is too affordable for someone of his ilk. What makes him enticing on this slate is his recent form, scoring at least 24 DK points in seven-straight games while averaging 33 fantasy points per game in that span. That's the dude we've been waiting for and it's scary to think how good he could be if he scored more than the 10.6 raw points he's averaging in that stretch. Getting to face the Cavaliers is the icing on the cake though, with Cleveland owning a 26th OPRK against opposing centers this season. 

Deandre Ayton (FD $9000 DK $8400) has been a stud this season and remains one of the best center options out there against Golden State. 

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