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DFS NBA Picks for FanDuel and DraftKings - Saturday 5/7/22
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Point Guard / Shooting Guard
Ja Morant FD - $10800 DK - $10300
Opponent - GS
Proj Pts FD - 55.22 DK - 57.12
It’s been pretty ridiculous what Ja’s done in these playoffs, but specifically in these first two games against the Warriors. This dude is averaging a crazy 41 points, 8.5 rebounds, and nine assists in the first two, putting up some of the more nuts lines you’ll see in fantasy basketball. And he’s a 6’3 point guard. Sure, we knew he was on the superstar cusp, but this is something else entirely. Considering how he’s getting after it in every single respect, he makes for a very tough fade especially considering that the Grizzlies are going to need to play him almost all of the minutes to have a chance.
Jrue Holiday FD - $8300 DK - $8100
Opponent - BOS
Proj Pts FD - 46.27 DK - 46.87
With the Bucks still playing without Khris Middleton, Jrue becomes one of the premier plays on the slate and his price hasn’t moved a ton from the start of the playoffs. And yet this is a guy who is coming off taking the second-most shots on the team last time out (20) and for the first two games is averaging 22 points, 6.5 rebounds, six assists, and 2.5 steals. He’s got to log major run for the Bucks to have a chance against Boston considering how thin they are at this point, especially in the backcourt.
De'Anthony Melton FD - $5500 DK - $4300
Opponent - GS
Proj Pts FD - 25.05 DK - 25.25
Ziaire Williams FD - $4700 DK - $3200
Opponent - GS
Proj Pts FD - 16.67 DK - 17.64
With Dillon Brooks out for this game, it looks like these two are going to need to step up to play some more in the backcourt for the Grizzlies. Last game, with Brooks kicked out early, Melton ran 26 minutes and scored just three points. But he added eight rebounds and five blocks+steals. He’s always been a solid points-per-minute guy if given the run. I think I can stomach the DraftKings price.
And then there is Ziaire Williams who will likely draw the start for Brooks in this game. In a fill-in capacity last time out he took the third-most shots on the team and finished with 14 points and five rebounds. He’s coming close to the minimum on DraftKings which means he’s worth a shot if running with the starters.
Small Forward
Desmond Bane FD - $5800 DK - $6400
Opponent - GS
Proj Pts FD - 40.53 DK - 42.14
He hasn’t looked amazing this series, but he’s going to step it up now. Dillon Brooks is suspended for this game meaning Bane is in for major minutes once again. It’s been a total struggle in this series for the second year and there’s definitely something to him dealing with injuries here. He hasn’t looked to shoot much and the auxiliary stats aren’t there either. But we are going to need to consider rolling him here as long as he’s in the starting lineup because one would have to think the minutes are set to increase. But again, it’s a risk if you think there is something wrong with this guy.
Klay Thompson FD - $6200 DK - $7100
Opponent - MEM
Proj Pts FD - 37.68 DK - 40.19
With Gary Payton out, it looks like the Warriors are going to start the Curry/ Klay/ Poole backcourt with Wiggins and Draymond at the four and the five. There’s a chance they go back to Looney at the five, but I don’t think that’s going to be the case. From Klay’s perspective, Poole joining the starting lineup isn’t necessarily a good thing. But with Payton out, it sure seems like Thompson is in line to push over 40 minutes once again. His 19 shots were the second-most on the team last game and he finished with just 12 points because he struggled from three going 2-12. I love the usage though and think he’s coming at a crazy bargain on FanDuel.
Power Forward/ Center
Giannis Antetokounmpo FD - $11000 DK - $11500
Opponent - BOS
Proj Pts FD - 67.1 DK - 68.89
We’ve said it before, but he’s (along with Jokic) basically the toughest fade in fantasy basketball. The dude is just too overwhelming when it comes to piling on the fantasy line and the Bucks need everything out of him to keep the Bucks in the series. Last time out he was *disappointing* and still finished with 28 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. He took 27 shots and was inefficient from the field. Boston is trying to stick to a plan from this perspective. But this is still Giannis we are talking about and is only one game removed from a 24/13/12 triple-double.
Al Horford FD - $7200 DK - $5900
Opponent - MIL
Proj Pts FD - 36.53 DK - 35.86
The Celtics have really valued his defensive presence on the court especially where is concerns guarding Giannis. That’s led to a lot of minutes for the veteran and he’s used them to his advantage. He’s averaging 12 points and 11 rebounds through the first two games eight total defensive stats in that stretch. I love the DraftKings price which isn’t close to having adjusted for how many minutes he’s playing in this series. And the Celtics are clearly prioritizing his run considering how he’s able to hold up against Giannis.
Andrew Wiggins FD - $6100 DK - $5800
Opponent - MEM
Proj Pts FD - 32.93 DK - 33.56
Wiggins likely plays the four once again for the Warriors and with Gary Payton out they are going to need his defense more than ever. Payton was critical in trying to slow down Ja even a little bit. Some of that likely falls on Wiggins now and he’s in line for close to 40 minutes in this game. He ran 38 last time out and his 16 shots were the third-most on the team. He was crap from beyond the arc, shooting just 1-7. But he contributed nine rebounds and trickled in a little bit in the way of assists and defensive stats as well. I like the DraftKings price considering the context.
