Daily Fantasy DraftKings and FanDuel NBA Picks - Thursday, March 21, 2024

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Point Guard/ Shooting Guard

Luka Doncic FD - $12800 DK - $12700
Opponent - UTA
Proj Pts FD - 65.87 DK - 70.9

The Mavericks come in as huge favorites in this one, -12.5 against the Jazz who are clearly in tank mode. That being said, it’s such a good matchup for Luka Doncic and the rest of Dallas that we have to strongly consider playing him in cash even at these high prices.

He’s triple-doubled in eight of his last ten games, averaging 32/10.6/10 over the month of March. It’s an elite run, unlike much else we’ve seen from a fantasy perspective. If there are any savings at all throughout the rest of the slate (and there will be), then Luka makes as high floor a play as you can make.

De'Aaron Fox FD - $9600 DK - $9300
Opponent - WAS
Proj Pts FD - 50.52 DK - 53.35

If you don’t want to pay through the nose for Luka and can stomach the fade, then De'Aaron Fox and the Kings guys are in as good a spot as you can get for a DFS slate. They play the Wizards, who aren’t only the worst defensive efficiency team in the league but also run the fastest pace as well. If the game can stay close (a big “if”), then Fox should see high 30s minutes, putting up shots in the high teens. He’s had some ceiling games of late for sure, and this matchup is just too good to pass up.

Miles McBride FD - $5200 DK - $4700
Opponent - DEN
Proj Pts FD - 28.16 DK - 30.23

Miles McBride got the start last game with OG Anunoby back on the shelf and should again here on Thursday. In true Tom Thibodeau fashion, Deuce went out and basically ran the entire time. He played 47 in regulation, finishing with 29 points on 9-13 shooting.

Now, it should be mentioned that there was very little else to speak of, tallying just two assists and a rebound in all that time. That’s at least a little concerning, but you really just can’t argue with that many minutes from anyone at these price points.

If Giannis Antetokounmpo were to sit out again, then Damian Lillard (FD 9300 DK 9500) would jump immediately to the top of this list.

Keon Ellis (FD 4600 DK 4100) makes for a punt-ish play on this slate as long as he’s still in the starting lineup for the Kings.

Small Forward

Amen Thompson FD - $7900 DK - $6300
Opponent - CHI
Proj Pts FD - 36.39 DK - 37.69

He’s a bit too expensive on FanDuel, but the DraftKings price is still too low for Amen Thompson who will be in the starting lineup and has been putting up awesome numbers in the role. Over the last three games, Amen is averaging 21 points and 10 rebounds, with some other stats thrown in there as well. DraftKings is just slow on correcting the price for the new role and opportunity, meaning we are getting the chance to run him in cash games once again. The FanDuel price makes it tougher though.

Cameron Johnson FD - $5400 DK - $5100
Opponent - MIL
Proj Pts FD - 26.73 DK - 29.43

Dorian Finney-Smith is going to sit this one out meaning we are likely to get Cam Johnson in the starting lineup at the power forward. The Nets are at risk of getting blown out here, especially if Giannis is back in action. But the price on Johnson likely means we can take the risk regardless. Over the last four games, he’s averaging 12 points and five rebounds in just mid-20s minutes.

We should see that spike to low-30s if things break right. The price is fine enough on FanDuel especially where we need to roster two from the SF position.

Power Forward/ Center

Domantas Sabonis FD - $11000 DK - $11000
Opponent - WAS
Proj Pts FD - 57.49 DK - 62.2

Again, as with De'Aaron Fox, the Kings are in such an elite spot that having their top guys in cash is likely the way to go. In fact, just stacking these two guys and building out the rest of the lineup around them will have a pretty high floor. There are blowout concerns, but if it went that way, Sabonis and Fox would have to be at the forefront anyway. Sabonis has triple-doubled in two of his last four games, averaging 21 points and 17 rebounds over the month of March. His price is getting up there, but it’s for good reason.

P.J. Washington FD - $5400 DK - $5000
Opponent - UTA
Proj Pts FD - 29.38 DK - 30.84

Rostering the Dallas bigs, or really anyone on this team not named Luka or Kyrie can get dicey because of how much fantasy production is concentrated that way. But I do like the price and matchup for P.J. Washington here. On FanDuel, where we need to roster two PFs, he definitely fits a need.

And the price point helps build lineups. He’s running super cold from three, going just 3-22 over his last four games from beyond the arc. Those triples are a key to his fantasy success, and we could be buying low on with regression coming.

If Giannis is out again then Brook Lopez (FD 6000 DK 5600) and Bobby Portis (FD 7000 DK 6700) become great plays against the Nets.