DFS NBA Full Court Press: FanDuel & DraftKings Main Slate - Feb. 24th, 2022

Main Slate Breakdown for NBA DFS 02/24:

Welcome to another year of the DFS Army NBA Full Court Press! Members had a ton of success using the Full Court Press along with various articles and tools that DFS Army provides last season, so we are glad to be back with another year of the all-inclusive article. You have to start your research somewhere, and oftentimes going game by game and breaking down every matchup and its key players is the first step in our process. My name is Mike aka @MadnessDFS on Twitter, make sure to give me a follow as I’ll occasionally make updates to the advice in the article. But, you’ll mostly find me in our VIP coaching forums where I provide detailed lineup maneuvers and answer all lineup questions. With that said, let’s get it started!

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Cleveland Cavaliers @ Detroit Pistons

Vegas Total: 208.5

Vegas Spread: Cle -7.5

We’ll kick this slate off starting with the Cavaliers, they’ll be without Caris LeVert and Darius Garland to start the second half of the season. I would expect we get Brandon Goodwin starting at point guard again but on the off chance we get Rajon Rondo starting he would look like a good value play as well. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley should be able to do whatever they want in this spot against a pretty weak Pistons frontcourt and look like nice options here. I do like Kevin Love quite a bit for GPPs at the very least especially with Garland and LeVert out. The minutes for Love solidified a bit more as we went into the All-Star break and has a 26.8% usage rate with 1.32 fantasy points per minute with those two off of the court this season. Then we can round this team out with Lauri Markkanen as a tournament-only option in a good spot. From the Pistons, Cade Cunningham went into the All-Star break as one of the more volatile guys in the league. He’s obviously shown a massive ceiling but the floor hasn’t been there which will make him a GPP only guy for me again here. Saddiq Bey dropped a 50 burger in their final game before the break, but this is a really difficult matchup against a good defensive frontcourt, so another tournament-only option, in fact, this whole Pistons team will be tournament guys for me on a pretty good-sized slate. I do like the price tag a good amount of Jerami Grant, so if you want to make a case for him in cash games I think you can. I can’t say I love the spot for Isaiah Stewart, but they’ll need his size against a big frontcourt.

5-star play: Starting PG for the Cavs (Rajon Rondo, Brandon Goodwin)

4-star play: Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, Kevin Love, Jerami Grant, Cade Cunningham, Saddiq Bey

Deeper Value: Rajon Rondo, Brandon Goodwin

GPP Sleeper: Lauri Markkanen, Kevin Love, Cade Cunningham, Hamidou Diallo, Isaiah Stewart

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Boston Celtics @ Brooklyn Nets

Vegas Total: 213.5

Vegas Spread: Bos -7.0

Starting with the Celtics, I like the spot a good amount for both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. I do think the Nets got better with the James Harden trade, but they’re not quite there yet as they’re still missing Durant, Kyrie, and Simmons. That being said, Tatum and Brown both look like solid options at their price tags. Robert Williams went into the break with at least 32 DraftKings points in four of his final five games and the minutes have been pretty secure for him, he’ll look good in a nice matchup. Derrick White and Marcus Smart may eat into each other’s production a bit but I would still expect around 30 minutes for both of them and are solid secondary options. Then I’ll consider Al Horford more of a GPP guy due to the inconsistency he’s shown as of late. From the Nets, as I mentioned, they’ll continue to be without Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, and Ben Simmons in this one. Seth Curry has been a guy I’ve been really high on since he joined the team and will be a guy I go right back to here. I will note, this Celtics defense has been unreal for about two months now, so it’s not exactly a great matchup. Andre Drummond will continue to start but will likely be around 20-25 minutes, which clearly is enough to get his production there. He’s an elite per-minute guy and can easily double-double in that amount of time with upside if his minutes do go up. Patty Mills bounced back in a big way in the final game before the break with a 40 point fantasy night. He has a 26.4% usage rate and 0.93 fantasy points per minute with these three off of the court this season, so if you want to make a case for tournaments I would be okay with that. Bruce Brown will continue to be a guy I like for GPPs at this price tag in a great matchup, the minutes should be there again for him. Cam Thomas is in that Curry price range but has been producing really nicely as of late and a nice option again. Then we can round the team out with LaMarcus Aldridge as a nice secondary option, he has a 30% usage rate with these three Nets guys off of the court.

5-star play: Jayson Tatum

4-star play: Jaylen Brown, Robert Williams, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, Cam Thomas, Patty Mills

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Derrick White, Marcus Smart, Al Horford, Bruce Brown, LaMarcus Aldridge

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Atlanta Hawks @ Chicago Bulls

Vegas Total: 235.0

Vegas Spread: Chi -4.0

Starting with the Hawks, it sounds like John Collins will miss this game again for the Hawks as he comes in as doubtful to kickoff the second half of the season. Collins being out should help secure the minutes for Clint Capela again… he didn’t come into the break in that great of form, but if he’s going to be around 30 minutes, it’s going to be hard for me not to like him at this price tag. Trae Young is averaging 44.3 DraftKings points per game in two games against the Bulls this season and looks like a solid option in all formats. Bogdan Bogdanovic was looking like he was hitting his stride right before the break and now with a little time to rest he looks like a nice option at this price tag. Then the trio of Kevin Huerter, De’Andre Hunter, and Danilo Gallinari are all within a few hundred bucks of each other and look like fine filler options, if I was picking one it would be Hunter with Collins out again. From the Bulls, DeMar DeRozan went into the break with at least 50 fantasy points in four straight games and will be a guy I like a lot in a great matchup again. Nikola Vucevic has destroyed the Hawks this season averaging 58.4 DraftKings points per game in two games against Atlanta. The price is up on him, but still a guy I would be okay getting to here. Zach LaVine would be more of a GPP guy for me, but the matchup is elite and the implied total of 235 is pretty nice. Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu will look like solid secondary options, they’ll lose a little consistency with LaVine back but Dosunmu should still start and White’s minutes will be there leading the second unit, which he’s excelled at before.

5-star play: Clint Capela, DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic

4-star play: Trae Young, Bogdan Bogdanovic, De’Andre Hunter, Zach LaVine, Coby White, Ayo Dosumnu

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Kevin Huerter, Danilo Gallinari, Coby White, Ayo Dosumnu

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Memphis Grizzlies @ Minnesota Timberwolves

Vegas Total: 239.5

Vegas Spread: Mem -3.0

Starting with the Grizzlies, this spot looks pretty good for this team against a pretty poor defense in Minnesota. Ja Morant is averaging 37.7 DraftKings points per game in three games against the Wolves this season which isn’t exactly a great number but considering the form he came into the break with, I’ll like him a good amount here. I always like targeting big men against this Wolves team so guys like Jaren Jackson and Steven Adams will look good at their respective price tags. Desmond Bane isn’t a sexy option, but you can do much worse at this price tag. I don’t hate getting to some Brandon Clarke off of the bench either, he went into the break on a pretty good run and is a nice per minute guy. From the Wolves, the price tag is really intriguing on Karl-Anthony Towns at under $10k on both DraftKings and FanDuel, he’ll be a guy I like quite a bit in this spot. D’Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards are pretty similar options for me here and are priced like it, they’ve both performed well in this spot already this season… if I was leaning with one over the other it would probably be Russell just because he’s been a bit more consistent, but I won’t talk you off of either of them. I’ll have no issue with Patrick Beverley either, coming into the season he wasn’t a guy I really ever got to in DFS but he’s proved me wrong this season and has been really consistent. Then we can round this Wolves team out with Jarred Vanderbilt as a GPP option.

5-star play: Ja Morant, Karl-Anthony Towns

4-star play: Jaren Jackson, Steven Adams, Desmond Bane, D’Angelo Russell, Anthony Edwards, Patrick Beverley

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Brandon Clarke, De’Anthony Melton, Jarred Vanderbilt

I wanted to give a quick shoutout to VIP member “GhostfaceKillaa” on his $30k win earlier in the season. A pivot to Curry off the chalky Doncic was the key for him, congrats man!

Phoenix Suns @ Oklahoma City Thunder

Vegas Total: 215.5

Vegas Spread: Pho -9.5

Starting with the Suns, they’ll be without Chris Paul until about playoffs time which will open up a bunch of minutes and usage in this backcourt. I would think we get newly acquired Aaron Holiday to start in his place but Elfird Payton is a candidate off of the bench as well with Cam Payne still out. Below is how this team operates with Paul off of the court this season:

• Devin Booker – 33.7% usage rate; 1.25 fpm
• Deandre Ayton – 21.0% usage rate; 1.35 fpm
• Mikal Bridges – 13.3% usage rate; 0.73 fpm
• Cam Johnson – 16.6% usage rate; 0.88 fpm

The sample size on Holiday is really small, about 30 minutes since he just joined the team but assuming he starts he looks like a great value option. This is a great matchup for the Suns against a pretty bad defense as well. From the Thunder, they’ll get Shai Gilgeous-Alexander back here, but we’ll need to see if he’s on any sort of minutes restriction as he’s been out since the end of January, so keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates surrounding him. With him back in the lineup, I’ll be underweight on Josh Giddey at this price tag, I would expect him to lose some production as SGA grabs some of that usage back. I’m still okay going back to Darius Bazley however, he had a rough game going into the break but has been in great form as of late. I would expect guys like Tre Mann and Aaron Wiggins to lose some minutes with Gilgeous-Alexander back as well.

5-star play: Devin Booker, Aaron Holiday (if starting)

4-star play: Deandre Ayton, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Darius Bazley

Deeper Value: Aaron Holiday

GPP Sleeper: Cam Johnson, Mikal Bridges, Josh Giddey, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

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Denver Nuggets @ Sacramento Kings

Vegas Total: 231.5

Vegas Spread: Den -4.5

Starting with the Nuggets, it’ll be pretty hard not to like Nikola Jokic in this spot. The Kings are not a good defensive and Jokic has already dropped 66 fantasy points against them once this season, he’ll look like one of the better spend-up options on the slate. The matchup sets up well for Aaron Gordon and Will Barton as well. Barton hasn’t been in the best form but still a guy that can take over in the blink of an eye. Then we can round this team out with Monte Morris as a solid filler option. From the Kings, Domantas Sabonis had his best game as King right before the break and will look like a solid option here. He’ll have his hands full with Jokic down low, but still a guy I like. De’Aaron Fox had a big game right before the break as well with nearly 60 fantasy points. We know the ceiling is there with him somewhere and maybe the Sabonis trade kicked him into gear a bit, but still more of a GPP guy until we see some consistency on him. Harrison Barnes looks like a solid secondary option as well. Davion Mitchell and Donte DiVincenzo will eat into each other’s minutes but are fine filler options if you want to get some tournament exposure. Then, we get to Richaun Holmes, who I personally think is a really good basketball player and the Kings are wasting him into no-man’s land. That being said, the will need his minutes in this spot and if you’re okay with some risk, I think he’s really interesting at this price tag… but would prefer he started.

5-star play: Nikola Jokic

4-star play: Will Barton, Aaron Gordon, Monte Morris, Domantas Sabonis

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Monte Morris, Harrison Barnes, Davion Mitchell, Donte DiVincenzo, De’Aaron Fox, Richaun Holmes

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Golden State Warriors @ Portland Trailblazers

Vegas Total: 223.0

Vegas Spread: GSW -9.5

Starting with the Warriors, Steph Curry set the world on fire at the All-Star game and will look like a solid option again here. He has been a bit more volatile than we’d prefer this season but still a guy I like due to the ceiling he brings to the table. The minute’s restriction is pretty much gone for Klay Thompson, I wouldn’t expect him to play 50 minutes in a triple OT game but he’s pretty locked into around 30 minutes right now and is a solid option in all formats. Andrew Wiggins isn’t a guy that I want to prioritize by any means, but a fine piece if you want to get to him in GPPs. Then guys like Jonathan Kuminga and Kevon Looney should continue to see good minutes while Draymond Green continues to work his way back and are solid secondary pieces as well. From the Blazers, if they weren’t banged up before the break, they certainly are now with Jusuf Nurkic out for the next few weeks. I would think we get Trendon Watford to start in his place as he’s really the only other true center on the team right now. He’s been a good per minute guy on the season and if he can get around 25 minutes here he’s going to look like a great option. I do worry that the Warriors just force them into going small and we see some Josh Hart at center lineups or something along those lines, so he’s not a lock and load type play, but a good value nonetheless. Speaking of Josh Hart, he and Anfernee Simons will continue to run this team and look like great options again here. The minutes on Justise Winslow are locked in as well and has at least 30 DraftKings points in every game with the Blazers since joining the team. Then we can round the team out with CJ Elleby who is getting big minutes, but just not producing enough for me to have a whole lot of interest in him.

5-star play: Steph Curry, Trendon Watford

4-star play: Klay Thompson, Josh Hart, Anfernee Simons, Justise Winslow

Deeper Value: Trendon Watford

GPP Sleeper: Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Kevon Looney

Use the 2021-22 NBA DFS Sim Model and build stronger lineups for cash games and/or large-field tournaments! Run the slate 1000 times and see who comes out on top most often, who creates value, and who is most likely to post that gpp-winning outlier…

NBA Lock of the Day: Devin Booker (DK – $8.8k; FD – $8.8k)

I like me some Devin Booker in this spot, the Suns will be without Chris Paul in the foreseeable future which means more usage for Booker. With Paul off of the court this season he has a 33.7% usage rate and 1.25 fantasy points per minute. Not to mention, he gets a great matchup with a pretty poor Thunder defense. He’s averaged 58.5 DraftKings points per game in two games against them already this season. At this point in the day, I would think he makes my core, but check out our VIP Cheat Sheets as we get closer to lock for staff picks on Core plays, 8x locks of the day, and tiers notes as well!

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