DFS NBA Full Court Press: FanDuel & DraftKings Main Slate - Mar. 16th, 2022

Main Slate Breakdown for NBA DFS 03/16:

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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Atlanta Hawks @ Charlotte Hornets

Vegas Total: NA

Vegas Spread: NA

We’ll kick this slate off starting with the Hawks, John Collins will miss yet another game while Danilo Gallinari will likely return for this one. Clint Capela should continue to have his minutes solidified by Collins being out and is averaging 30.9 DraftKings points per game in three games against the Hornets this season. Trae Young has been in elite form with at least 60 fantasy points in back-to-back games and has a really nice price tag on both sites. The matchup sets up great against this Hornets defense as well, he’s an elite option on this slate. Bogdan Bogdanovic has been a fine option and would be a guy I’m okay getting to as a secondary guy but not someone that I’m forcing in by any means. Then the trio of Kevin Huerter, De’Andre Hunter, and Danilo Gallinari will all be tournament guys but get a nice matchup and will play a bigger role with Collins out. From the Hornets, LaMelo Ball has been volatile for most of the season but has been better as of late and I love the matchup against a bad Hawks defense. He’ll look like a fine option in GPPs, but I think we can probably do better in cash games. Terry Rozier continues to look great as well and comes at a discount to Ball if you’re looking for a guy with a safer floor with a similar upside. Miles Bridges is averaging 44.7 DraftKings points per game in three games against the Hawks this season and has been a consistent producer all season long, he’ll look like a solid option in all formats here as well. Then we get to the trio of Montrezl Harrell, PJ Washington, and Mason Plumlee who will share center minutes. I’m sure one of them will have a nice night in this matchup, but good luck predicting which one it will be, last time out it was Plumlee… so take that for what it’s worth. They’re all strictly GPP guys for me. The minutes haven’t really been there for Kelly Oubre as of late, but the price tag looks really nice if you want to take a chance on him in tournaments.

5-star play: Trae Young

4-star play: Clint Capela, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Danilo Gallinari, LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier, Miles Bridges

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Kevin Huerter, De’Andre Hunter, Danilo Gallinari, Montrezl Harrell, Mason Plumlee, PJ Washington, Kelly Oubre

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Philadelphia 76ers @ Cleveland Cavaliers

Vegas Total: 217.0

Vegas Spread: Phi -4.0

Starting with the Sixers, it’s really a two-man team for me with Joel Embiid and James Harden right now and all the usage they’re demanding. Joel Embiid is in great form and averaging 63.4 DraftKings points per game in two games against the Cavs this season. I’m generally not a guy that seeks out the Cavs as a target for opposing big men due to how good their defensive frontcourt is, but with Allen hurt and Embiid being matchup proof, you can get to some shares here. James Harden hasn’t really lived up to his price tag since that Sixers debut and would be more of a GPP guy for me at this price. With those two eating up most of the usage it doesn’t leave a whole lot out there for Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris but will be guys that I don’t mind as filler options if you’re MME’ing and land on them. From the Cavs, as I mentioned, Jarrett Allen will continue to be out while Lauri Markkanen and Caris LeVert both returned last time out. Darius Garland has a 34.9% usage rate and 1.3 fantasy points per minute over the past two weeks but will come down with LeVert back in there. Speaking of LeVert, he played 25 minutes in his return to the lineup last time out, I don’t think he’s a guy that we really need to get to on a 12-game slate at this price tag. I love the form Evan Mobley has been in as well, the matchup isn’t ideal however, Embiid is one of the best in the league at getting opposing bigs in foul trouble. We can round the team out with Markkanen and Kevin Love, Markkanen is the cash guy while Love is the volatile GPP play whose minutes fluctuate by the day.

5-star play: Joel Embiid

4-star play: James Harden, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Tobias Harris, Tyrese Maxey, Lauri Markkanen, Kevin Love, Caris LeVert

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Denver Nuggets @ Washington Wizards

Vegas Total: 228.5

Vegas Spread: Den -5.5

Starting with the Nuggets, Aaron Gordon comes into this one as questionable but had a similar story last game and ended up playing. He only played 20 minutes in that game and I’m thinking I’ll play the cautious side of this one and wait until we find out that whatever illness he has is recovered from. Nikola Jokic is generally the only guy that I really ever get to on the Nuggets with consistency and will look great again here. He dropped 72.3 FanDuel points in this matchup earlier this season and will look like a top raw option on this slate. Will Barton and Monte Morris will look like fine secondary options, but I’m not sure that we will need them on this slate. From the Wizards, I’ll be lower on Kyle Kuzma until his price tag comes down with Kristaps Porzingis active, he should lose production and usage with him out there and we’ve seen that occur already. I don’t mind the price tag on Kristaps if you want to go there in tournaments, I just wish he was getting more minutes, but the minutes upside is there in this one as they’ll need his size to handle Jokic down low. I’m not a Kentavious Caldwell-Pope guy, but he has at least 32 DraftKings points in three of his last five if you want to ride out the heater with him. The rest of this team is just kind of meh for me, I guess you can make a case for Corey Kispert in tournaments, but for the most part, I think we’ll find better options on this slate.

5-star play: Nikola Jokic

4-star play: Will Barton, Monte Morris, Kristaps Porzingis, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Aaron Gordon, Monte Morris, Will Barton, Kyle Kuzma, Corey Kispert

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Dallas Mavericks @ Brooklyn Nets

Vegas Total: NA

Vegas Spread: NA

Starting with the Mavericks, Luka Doncic has been on a heater since right before the All-Star break. Over the past month, he has a 39.1% usage rate and 1.56 fantasy points per minute and gets a great matchup against the Nets in this one. He’ll be up there with Jokic and the others as a top raw option on this slate. Spencer Dinwiddie has kicked it into gear since coming over to the Mavs as well, he has at least 31 DraftKings points in four of his last five games and will look like a fine GPP option tonight right there with Jalen Brunson who has lost some of his shine with Dinwiddie now on the team. Dorian Finney-Smith has even flashed some upside as of late, but not a guy that I think we’ll need on this slate along with the rest of this Mavs team. From the Nets, Kyrie Irving went absolutely bonkers last night going for 60 real points before getting pulled with eight minutes still left in the game… however, with this being a home game, he’ll be out. With Kyrie, James Harden, and LaMarcus Aldridge off of the court this season, Kevin Durant has a 36.7% usage rate and 1.52 fantasy points per minute and will look like a great option in this one. Andre Drummond had a rough go of it last night as he got into quick foul trouble and then wasn’t needed as the team was up by nearly 50 points. I have no issue going right back to him here at this price tag, especially in GPPs. Lastly, we’ll need to keep an eye on the status of Seth Curry as he comes into this one as questionable. If he were to miss we would likely see Goran Dragic slide into the starting lineup again (which we may see any way with Irving out) and the usual minutes we’ve been seeing for Bruce Brown as of late making them both viable options here, so keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed.

5-star play: Luka Doncic, Kevin Durant

4-star play: Spencer Dinwiddie, Andre Drummond, Seth Curry, Goran Dragic, Bruce Brown

Deeper Value: Goran Dragic

GPP Sleeper: Dorian Finney-Smith, Jalen Brunson, Spencer Dinwiddie

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!

Portland Trailblazers @ New York Knicks

Vegas Total: 225.0

Vegas Spread: Nyk -11.0

Starting with the Blazers, they’ll continue to be without Jusuf Nurkic and Anfernee Simons, while Justise Winslow comes in as questionable, so watch the Breaking News Feed for updates on him. Josh Hart followed up his 70 point fantasy night with another solid night against the Hawks in 38 minutes. The price tag is getting tough to stomach, but still would be more of a FanDuel guy due to the discount we get on him over there. Trendon Watford should continue to play nice minutes and has produced well as of late. The matchup sets up well and will be a guy I am interested in with at least 43 DraftKings points in back-to-back games. Brandon Williams will continue to start at the point for the Blazers as well, he’s shown he can be productive but really needs the minutes to be there, which they should be in a nice matchup. Lastly, Drew Eubanks is the very definition of minutes are king for NBA DFS. I don’t think he’s a good basketball player, but if he’s going to continue to see around 30 minutes it will be hard to ignore him. From the Knicks, I’m just going to have a hard time trusting Julius Randle, if you want to go to him I won’t talk you off in a great matchup, but I just can’t get him right this season he’s been extremely streaky. RJ Barrett has been great since the All-Star break and has a 30.9% usage rate with 1.07 fantasy points per minute over the past month. I do like the minutes security we’re getting with Alec Burks, but he’s another guy that can be volatile. The nice thing these Knicks guys have going for them is an elite matchup with this Blazers team at the very least, however.

5-star play: None

4-star play: Josh Hart (FanDuel), Trendon Watford, Brandon Williams, Drew Eubanks, Julius Randle, RJ Barrett, Alec Burks

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Justise Winslow, Josh Hart (DraftKings), Mitchell Robinson, Evan Fournier

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Phoenix Suns @ Houston Rockets

Vegas Total: NA

Vegas Spread: NA

Starting with the Suns, Cameron Johnson will come into this one as questionable, if he’s forced to miss again we should see more minutes and usage for guys like Jae Crowder, Mikal Bridges, and the Landry Shamet types, so keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed there. Devin Booker will continue to look like a great option here, he’s averaging 48.8 DraftKings points per game in three games against the Rockets this season and Chris Paul being out will only help his case here. Cam Payne will continue to start and play a big role in this offense and looks like a fine option even at an increased price tag. Lastly, Deandre Ayton should be able to do whatever he wants down low against this Houston frontcourt and is a guy I like in all formats. From the Rockets, Christian Wood returned last time out to play just 26 minutes… I’ll probably wait for him to prove it to me before I go back to him, especially on a 12-game slate, but there’s no denying the upside that he has. Kevin Porter Jr. has been volatile this season as well and will be more of a tournament guy if you want to get exposure as well. We can come off of Alperen Sengun as well with Wood back in the rotation… really kind of an ugly team in this spot. We can round them out with Jalen Green and Jae’Sean Tate as MME guys, but I don’t think you’ll need them on a slate this size.

5-star play: Devin Booker

4-star play: Deandre Ayton, Cam Payne, Jae Crowder, Mikal Bridges, Christian Wood

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Kevin Porter Jr., Jalen Green, Jae’Sean Tate

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Los Angeles Lakers @ Minnesota Timberwolves

Vegas Total: 237.0

Vegas Spread: Min -8.5

Starting with the Lakers, LeBron James has cooled off a bit over his last two games but gets an elite matchup with the Wolves here and has a 33.5% usage rate and 1.54 fantasy points per minute with Anthony Davis off of the court this season. Russell Westbrook has been extremely volatile and will be a tournament-only guy for me but has a 28.5% usage rate and 1.13 fantasy points per minute with Davis off of the court this season. Malik Monk has shown some nice consistency as of late and looks like a solid secondary option. Then we can round this team out with Carmelo Anthony and Talen Horton-Tucker who will be MME options again here. From the Wolves, Jarred Vanderbilt and Patrick Beverley both come in as questionable in this one, so keep an eye on their statuses. Karl-Anthony Towns had one of the best games of his career last time out going for 60 real points. I have no issue going right back to him in this spot against an undersized Lakers team. D’Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards were both guys I liked a lot last time out, obviously, Towns took over. Russell gets a revenge game against the Lakers here and is averaging 38.3 DraftKings points per game in two games against the Lakers this season. Malik Beasley would look like a fine filler option if Beverley were to miss and potentially even Vanderbilt with Jaden McDaniels already ruled out.

5-star play: LeBron James, Karl-Anthony Towns

4-star play: Russell Westbrook, Malik Monk, D’Angelo Russell, Anthony Edwards

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Carmelo Anthony, Talen Horton-Tucker, Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Patrick Beverley

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Oklahoma City Thunder @ San Antonio Spurs

Vegas Total: 234.5

Vegas Spread: Sas -14.0

Starting with the Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander comes into this one as questionable, so keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates. I’ll operate under the assumption that he plays here and was able to salvage a slow start last time out. He has a 34.6% usage rate and 1.53 fantasy points per minute with Josh Giddey and Lu Dort off of the court over the past month. If you’ve been reading my article this season you know just how much I love targeting point guards against the Spurs as well. Isaiah Roby went back to the bench last time out while Olivier Sarr got the start and played 32 minutes. If he starts again he’ll look like a great value option. I’ll be off of Aleksej Pokusevski until he gets himself back into the starting lineup, it’s just hard to trust his minutes unless he’s in that starting five. Then guys like Darius Bazley and Tre Mann will be fine tournament options as well. From the Spurs, Dejounte Murray has at least 52 DraftKings points in six straight games and is a guy that looks like an elite option against a bad defense here. I like targeting big men against the Thunder just as much as I like targeting guards against the Spurs which makes Jakob Poeltl a great option at this price tag. Keldon Johnson dropped a 50 burger last time out and is playing huge minutes lately, he’ll look like a nice option again in this spot, particularly for GPPs. Lastly, Devin Vassell and Lonnie Walker will be secondary GPP options in a nice matchup.

5-star play: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Dejounte Murray

4-star play: Olivier Sarr, Darius Bazley, Tree Mann, Jakob Poeltl, Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell

Deeper Value: Olivier Sarr

GPP Sleeper: Isaiah Roby, Aleksej Pokusevski, Devin Vassell, Lonnie Walker

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Chicago Bulls @ Utah Jazz

Vegas Total: 225.0

Vegas Spread: Utah -6.0

Starting with the Bulls, Zach LaVine returned last game and seems to be a full go again here. He’s played at least 36 minutes in four straight games and looks like a solid tournament option in a tougher matchup. LaVine being back will hurt the production and usage a bit for DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic but still guys that will look like fine options. Vucevic gets a really tough matchup with Gobert down low, so I may look for a better spot to go to him. Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu are going to lose minutes to Alex Caruso as well as he makes his way back from injury. He’s played at least 27 minutes in his first two games and would expect he’s right around that 30 range again at a nice price tag. From the Jazz, Rudy Gobert returned last time out and looked solid, I would anticipate he’s a full go again here and will look like a solid option in all formats. I do like the spot for Donovan Mitchell as well, the implied total in this one looks great. Jordan Clarkson came crashing down to Earth last time out and will be more of a GPP option again in this one. Bojan Bogdanovic will miss this game which may help a guy like Clarkson. Then we can round this team out with Mike Conley as a secondary option, he’s bounced back nicely over his last couple of games and is a guy I like again here.

5-star play: None

4-star play: DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic, Zach LaVine, Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Mike Conley

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Coby White, Alex Caruso, Jordan Clarkson

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Boston Celtics @ Golden State Warriors

Vegas Total: 220.0

Vegas Spread: GSW -3.0

Starting with the Celtics, Jayson Tatum will look like a great option against the Warriors here, they’re an undersized team so the paint should be more open than usual for him. Jaylen Brown would be more of a tournament guy due to the volatility he can show at times, but still a guy I’m okay with. Robert Williams should be able to do whatever he wants down low, Green did return for the Warriors but again, they’re quite undersized. Al Horford has been in great form since the All-Star break and is a guy I have no issue going right back to at this price tag. Then guys like Derrick White and Marcus Smart will be more of secondary options than anything. From the Warriors, Steph Curry bounced back in a big way last time out and is now $10k or under on both sites. I have no issue going back to him, especially in tournaments. Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole returned to Earth last time out but still had solid games and make sense as GPP options. Draymond Green returned last time out and played 20 minutes, I would expect he continues to get eased back in here, so not quite a full go yet. Green being back will hurt the minutes for Jonathan Kuminga and Otto Porter Jr., maybe even Kevon Looney if they go small, but nothing that I would be overly concerned about in this one due to the minutes limit.

5-star play: Jayson Tatum, Steph Curry

4-star play: Robert Williams, Jaylen Brown, Al Horford, Klay Thompson, Jordan Poole

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Derrick White, Marcus Smart, Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Kevon Looney

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Milwaukee Bucks @ Sacramento Kings

Vegas Total: 240.0

Vegas Spread: Mil -8.5

Starting with the Bucks, Brook Lopez returned last time out off of the bench to play 15 minutes… even if the price tag looks good here he won’t be a full go for a bit yet as they try and get him ramped up for the playoffs. Giannis Antetokounmpo should be able to do whatever he wants in this spot, the Kings don’t play much of any defense and looks like one of the better spend-up options on the slate. Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton will both look like secondary options for all formats again as well, they’ve been fairly consistent as of late. Holiday in particular has learned how to shoot the ball since the All-Star break! Bobby Portis will eventually lose minutes to Lopez if he comes back fully healthy, but I wouldn’t expect he loses much here and looks like a good option again… Then we can round this team out with Grayson Allen as a tournament option and a form of value. From the Kings, De’Aaron Fox seems to have found his footing with at least 52 DraftKings points in five of his last six games and a guy that looks great again here. Domantas Sabonis has struggled a bit in this spot this season, but in a game with a 240 implied total, he’ll make my player pool at the very least. Harrison Barnes is never really a guy that I force in, but if you happened to land on him here, I’ll have no issue with him as a filler piece. The minutes for Donte DiVincenzo have been all over the place as of late but he got the start for Justin Holiday last time out and looked good. He gets a revenge game against his old squad here and makes sense as a mid-range option. Then the rest of this frontcourt is a bit of a mess, I would consider Trey Lyles and Richaun Holmes risky GPP options as well.

5-star play: Giannis Antetokounmpo, De’Aaron Fox

4-star play: Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis, Domantas Sabonis, Harrison Barnes

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Grayson Allen, Harrison Barnes, Donte DiVincenzo, Trey Lyles, Richaun Holmes

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Toronto Raptors @ Los Angeles Clippers

Vegas Total: 217.0

Vegas Spread: Tor -1.5

Starting with the Raptors, Fred VanVleet just can’t seem to get healthy and comes into this one as questionable again. I’ll operate under the assumption that he plays, but keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates. If he’s active I would think he’s a full go and will play his normal 35+ minutes in a nice matchup. Pascal Siakam has at least 52 DraftKings points in three straight games and is a guy I have no issue going with here. The price tag on Scottie Barnes has come way up but for good reason, he’s been in great form. He’s probably more of a secondary option for me strictly due to the price tag. Gary Trent Jr. is a bit too scoring dependent for me to love in cash games but is a fine tournament option if you get there. Lastly, Chris Boucher played 30 minutes last time out and is a fine GPP option, but on a bigger slate, I’m not sure how much I’ll land on him at this price tag. From the Clippers, they should get Jackson and Morris back here after they missed the last game. Reggie Jackson will continue to play massive minutes. He’s played 40 minutes in three straight and is really the catalyst of this offense right now with Paul George and Norman Powell out. I can’t say I love the price tag on him, but he’s in play for tournaments at the very least. Marcus Morris is the other scoring option next to Jackson and has been volatile as of late as well. I do think he’s starting to find some consistency and makes sense at this price tag. Ivica Zubac has been in great form and has at least 51 DraftKings points in two of his last three games. Then guys like Terance Mann, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Nicolas Batum are all tournament options that I don’t know that we’ll need on this slate.

5-star play: None

4-star play: Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes, Reggie Jackson, Marcus Morris, Ivica Zubac

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Gary Trent, Chris Boucher, Terance Mann, Isaiah Hartenstein, Nicolas Batum

NBA Lock of the Day: Olivier Sarr (DK – $3.5k; FD – $3.5k)

Sarr got the start for Isaiah Roby last time out and played 32 minutes. I would expect more of the same in this one and looks like one of the better value options on the slate at this point. It’s a 12-game slate, so obviously, news will come and open up value, but we will have all the spend-up options in the world tonight so getting value will be key. I like Sarr as a potential 8x guy tonight! 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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