DFS NBA Full Court Press: FanDuel & DraftKings Main Slate - Mar. 4th, 2022

Main Slate Breakdown for NBA DFS 03/04:

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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Indiana Pacers @ Detroit Pistons

Vegas Total: 230.5

Vegas Spread: Ind -3.5

We’ll kick this slate off starting with the Pacers, Malcolm Brogdon was my lock of the day (see end of article) last time he was on the slate and dropped 64 FanDuel points. He clearly won’t be limited moving forward and is a guy I love going back to in this spot. Brogdon back will impact the production of Tyrese Haliburton, that being said, he should still consistently be in the 40 fantasy point range. I’ll probably be lower on Haliburton until his price tag comes down a bit, but he should still be productive, I’m just not sure he can continue doing what he’s been doing at a consistent rate. Buddy Hield should still continue to see massive minutes, we may see Chris Duarte cut into some of those, but not enough to really matter for me. The frontcourt should look like Oshae Brissett and Goga Bitadze starting and both are solid mid-range options in a great matchup with the Pistons. From the Pistons, Cade Cunnigham has found some consistency as of late with at least 32 DraftKings points in six straight games and a 50 burger last night. In this matchup I have no issue using him in any format, he should be able to produce nicely here. Jerami Grant looks like a solid matchup as we’ve seen his minutes rise as of late which is big for his production. Saddiq Bey has been in solid form over his last few games and certainly passes the eye test with some of the things he can do on the court, he’s a solid GPP option at the very least. Marvin Bagley comes in as questionable, I’ll operate under the assumption that he’s out which will help Grant’s minutes stay solidified, but Isaiah Stewart and Kelly Olynyk will have their roles secure as well. Stewart is the preferred option, but Olynyk can get hot at any time and get a few extra minutes for GPPs.

5-star play: Malcolm Brogdon, Cade Cunningham

4-star play: Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield, Jerami Grant, Saddiq Bey

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Oshae Brissett, Goga Bitadze, Isaiah Jackson, Chris Duarte, Isaiah Stewart, Kelly Olynyk

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Atlanta Hawks @ Washington Wizards

Vegas Total: 223.0

Vegas Spread: Atl -4.0

Starting with the Hawks, I’ll operate under the assumption that John Collins is out again since he’s been out for about three weeks now. Trae Young came in as a game-time decision last night but put on a show and now has at least 66 DraftKings points in two of his last three games. He’ll look like a great option in this matchup. I’m going to continue to go back to Clint Capela with John Collins and Onyeka Okongwu out… he should play all the center minutes he can handle and gets a great matchup with a weak Wizards frontcourt. Bogdan Bogdanovic has been in really nice form as of late and a guy I don’t mind getting to as a secondary option in all formats. Then the trio of Kevin Huerter, De’Andre Hunter, and Danilo Gallinari all look like solid secondary options. From the Wizards, Kyle Kuzma has been in great form as of late with at least 58 DraftKings points in three of his last five games and has a 28.3% usage rate and 1.19 fantasy points per minute with Beal, Dinwiddie, and Harrell off of the court this season. This Hawks defense doesn’t scare me, he’s a great option here. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will continue to draw attention because of the minutes and shots that are available, but he’s not a guy I want to get to when he’s chalky. I don’t know that I expect him to be chalky tonight, but overall, just not a guy that I love getting to in general due to the volatility. Assuming Daniel Gafford continues to start he’ll look like a nice option, but the price tag has come up on him. Then guys like Deni Avdija, Raul Neto, and Corey Kispert are more tournament options than anything.

5-star play: Trae Young, Kyle Kuzma

4-star play: Clint Capela, Bogdan Bogdanovic, De’Andre Hunter, Danilo Gallinari

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Kevin Huerter, De’Andre Hunter, Danilo Gallinari, Ketavious Caldwell-Pope, Deni Avdija, Raul Neto, Corey Kispert, Ish Smith, Daniel Gafford

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Cleveland Cavaliers @ Philadelphia 76ers

Vegas Total: 219.5

Vegas Spread: Phi -7.5

Starting with the Cavaliers, they’ll be without Caris LeVert and Rajon Rondo, while Darius Garland returned last time out against the Hornets. He should play all the minutes he can handle in this one and run the offense, I have no issue with him in this spot. The matchup for Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley isn’t great against Embiid down low, they’ve both struggled in this matchup this season as well, I think we can find a better spot. Kevin Love is hard to trust in cash games but when he gets the minutes he’s been great, but good luck predicting when he’ll see the minutes. Lauri Markkanen being back hurts his minute’s security a bit but still a guy I like for GPPs, the same can be said for Markkanen… although he’s getting around 30 minutes per game, so the minutes aren’t really anything to worry about when it comes to him. From the Sixers, James Harden has looked great as a Sixer so far and a guy I have no issue paying up for again on this slate. He hasn’t seemed to impact Joel Embiid all that much either with at least 50 fantasy points in both games with Harden on the court. That being said, they get a much worse matchup for DFS purposes here, especially Embiid who will have to fight this Cavs frontcourt. Tyrese Maxey has continued to look solid as well which is somewhat surprising and makes him still playable, but I’ll probably be lower on Maxey and Tobias Harris going forward as I expect them to lose usage and production with Harden out there.

5-star play: Darius Garland, James Harden, Joel Embiid

4-star play: Lauri Markkanen, Tyrese Maxey

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, Kevin Love, Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris

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Milwaukee Bucks @ Chicago Bulls

Vegas Total: 238.5

Vegas Spread: Mil -3.5

Starting with the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo has at least 62 DraftKings points in four of his last five games and will be a guy I like again here in what should be a pretty high-scoring game based on that implied total. Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton both look like solid secondary options as well. They’re not guys that I generally prioritize when Giannis is active due to the limited ceiling they have, but that’s not to say they can’t be productive in a nice matchup here. Bobby Portis has been in great form as of late and a guy I have no issues landing on again here. From the Bulls, DeMar DeRozan will continue to play all the minutes he can handle and a guy I like going to in a fast-paced game against the Bucks. Nikola Vucevic is a Bucks killer going back to his Magic days, I have no problem going right back to him here, a good shooting night will set himself up really well here. Zach LaVine will be more of a GPP option, he just hasn’t shown the same consistency that DeRozan and Vucevic have as of late. I guess you can make a case for Ayo Dosumnu and Coby White in GPPs or MME, but I’m not sure how much I’ll land on them on a decent-sized slate.

5-star play: Giannis Antetokounmpo, DeMar DeRozan

4-star play: Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis, Nikola Vucevic, Zach LaVine

Deeper Value: Grayson Allen

GPP Sleeper: Bobby Portis, Ayo Dosumnu, Coby White

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!

Orlando Magic @ Toronto Raptors

Vegas Total: 221.5

Vegas Spread: Tor -8.0

Starting with the Magic, Wendell Carter Jr. has been in great form as of late, averaging 42 DraftKings points per game over his last ten. I have no issue going right back to him in this spot. I do like getting to Mo Bamba in tournaments as well, the big issue with him is minutes and foul trouble. That said, he has at least 30 minutes in back-to-back games with at least 33 DraftKings points in each of them. Cole Anthony has shown some volatility as of late but I do like the price tag, probably more of a GPP play, however. Then the minutes for Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner should continue to be there, if I’m picking one it’s likely Suggs due to the consistent production he’s shown. From the Raptors, Fred VanVleet comes in as questionable, so keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates. I’ll operate under the assumption that VanVleet plays for the sake of this article, but hopefully, we get this news before lock. Assuming he plays, he should be back to a full go and will look like a nice option in a great matchup. The price tag on Pascal Siakam looks right about where it should be but has been held down a bit over his last four or so games, that said, this matchup sets up great for a bounce back. Gary Trent is more of a tournament guy due to the scoring dependency he can show, but I do like him quite a bit if VanVleet is out. He sees a 7% usage increase and 0.25 fantasy points per minute with VanVleet out. Scottie Barnes continues to look great and has at least 40 DraftKings points in three straight games. Lastly, if VanVleet sits and Malachi Flynn starts again, he’ll look like a great play due to the minutes he’ll see and his current price tag especially on DraftKings.

5-star play: Wendell Carter Jr., Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam

4-star play: Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, Scottie Barnes, Gary Trent

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Mo Bamba, Cole Anthony, Gary Trent

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Minnesota Timberwolves @ Oklahoma City Thunder

Vegas Total: 230.5

Vegas Spread: Min -8.0

Starting with the Wolves, Anthony Edwards will continue to be out here with Jarred Vanderbilt coming in as questionable, so keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates surrounding his status. Below is how this team operates with Edwards off of the court this season:

• Karl-Anthony Towns – 33.0% usage rate; 1.48 fpm
• D’Angelo Russell – 26.4% usage rate; 1.15 fpm
• Malik Beasley – 22.7% usage rate; 0.89 fpm
• Patrick Beverley – 17.7% usage rate; 1.06 fpm
• Jarred Vanderbilt – 10.9% usage rate; 0.92 fpm

My favorite options of this group are the obvious ones in Towns, Russell, and Beverley. That being said, we should see Jaden McDaniels get the start again and is a 17.9% usage guy with 0.81 fantasy points per minute with Edwards off of the court. This is a great matchup for the Wolves as well. From the Thunder, they’ll be without Josh Giddey again in this one meaning we can go right back to the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander well. He has a 37.0% usage rate with 1.57 fantasy points per minute with Giddey and Lu Dort off of the court this season and looks like an elite play again. Darius Bazley has been a bit more volatile since the all-star break but gets an elite matchup with this Wolves frontcourt tonight. Tre Mann has replaced Giddey in the starting lineup and has looked great and now has at least 34 DraftKings points in four of his last six games. If we get Aleksej Pokusevski starting again I’ll have a ton of interest in him at this price tag, he’s a guy that can fill up the stat sheet in a hurry. Lastly, I have no problem going back to Isaiah Roby but would want him to be in the starting lineup, so keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for that lineup.

5-star play: Karl-Anthony Towns, D’Angelo Russell, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

4-star play: Patrick Beverley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Tre Mann, Darius Bazley, Aleksej Pokusevski

Deeper Value: Jaden McDaniels

GPP Sleeper: Malik Beasley, Jaden McDaniels, Isaiah Roby

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Utah Jazz @ New Orleans Pelicans

Vegas Total: 227.0

Vegas Spread: Utah -3.0

Starting with the Jazz, Donovan Mitchell has been in solid form and gets an elite matchup here, he’ll try to follow up his 60 point fantasy night last time out. Rudy Gobert had a big game last time out as well and a guy I have no issue going right back to here in all formats against this Pelicans team. We kind of know what we’re getting from Mike Conley at this point in the season, he’s a fantasy point per minute guy and a solid option in all formats. Then I would consider Bojan Bogdanovic and Jordan Clarkson more of GPP options due to the volatility they show, but the matchup is right. From the Pels, CJ McCollum continues to be their best producer since joining the team and a guy I have no issue going back to in a great matchup with the Jazz. Jonas Valanciunas gets a tough matchup against Gobert down low, I’ll probably wait for a better spot on him. I’ll have interest in Brandon Ingram but probably more of a tournament option due to the volatility. I don’t have a problem going back to Jaxson Hayes either, he will continue to start and play good minutes assuming he can stay out of foul trouble. Then we can round this team out with GPP plays like Devonte’ Graham and Herbert Jones.

5-star play: Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert

4-star play: Mike Conley, Bojan Bogdanovic, CJ McCollum, Brandon Ingram, Jaxson Hayes

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Bojan Bogdanovic, Jordan Clarkson, Brandon Ingram, Devonte’ Graham, Herbert Jones

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Houston Rockets @ Denver Nuggets

Vegas Total: 234.0

Vegas Spread: Den -14.0

Starting with the Rockets, Kevin Porter Jr. returned last game while Dennis Schroder missed and comes in as questionable here. That said, I’ll pretty much be off of Schroder with Porter Jr. back for the time being. Porter Jr.looks like a nice option here after a nice game last time out against the Jazz. The matchup is tough for Christian Wood against Jokic down low and would be more of a tournament option for me in this spot, but was able to drop a 50 burger on Gobert last time out. Jae’Sean Tate has looked good as of late and a guy I don’t mind falling on, but not a guy I’m prioritizing by any means. Then we can round this team out with Jalen Green who has been in good form with at least 33 DraftKings points in three of his last five games. From the Nuggets, Nikola Jokic should be able to do anything wants against the Rockets here and looks like one of the top spend-up options on the slate. Aaron Gordon and Will Barton have both been in rough form as of late but no better spot to bounce back against than the Rockets. The same can be said for Monte Morris but the price looks nice on him if you happened to land on him as a filler piece. Lastly, DeMarcus Cousins will continue to be between 15-20 minutes, so don’t expect a ton of run, but he’ll be productive when he’s in there.

5-star play: Nikola Jokic

4-star play: Kevin Porter Jr., Christian Wood, Jae’Sean Tate, Aaron Gordon, Will Barton, Monte Morris

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Jalen Green, Monte Morris, Will Barton, Aaron Gordon, DeMarcus Cousins

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: Aleksej Pokusevski (DK – $4.9k; FD – $5.2k)

I’ll go right back to the Poku monster here. He ended up making my core plays on Wednesday night after he entered the starting lineup for the Thunder. I’m operating under the assumption that he starts again here and will look like a great option any time we can guarantee those minutes as he can fill up the stat sheet in a hurry. 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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