Main Slate Breakdown for NBA DFS 2/25:
Feb 23, 2023; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) shoots the ball while Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) defends in the second quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
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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Before I get started, I need to shoutout a few huge VIP Member wins – “Phamacist” took 1st place in the $300k Fadeway contest which netted him $100k while “da_banditz” grabbed 1st place on FanDuel as well winning $10k- congrats guys!
Miami Heat @ Charlotte Hornets
Vegas Total: 226.5
Vegas Spread: Mia -5.0
We’ll kick this slate off with the Heat, Tyler Herro returned last night but saw just 28 minutes due to a blowout in Milwaukee. I have no issue going back to him in a great bounce-back against a bad Hornets defense. The same can be said for Jimmy Butler who has dominated the Hornets this season, averaging 50.7 DraftKings points per game in three games… his price is elevated, with that said. Bam Adebayo is in that boat as well, these main guys should be able to bounce right back into fantasy relevancy in this one. Then guys like Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, and Victor Oladipo will continue to fill the void left by Kyle Lowry, but I think we can do better on this slate. Kevin Love ended up playing 22 minutes last night and would expect more of the same tonight, at some point I do think he sees around 25 minutes pretty regularly for this team… so he looks like a nice value option. From the Hornets, Terry Rozier and Kelly Oubre returned last night which will only muddy up this team even more. Rozier jumped right back to his usual role while Oubre played just 23 minutes, I would expect he either rests tonight or is around that number again. He’s been out for about three months now with that hand injury. LaMelo Ball has at least 62 DraftKings points in three straight games and has seen his price come down since last night. It’s not a great matchup, but it’s hard to ignore his production as of late. Mark Williams has continued to start with Mason Plumlee traded and his price tag is starting to reflect that. He is a great per-minute producer and is a solid option yet again in this one although his minutes came down last night. PJ Washington has been in great form as well and is playing big minutes, he’ll make sense in all formats. Then Gordon Hayward had another massive game last night, I have no issue chasing the heater with him.
5-star play: Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, LaMelo Ball
4-star play: Kevin Love, Terry Rozier, Mark Williams PJ Washington, Gordon Hayward
Deeper Value: Kevin Love, Nick Richards
GPP Sleeper: Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, Victor Oladipo, Kevin Love, Kelly Oubre
Indiana Pacers @ Orlando Magic
Vegas Total: 232.5
Vegas Spread: Orl -2.0
Starting with the Pacers, Tyrese Haliburton bounced back in a big way against the Celtics last time out and gets a great matchup in this one. He’s going to look like a nice spend-up option on this slate. Myles Turner had a massive game in that one as well, we know he can be a little volatile, but I still have no problem going back to him in a great matchup. Buddy Hield isn’t my favorite option at this price tag, but the ceiling is obviously there for him. Then guys like Bennedict Mathurin and Aaron Nesmith are solid tournament options in a nice matchup. From the Magic, they got Cole Anthony back last time out and hurt Jalen Suggs more than anyone, it muddy’s up that second unit even more. Markelle Fultz is pretty free of any sort of decrease in production with Anthony back, he’s been playing great ball and gets a nice matchup in this one. Paolo Banchero is a fine option, but he’s been volatile relative to his current price tag. Franz Wagner hasn’t been all that great and has been held under 30 FanDuel points in nine straight games, he’d be more of a roster filler for me. Then Wendell Carter Jr. makes sense as an option at this price tag as well, I don’t mind the matchup and we know the ceiling is there.
5-star play: Tyrese Haliburton
4-star play: Myles Turner, Buddy Hield, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr., Markelle Fultz
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Bennedict Mathurin, Aaron Nesmith, Franz Wagner, Cole Anthony
Quick shoutout to VIP member “Cenzamatic” on a massive $20k win last season! Sometimes paying up for double studs works, and Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant brought it home for him with the help of some Stanley Johnson and Pistons value. Good work and congrats man!
New Orleans Pelicans @ New York Knicks
Vegas Total: 223.5
Vegas Spread: Nyk -3.0
Starting with the Pelicans, CJ McCollum is a fine option, his price tag did come down and the matchup doesn’t exactly scare me, he’s just not a guy I feel the need to prioritize on this slate. Brandon Ingram is probably my preferred option on this team, he leads the team with a 33.4% usage rate and 1.20 fantasy points per minute on the season with Zion off of the court. Jonas Valanciunas is a GPP-only guy option due to his volatility, but we know the ceiling is there when he’s right. Then guys like Trey Murphy, Larry Nance, and Herb Jones are fine flyer options on the wing, but not guys we need to prioritize by any means. From the Knicks, Mitchell Robinson returned last night to play 28 minutes which is more than I was expecting to see, so it seems like he’s a full go despite missing over a month with that thumb injury. Josh Hart finally came down to Earth last night and isn’t going to see minutes in the mid-30s like he was with the Blazers, so he’s more of a secondary option here for me. Julius Randle bounced back in a big way last night but I wouldn’t expect him to shoot 7-14 from three-point range again, that said, I like the price tag and the matchup. Jalen Brunson had a down game relative to his price tag, it seems Randle and Brunson aren’t guys that can have big games on the same night, I’ve been avoiding using them in the same lineup if possible. Then, RJ Barrett bounced back slightly in their final game before the break, he’s more of a secondary GPP guy for me at this point.
5-star play: Julius Randle
4-star play: CJ McCollum, Brandon Ingram, Jonas Valanciunas, Mitchell Robinson, Jalen Brunson, RJ Barrett
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Trey Murphy, Larry Nance, Herb Jones, Josh Hart
Denver Nuggets @ Memphis Grizzlies
Vegas Total: 235.5
Vegas Spread: Mem -2.0
Starting with the Nuggets, Nikola Jokic is going to look like a top spend-up option on this slate coming off of a massive game against the Cavaliers and we saw what Embiid just did to this Grizzlies’ frontcourt. Jamal Murray returned to his normal role last time out and didn’t seem too rusty, he didn’t go out and return to his 60 fantasy point form, but that wasn’t expected either. He’s going to look like a solid option in all formats yet again. Michael Porter Jr. will look like a solid option in GPPs with Gordon forced to miss again, he’s around a fantasy point per minute with him off of the court this season. As I mentioned, Aaron Gordon won’t be able to play again in this one, so guys like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Bruce Brown should benefit and see some additional minutes. From the Grizzlies, Ja Morant is going to look like a nice raw option, the price tag has come down and the Nuggets have sneakily been giving up some nice games to opposing point guards. Jaren Jackson will have his hands full with Jokic in the paint but was able to hold his own against the Embiid last time out. We know the story with him though, he just needs to keep his hands to himself on defense. We know Desmond Bane is going to continue his consistency and looks like a nice option in all formats as well. Brandon Clarke started over Xavier Tillman again last time out but ended up starting the second half of the game and played 30+ minutes, I would expect he returns to the starting lineup in this one. Then Dillon Brooks is a fine GPP option to round out the team but I imagine we can find better options on a nice-sized slate.
5-star play: Nikola Jokic, Ja Morant
4-star play: Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr, Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Michael Porter Jr., Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Bruce Brown, Xavier Tillman, Dillon Brooks
Boston Celtics @ Philadelphia 76ers
Vegas Total: 225.0
Vegas Spread: Bos -1.5
Starting with the Celtics, Jayson Tatum had a massive game last time out and now has at least 60 FanDuel points in back-to-back games. He’s going to look like a great spend-up option yet again on this slate. Jaylen Brown returned to play 43 minutes and had a big game as well, the mask doesn’t seem to hinder his performance, and is a nice option again in this one. Marcus Smart returned to his normal role as well and makes sense as a secondary option. They’ll need all the minutes they can get from Al Horford and Robert Williams to battle Embiid down low, Williams is my preferred fantasy option with that said. Then guys like Derrick White and Malcolm Brogdon will take a hit with Brown and Smart back but that didn’t stop Brogdon from having a great game last time out. From the Sixers, Joel Embiid kept it rolling last time out and now has at least 60 DraftKings points in four of his last five, he’s up there with Tatum and Jokic as the top spend-up option on the slate. James Harden has been in great form and has been extremely consistent, he’s a nice option in all formats at a great price tag. Tobias Harris and Tyrese Maxey are GPP guys who will need to fight for usage with Embiid and Harden as the main pieces in the offense. Maxey’s minutes are trending in the right direction which is good to see at the very least.
5-star play: Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid
4-star play: Jaylen Brown, Robert Williams, Marcus Smart, Al Horford, James Harden
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Malcolm Brogdon, Derrick White, Tobias Harris, Tyrese Maxey
San Antonio Spurs @ Utah Jazz
Vegas Total: 241.0
Vegas Spread: Uta -9.5
Starting with the Spurs, Tre Jones comes into this one as questionable again after missing their last handful of games, so keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates. We saw Devonte’ Graham move into the starting lineup in his place last time out and would be a guy I want to go right back to if that’s the case again here. Keldon Johnson has shown some nice consistency over his last handful of games as well and I like the matchup here, he’s going to look like a nice option. Zach Collins will continue to start at the five and has been great since taking over that role, the price tag has come up, but for good reason. Then guys like Malaki Branham and Jeremy Sochan make sense as secondary options as well. From the Jazz, Jordan Clarkson will continue to look good here and play great minutes. He has a 32.5% usage rate and 1.27 fantasy points per minute with Malik Beasley, Collin Sexton, and Mike Conley off of the court this season and this is a great fast-paced matchup. Talen Horton-Tucker is a guy we can go right back to as well with Sexton out again. He has at least 31 DraftKings points in four of his last five and was able to get over that mark last time out even with shooting 2-11. Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler both had massive games last time out and will be guys we can go right back to the well with in this one. This Spurs team is not out there to win right now and the defense is evidence of that. Then Kelly Olynyk has been in good form with at least 36 FanDuel points in three of his last five games and makes plenty of sense in this one coming off of a massive game last time out. He comes in as questionable, so keep an eye on his status as we get closer to lock.
5-star play: Devonte’ Graham (if starting), Lauri Markkanen, Jordan Clarkson, Talen Horton-Tucker
4-star play: Keldon Johnson, Malaki Branham, Zach Collins, Walker Kessler, Kelly Olynyk
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Jeremy Sochan, Kelly Olynyk
NBA Lock of the Day: Talen Horton-Tucker (DK – $5.5k; FD – $5.9k)
He will likely be popular, but for good reason with Collin Sexton out again in this one. He has a 22.8% usage rate and 1.14 fantasy points per minute with Conley, Beasley, and Sexton off of the court this season and the minutes will be there. The matchup is great and he has multi-position eligibility on both sites making roster construction much simpler. 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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