Main Slate Breakdown for NBA DFS 3/21:
Mar 20, 2023; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis (10) brings the ball up the court against the Utah Jazz in the first quarter at Vivint Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-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!
Washington Wizards @ Orlando Magic
Vegas Total: 225.5
Vegas Spread: Orl -1.5
We’ll kick this slate off with the Wizards, they’ll be without Kyle Kuzma again in this one which means Deni Avdija should slide right back into the starting lineup. Below is how this team operates with him off of the court this season:
- Monte Morris – 17.8% usage rate; 0.94 fpm
- Bradley Beal – 33.3% usage rate; 1.30 fpm
- Deni Avdija – 17.2% usage rate; 0.86 fpm
- Kristaps Porzingis – 29.4% usage rate; 1.38 fpm
- Daniel Gafford – 15.0% usage rate; 1.05 fpm
Kristaps and Beal are my favorite options in a nice matchup against the Magic. Avdija does look good as well at $5k on DraftKings and FanDuel with multi-position eligibility. Gafford does see his minutes solidified a bit more as well, he’s a nice option. From the Magic, Paolo Banchero has been solid as of late and is playing massive minutes, he’s a nice option in all formats. Markelle Fultz has been as consistent as they come and has at least 50 DraftKings points in two of his last three. Franz Wagner is never a guy I feel the need to prioritize especially since this team is mostly healthy, he’d be more of a secondary option here. Wendell Carter Jr. has been in good form since returning from a brief absence, the matchup isn’t great but he’s a fine GPP option. Then, Cole Anthony will look solid as well with Jalen Suggs out again, he’s going to look like a nice option in all formats.
5-star play: Kristaps Porzingis, Bradley Beal
4-star play: Monte Morris, Deni Avdija, Daniel Gafford, Paolo Banchero, Markelle Fultz, Franz Wagner, Wendell Carter, Cole Anthony
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Daniel Gafford, Corey Kispert
Detroit Pistons @ Atlanta Hawks
Vegas Total: 236.0
Vegas Spread: Atl -14.0
Starting with the Pistons, Jaden Ivey has returned to his normal role and is playing massive minutes. This is a nice matchup against a Hawks backcourt and will look like a nice option in all formats. We can put Killian Hayes in that boat as well, playing a bunch of minutes and is looking to score more often. Eugene Omoruyi returned to the bench with Marvin Bagley returning to the starting lineup last time out, I would expect more of the same, but Omoruyi is still in play due to Duren being out, I would expect he plays around 25 minutes. Bagley looks like a nice option, a bit volatile as of late, but a guy with a massive ceiling regardless. James Wiseman will continue to start as well and is playing big minutes, the price tag is solid and is a guy I like as well, especially with Jalen Duren out. From the Hawks, Dejounte Murray comes into this one as questionable, so we’ll have to keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates, but for the sake of this article, I’ll operate under the assumption that he’s good to go. He’s averaging 43.3 DraftKings points per game in three games against the Pistons this season and is a guy I have no issue going right back to him here. Trae Young is obviously my preferred option, he’s averaged a nice 54.6 DraftKings points per game in three games, so clearly a nice matchup for both of these guys. Clint Capela is an awesome per-minute producer but the issue with him is always the minutes. He’s a perfect GPP option due to that, but if you land on him in cash or single entry I’m good with it. Onyeka Okongwu has actually outproduced him lately but is in that same boat as Capela. John Collins has been more productive since the coaching change and makes sense here as well. De’Andre Hunter isn’t a guy we need to prioritize but makes sense if you land on him as a last piece in. The same can be said for Bogdan Bogdanovic to round out this team.
5-star play: James Wiseman, Trae Young
4-star play: Jaden Ivey, Killian Hayes, Marvin Bagley, Dejounte Murray
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Eugene Omoruyi, Clint Capela, John Collins, De’Andre Hunter, Bogdan Bogdanovic
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!
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Brooklyn Nets
Vegas Total: 218.5
Vegas Spread: Cle -3.0
We’ll start with the Cavaliers, Jarrett Allen comes into this one as questionable, but similar story here, I’ll operate under the assumption that he’s good to go. He’s been out for 10+ days but was in solid form before sitting out, I wouldn’t imagine he’s limited if he’s able to go, and would make for a solid secondary option. Evan Mobley has been consistent as of late with at least 42 FanDuel points in three straight games. I prefer the price tag on Darius Garland over Donovan Mitchell, but neither of them are really priorities on this slate. From the Nets, Mikal Bridges continues to be the primary playmaker in this offense, he has a 28.9% usage rate and 1.14 fantasy points per minute since coming over from the Suns. The only issue here is the matchup, it’s not exactly great which makes him more of a secondary option. Spencer Dinwiddie has cooled off a bit over his last few after being on a heater for the early part of last week. Similar story with him, I like him but the matchup stinks. The minutes for Nicolas Claxton have been more consistent lately and will be a fine GPP option here in a tougher matchup. Cam Johnson has bounced back nicely over his last few games and makes sense as a secondary option as well. We can throw guys like Royce O’Neale and Dorian Finney-Smith in that same boat as well as filler pieces to round out the Nets.
5-star play: None
4-star play: Jarrett Allen, Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, Spencer Dinwiddie, Mikal Bridges, Nicolas Claxton
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Cam Johnson, Royce O’Neale, Dorian Finney-Smith
San Antonio Spurs @ New Orleans Pelicans
Vegas Total: 232.5
Vegas Spread: Nop -13.0
Starting with the Spurs… they’re a mess, no two way’s around it. They’ll be without Tre Jones, Devin Vassell, Zach Collins, Jeremy Sochan, and Charles Bassey while Devonte’ Graham comes in as questionable. Assuming Graham plays he should start and will look like a great option in all formats. Keldon Johnson should play a massive role in this offense as well and is coming off of a huge game, he’s going to look like a great option. I would think Malaki Branham jumps into the starting lineup as well and will look solid here as well. Sandro Mamukelashvili should start with Collins and Bassey out again and will look like a nice option at his current price tag. He’s been around a fantasy point-per-minute guy on the Spurs so far this season but I always like going to these replacement big guys when they get the opportunity. From the Pelicans, Brandon Ingram is my preferred option between him and CJ McCollum, but both guys are fine options in an elite matchup against this tanking Spurs team that’s running out their B-team. Jonas Valanciunas has at least 45 DraftKings points in back-to-back games and has seen his minutes trending in the right direction, he’s a nice option in all formats. Then guys like Trey Murphy and Herb Jones make sense as filler pieces to round out your rosters.
5-star play: Keldon Johnson, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Devonte’ Graham
4-star play: Malaki Branham, Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum, Jonas Valanciunas
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Malaki Branham, Trey Murphy, Herb Jones
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Boston Celtics @ Sacramento Kings
Vegas Total: 239.5
Vegas Spread: Bos -5.0
Starting with the Celtics, Jayson Tatum is going to look like a top spend-up option on the slate against a fast-paced Kings team that doesn’t play a whole lot of defense. Jaylen Brown makes sense as well if you can’t quite get to Tatum at his price tag. He has at least 45 DraftKings points in three of his last four games. Derrick White, Marcus Smart, and Malcolm Brogdon are all solid options at their price tags, Smart hasn’t been all that great as of late but had a nice bounce-back game last time out. I have no issue with any of them in this matchup. Robert Williams is expected to return here, but I would think they ease him back in, so more of a tournament option than anything. Then Al Horford is a solid roster filler as well but probably takes a slight hit with Williams back in there. From the Kings, we don’t have an injury report from them quite yet but Kevin Huerter has missed their last couple of games. If he’s forced to miss again here we should see a boost to guys like Malik Monk, Kessler Edwards, and Terence Davis. Domantas Sabonis has been in elite form as of late with at least 60 FanDuel points in two of his last three games, but his price tag is way up considering a tougher matchup with this Boston defense. De’Aaron Fox had a big bounce-back game last time out and looks like a nice option in all formats yet again in this one. Then guys like Harrison Barnes and Keegan Murray make sense as secondary GPP options in all formats as well.
5-star play: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown
4-star play: Marcus Smart, Derrick White, Malcolm Brogdon, Al Horford, De’Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Robert Williams, Malik Monk, Harrison Barnes, Keegan Murray
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Los Angeles Clippers
Vegas Total: 238.5
Vegas Spread: Lac -7.0
Starting with the Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been a guy I’ve been getting a bunch of on DraftKings due to the price discount you get on him compared to FanDuel. He has at least 50 DraftKings points in three of his last four games and looks like a nice option yet again in this one. I don’t exactly want to pay this price tag for Josh Giddey but he’s a fine secondary option. Jalen Williams has come down to Earth a bit over his last couple of games but still a fine option in all formats if you happen to land on him. Meanwhile, Lu Dort would be a volatile GPP option but will see big minutes. Lastly, Jaylin Williams should continue to start at center and be a fine value option if you need one. From the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George look like pretty similar options here, they’re both playing massive minutes and have been in good form. The matchup is great against this Thunder defense as well, they both look good in this one. Russell Westbrook is more of a tournament option but his minutes have been trending in the right direction over his last few games. Ivica Zubac has been getting the more consistent playing time in the front court over Mason Plumlee and would be my preferred option there. Then guys like Eric Gordon and Marcus Morris are fine options to round out this team and this slate.
5-star play: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (DraftKings), Kawhi Leonard, Paul George
4-star play: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (FanDuel), Josh Giddey, Jalen Williams, Russell Westbrook
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Lu Dort, Jaylin Williams, Russell Westbrook, Ivica Zubac, Eric Gordon, Marcus Morris
NBA Lock of the Day: Sandro Mamukelashvili (DK – $4.2k; FD – $5.1k)
The Spurs will be shorthanded again in this one with their main frontcourt pieces in Zach Colins and Charles Bassey ruled out. I would expect Mamukelashvili to get the start again and is underpriced on both sites. The matchup doesn’t scare me against the Pelicans either, he’s going to be popular on this slate… but for good reason. 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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