NBA DFS Picks, Projections, Lineups, Injuries & More Today: Thursday Playbook

Luka is questionable with ankle soreness and the most expensive player on the slate, but he also has the highest ceiling. With LeBron James still out, Luka will have a massive role in a pace-up matchup with Milwaukee. 

Cade just crushed this elite matchup two nights ago with a 27-8-10 line. It is certainly not chasing to go right back to him expecting similar production, as the Wizards rank 4th in pace and 28th in DRtg. 

I prefer Giannis if choosing between the two Bucks stars, but Lillard is a viable tournament pivot. The Lakers have been stout defensively since getting Jarred Vanderbilt back and increasing the role of Dorian Finney-Smith due to the injury to Rui Hachimura. With that said, they are shorthanded tonight, as LeBron James and Jaxson Hayes have been ruled out for this game. 

D-Lo has played at least 28 minutes in the last two games after averaging just 24.5 minutes in his first two games after returning from an injury. He gets an elite matchup against a fast-paced Bulls team. 

Tre Jones has filled in admirably for the injured Lonzo Ball and Ayo Dosunmu, and now Josh Giddey is out as well. Jones has played at least 30 minutes in four straight games, and he is simply too cheap for his current role. 

I have tournament interest in cheap Lakers pieces even if Luka Doncic is able to play. Someone from the group of Gabe Vincent, Jordan Goodwin, Dalton Knecht, and Jarred Vanderbilt is likely to put up a GPP-worthy score at their near-minimum prices. If Luka sits, those four will be extremely strong values and much more popular. 

Reaves has an enormous ceiling with LeBron James out, as we saw last game when he dropped 17-8-10 on the Nets. If Luka (questionable) gets ruled out as well, Reaves is the top play on the entire slate. 

We have now seen Coby White pay off this price tag in seven of his last nine games. Consistency had been a major problem for White much of this season, but it seems he has found his rhythm. With Josh Giddey expected to miss some time, White has a clear path to a massive role. 

It is a rare to see a player priced at a lower salary on FD compared to DK, but that is where Beasley sits for this slate. That obviously makes him a stronger FD play, but I have GPP interest on DK as well thanks to his elite matchup with the Wizards. Washington has allowed the 4th-most three-pointers made in the league this season. 

The floor for Cole Anthony is absolutely brutal, as we have seen in two of his last four games. But he gets an elite matchup against the worst defense in the league, and he also has an excellent ceiling at this price. 

I have tournament interest in cheap Lakers pieces even if Luka Doncic is able to play. Someone from the group of Gabe Vincent, Jordan Goodwin, Dalton Knecht, and Jarred Vanderbilt is likely to put up a GPP-worthy score at their near-minimum prices. If Luka sits, those four will be extremely strong values and much more popular. 

Where has the ceiling gone? We have not seen Franz top 40 fantasy points in five games this month, and he just barely cleared 40 in a handful of games in February. We have to go back over a month to February 10th to find his last true ceiling performance, and that is the reason he is GPP-only for me despite an elite matchup. 

Butler finally seems happy now that he has found a new home, and consistent production is coming along for the ride. Jimmy is playing mid-30s minutes every night and just posted a triple-double against Portland. 

This is an elite spot for Cam Thomas, who played over 30 minutes last game for the first time since his return from injury. He leads the Nets with a 32.4% usage rate on the season and just put up 27 points on a stout Cleveland defense. He gets a much better matchup tonight against the fast-paced Bulls. 

I have tournament interest in cheap Lakers pieces even if Luka Doncic is able to play. Someone from the group of Gabe Vincent, Jordan Goodwin, Dalton Knecht, and Jarred Vanderbilt is likely to put up a GPP-worthy score at their near-minimum prices. If Luka sits, those four will be extremely strong values and much more popular. 

Huerter is likely to draw the start for the injured Josh Giddey with Lonzo Ball and Ayo Dosunmu out as well. Huerter was on pace to play 37 minutes last game after Giddey left with injury, but the blowout cost him the final 3 minutes. He is underpriced for his role in a great matchup with a Brooklyn. 

If Luka Doncic gets ruled out, Giannis has the highest ceiling on the slate by a significant margin. I slightly prefer Luka as the top spend-up if he plays, but you can make a case for Giannis too. The Lakers will be shorthanded in the frontcourt, with LeBron James and Jaxson Hayes already ruled out. 

Zion is likely to go overlooked on this slate due to his difficult matchup and a salary that slots between two elite plays in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Paolo Banchero at the PF position. The ceiling games have been prevalent recently, with his last one coming in a similarly difficult matchup against the Clippers. Zion is projected to come in at about one third of the ownership of Giannis and Paolo, making him an elite tournament pivot. 

Paolo is back to playing upper-30s minutes on a nightly basis and gets an elite matchup against the worst defense in the league, who will also be without Yves Missi and Kelly Olynyk. Banchero is one of the top plays on the slate. 

Cameron Johnson is likely to see his role impacted by the return of Cam Thomas and D'Angelo Russell. Although when the three of them last played together a week ago against the Warriors, Johnson took 16 shots and led the team with 26 points. Add in the up-tempo matchup against the Bulls and there is still room for a ceiling performance here. 

George has been playing 30+ minutes virtually every night, and he has topped 30 fantasy points in three of his last four games. 

Lonzo Ball and Ayo Dosunmu remain out, and now Josh Giddey is set to miss some time with an ankle injury. Giddey had been putting up massive production of late, averaging nearly a triple-double over his last eight games. There are suddenly many more shots, rebound chances and potential assists available to the other active Bulls. 

I have tournament interest in cheap Lakers pieces even if Luka Doncic is able to play. Someone from the group of Gabe Vincent, Jordan Goodwin, Dalton Knecht, and Jarred Vanderbilt is likely to put up a GPP-worthy score at their near-minimum prices. If Luka sits, those four will be extremely strong values and much more popular. 

Duren played less than 25 minutes two nights ago against Washington and posted 15 points, 13 rebounds and 2 blocks. The Wizards went on a 17-5 run early in the 4th quarter or Duren might not have played the last 17 minutes of the game at all due to the blowout. If the Wizards can keep the game a little closer this time, Duren should absolutely smash. Washington allows the most opponent rebounds per game in the entire league. 

Draymond has posted consistently solid production this season for the Warriors. Jonathan Kuminga is expected to return to the lineup after a long absence, which does lower Green's minutes floor, but there shouldn't be much impact just yet. Kuminga is almost certainly on a strict minutes restriction, so Green still has upside. 

The Bulls have been absolutely dominated on the interior this season, allowing the most points in the paint in the league. Claxton should be in line for roughly 30 minutes of action and is a tremendous upside play at his salary. 

Another Magic player with a brutal floor, but also considerable upside given the elite matchup. The Pelicans are thin in the frontcourt with Yves Missi and Kelly Olynyk both being ruled out. 

Yves Missi and Kelly Olynyk have been ruled out, which should clear a path for Matkovic to play close to 30 minutes. The matchup is brutal, but the price tag look great considering the increased role.