Happy Tuesday, April 1st! We have a 6-game NBA DFS main slate on DraftKings and 7-games on FanDuel, which includes the late night Denver vs Minnesota contest.

Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon are questionable as of the late afternoon. Be sure to plan accordingly depending on if you feel like dealing with that mass or trying to capitalize on some possible late-night leverage. Tune into the 5 p.m. ET live stream, and check out our Discord as we get closer to lineup lock.

 

 

 

Before actually diving into the meat and potatoes, welcome to the NBA DFS season. If this is your first time reading our column on NBA DFS picks, I just want to welcome you and give you a few tips and tricks on what you should be looking for each night.

  • News outlets: reliable sources that give us injury news & starting lineups
  • Pace of play: who's playing fast vs. who's playing slow. Which teams get a pace-up spot (more possessions) vs. pace-down (fewer possessions)
  • Usage rates: is a percentage of how many plays that player is being used in
  • NBA DFS Projections
  • Lineup Generator
  • NBA Ownership

NBA DFS Picks & Daily Fantasy Playbook Today, April 1st

Be sure to like and subscribe to the Fantasy Alarm YouTube channel!

 

 

 

Pre/Post-Lock Update

This section will be used for anything that changes from the morning until right up to roster lock. 

Injury updates, players we’re higher on than we were in the morning and so much more.

All status updates after contest roster lock will be made in the Fantasy Alarm Discord: https://discord.gg/2yATJxXe8G

UPDATE 5:10 p.m. ET

  • Royce O'Neale - Q
  • Jonathan Kuminga - OUT

UPDATE 6:08 p.m. ET

  • Anfernee Simons - OUT
  • Karl-Anthony Towns - GTD - If he misses, Hart, OG, and Bridges should be added to the core pool.

UPDATE 7:05 p.m. ET

  • Brad Beal - OUT
  • KAT - OUT
  • Royce O'Neale - OUT
  • Josh Giddey - IN
  • Kevin Huerter - IN
  • Dalen Terry - OUT
  • Lonzo Ball - OUT
  • Julian Phillips - OUT
  • Jeff Dowtin - OUT
  • AJ Green - OUT
    Cole Anthony - IN
  • Guerschon Yabusele - OUT
  • Kyle Lowry - IN

NBA Injuries, News & Updates Today, 4/1

  • Jalen Brunson - OUT
  • Kevin Durant - OUT
  • Damian Lillard - OUT
    Miles McBride - OUT
  • RJ Barrett - OUT
  • Cam Payne - OUT
  • Naz Reid - OUT
  • Donte DiVincenzo - OUT
  • Scoot Henderson - OUT
  • Tre Jones - OUT
  • Ochai Agbaji - OUT
  • Charles Bassey - OUT
  • Josh Giddey - Q
  • Jamal Murray - Q
  • Aaron Gordon - Q
  • Karl-Anthony Towns - Q
  • Anfernee Simons - Q
  • Guerschon Yabusele - Q
  • Kevin Huerter - Q
  • Kyle Lowry - Q
  • Brad Beal - Q
  • Jonathan Kuminga - Q
  • Cole Anthony - Q
  • AJ Green - Q

 

 

 

NBA DFS Slate & Game Overviews

In the section below, I’m listing the most notable things we need to look at in Las Vegas, including notable O/U and spreads. Not every game is listed, but every game listed has the pace and defensive numbers listed.

 

 

 

NBA DFS Core Player Pool & Lineup Picks

Here are the core players I’m looking at for my NBA DFS picks tonight. You can see the full analysis of tonight’s NBA DFS projections and player pool below or skip ahead to building the best lineups possible by locking these into the aforementioned lineup generator now.

High (updated 7:13 p.m. ET)

  • Nikola Jokic (FD), Giannis Antetokounmpo, Paolo Banchero (large GPP)

Mid

  • Deni Avdija, Shaedon Sharpe, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, Stephen Curry (FD), Ja Morant (FD), Draymond Green (FD), Toumani Camara, Donovan Clingan (better on DK), Ricky Council (slightly better on FD), Matas Buzelis

Value

  • Dalano Banton, Adem Bona, Mitchell Robinson, Precious Achuiwa, Buddy Hield, Ryan Rollins, Zaccharie Risacher (GPP), Delon Wright, Bol Bol (GPP)

Don't Miss The NBA DFS Playbook Live Show At 5:00 PM ET

Pos
(Click to sort ascending)
Player
(Click to sort ascending)
Matchup
(Click to sort ascending)
DK
(Click to sort ascending)
DK Pts
(Click to sort ascending)
FD
(Click to sort ascending)
FD Pts
(Click to sort ascending)
PGJosh GiddeyTOR @ CHI Tue 8:00960047.3970046.2

Giddey is questionable but certainly has to be in your multi-enter pool if he's active. A really nice game total and CHI is a rare favorite. Giddey has been filling it up since the departure of LaVine.

Game Type: GPP
PGStephen CurryGSW @ MEM Tue 8:00910045860042.5

Curry is just more of a FD play per price. Same deal for Ja.

Game Type: GPP
PGJa MorantGSW @ MEM Tue 8:00900048.1830046.4

Ja is more of a price play on FD.

Game Type: GPP
PGJamal SheadTOR @ CHI Tue 8:00460026.9570025.6

I like Shead at $4,600 on DK. He should see mid-20s minutes without a few key TOR pieces. He's flashing some defense upside, with multiple steals in three straight games, which can help him possibly smash in a pace-up spot vs. CHI.

Game Type: GPP
PGMike ConleyMIN @ DEN Tue 10:0023.9450023.7

Conley is a FD-only play. With DiVincenzo suspended, he should be in line for a few more ticks that could be very beneficial at $4,500 against a bad defense.

Game Type: CASH & GPP
PGRyan RollinsPHX @ MIL Tue 7:30430026.8520027.3

Probably out on the $5.3 tag, but I still think he has some juice to squeeze at $4,300. Rotation minutes could be volatile for him and Porter, depending on what Glenn Rivers chooses to do.

Game Type: GPP
PGDelon WrightPHI @ NYK Tue 7:30440023.1460024.5

Wright should be in the player pool and could see some possible blowout run.

Game Type: GPP
PGDalano BantonPOR @ ATL Tue 7:30330036.8440036.5

Banton is a volatile GPP play as things currently stand, but if Simons misses, he becomes a great source of value.

Game Type: GPP
PGChris PaulORL @ SAS Tue 8:00420024.1510023.9

Really nice DK price, Betting on some historical talent here. He should still see low-to-mid-20s minutes.

Game Type: GPP
SGDyson DanielsPOR @ ATL Tue 7:30750037.6800039.8

Daniels makes for a great GPP option and a run-back with your POR game stacks to help mitigate some chalk. His ceiling is huge on any given night due to his ridiculous ability to rack up steals, and there is always some sticker shock with him at $8K.

Game Type: GPP
SGAnfernee SimonsPOR @ ATL Tue 7:306500063000

If Simons plays, he's in a great situation without Grant, Henderson, and of course, Ayton. Without those three, Simons averages a 1.9% usage bump and 36.32 DKP per 36 minutes. He's fairly inconsistent, but he has a massive ceiling when shots are falling. POR has a fantastic team total in a great game environment vs. ATL.

Game Type: CASH & GPP
SGShaedon SharpePOR @ ATL Tue 7:30670037.6670036.2

POR has a fantastic team total in a great game environment vs. ATL. He's a high-upside play as things currently stand, but if Simons also misses tonight's game, he could arguably be the top per-dollar play on the slate.

Game Type: CASH & GPP
SGKevin HuerterTOR @ CHI Tue 8:00590030.9590030.7

Like the team total and matchup. He makes for a good GPP play, but he would get a big boost if Giddey is out.

Game Type: GPP
SGKevin PorterPHX @ MIL Tue 7:30490025.7530025.5

Kevin Porter has a legit 50-point ceiling. His new price range gives him a scarier floor though. I wouldn't play him and Rollins together, but both should be in the multi-pool. He averages 1.19 DKP per minute this season without Dame and Portis on the floor. Rotation minutes could be volatile for him and Rollins, depending on what Glenn Rivers chooses to do.

Game Type: GPP
SGJa'Kobe WalterTOR @ CHI Tue 8:00410025.9470025.6

Like the DK price a lot more. Big pace-up spot and a healthy team total for the Raptors, who are missing several key players.

Game Type: GPP
SGBuddy HieldGSW @ MEM Tue 8:00370021.7430020.8

Without Kuminga and Payton, Hield could see some more work. Nice high-pace spot.

Game Type: GPP
SFJimmy ButlerGSW @ MEM Tue 8:00860037.1810037.4

I like Butler for FD, just think he should be $9K over there based on their typical tight pricing.

Game Type: GPP
SFDeni AvdijaPOR @ ATL Tue 7:30810047830045.8

Deni continues to offer one of the best floor/ceiling combos and a 60-point ceiling. Portland has a great TT, and Deni would see an even bigger boost if Simons doesn't play. He averages just over 42 DKP per 36 minutes without Scoot, Grant, and Ayton on the floor this year, and with a fantastic game environment on tap vs. ATL, that may be a conservative number. He is fresh off a game with a big-time 30% usage rate.

Game Type: CASH & GPP
SFJaden McDanielsMIN @ DEN Tue 10:0023.1570023.9

McDaniels has been pretty inconsistent, but when he seen decent minutes, he's shown us a slate-breaking ceiling at times. He could have a big opportunity for extra burn. without DD and Naz tonight.

Game Type: GPP
SFToumani CamaraPOR @ ATL Tue 7:30580029.8580030.3

Portland's situation is good, but it could be even better for some of the Blazers if Simons misses. They're all kind of jumbled in the GPP pool due to a great pace-up spot vs. ATL. I wouldn't play more than two or three of the 5-6K guys together, but any of them could legitimately pop off. Welcome to late-season NBA.

Game Type: GPP
SFZaccharie RisacherPOR @ ATL Tue 7:30450025.5510025.3

Risacher is a textbook large-field GPP play. His minutes are so frustrating, but he can easily crush any slate at his price tags. Buyer beware, there is a very wide range of outcomes here, but that includes being a possible slate winner.

Game Type: GPP
SFNickeil Alexander-WalkerMIN @ DEN Tue 10:0017.4410016.7

NAW should also be in the FD player pool with a possible expanded role tonight without DD and Naz. 

Game Type: GPP
SFJulian ChampagnieORL @ SAS Tue 8:00330021.4420020.9

A large-field GPP option who has seen 23+ minutes in six of his last nine games. His willingness to rebound gives him a bit of a ceiling at a dirt-cheap price.

Game Type: GPP
PFGiannis AntetokounmpoPHX @ MIL Tue 7:301210061.71210059.8

Giannis is THE spend-up option on DK tonight. Vegas tabs this game as competitive, with just a 5.5 spread.

Game Type: GPP
PFPaolo BancheroORL @ SAS Tue 8:00990044.9990043.6

Paolo is my preferred Magic stud to play, just due to his higher ceiling alone. I'm seeing him sub-20% in some places around the industry, and that's probably a little too low. I like it for GPPs against a SAS team that has struggled to defend the interior during Wemby's absence. Paolo has posted just one game with a usage rate lower than 34% across his last eight contets, which indicates a 60-bomb is in the cards on any given night – and he's had 3 of them in March.

Game Type: GPP
PFFranz WagnerORL @ SAS Tue 8:00870041.3850040.7

I'm not rushing to play Wagner, but he does have a shot to be optimal. Seems like a high-floor cash play to me.

Game Type: GPP
PFJosh HartPHI @ NYK Tue 7:30820041.6820039.9

I am throwing Hart here a a placeholder for three Knicks. I think Hart, OG, and Bridges are certainly in your GPP pool. If KAT misses, all of them will see a warranted boost in ownership, and I will be highly interested in all three of them. Hart becomes a rebounding machine without KAT in the lineup, and regardless, he's my favorite standalone value of the three wings – if KAT plays.

Game Type: GPP
PFDraymond GreenGSW @ MEM Tue 8:00660028.3640028.7

I like Draymond on FD, where he should in theory be around $7K without Kuminga stealing some ticks from him.

Game Type: CASH & GPP
PFJeremy SochanORL @ SAS Tue 8:005200055000

I like Sochan for large-field GPPs. He dealt with foul trouble in his last game, and Bassey is inactive tonight.

Game Type: GPP
PFRoyce O'NealePHX @ MIL Tue 7:304000052000

Without KD, O'Neale is a great source of value. However, he did JUST get a downgrade to Q due to illness. Bol Bol and Grayson Allen COULD become very nice leverage options if you have some flexibility.

Game Type: CASH & GPP
CNikola JokićMIN @ DEN Tue 10:0071.21280066

FD-only play. It's April. Does the best player in the Association need analysis?

Game Type: GPP
CKarl-Anthony TownsPHI @ NYK Tue 7:30104000100000

If KAT is able to play, he's one of my favorite GPP plays. He gets an absurd 9% usage bump without Brunson on the floor, and there would be zero resistance from Philly. I don't thin the public will click his name, even if he is active.

Game Type: GPP
CJakob PoeltlTOR @ CHI Tue 8:00660032.8700033.7

At $6.6, Poeltl is one of my favorite large-field dart throws. He won't ever play 36 minutes anymore because..you know…the whole tanking thing, but he's been rushing in 28-30 minutes.

Game Type: GPP
COnyeka OkongwuPOR @ ATL Tue 7:30760037.5770036.7

OO has been awesome, especially since Capela has been out. Since March 11 (without Capela), OO has averaged 1.21 DKP per minute. He offers a great floor/ceiling combo, even if he really won't ever push 36-40 minutes under normal circumstances.

Game Type: CASH & GPP
CAdem BonaPHI @ NYK Tue 7:30490030.2540031.8

Yabusele is a big one to watch. If he misses, Bona would be in line for a big workload again. He'd turn into one on of my favorite plays of the day at $4.9.

Game Type: GPP
CJonathan MogboTOR @ CHI Tue 8:00410020.9500021.5

Mogbo is a tough click, but he's been really productive in March. TOR is really thin at wing and in the front court today.

Game Type: CASH & GPP
9600 , 47.3
47.3
9700 , 46.2
46.2

Giddey is questionable but certainly has to be in your multi-enter pool if he's active. A really nice game total and CHI is a rare favorite. Giddey has been filling it up since the departure of LaVine.

Game Type: GPP
9100 , 45
45
8600 , 42.5
42.5

Curry is just more of a FD play per price. Same deal for Ja.

Game Type: GPP
9000 , 48.1
48.1
8300 , 46.4
46.4

Ja is more of a price play on FD.

Game Type: GPP
4600 , 26.9
26.9
5700 , 25.6
25.6

I like Shead at $4,600 on DK. He should see mid-20s minutes without a few key TOR pieces. He's flashing some defense upside, with multiple steals in three straight games, which can help him possibly smash in a pace-up spot vs. CHI.

Game Type: GPP
, 23.9
23.9
4500 , 23.7
23.7

Conley is a FD-only play. With DiVincenzo suspended, he should be in line for a few more ticks that could be very beneficial at $4,500 against a bad defense.

Game Type: CASH & GPP
4300 , 26.8
26.8
5200 , 27.3
27.3

Probably out on the $5.3 tag, but I still think he has some juice to squeeze at $4,300. Rotation minutes could be volatile for him and Porter, depending on what Glenn Rivers chooses to do.

Game Type: GPP
4400 , 23.1
23.1
4600 , 24.5
24.5

Wright should be in the player pool and could see some possible blowout run.

Game Type: GPP
3300 , 36.8
36.8
4400 , 36.5
36.5

Banton is a volatile GPP play as things currently stand, but if Simons misses, he becomes a great source of value.

Game Type: GPP
4200 , 24.1
24.1
5100 , 23.9
23.9

Really nice DK price, Betting on some historical talent here. He should still see low-to-mid-20s minutes.

Game Type: GPP
7500 , 37.6
37.6
8000 , 39.8
39.8

Daniels makes for a great GPP option and a run-back with your POR game stacks to help mitigate some chalk. His ceiling is huge on any given night due to his ridiculous ability to rack up steals, and there is always some sticker shock with him at $8K.

Game Type: GPP
6500 , 0
0
6300 , 0
0

If Simons plays, he's in a great situation without Grant, Henderson, and of course, Ayton. Without those three, Simons averages a 1.9% usage bump and 36.32 DKP per 36 minutes. He's fairly inconsistent, but he has a massive ceiling when shots are falling. POR has a fantastic team total in a great game environment vs. ATL.

Game Type: CASH & GPP
6700 , 37.6
37.6
6700 , 36.2
36.2

POR has a fantastic team total in a great game environment vs. ATL. He's a high-upside play as things currently stand, but if Simons also misses tonight's game, he could arguably be the top per-dollar play on the slate.

Game Type: CASH & GPP
5900 , 30.9
30.9
5900 , 30.7
30.7

Like the team total and matchup. He makes for a good GPP play, but he would get a big boost if Giddey is out.

Game Type: GPP
4900 , 25.7
25.7
5300 , 25.5
25.5

Kevin Porter has a legit 50-point ceiling. His new price range gives him a scarier floor though. I wouldn't play him and Rollins together, but both should be in the multi-pool. He averages 1.19 DKP per minute this season without Dame and Portis on the floor. Rotation minutes could be volatile for him and Rollins, depending on what Glenn Rivers chooses to do.

Game Type: GPP
4100 , 25.9
25.9
4700 , 25.6
25.6

Like the DK price a lot more. Big pace-up spot and a healthy team total for the Raptors, who are missing several key players.

Game Type: GPP
3700 , 21.7
21.7
4300 , 20.8
20.8

Without Kuminga and Payton, Hield could see some more work. Nice high-pace spot.

Game Type: GPP
8600 , 37.1
37.1
8100 , 37.4
37.4

I like Butler for FD, just think he should be $9K over there based on their typical tight pricing.

Game Type: GPP
8100 , 47
47
8300 , 45.8
45.8

Deni continues to offer one of the best floor/ceiling combos and a 60-point ceiling. Portland has a great TT, and Deni would see an even bigger boost if Simons doesn't play. He averages just over 42 DKP per 36 minutes without Scoot, Grant, and Ayton on the floor this year, and with a fantastic game environment on tap vs. ATL, that may be a conservative number. He is fresh off a game with a big-time 30% usage rate.

Game Type: CASH & GPP
, 23.1
23.1
5700 , 23.9
23.9

McDaniels has been pretty inconsistent, but when he seen decent minutes, he's shown us a slate-breaking ceiling at times. He could have a big opportunity for extra burn. without DD and Naz tonight.

Game Type: GPP
5800 , 29.8
29.8
5800 , 30.3
30.3

Portland's situation is good, but it could be even better for some of the Blazers if Simons misses. They're all kind of jumbled in the GPP pool due to a great pace-up spot vs. ATL. I wouldn't play more than two or three of the 5-6K guys together, but any of them could legitimately pop off. Welcome to late-season NBA.

Game Type: GPP
4500 , 25.5
25.5
5100 , 25.3
25.3

Risacher is a textbook large-field GPP play. His minutes are so frustrating, but he can easily crush any slate at his price tags. Buyer beware, there is a very wide range of outcomes here, but that includes being a possible slate winner.

Game Type: GPP
, 17.4
17.4
4100 , 16.7
16.7

NAW should also be in the FD player pool with a possible expanded role tonight without DD and Naz. 

Game Type: GPP
3300 , 21.4
21.4
4200 , 20.9
20.9

A large-field GPP option who has seen 23+ minutes in six of his last nine games. His willingness to rebound gives him a bit of a ceiling at a dirt-cheap price.

Game Type: GPP
12100 , 61.7
61.7
12100 , 59.8
59.8

Giannis is THE spend-up option on DK tonight. Vegas tabs this game as competitive, with just a 5.5 spread.

Game Type: GPP
9900 , 44.9
44.9
9900 , 43.6
43.6

Paolo is my preferred Magic stud to play, just due to his higher ceiling alone. I'm seeing him sub-20% in some places around the industry, and that's probably a little too low. I like it for GPPs against a SAS team that has struggled to defend the interior during Wemby's absence. Paolo has posted just one game with a usage rate lower than 34% across his last eight contets, which indicates a 60-bomb is in the cards on any given night – and he's had 3 of them in March.

Game Type: GPP
8700 , 41.3
41.3
8500 , 40.7
40.7

I'm not rushing to play Wagner, but he does have a shot to be optimal. Seems like a high-floor cash play to me.

Game Type: GPP
8200 , 41.6
41.6
8200 , 39.9
39.9

I am throwing Hart here a a placeholder for three Knicks. I think Hart, OG, and Bridges are certainly in your GPP pool. If KAT misses, all of them will see a warranted boost in ownership, and I will be highly interested in all three of them. Hart becomes a rebounding machine without KAT in the lineup, and regardless, he's my favorite standalone value of the three wings – if KAT plays.

Game Type: GPP
6600 , 28.3
28.3
6400 , 28.7
28.7

I like Draymond on FD, where he should in theory be around $7K without Kuminga stealing some ticks from him.

Game Type: CASH & GPP
5200 , 0
0
5500 , 0
0

I like Sochan for large-field GPPs. He dealt with foul trouble in his last game, and Bassey is inactive tonight.

Game Type: GPP
4000 , 0
0
5200 , 0
0

Without KD, O'Neale is a great source of value. However, he did JUST get a downgrade to Q due to illness. Bol Bol and Grayson Allen COULD become very nice leverage options if you have some flexibility.

Game Type: CASH & GPP
, 71.2
71.2
12800 , 66
66

FD-only play. It's April. Does the best player in the Association need analysis?

Game Type: GPP
10400 , 0
0
10000 , 0
0

If KAT is able to play, he's one of my favorite GPP plays. He gets an absurd 9% usage bump without Brunson on the floor, and there would be zero resistance from Philly. I don't thin the public will click his name, even if he is active.

Game Type: GPP
6600 , 32.8
32.8
7000 , 33.7
33.7

At $6.6, Poeltl is one of my favorite large-field dart throws. He won't ever play 36 minutes anymore because..you know…the whole tanking thing, but he's been rushing in 28-30 minutes.

Game Type: GPP
7600 , 37.5
37.5
7700 , 36.7
36.7

OO has been awesome, especially since Capela has been out. Since March 11 (without Capela), OO has averaged 1.21 DKP per minute. He offers a great floor/ceiling combo, even if he really won't ever push 36-40 minutes under normal circumstances.

Game Type: CASH & GPP
4900 , 30.2
30.2
5400 , 31.8
31.8

Yabusele is a big one to watch. If he misses, Bona would be in line for a big workload again. He'd turn into one on of my favorite plays of the day at $4.9.

Game Type: GPP
4100 , 20.9
20.9
5000 , 21.5
21.5

Mogbo is a tough click, but he's been really productive in March. TOR is really thin at wing and in the front court today.

Game Type: CASH & GPP