Fantasy

NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: April 23

FantasyPros breaks down the top DraftKings and FanDuel daily fantasy players for the 3-game Playoff slate on Tuesday.

Joel Bartilotta, FantasyPros

April 23, 2024 4:05 PM

Los Angeles’ Paul George averaged 22.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game this season.

This is the best time to be a basketball fan. Every game from here on out is more important than the last, and it’s really an extraordinary viewing experience for any true fan. Seeing these teams play 100 percent defense on every possession shows how gifted these guys are on both ends of the floor, and it’s something truly special to witness. With that said, let’s talk about this exciting Tuesday slate after that miraculous Monday card!

Core Plays

Anthony Edwards (SG/SF – MIN): $8,900 DraftKings, $9,800 FanDuel

Edwards has been taking steps all season and is on the brink of superstardom. This former top pick averaged nearly 50 DraftKings points per game over the final months of the year and showcased a 56-point masterpiece in Game 1. He did that damage across just 36 minutes, and we genuinely believe he could play 40-45 minutes for the remainder of this series.

Paul George (SG/SF – LAC): $8,100 DraftKings, $8,500 FanDuel

We weren’t sure how LA would look in Game 1, but they looked as good as ever. What many people don’t realize is that PG13 can be one of the best players in this type of role. He’s being asked to take over this offense in the absence of Kawhi Leonard, posting a 32 percent usage rate with him off the floor. He’s also averaging nearly 50 DK points per game when he’s been out, and he should continue that against this 18th-ranked Dallas defense.

Cash Game Considerations

Luka Doncic (PG – DAL): $11,900 DraftKings, $12,300 FanDuel

Doncic is the most expensive player on the slate, but he has earned it. The Slovenian led the NBA with 66 DraftKings points per game while pairing it with a 50-point floor. He also had an average of above 70 DK points in the second half of the season, and we truly believe that could be his floor in a 40-minute role throughout this postseason. Not to mention, he’s got at least 58 DK points in seven of his last nine matchups with LA.

Damian Lillard (PG – MIL): $9,300 DraftKings, $9,500 FanDuel

Lillard has struggled all season, but he’s happy to take over with Giannis, who is doubtful for this game. That was the case in Game 1, with Lillard scoring 49 DraftKings points across 38 minutes. That’s the stud we saw in Portland, but it’s no surprise that he’s locked into 20-25 shots and 40 minutes as Milwaukee’s primary playmaker. The matchup with Indiana is incredible, too, and we’ll dive into that later on!

GPP Targets

Bobby Portis (PF/C – MIL): $6,800 DraftKings, $7,300 FanDuel

The biggest beneficiary of the Giannis injury is Portis, stepping into the starting lineup. This guy has always been a per-minute beast throughout his career, and he’s guaranteed 30 minutes as long as Antetokounmpo is out. In the 24 games that BP played at least 28 minutes this year, he averaged 37 DraftKings points per game. That’s all you can ask for from a player in this price range, especially against an Indiana team that ranked 28th in total defense and first in pace.

Daniel Gafford (C – DAL): $5,200 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel

It was shocking to see Gafford limited to just 13 minutes in Game 1 because he was one of the Mavs’ most valuable players over the final two months. Since entering the starting lineup, the big man has averaged 32 DraftKings points per game, which is right on par with what he did in Washington. This guy can score 40-50 DK points as long as he plays 30 minutes, and we’re willing to take that risk in a GPP.

Value Plays

Khris Middleton (SG/SF – MIL): $7,400 DraftKings, $8,100 FanDuel

This is the final piece of our Milwaukee stack. The reason we want to use all of these guys is that Giannis is out, leaving a ton of usage, shots, and minutes on the table. Middleton has been the primary guy in the past, averaging over 40 DK points per game when Antetokounmpo has been out. That’s what we saw in Game 1, scoring 45 DK points across 35 minutes. Playing the fastest-paced team only adds to his value, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Middleton’s price rise $1,000 by the end of this series!

Ivica Zubac (C – LAC): $5,800 DraftKings, $7,100 FanDuel

With Kawhi out, it’s all hands-on deck in LA. That means all these guys need to step up, with Zoo collecting 20 points and 15 rebounds in Game 1. More importantly, he played 32 minutes, and Zubac can be a $7K player in that type of role. The best part about this is the matchup with Dallas, who have been playing small ball, allowing Ivica to eviscerate them in Game 1.

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