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This article aims to highlight some of the best NBA DFS Plays at every position for your cash game lineups. Keep in mind that the following player write-ups were constructed earlier in the day, and sometimes injury/rest situations can alter the fantasy landscape. Monitoring our NBA News & Headlines Feed throughout the day will keep you in the loop while giving you the subsequent DFS consequences of each information piece.
We’ll take a look at Thursday’s five-game slate starting at 7:00 ET.
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POINT GUARD
Jrue Holiday – Milwaukee (at Brooklyn) - DK: $8,300 / FD: $8,500 / Yahoo: $35
As always, if you want to start with a superstar like Giannis (he’s probable) or Joel Embiid, I have no issue with it. Tonight, I like fitting in three tier-two stars, starting with Holiday. This game should be the game of the night, with a 140-point over/under and a very narrow spread. The Nets are a fantasy-friendly matchup overall and for guards especially. Both teams are jockeying for seeding at opposite ends of the playoff bracket. Holiday is on everyone’s mind when one of Antetokounmpo or Middleton is out, but even when all three stars are active, Holiday is generally putting up 40 fantasy points, a feat he should accomplish with ease tonight.
Also Consider: Trae Young, Darius Garland, Russell Westbrook, Killian Hayes, Jordan Clarkson
SHOOTING GUARD
Paul George – LA Clippers (at Chicago) - DK: $9,400 / FD: $9,700 / Yahoo: $42
It’s only one game, but I’m a believer. He may not play on both legs of this back-to-back, but it looks like he’ll get 30-plus minutes in a close game, which this should be. The Bulls are ranked 20th in defensive rating and average in fantasy points allowed. It only took one half for George to knock the rust off as he scored 34 points with four steals, a block and some additional peripherals in the win over Utah on Tuesday. He’s not a must-play, but where you have room to fit him comfortably (FanDuel and Yahoo), I don’t mind the spend for his floor/ceiling combination.
Also Consider: Malik Monk, Seth Curry, James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Cade Cunningham, Caris LeVert
SMALL FORWARD
De’Andre Hunter – Atlanta (vs. Cleveland) - DK: $4,900 / FD: $5,000 / Yahoo: $15
Hunter was back to usual in his return last night from a brief absence. He played 30 minutes and turned in just under a fantasy point per minute. Against a Cavaliers team that is down a few starters, I like Hunter and the Hawks’ chance to return nice value tonight. If you want to spend up on Young or Bogdanovic, no issue; you know I love them both. I do think Hunter is the best value of that bunch, though, with his much lower salary and solid range of outcomes.
Also Consider: Khris Middleton, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Lauri Markkanen, Danny Green, Bruce Brown
POWER FORWARD
Stanley Johnson – LA Lakers (at Utah) - DK: $3,800 / FD: $4,500 (SF) / Yahoo: $11
Without LeBron James and Anthony Davis, who is listed questionable but not expected to play until the weekend, I think it’s worth taking a chance on Johnson tonight. He’s had his ups and downs, including a horrific game vs. New Orleans despite nearly 20 MPG (James played), but is coming off a much better effort in Dallas (James was out). He’s generally been more good than bad, and all signs point to a high usage opportunity tonight. Every game feels like a must-win for LA as the play-in race couldn’t be tighter. In addition to Stanley, who is the obvious choice if you want to save at this position (I do), consider Westbrook and Monk to fill the void left by King James. A quick note on matchup – the Jazz aren’t the shut-down, avoid defense they used to be. Plenty of players are putting up big numbers against them and they rank 12th in defensive rating (above average, but just barely).
Also Consider: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, DeMar DeRozan
CENTER
Nikola Vucevic – Chicago (vs. LA Clippers) - DK: $8,100 / FD: $7,700 / Yahoo: $32
In constructing a solid cash game lineup, I’m choosing to take the significant savings offered by Vucevic in the most favorable matchup of the night over Embiid who might be playing in a too-easy blowout game. Vucevic is coming off his best scoring effort in a while, though he failed to record a block for the first time in four games. He is always a decent bet for a double-double, and the Clippers rank 27th in rebounding rate, which ups the odds in my mind.
Also Consider: Joel Embiid, Isaiah Stewart, Rudy Gobert
Additional Notes
Malik Monk (G – LAL) and Russell Westbrook should both be popular guard options tonight as the Lakers are so shorthanded. Monk has been on fire the last three games, scoring between 23-28 points per game. Westbrook has also looked more like his old self than ever with near triple-double numbers a few times in the last two weeks (and one 22-10-10 game in Toronto on March 18). Both are easy to afford alongside the picks given here.
Isaiah Stewart (F/C – DET) For a cheaper C option or Utility play, I really like Stewart tonight. Jerami Grant is still out, and Marvin Bagley is not a true center. I expect Stewart to see big minutes against Embiid tonight, and while he might not win all or even most of the battles, it should be enough to get him to value. Cheaper than Bagley, and better than Olynyk, Stewart should be in line for 30-plus fantasy points tonight.
