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 Tuesday’s 6-game main slate starting at 7:00 ET.
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POINT GUARD
Malcolm Brogdon – Indiana (vs. Detroit) - DK: $8,800 / FD: $8,500 / Yahoo: $36
Brogdon now carries a salary that is commensurate with his production, which sort of stinks. It’s still the case that he can put up big numbers that overlap with any of the other stars on this slate, for less of the salary cap, but it’s still a big hit. Still, in the league’s best PG matchup with the Trail Blazers, and with Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner still out, he and Caris LeVert should continue to shoulder the load. I also like the value of Justin Holiday and Oshae Brissett in what should be the highest scoring (over/under 235.5 points) and most generous fantasy game tonight.
Also Consider: Luka Doncic, Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, Kyrie Irving, Jrue Holiday
Bargain Options: Ricky Rubio, Payton Pritchard, Tyler Johnson
SHOOTING GUARD
De’Angelo Russell – Minnesota (at Houston) - DK: $6,300 / FD: $6,400 / Yahoo: $21
The next best game to draw from will be this one, with both teams playing at Top 3 pace, and ranking near the bottom of the league in defensive efficiency. The point total on this game is 230.5 points, with the Timberwolves being just 1.5-point favorites. Russell is coming off a fantastic game vs. Utah, in which he scored 27 real points to go along with 12 assists. He has taken 22 three-point shots in his last two games, making seven in the most recent effort. Houston gives up the second-most fantasy points overall and is especially generous to opposing guards. Russell is a high-floor, high-upside SG play tonight, with a very reasonable salary.
Also Consider: Caris LeVert, CJ McCollum
Bargain Options: Armoni Brooks, Marcus Smart, Devonte’ Graham
SMALL FORWARD
Jaylen Brown – Boston (vs. Oklahoma City) - DK: $8,400 / FD: $8,100 / Yahoo: $37
Boston will be without Kemba Walker and more importantly, Jayson Tatum tonight on the front end of a back-to-back set. They are still big favorites over the young and struggling Thunder, who are now the league’s most generous fantasy opponent. The Thunder offer a big pace bump, while ranking first in turnover rate and 25th in defensive efficiency. Brown figures to play a big role in the Celtics game plan tonight, along with Marcus Smart. You can also find some great value in Jabari Parker to help you afford some of the more expensive options in this article. For his part, Brown has been a solid source of 35-50 fantasy points this season, and in this particular setting, I see him hitting the higher end of that spectrum.
Also Consider: Khris Middleton, Anthony Edwards
Bargain Options: Kevin Porter, Jr., Oshae Brissett, Justin Holiday
POWER FORWARD
PJ Washington – Charlotte (at Milwaukee) - DK: $6,800 / FD: $7,200 / Yahoo: $21
Injuries abound at this position, and salary considerations are forcing me to spend less than I’d like (on Giannis Antetokounmpo). Still Washington is a pretty nice player to settle for on this slate. He’s been playing great ball, picking up the slack in the Hornets’ frontcourt with two efficient games in a row. He’s coming off a 22/12 double-double in which he also had five assists, a block and a steal. That’s now four of his last five games with at least 22 real points. The matchup isn’t great on paper, but Washington is averaging 32 fantasy points per game against the Bucks this season (two meetings), and is playing heavier minutes lately as the Hornets cling to their playoff hopes. Washington is a compromise for cash game lineups, but I think he’ll come through with another solid 40-ish fantasy point game for us tonight.
Also Consider: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Pascal Siakam, Christian Wood
Bargain Options: Khem Birch, Isaiah Roby, Jae’Sean Tate, Jabari Parker, Juan Toscano-Anderson
CENTER
Karl-Anthony Towns – Minnesota (at Houston) - DK: $10,000 / FD: $9,700 / Yahoo: $49
There certainly are some cheap center options out there tonight, like Dwight Powell if the Mavericks are without Kristaps Porzingis and Maxi Kleber tonight, or Moses Brown who has been playing well, and always Kelly Olynyk (though his salary has come up), but I’m doing what I can to get Towns in my main lineups. Houston is the worst rebounding team in the league, and though Olynyk and Christian Wood should help in that department, overall this Rockets team is young and exploitable by someone like Towns. His recent numbers are down a little bit due to the Utah series, but against Houston this season, Towns is averaging over 60 fantasy points per game (two meetings). A high-scoring, close game and the third-best center matchup for DFS all make me happy to pay up for Towns tonight.
Also Consider: Jusuf Nurkic
Bargain Options: Kelly Olynyk, Dwight Powell, Moses Brown
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ADDITIONAL NOTES
Kevin Porter Jr. (G/F – HOU) is making his return after missing a few games due to the COVID protocols. He should be in good shape to make an immediate impact given the depleted nature of the Rockets’ roster right now, especially in the backcourt. With John Wall designated to miss the rest of the season, Porter should immediately take on primary ball-handling duties. At times, he was regularly putting up 40 fantasy point lines, and in this Top 5 guard matchup, I could see him getting right back to it.
Marcus Smart (G – BOS) and Devonte’ Graham are in the same price range and make for similar pivots from (or in addition to) Russell. Smart is a virtual lock for about 30 fantasy points or more per game, and with two normal starters missing tonight’s game, look for him to play closer to 40 minutes and notch closer to 40 or more fantasy points for you. The extra usage should make the extra salary worth it.
Dwight Powell (PF/C – DAL) is an extremely desperate salary saver that works if Dallas will be without its normal frontcourt tonight. Look for news that Powell will start, and if so, roll him out. Golden State plays at the second-fastest pace in the league, but ranks 29th in rebounding and is accordingly the sixth-best DFS center matchup. Powell needs minutes to make anything good happen, but the path is there if Porzingis sits, given that Maxi Kleber was only able to play about nine minutes last night. Willie Caulie-Stein is another min-priced guy to keep an eye on. He played more minutes than Powell last night, benefitting from Kleber’s absence in the second half.
