Main Slate Breakdown for NBA DFS 3/28:
Mar 26, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) reacts as he recovers a loose ball to end the game against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Welcome to another year of the DFS Army NBA Full Court Press! Members had a ton of success using the Full Court Press along with various articles and tools that DFS Army provides last season, so we are glad to be back with another year of the all-inclusive article. You have to start your research somewhere, and oftentimes going game by game and breaking down every matchup and its key players is the first step in our process. My name is Mike aka @MadnessDFS on Twitter, make sure to give me a follow as I’ll occasionally make updates to the advice in the article. But, you’ll mostly find me in our VIP coaching forums where I provide detailed lineup maneuvers and answer all lineup questions. With that said, let’s get it started!
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Before I get started, I need to shoutout a few huge VIP Member wins – “Phamacist” took 1st place in the $300k Fadeway contest which netted him $100k while “da_banditz” grabbed 1st place on FanDuel as well winning $10k- congrats guys!
Boston Celtics @ Washington Wizards
Vegas Total: 224.5
Vegas Spread: Bos -11.5
We’ll kick this slate off with the Celtics, Jayson Tatum is expected to return in this one after missing their last game. He’s been in great form but did struggle in this matchup earlier this season, that said, he’s going to look like a great spend-up option on this slate. Jaylen Brown filled in for Tatum very nicely last time out and had a massive game, that said, his price tag came up a good amount, and will be more of a secondary option with Tatum back in there. Malcolm Brogdon was my least favorite of the three-point guards due to a potential blowout but he game stayed close enough for him to have a nice game and is a nice option again here. Derrick White and Marcus Smart are in a similar boat and make sense as secondary options. Then guys like Al Horford and Robert Williams are fine GPP options. From the Wizards, they’ll be without Bradley Beal and Kyle Kuzma again in this one, so expect to see Corey Kispert and Deni Avdija right back in the starting lineup. Below is how this team operates with these two guys off of the court this season:
- Monte Morris – 20.7% usage rate; 0.95 fpm
- Corey Kispert – 15.8% usage rate; 0.65 fpm
- Deni Avdija – 19.7% usage rate; 0.99 fpm
- Kristaps Porzingis – 33.5% usage rate; 1.51 fpm
- Daniel Gafford – 15.9% usage rate; 1.05 fpm
Both Morris and Gafford come into this one as questionable and could open up some additional minutes and opportunities as well, so keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates on them. Kristaps and Avdija are my favorite options here but the starting point guard and center will be interesting whoever they may be.
5-star play: Jayson Tatum, Kristaps Porzingis
4-star play: Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Deni Avdija, Daniel Gafford, Monte Morris
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Marcus Smart, Malcolm Brogdon, Al Horford, Robert Williams, Corey Kispert
Miami Heat @ Toronto Raptors
Vegas Total: 219.5
Vegas Spread: Tor -3.5
Starting with the Heat, Jimmy Butler had a rough go of it last time out but has been in great form otherwise. He’s averaging just 33.3 DraftKings points per game in three games against the Raptors this season, but I think that comes up in this one. Bam Adebayo has come down to Earth over their last two games but is a guy I think we can go back to as well, the matchup doesn’t exactly scare me but it should be a fairly slow-paced game. Tyler Herro has found some consistency as of late but still feels volatile, so more of a GPP option for me, I wouldn’t talk you off of him in cash on a shorter slate. Max Strus had a massive game last time out and now has at least 29 FanDuel points in two of his last four, he’s pretty scoring-dependent but when the shots are falling we know what he’s able to do. Then guys like Kevin Love and Kyle Lowry are fine secondary options on the lower end of this team. From the Raptors, Scottie Barnes returned last time out while Gary Trent Jr. was held out again and comes into this one as questionable. Barnes returned to his usual role and is going to look like a solid option in this one, but I don’t love the matchup with this Heat team. Pascal Siakam has at least 52 FanDuel points in two of his last three games and is a guy I wouldn’t have a problem going right back to in this one. Fred VanVleet bounced back in a big way last time out, but again, I just don’t love this matchup… more of a secondary option. Jakob Poeltl has seen his minutes trend in the wrong direction, but I don’t think it’s a signal of things to come necessarily, he’s a fine option here as well. Lastly, OG Anunoby had a massive game last time out and has a nice price tag and multi-position eligibility.
5-star play: None
4-star play: Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Scottie Barnes, Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, Jakob Poeltl
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Max Strus, Kevin Love, Kyle Lowry, Gary Trent Jr.
Quick shoutout to VIP member “Cenzamatic” on a massive $20k win last season! Sometimes paying up for double studs works, and Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant brought it home for him with the help of some Stanley Johnson and Pistons value. Good work and congrats man!
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Atlanta Hawks
Vegas Total: 236.0
Vegas Spread: Cle -1.0
We’ll start with the Cavaliers, Jarrett Allen has gotten his questionable tag back after ditching it for a few games. I’ll operate under the assumption that he’s good to go here but keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates. Evan Mobley kept it rolling last time out and has been in great form, this matchup is great as well and will look like a nice option in all formats. I prefer the price tag on Darius Garland over Donovan Mitchell, but both will look solid in a great matchup against a Hawks backcourt that isn’t great defensively. Speaking of the Hawks, Trae Young is averaging 48.9 DraftKings points per game in two games against the Cavs this season. The matchup isn’t great due to the defense the Cavs can throw out there, but he’s obviously gotten it done in this matchup this season. Dejounte Murray will continue to see big minutes and is a guy I like in this one as well. Clint Capela has been on a heater as of late with at least 41 FanDuel points in three of his last four. The big issue with him is always minutes, but they’ve seemed to solidify as of late. Onyeka Okongwu is in the same boat as Capela but has lost a few minutes over his last couple of games… but is a nice per-minute producer. John Collins has been a lot better since the coaching change and is someone I like getting to in GPPs even in a tough matchup due to the size of the slate. De’Andre Hunter isn’t a guy we need to prioritize but makes sense if you land on him as a last piece in. The same can be said for Bogdan Bogdanovic to round out this team.
5-star play: Evan Mobley, Trae Young
4-star play: Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, Dejounte Murray, John Collins, Clint Capela
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Onyeka Okongwu, Bogdan Bogdanovic, De’Andre Hunter
Charlotte Hornets @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Vegas Total: 230.0
Vegas Spread: Okc -9.5
Starting with the Hornets, they’ll be without Terry Rozier, Mark Williams, and Gordon Hayward here while Kelly Oubre comes in as questionable. I’ll operate under the assumption Oubre plays and will look like a great option in all formats given the matchup and all the guys that are out for the Hornets. The price tag on Dennis Smith Jr. has come way up but for good reason, he’s going to start at point guard and look great in this matchup as well. PJ Washington has at least 46 DraftKings points in back-to-back games and is going to look great again in this one. Nick Richards should continue to start at the five with Williams out again and looks great against a Thunder team that doesn’t have a lot in the way in terms of big men. Then I would expect to see Svi Mykhailiuk back in the starting lineup and has been a guy who’s been seeing big minutes as of late. From the Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander comes into this one as questionable as well, so it’s definitely a game we’ll need to keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed on. I’ll operate under the assumption that he plays due to the spread being so big, he’s going to look like a great option against a tanking Hornets team. I don’t exactly want to pay this price tag for Josh Giddey but he’s been in elite form over his last couple of games with at least 47 DraftKings points in back-to-back games. Jalen Williams bounced back nicely last time out and gets an elite matchup here, so he’ll look solid as well. Meanwhile, Lu Dort would be a volatile GPP option but will see big minutes. Lastly, Jaylin Williams should continue to start at center but is a pretty risky option.
5-star play: Kelly Oubre, PJ Washington, Dennis Smith Jr., Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
4-star play: Nick Richards, Svi Mykhailiuk, Josh Giddey, Jalen Williams
Deeper Value: Theo Maledon, Bryce McGowens
GPP Sleeper: Lu Dort, Jaylin Williams
Orlando Magic @ Memphis Grizzlies
Vegas Total: 230.5
Vegas Spread: Mem -7.5
Starting with the Magic, Paolo Banchero has been solid as of late and is playing massive minutes, he dropped 48 DraftKings points in this matchup earlier this season and is a guy I like going right back to in this one. Markelle Fultz has cooled down a bit since dropping back-to-back 50-burgers about two weeks ago, but the minutes are there and he’s shown some nice consistency this season. Franz Wagner is never a guy I feel the need to prioritize especially since this team is mostly healthy, he’d be more of a secondary option here but has been in much better form as of late. Wendell Carter Jr. is a fine option but not a guy we need to go too crazy on either. Then, Cole Anthony kept it rolling even with Jalen Suggs back in there, he has at least 32 DraftKings points in five straight games. From the Grizzlies, Ja Morant is doubtful in this one, so we can assume he’s out while Tyus Jones will jump right back into the starting lineup. Below is how this team operates with Morant off of the court this season:
- Tyus Jones – 19.3% usage rate; 1.03 fpm
- Desmond Bane – 28% usage rate; 1.24 fpm
- Dillon Brooks – 24.6% usage rate; 0.91 fpm
- Jaren Jackson Jr. – 29.3% usage rate; 1.37 fpm
- Xavier Tillman – 14.9% usage rate; 0.92 fpm
Most of the starting lineup isn’t priced for Ja to be out as he returned over their last few games, so these guys are going to look great. The matchup looks great and we can make a nice case for all of these guys, I would expect to have a good number of Grizz tonight.
5-star play: Tyus Jones, Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson
4-star play: Paolo Banchero, Markelle Fultz, Franz Wagner, Wendell Carter Jr., Dillon Brooks, Xavier Tillman
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Cole Anthony, Santi Aldama, Luke Kennard
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New Orleans Pelicans @ Golden State Warriors
Vegas Total: 234.0
Vegas Spread: Gsw -8.5
Starting with the Pels, Brandon Ingram is my preferred option between him and CJ McCollum, but both guys are nice options in an elite matchup. They were both bitten by the blowout bug last night but looked great in the three quarters they did play. Jonas Valanciunas has at least 44 DraftKings points in five of his last six games and has seen his minutes trending in the right direction, he’s a nice option in all formats. Then guys like Trey Murphy and Herb Jones make sense as filler pieces to round out your rosters. Murphy has the ability to get hot from three-point range on any given night, he had a rough night from three-point range last time out but knocked down 10 of them in the previous game. From the Warriors, Steph Curry hasn’t been great over his last couple of games but this is an elite bounce-back spot, and any time he’s under $10k, I’ll have an interest… I’m good with his FanDuel price tag as well. Jordan Poole and Klay Thompson have seen their price tags come down to a more playable range with Curry back in there. Poole has been in better form over their last hand full of games, but both are solid for GPPs here nonetheless. Draymond Green is a fine option, but never a guy I feel the need to prioritize. Finally, Kevon Looney has been in much better form as of late with at least 27 FanDuel points in five of his last six games.
5-star play: Brandon Ingram, Steph Curry
4-star play: CJ McCollum, Jonas Valanciunas, Trey Murphy, Jordan Poole, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Herb Jones, Jordan Poole, Klay Thompson, Kevon Looney
NBA Lock of the Day: Tyus Jones (DK – $5.3k; FD – $5.6k)
The price tag on Jones and the rest of these Grizzlies have come down with Ja Morant back over their last few games… BUT, Morant is out tonight and their prices didn’t adjust back up to where they were. Jones is too cheap here in an elite matchup, he’s going to look great in all formats and will be a guy I get a ton of. At this point in the day, I would think he makes my core, but check out our VIP Cheat Sheets as we get closer to lock for staff picks on Core plays, 8x locks of the day, and tiers notes as well!
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