If you're new to daily fantasy basketball -- maybe you started your DFS journey during the MLB or NFL seasons, or maybe basketball is your sport and this will be your first year giving it a shot -- you're in for a treat. The NBA scene changes on a week-to-week, day-to-day, and -- depending on injury news -- even a minute-to-minute basis, making every slate a unique one that requires an ever-changing approach.
With so much changing so quickly, we're here with plenty of tools to help you out. We have daily projections, a matchup heat map, a lineup optimizer, and a bunch of other great resources to help give you an edge.
Daily fantasy basketball is very reliant on a player's opportunity, so you'll need to make sure that you're up-to-date with key injuries. Our projections update up until tip-off to reflect current news, we have player news updates, and the FanDuel Scout app will send push notifications for pressing updates regarding your players.
We'll also be coming at you with this primer every day, breaking down a few of the day's top plays at each position.
Let's break down today's main slate on FanDuel.
| Team | Opp | O/U | Spread | Implied Total | Injuries |
| HOU | CHI | 224 | 7.5 | 108.25 | Porter Jr. probable |
| DAL | MEM | 223.5 | 5.5 | 109 | Doncic OUT / Irving questionable / Bullock probable |
| ORL | MIA | 219.5 | 1.5 | 109 | Isaac OUT / Carter Jr. available |
| MIA | ORL | 219.5 | -1.5 | 110.5 | Lowry, Martin questionable |
| DET | IND | 228.5 | 5.5 | 111.5 | Stewart, Ivey, Burks, Bogdanovic, Diallo OUT / Bagley probable |
| CHA | UTAH | 231 | 2.5 | 114.25 | Ball OUT / Williams questionable / Rozier probable |
| MEM | DAL | 223.5 | -5.5 | 114.5 | Adams, Clarke, Morant OUT |
| ATL | BOS | 235.5 | 4.5 | 115.5 | Bogdanovic OUT / Hunter questionable |
| OKC | NO | 233 | 2 | 115.5 | Kenrich Williams, Pokusevski OUT / Jalen Willliams, Gilgeous-Alexander availalble |
| CHI | HOU | 224 | -7.5 | 115.75 | |
| UTAH | CHA | 231 | -2.5 | 116.75 | Sexton, Clarkson OUT |
| IND | DET | 228.5 | -5.5 | 117 | Haliburton, McConnell, Turner questionable / Mathurin OUT |
| NO | OKC | 233 | -2 | 117.5 | Williamson, Alvarado, Nance Jr. OUT / Ingram questionable |
| SAC | PHX | 239.5 | 3 | 118.25 | |
| GS | MIL | 238 | 1 | 118.5 | Kuminga, Wiggins OUT / Thompson, Iguodala probable |
| MIL | GS | 238 | -1 | 119.5 | Antetokounmpo OUT / Dragic probable |
| BOS | ATL | 235.5 | -4.5 | 120 | Robert Williams, Pritchard OUT |
| PHX | SAC | 239.5 | -3 | 121.25 | Durant OUT |
Guards
Tyrese Haliburton ($10,600): After a 3.9% salary spike, Haliburton's FanDuel salary has moved to his highest point versus a Detroit Pistons' defense allowing the third most fantasy points (46.9) to point guards this season. If Haliburton is able to play though his questionable designation, the 23-year old is producing 1.28 FanDuel points per minute with today's current inactives.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10,500): In a matchup versus a New Orleans Pelicans' team ranked eighth in defensive rating, Oklahoma City's top scorer is first among guards with 48.6 expected FanDuel points at his lowest salary during March. The Thunder star has performed well in this particular matchup, averaging 33.0 real-life points and 51.9 fantasy points on 23.7 shot attempts in three previous contests.
Devin Booker ($10,400): At his highest salary this season, Booker has a favorable spot against a Sacramento Kings' squad ranked 25th in defensive rating and tenth in pace. In 122.7 minutes with today's expected lineup, Phoenix's top offensive option is recording 1.40 FanDuel points per minute with a 37.4% usage rate.
Stephen Curry ($10,000): Since his return on March 5th, Curry is averaging 1.31 FanDuel points per minute with a 32.5% usage rate while his FanDuel salary has increased by 8.6%. Despite a tough matchup versus a Milwaukee Bucks' defense allowing 46.3 FanDuel points per game to his position, Golden State's Splash Brother is fourth among guards with a 43.7 fantasy projection.
Kyrie Irving ($9,700): While Irving is currently listed as questionable, the Mavericks' guard could be an elite option on Saturday if active, producing 1.20 FanDuel points per minute and a 27.4% usage rate with Luka Doncic off the floor this season.
Jrue Holiday ($8,600): If Giannis Antetokounmpo is unable to suit up on Saturday, Holiday's fantasy output is boosted by 0.12 to 1.28 FanDuel points per minute with a 30.6 usage rate.
Desmond Bane ($8,500): At his second highest salary point this month, Bane will challenge a Dallas Mavericks' unit allowing shooting guards to score 21.8 real-life points and 39.1 FanDuel points per game. In 278.1 minutes with Saturday's current injuries, the 24-year old is producing 1.16 FanDuel points per minute and a 27.0% usage rate.
Terry Rozier ($8,400): Since the start of March, Rozier is averaging 0.99 FanDuel points per minute with a team-high 28.2% usage rate. Charlotte's eighth-year guard has a great spot on Saturday versus a Jazz defense allowing 26.7 real-life points per game to his position.
Zach LaVine ($8,300): In his last seven appearances, LaVine has taken over Chicago's offense, producing 0.88 real-life points and 1.16 FanDuel points per minute.
C.J. McCollum ($8,100): The 31-year old could see a sneaky 0.19 boost to 1.25 FanDuel points per minute on Saturday if Brandon Ingram is ruled out versus an Oklahoma City Thunder team ranked 19th in opposing true shooting percentage.
Chris Paul $7,800): Despite a 5.4% salary increase to his second highest salary in March, CP3 could be an underrated option versus a Kings' defense ranked 23rd (48.3) in fantasy production allowed per game to point guards. The veteran is recording 1.13 FanDuel points per minute and a 19.6% usage rate with Saturday's projected starting five.
Tyus Jones ($7,600): In his past three starts, Jone has played well as the Grizzlies' first-string point guard, averaging 1.30 FanDuel points, 0.10 rebounds, and 0.25 assists while his FanDuel salary has jumped 26.6% to his highest point this season.
Talen Horton-Tucker ($6,500): Since Horton-Tucker has been moved into Utah's starting lineup on February 23rd, the 22-year old has produced 0.98 FanDuel points per minute and a 25.2% usage rate.
Killian Hayes ($6,100): Detroit's guard is averaging 0.85 FanDuel points per minute and a 17.9% usage rate in 74.6 minutes with today's short-handed rotation.
Tim Hardaway Jr. ($5,600): Despite a 7.6% salary increase, Hardaway Jr. currently ranks fifth overall in value with a 5.36 rating and a 30.0 fantasy projection against a Memphis defense ranked 11th in opposing three point percentage.
Josh Okogie ($4,700): The 24-year old is numberFire's top value option with a 5.87 rating and 27.6 fantasy projection at his median salary during March.
Patrick Beverley ($4,600): In 195.8 minutes with Chicago, Beverley has recorded 0.73 FanDuel points, 0.21 rebounds, and 0.14 assists per minute. Chicago's veteran is ninth overall in value with a 5.24 rating and a 24.1 fantasy projection versus a Rockets' team ranked 29th in defensive rating.
Forwards
Jayson Tatum ($10,800): Despite scoring 30 real-life points in his last outing, Tatum's salary has decreased to his lowest point during March against an Atlanta Hawks' team allowing 22.9 real-life points and 41.7 FanDuel points to his position.
Domantas Sabonis ($10,100): In the past two weeks, Sacramento's versatile big man is averaging 1.40 FanDuel points, 0.37 rebounds, and 0.24 assists per minute while his salary has increased by 5.2%. The 26-year old has produced 50.6 FanDuel points versus the Suns in two previous contests .
Jaylen Brown ($9,100): During the month of March, Brown ranks third among his team in fantasy production (1.07 FanDuel points per minute) and second in usage (28.4%).
Lauri Markkanen ($9,000): Utah's All-Star has an amazing matchup against a Charlotte Hornets' unit allowing the second most FanDuel points (47.2) to his position at his median salary in March. The 25-year old is having his best month this season, recording 28.0 real-life points per game on 18.7 shot attempts.
Jaren Jackson Jr. ($8,800): In 267.7 minutes with Saturday's current inactives, Jackson Jr. is first on his team in fantasy production (1.38 FanDuel points per minute) and usage (29.0%). The Grizzlies' forward has scored at least 15 real-life points in every game this month while his salary has jumped by 7.3% to his highest point this season.
DeMar DeRozan ($8,100): At his second lowest salary in 2023, DeRozan is seventh among forwards with 40.9 expected FanDuel points versus a Rockets' defense giving up 22.6 real-life points and 42.8 fantasy points per game to his position.
Christian Wood ($6,000): The 27-year old sees a massive 0.26 increase to 1.48 FanDuel points per minute with a 31.4% usage rate in 205.9 minutes this season with Saturday's projected rotation.
Xavier Tillman ($5,800): After a 3.3% salary decrease, Tillman is fourth overall in value with a 5.67 rating and a 32.9 fantasy projection versus a Mavericks' unit ranked 19th in points allowed in the paint.
Marvin Bagley III ($5,600) / Isaiah Livers ($4,300): With multiple injuries to their rotation on Saturday, the Pistons should provide plenty of opportunities to find value after Bagley was ranked third overall with a 5.69 rating and a 31.9 fantasy projection while Livers' expectation includes a 5.06 rating and a 21.8 fantasy projection at his highest salary this season.
Centers
Deandre Ayton ($8,600): Phoenix's center averages 1.18 FanDuel points per minute with a 24.3% usage rate when Kevin Durant is off the floor this season while his FanDuel salary has also moved down 5.8% to his lowest point in March.
Jonas Valanciunas ($6,600): In a favorable spot versus an Oklahoma City team allowing 54.7 FanDuel points per game to centers, Valanciunas is fourth among his position in value with a 5.3 rating and 35.0 expected FanDuel points. The Pelicans' big man is recording 1.17 FanDuel points with today's current injuries.