FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Sunday 3/12/23

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.

Guards

Damian Lillard ($10,600): At his lowest salary this month, "Dame D.O.L.L.A" will face a New Orleans Pelicans' defense allowing points guards to score 23.9 real-life points and 46.4 FanDuel points per game. In their last encounter this season, Lillard accounted for a monster outing with 41.0 real-life points and 49.6 fantasy points at a salary 3.7% higher than today's.

James Harden ($10,200): After a 3.7% salary decrease, Harden's FanDuel salary has dropped to his median point during March against a Washington Wizards' team ranked 20th in defensive rating. "The Beard" is fourth overall with 44.9 expected FanDuel points versus a defense allowing 47.6 per game to his position.

C.J. McCollum ($8,100): Despite averaging 1.04 FanDuel points per minute and a 30.5% usage rate this month, McCollum's FanDuel salary has only increased by 3.8%. In a revenge opportunity against his former team, McCollum is currently sixth among guards with a 36.4 fantasy projection.

Josh Giddey ($8,000): If Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is ruled out on Sunday, Giddey's fantasy production stands at 1.13 FanDuel points per minute with a 25.6% usage rate. Even if SAG is able to play, Oklahoma City's second-year guard has a great opportunity versus a San Antonio Spurs ranked 27th (50.8) in FanDuel points allowed per game to his position at his second lowest salary in March.

Immanuel Quickley ($7,000) / RJ Barrett ($6,900): Both New York's guards are in play if Jalen Brunson is inactive against a Los Angeles Lakers' squad ranked 12th in defensive rating. In 1051.2 minutes with Brunson off the floor, Quickley's fantasy output stands at 1.04 FanDuel points per minute while Barrett's average is boosted by 0.05 to 0.91 FanDuel points in a 631.4 minutes sample size.

Tyrese Maxey ($6,600): Since the start of March, Maxey is recording 0.97 FanDuel points per minute and a 21.3% usage rate while averaging 24.3 real-life points each game. The 22-year old has torched Washington this season in two prior games, accounting for 30.0 real-life points and 38.2 FanDuel points per meeting.

Devin Vassell ($6,500): San Antonio's shooting guard sees a 0.14 increase in his fantasy output to 1.17 FanDuel points per minute if Jeremy Sochan and Keldon Johnson are inactive on Sunday.

Anfernee Simons ($6,400): After dropping 34 real-life points on Friday, Simons' salary has jumped by 4.9% to his highest point in March versus a New Orleans' defense ranked first in opposing three point percentage.

Luguentz Dort ($5,800): At his lowest salary this month, Dort is currently eighth overall in value with a 4.84 rating and a 28.1 fantasy projection against a San Antonio unit ranked last in defensive rating. In 459.8 minutes if Gilgeous-Alexander sits, Dort's production increases by 0.09 to 0.91 FanDuel points per minute with a 24.7% usage rate.

De'Anthony Melton ($4,700): Even in a potential bench role, Melton stands second among guards in value with a 5.46 rating and a 25.7 fantasy projection at his median salary this month.

Isaiah Joe ($4,400): In a potential starting role against a Spurs' defense ranked last in opposing three point percentage, Oklahoma City's long-range specialist is Sunday's top value option with a 5.9 rating and a 26.0 fantasy expectation.

Forwards

Anthony Davis ($11,300): At his lowest salary after a disappointing performance on Friday, "The Brow" is second overall with 52.3 expected FanDuel points versus a New York Knicks' defense rated first in points allowed in the paint. The Lakers' superstar is averaging 1.50 FanDuel points per minute and a 31.9% usage rate in 138.1 minutes during March.

Julius Randle ($9,800): With Brunson off the floor this season, Randle's productions jumps by 0.14 to 1.36 FanDuel points per minute with a 32.7% usage rate. In another revenge opportunity, the Knicks' All-Star is currently fifth overall with 43.3 expected FanDuel points against a Lakers' defense allowing 46.0 per game to power forwards this season.

Kristaps Porzingis ($9,400): The 27-year old has continued his offensive momentum in March, averaging 26.7 real-life points per game while producing 1.27 FanDuel points per minute and a 27.4% usage rate. Despite a difficult spot versus a Philadelphia 76ers' defense ranked fifth (49.7) in fantasy production allowed to his position, "The Unicorn" is sixth with 42.1 expected FanDuel points.

Brandon Ingram ($8,200): If Ingram can make his return on Sunday, the Pelicans' forward is third overall in value with a 5.0 rating and a 41.0 fantasy projection against a Portland squad ranked 27th in defensive rating and 25th in opposing true shooting percentage. In two prior matchups this season, "B.I." has produced some success, averaging 27.0 real-life points and 39.3 FanDuel points on 20.5 shot attempts.

Kyle Kuzma ($7,900): In 98.8 minutes this season with today's starting lineup, Kuzma ranks first among his team in fantasy output (1.15 FanDuel points per minute) and second in usage (24.6%).

Jalen Williams ($7,700): Oklahoma City's rookie is having best offensive month, recording 23.3 real-life points per game and 1.29 FanDuel points per minute. Even at his highest salary this season, Williams deserves serious consideration among his position, ranking third with 34.2 expected FanDuel points versus a Spurs' defense allowing 40.8 per game.

Trey Murphy III ($6,200): In his last four appearances, New Orleans' second-year forward has scored at least 15 real-life points per game and 0.81 FanDuel points per minute while his FanDuel salary has skyrocketed 19.2%.

Jarred Vanderbilt ($5,500): Since Vanderbilt was inserted into Los Angeles' starting lineup, the 23-year old is averaging 0.92 FanDuel points, 0.31 rebounds, and 0.06 steals per minute. At his lowest salary during March, Vanderbilt is third among forwards in value with a 4.93 rating and a 27.1 fantasy projection.

Jaxson Hayes ($4,800): New Orleans' big man has seen a sneaky amount of playing time in his last six contests, averaging 21.4 minutes per game and 0.97 FanDuel points per minute.

Centers

Joel Embiid ($12,000): In a middling matchup versus a Wizards' unit allowing centers to score 23.2 real-life points and 52.9 FanDuel points, Embiid is numberFire's top option with 56.2 expected FanDuel points. Philadelphia's superstar destroyed Washington in their last meeting, accounting for 48.0 real-life points and 76.5 FanDuel points on 32.0 shot attempts.

Zach Collins ($6,800): After a 5.5% salary decrease, Collins is second among centers in value with a 4.79 rating and a 32.6 fantasy projection against a Thunder defense ranked 20th in points allowed in the paint.