FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Sunday 3/19/23

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 second lowest salary point this month, Lillard will have an underrated spot versus a Los Angeles Clippers' defense allowing point guards to record 24.0 real-life points and 50.0 FanDuel points. In 416.7 minutes with today's current inactives, Portland's superstar sees a 0.26 boost in his fantasy output to 1.64 FanDuel points per minute with a 40.6% usage rate.

Fred VanVleet ($8,800): Despite a tough matchup against a Milwaukee Bucks ranked third in defensive rating, VanVleet is ranked fourth among guards with 38.4 expected FanDuel points. In two prior meetings, the 29-year old has played extremely well versus Milwaukee, averaging 33.5 real-life points and 61.4 FanDuel points on 25.5 shot attempts.

C.J. McCollum ($8,200): After a 2.3% salary decrease, New Orleans' star guard is an underrated option against a Houston Rockets' team allowing the most fantasy points (54.2 FanDuel points) per game to his position. In 174.2 minutes this season with today's projected starting lineup, McCollum ranks third on his team in fantasy production (0.88 FanDuel points per minute) and usage (19.9%).

D'Angelo Russell ($8,000): Since his return on March 10th, "D-Lo" has accounted for 1.17 FanDuel points per minute and a 26.8% usage rate while his salary has increased by 12.6% to his median salary during March. In a matchup versus an Orlando Magic defense allowing 47.9 FanDuel points per game to point guards, Russell is ranked tenth overall with a 39.2 fantasy projection.

Kevin Porter Jr. ($8,000): In his last four appearances playing full minutes, Houston's fourth-year guard has been in form, producing 1.09 FanDuel points per minute and a 20.3% usage rate. Even at his highest salary this month, Porter Jr. deserves some consideration with a 34.4 fantasy projection against a New Orleans Pelicans' unit ranked 17th in defensive efficiency in last three games.

Markelle Fultz ($7,600): Despite a 7.0% salary jump to his highest point this season, Fultz is eighth among guards in value with a 4.63 rating and a 35.2 fantasy projection in a good matchup versus a Los Angeles Lakers' team ranked 28th (51.4) in fantasy production allowed to his position.

Jaden Ivey ($6,800): In 238.9 minutes with Sunday's expected rotation, Detroit's rookie is averaging 0.93 FanDuel points per minute with a team-high 30.9% usage rate. At his median salary in March, Ivey ranks sixth among guards in value with a 4.81 rating and a 32.7 fantasy expectation.

Franz Wagner ($6,600): After a disappointing performance in February, Wagner has been a steady performer this month, recording 17.8 real-life points per game and 0.88 FanDuel points per minute while his salary has decreased 2.9% since the start of March.

Killian Hayes ($6,600): Since Hayes was named Detroit's starter on March 11th, the 21-year old has flashed intriguing potential, accounting for 1.04 FanDuel points per minute with a 25.5% usage rate.

Herbert Jones ($6,000): Despite producing a 15.2% usage rate this month, Jones is still averaging 0.89 FanDuel points due to his ability to accumulate peripheral metrics, recording 0.16 rebounds, 0.11 assists, and 0.06 steals per minute.

Cole Anthony ($5,700): At his second lowest salary in March, Orlando's guard ranks first among his positions in value with a 5.35 rating and a 30.5 fantasy projection even in a second unit role. The 22-year old is having his best offensive month this season, producing 15.9 real-life points per game and 0.97 FanDuel points per minute.

Malik Beasley ($4,900): Despite inconsistent minutes, the Lakers' long range specialist offers a potential 4.58 return with a 22.4 fantasy projection against a Magic defense ranked eighth in opposing three point percentage.

Gabe Vincent ($4,400) / Max Strus ($4,400): Even with Kyle Lowry expected to return on Sunday, Vincent is fifth overall in value with a 4.97 rating and a 21.9 fantasy projection while Strus is averaging 0.63 FanDuel points per minute while Lowry is active in March.

Forwards

Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,800): In a difficult matchup versus a Toronto Raptors' defense ranked sixth in fantasy production (42.4) allowed to his position, "The Greek Alphabet" is second overall with 55.9 expected FanDuel points. In his previous encounter, Milwaukee's superstar destroyed the Raptors, recording a 61.2 fantasy point triple-double in 39 minutes.

Anthony Davis ($11,400): At his median salary this month, "AD" is numberFire's top option with 56.7 expected FanDuel points versus an Orlando team ranked tenth in points allowed in the paint. Among Los Angeles' projected starting five, Davis ranks first in fantasy production (1.47 FanDuel points per minute) and second in usage (24.8%).

Kawhi Leonard ($9,900): In an appealing spot against a Portland Trail Blazers' team ranked 27th in defensive rating, "The Claw" is fourth overall with a 45.6 fantasy projection. The Clippers' star has accounted for 1.31 FanDuel points per minute and a team-high 27.8% usage rate during March.

Jimmy Butler ($9,700): Miami's star forward has produced his best month this season, averaging 26.0 real-life points per game and 1.39 FanDuel points per minute. At his second highest salary this month, Butler offers a potential 4.41 return with a 42.8 fantasy expectation versus a Detroit defense allowing 41.0 per game to his position.

Paul George ($9,000): "PG13" is ranked third among forwards in value with a 4.9 rating and a 44.1 fantasy projection after his salary remained at his lowest point versus a Trail Blazers' defense ranked 26th in opposing three point percentage.

Pascal Siakam ($8,600): In a difficult opportunity against a Bucks' team allowing 42.1 FanDuel points per game to power forwards, numberFire's models project Siakam to score 41.1 FanDuel points in 36.6 minutes. The 28-year old has been held in check versus Milwaukee so far this season, averaging 31.9 fantasy points per game.

Brandon Ingram ($8,500): Even at his highest salary this month, Ingram still ranks first among his position in value with a 5.13 rating and a 43.6 fantasy projection versus a Houston defense ranked 29th (43.1) in fantasy production allowed to small forwards.

Paolo Banchero ($7,600) / Wendell Carter Jr. ($7,200): After a tough start in March, Orlando's rookie has bounced back in a big way, averaging 1.04 FanDuel points per minute and a team-high 29.3% usage rate since March 3rd while Carter Jr. has produced 1.13 FanDuel points per minute and a 20.7% usage rate during this time period.

Trey Murphy III ($6,300): The 22-year old has been displayed efficient form during March, producing 0.92 FanDuel points per minute on a season-high 12.6 shot attempts per game. Murphy is projected for 26.9 FanDuel points in a good matchup versus a Houston unit ranked 28th in opposing three point shooting percentage.

Trendon Watford ($6,200): In a new starting role with Jerami Grant sidelined in Portland's last two contests, Watford has accounted for 0.96 FanDuel points, 0.19 rebounds, and 0.16 assists per minute while his salary has skyrocketed by 26.5%.

Kenyon Martin Jr. ($5,600): Since the start of March, Martin's salary has decreased by 8.1% despite averaging 0.78 FanDuel points per minute and a 17.2% usage rate. In three contests against New Orleans this season, the 22-year old has produced 13.0 real-life points and 22 FanDuel points per game in 27.0 minutes.

Caleb Martin ($5,000): Even in a bench role, Miami's versatile forward has been effective with Miami's second unit this month, producing 0.68 FanDuel points, 0.12 rebounds, and 0.05 per minute.

Centers

Bam Adebayo ($8,100): In a great opportunity versus a Pistons' team allowing 55.1 FanDuel points per game to centers this season, Adebayo is second overall in value with a 5.13 rating and a 42.8 fantasy projection at his second lowest salary during March. Miami's center performed at a high level in their last encounter, producing a 40.0 fantasy point double-double at a salary point 8.9% higher than today's.