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 |
| CHI | CLE | 219.5 | 5 | 107.25 | DeRozan, Caruso, Williams probable |
| ORL | MIA | 217 | 1 | 108 | Harris questionable |
| MIA | ORL | 217 | -1 | 109 | Lowry, Oladipo OUT, Vincent probable |
| UTAH | NY | 228.5 | 5.5 | 111.5 | |
| CLE | CHI | 219.5 | -5 | 112.25 | |
| SA | ATL | 239 | 13 | 113 | |
| CHA | DEN | 236 | 8 | 114 | |
| IND | WSH | 234 | 5.5 | 114.25 | |
| DAL | SAC | 235 | 1.5 | 116.75 | |
| NY | UTAH | 228.5 | -5.5 | 117 | Robinson OUT |
| LAL | GS | 237.5 | 3 | 117.25 | James questionable, Davis probable |
| SAC | DAL | 235 | -1.5 | 118.25 | |
| WSH | IND | 234 | -5.5 | 119.75 | Morris not listed, Kuzma questionable |
| GS | LAL | 237.5 | -3 | 120.25 | Curry OUT |
| DEN | CHA | 236 | -8 | 122 | Gordon, Murray questionable |
| ATL | SA | 239 | -13 | 126 |
Guards
LaMelo Ball ($9,800): At his second highest salary in 2023, Ball is projected for 49.8 FanDuel points against a Denver Nuggets' defense ranked 23rd (48.7) in fantasy production allowed to his position. In their previous meeting this season, the 21-year old recorded 31 real-life points and 45.5 FanDuel points.
Trae Young ($9,700): In 135.3 minutes this month, Young has been in premier form, leading his team in fantasy production (1.39 FanDuel points per minute) and assists (0.34 per minute). At his highest salary point during February, Atlanta's point guard has an amazing spot versus a San Antonio Spurs' team allowing 25.1 real-life points and 50.4 FanDuel points to his position.
Kyrie Irving ($9,400): Since his Mavericks' debut on February 8th, Irving has accounted for 1.14 FanDuel points, 0.68 real-life points, and 0.21 assists per minute while his FanDuel salary has dropped by 4.0%.
Tyrese Haliburton ($8,700): At his lowest salary point this month, Haliburton is projected for 41.9 FanDuel points against a Washington Wizards' unit ranked 17th (47.6) in fantasy production allowed to point guards this season. The 22-year old is averaging 1.10 FanDuel points with a 23.2% usage rate since returning on February 2nd.
Dejounte Murray ($8,600): In a revenge game opportunity versus his former team, Murray is an underrated option on Saturday, ranking sixth among guards in value with a 5.25 rating and a 45.2 fantasy projection.
Donovan Mitchell ($8,500): After producing 30 real-life points on Friday, Mitchell's FanDuel salary has increased 2.4% to his highest point this month against a Chicago Bulls' unit rated 21st in FanDuel points allowed per game to shooting guards. In three previous encounters, Mitchell has destroyed the Bulls, averaging 60.8 FanDuel points and 39.3 real-life points.
Klay Thompson ($8,000): Golden State's three-point savant is averaging 0.99 FanDuel points, 0.69 real-life points, and 0.58 shot attempts per minute with a 27.8% usage rate in 527.5 minutes this season with today's injuries.
Jalen Brunson ($7,900): In four contests during February, Brunson is recording 29.3 real-life points per game while his fantasy average stands at 1.19 FanDuel points per minute with a 26.8% usage rate.
Bradley Beal ($7,900): After Kyle Kuzma was ruled out, Beal's fantasy output sees a 0.07 increase to 1.36 FanDuel points per minute with a 30.8% usage rate. Washington's star shooting guard has a great matchup versus an Indiana Pacers ranked 28th (44.1) in FanDuel points allowed per game to his position.
Jordan Poole ($7,800): After a 47.7 fantasy point performance in his last appearance, Poole's FanDuel salary has increased to his highest point this month. In 1050.6 minutes with Stephen Curry and Andre Iguodala off the floor this season, Poole is averaging 1.05 FanDuel points per minute and a 34.7% usage percentage.
Buddy Hield ($6,900): Indiana's long distance specialist is having his best offensive month this season, averaging 18.8 real-life points per game while his fantasy output stands at 0.98 FanDuel points per minute.
Collin Sexton ($5,500): Even at his highest salary point this month, Sexton is ranked third in value among guards with a 5.54 rating and a 30.5 fantasy projection. In his past two starts, the 24-year old has logged 33.5 minutes per game and 1.20 FanDuel points per minute.
Bruce Brown Jr. ($5,500): After Jamal Murray was listed as questionable, Brown's fantasy production could see a 0.16 jump to 1.04 FanDuel points per minute with a 19.6% usage rate if Murray is unable to suit up versus a Charlotte Hornets allowing 47.4 FanDuel points per game to point guards.
Gabe Vincent ($5,000): Since Vincent was named Miami's starting point guard on February 4th, the 26-year old is averaging 0.63 FanDuel points per minute with a 15.4% usage rate while his FanDuel salary has moved up 28.2%.
Forwards
Anthony Davis ($10,800): At his second highest salary this month, Davis is numberFire's top option at the forward positions with 48.7 expected FanDuel points against a Golden State Warriors' defense ranked 17th in points allowed per game in the paint.
LeBron James ($10,400): Since the start of February, James' FanDuel salary has decreased by 2.8% to his lowest point this month while the Lakers' superstar has averaged 1.33 FanDuel points per minute with a 31.1% usage rate during this time period.
Domantas Sabonis ($9,500): In a tough opportunity versus a Dallas Mavericks team rated fifth (48.7) in FanDuel points allowed per game to his position, Sabonis is ranked second among his positions with 48.6 expected FanDuel points at his lowest salary during February.
Julius Randle ($9,300): With New York's projected first unit on the floor, Randle ranks first in fantasy production (1.26 FanDuel points per minute), rebounds (0.30 per minute), and assists (0.16). Even at his highest salary this month, the 28-year old is tenth among forwards in value with a 5.04 rating and a 46.9 fantasy projection.
Kristaps Porzingis ($9,200): Washington's big man is third among forwards with 48.3 expected FanDuel points against a Pacers' team allowing 45.8 per game to his position. In 460.8 minutes this season with today's current injuries, Porzingis is averaging 1.36 FanDuel points per minute with a 29.4% usage rate.
Bam Adebayo ($9,100): If Kyle Lowry were to sit on Saturday, Adebayo's fantasy production could see a 0.14 boost to 1.33 FanDuel points per minute with a 26.9% usage rate while his FanDuel salary has jumped 7.0% to his highest point since February 2nd.
Jimmy Butler ($8,900): In his past seven starts, Butler has been in ideal form, averaging 1.25 FanDuel points, 0.70 real-life points, 0.15 rebounds, and 0.14 assists per minute.
DeMar DeRozan ($8,300): At his lowest salary point this month, Chicago's leading scorer is projected for 40.4 FanDuel points against a Cleveland Cavaliers' ranked first in defensive rating and third in points allowed in the paint.
Evan Mobley ($7,800): Cleveland's second-year forward has accounted for his best offensive month this season, recording 19.4 real-life points per game on 14.8 shot attempts and 1.38 FanDuel points per minute.
Lauri Markkanen ($7,600): In the past week, Markkanen's FanDuel salary has dropped by 10.5% to his lowest point in 2023 while Utah's forward has produced 1.08 FanDuel points per minute and a 26.6% usage rate in this time period.
Andrew Wiggins ($6,700): After a 48.0 fantasy point outing, Wiggins' FanDuel salary has increased by 6.3% to his highest point during February. The Warriors' forward is averaging 0.95 FanDuel points per minute with a 22.5% usage rate in 284.4 minutes with Saturday's expected rotation.
Zach Collins ($5,600): Despite a 10.7% salary spike, Collins is third among his positions in value with a 5.76 rating and a 32.2 fantasy projection versus an Atlanta Hawks' team ranked 19th in defensive rating.
Kelly Olynyk ($4,900): At his lowest salary during 2023, Utah's veteran is sixth overall in value with a 5.71 rating and a 28.0 fantasy expectation despite Saturday's difficult matchup against a Knicks' defense rated fifth (41.9) in FanDuel points allowed per game to his position.
Isaiah Hartenstein ($4,800): In a valuable bench role, New York's veteran has averaged 24.8 minutes this month while his fantasy output stands at 0.91 FanDuel points per minute.
Centers
Nikola Jokic ($12,000): At his highest salary in 2023, "The Joker" is numberFire's top option with 60.4 FanDuel points versus a Hornets' team allowing the most fantasy production (58.8 FanDuel points) to centers this season. In their last meeting, Jokic produced a monster 88.4 fantasy point performance including 40.0 real-life points, 27.0 rebounds, and 10.0 assists.
Mark Williams ($4,800): Charlotte's rookie is ranked second overall in value with a 6.39 rating and a 30.6 fantasy projection against a Denver Nuggets ranked eighth (50.9) in FanDuel points allowed to the five position.