RADIO
As March Madness rolls on with all the hoops you can handle, the professionals continue to push toward the postseason. With only four games available on FanDuel’s “Main Slate,” starting at 8 pm (eastern), there is less room for error, especially for those looking to take down those bigger GPP contests.
We have some big-time absences to consider on Saturday night as Joel Embiid, Marvin Bagley III, and Stephen Curry will remain out. With these injuries, the door is open for others to leap into bigger roles while potentially maximizing their fantasy values.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 3/20/21. These DFS lineup picks can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced players and value picks on FanDuel. You can also check out DraftKings lineup picks and injury news before lineups lock. Good luck, RotoBallers. Feel free to follow me on Twitter @DennisMClausen and say hello.
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FanDuel DFS Guards
Ben Simmons, PG - vs. SAC ($8,500)
With the highest over/under on Saturday, this game has an abundance of fantasy points up for grabs. We know Joel Embiid is out, but unlike his teammates, Simmons isn’t a guy who needs to score to make an impact.
While players like Tobias Harris, Danny Green, and Shake Milton will all receive noticeable bumps in +/- differential and usage, it should continue to be business as normal for Simmons. He only had 13 points against Milwaukee, but was a monster in other areas, dishing out 12 assists and pulling down 10 boards. He had two steals and two blocks as well, and yes, he even had a make from downtown. If you aren’t looking to spend over $9,000 for De’Aaron Fox, Simmons could have just as much fantasy success at a lower DFS asking price.
Shake Milton, PG - vs. SAC ($5,500)
Like his brother, Seth Curry also won’t play on Saturday evening, an absence that will open up more minutes for others to take on additional responsibilities. Milton has been one of the most efficient, reliable options for 76ers and usually comes up big when the team is forced to rely on him for added production.
The 24-year-old turned up the volume after receiving an extended run during Wednesday’s overtime loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. He finished with 15 points in that one, adding in four assists, three boards, and a steal for good measure. Furkan Korkmaz will probably get the start for Philly against Sacramento, granting him some additional minutes, but look for Milton to lead the second unit off the bench. Keep him in mind, primarily for those running low on cap space.
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FanDuel DFS Forwards
Tobias Harris, SF - vs. SAC ($8,300)
Harris’ DFS asking price is higher than it has been throughout the year. A capable scorer, the veteran is a player who generally gets overlooked. However, make no mistake, he can produce, especially when he gets hot from behind the three-point line.
With Joel Embiid out of the picture with a knee injury, there are a ton of shots up for grabs moving forward. During the 76ers' narrow loss at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks, Harris took 23 shots. Although he only drained eight of them, the volume should continue to be there against Sacramento, a team that may not give him as much trouble on the defensive end.
Kelly Oubre Jr., SF - vs. MEM ($5,900)
Oubre originally wasn’t supposed to play against Memphis on Friday night but he somehow managed to make his way to the floor. He only had four points throughout 29 minutes; however, he has historically been one of the streakiest fantasy options over the years, so this shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.
With such a miserable performance, many will be scared off from inserting him into their DFS lineups. Nonetheless, the Grizzlies haven't done a good job in certain areas defensively this season, so keep Oubre in mind as a GPP option only, not cash.
FanDuel DFS Centers
Jonas Valanciunas, C - vs. GSW ($7,300)
Valanciunas may not be the most effective option defensively, but he is a guy who always has double-double written all over him. He also doesn’t spend a lot of time on the floor, but he is a player who can maximize his fantasy output, regardless.
After producing nearly 70 fantasy points against Washington a few weeks ago, his path of dominance continues. He had 43.8 fantasy points against OKC last Sunday, 48.4 against Phoenix the following night, and will be entering Saturday fresh off a 16-rebound, 10-point effort against Golden State on Friday. It doesn’t hurt that the Warriors have been horrendous defending underneath the rim this year, so Valanciunas should surely be on the radar in both GPP and Cash formats.
Jakob Poeltl, C - @ MIL ($5,600)
After spending some time in Toronto before landing in San Antonio, Poeltl never really seemed to reach his potential. However, with LaMarcus Aldridge looking to take his talents elsewhere, Poeltl appears to be on the upswing.
The 25-year-old has been a nightmare for his opponents on the glass lately, racking up at least 12 rebounds in each of his previous three games. He also had six blocks during that span, and although his ability to get it done on the scoring end is inconsistent, fantasy managers could see him easily hit value against Milwaukee on Saturday night.
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