RADIO
We are not too far removed from the trade deadline, a time of the year where the landscape of the league changes as clubs make a push toward the postseason. On Thursday evening, we saw an impressive debut from LaMarcus Aldridge, who finished with nearly a double-double against the Hornets. Andre Drummond also played his first game as a Laker, albeit a toe injury may keep him out of the lineup for a game or so.
Heading into Saturday night, the NBA has a loaded eight-game slate, complete with some fantasy-friendly contests to target. Some of these games could be a blowout, so fantasy managers will want to keep an eye on the spread throughout the day and plan accordingly, primarily with some teams playing the second of back-to-back affairs.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 4/3/21. 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.
FanDuel DFS Guards
De'Aaron Fox, PG - vs. MIL ($9,500)
Fox’s DFS asking price is at one of the highest points of his career. A capable scorer, he has established himself as one of the most reliable guards throughout the league.
He has played well for most of the year but really turned up the volume last month by averaging nearly 30 points per game on 52.2% shooting from the field. He can be streaky at times, but with such a desirable over/under, he may be worth every penny on Saturday night.
C.J. McCollum, SG - vs. OKC ($8,300)
McCollum spent a few months on the shelf after fracturing a bone in his foot. He returned a couple of weeks ago, and though he started back slowly, he has been on a roll lately.
Heading into Friday night’s matchup with Milwaukee, the veteran had at least 38.5 fantasy points in each of his previous three games. He is averaging 27 points per game during the second game of consecutive outings, so he should surely be on the radar, especially with a DFS cost just above $8,000.
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FanDuel DFS Forwards
Giannis Antetokounmpo, PF - @ SAC ($10,800)
Luckily, Antetokounmpo’s DFS price was released before the end of Friday night’s meeting against Portland. Had it been revealed afterward, his rostering cost would have been north of $11,000.
We know the freak’s numbers have regressed a bit since last season. However, he reminded everyone of just how dominant he could be after dropping almost 50 points on Portland on Friday night. The Bucks may have one of the highest implied totals of the night against Sacramento, which is always a good thing when considering a player’s potential fantasy output.
Norman Powell, SF - vs. OKC ($6,600)
Before Powell was dealt to the Trail Blazers, he put up some impressive numbers for the Raptors when most of the team was forced into isolation due to health and safety protocols related to COVID-19. He is a talented player, and with some consistent playing time, fans may start to see what he is truly capable of.
The 27-year-old has had flashes of efficiency through his first four games in Portland. He is averaging over 30 minutes per game and has scored at least 12 points per game during that span. However, where Powell makes his biggest dent is on the defensive end, averaging over two steals per game since joining his new team.
FanDuel DFS Centers
Richaun Holmes, C - vs. MIL
Holmes has been getting a ton of opportunities on the fantasy end as of late, even more so after Marvin Bagley III was injured. He has established himself as a legit big throughout the association and could emerge as one of the most coveted free agents during the offseason.
On a night where there are plenty of expensive options in the middle, Holmes’ DFS asking price is actually a bargain. He plays a little over 30 minutes per game but has no problem maximizing his potential during that window. He averaged 17.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks in March and also played favorably against Milwaukee when these two clubs met a few weeks ago.
Jusuf Nurkic, C - vs. OKC (5,200)
Just like C.J. McCollum, Nurkic is another player for Portland who spent time out of commission. He has also returned but continues to be limited to around 20 minutes per game.
Fortunately, the big man doesn’t waste much time getting to work when he is on the court. He is easily averaging over one fantasy point per minute since coming back and will be fresh off a near double-double against Milwaukee on Friday night. Of course, with anyone returning from an injury, there is a chance he may not play due to load management reasons, so monitor his status leading up to opening tip. If he doesn’t, keep Enes Kanter in your back pocket.
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