RADIO
Happy Thursday, RotoBallers! With the NBA trade deadline coming and going this afternoon, the potential for lineup changes is at its highest point of the season. It is a must to double-check those lineups before the games kick off tonight. Trades, scratches, and buyouts will be happening thick and fast as the deadline draws nearer. Some moves may slip under the radar, and you'll need to turn on those Woj Bomb Twitter notifications to stay ahead of the game.
Injuries are taking their toll across the league. Joel Embiid, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Stephen Curry will all sit, and it takes some great talent off the board. My favorite game is the Golden State-Sacramento contest. It's the only matchup where both teams average more than 102 possessions per game, and it will open the door for some terrific fantasy production.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 3/25/21. You can also check out today's FanDuel lineup picks. With COVID-19 a significant factor, remember to monitor injury news as the slate can completely change before lineups lock.
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DraftKings DFS Guards
Ben Simmons - PG/SF, PHI at LAL ($8,600)
No Embiid. No James. No Davis. Please give me all the Ben Simmons I can get for tonight's matchup. He's taken on a more prominent role in the 76ers offense, and it's paying off in his counting categories. Over his last four games, the 24-year old is averaging 16.8 points, 9.8 points, 6.8 assists, and a steal in 37.4 minutes.
Another thing in Simmons' favor will be the Laker's recent backcourt defense. They come into the contest as the worst defense versus point guards over their last 15 matchups. This game does have the lowest over/under among the five games (211.5 points), but I'm hoping that will cause some DFS players to fade Simmons. I highly recommend him for tonight's slate and will gladly roster him despite the Vegas indicators.
Kendrick Nunn - PG, MIA vs. POR ($4,600)
The Heat seems to be in every trade rumor on the planet, and it could make their lineup unpredictable for tonight's contest. While Nunn is one of the players that could be on the move, he is well worth a $4,600 investment if he stays in the friendly confines of South Beach. Goran Dragic (back) is injured while also involved in trade rumors. The Slovenian's absence will allow Nunn to build on his positive performance from Tuesday.
The 25-year old logged 35 minutes and tallied 25 points on 5-for-9 shooting from behind the three-point arc. The Trail Blazers defense is third-worst versus point guards over the last 15 games and won't provide much resistance against Nunn and the rest of the Heat's guards tonight.
Damion Lee - SG/SF, GS at SAC ($3,900)
Sometimes you've got to risk it for the biscuit, and that's what I'm doing with Damion Lee in my lineups tonight. While Jordan Poole ($6,100) is the apparent replacement for Curry, I can't resist Lee's boom potential. If he gets the minutes, he will produce. Lee had his best game of the season against Memphis last week with 28 minutes on the court. In that time, he had 21 points, five rebounds, two assists, a block, and a steal with four threes. He cost $3,300 in that game and provided TEN-times his value with 35.75 fantasy points.
Slotting Lee into your lineup will allow DFS players to spend up at a couple of other positions In a stars and scrubs strategy. It's only a five-game slate, and getting some of those studs consolidated into one lineup is more than a viable strategy for tonight's contests.
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DraftKings DFS Forwards
Richaun Holmes - PF/C, SAC vs. GS ($7,300)
The Warriors enter this matchup as the fourth-worst defense against centers over their last 15 games, which will equal fantasy success for Richaun Holmes. The 2015 second-round pick is in a great run of form at the moment and set to put up another high fantasy total for his managers. He has five double-doubles in his last seven games, and he will look to make it six of eight against the Warriors.
Since the All-Star break, the 27-year old is averaging 18.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game. Add all that production up, and it comes out to 45.7 FPPG. That would be a six-times return on value at his $7,300 salary tonight. Sign me up twice for those kinds of numbers. Holmes is a rock-solid option at the power forward or center spot tonight.
Kyle Kuzma - SF/PF, LAL vs. PHI ($6,900)
LeBron James (ankle) and Anthony Davis (calf) remain sidelined for the Lakers, and it will likely result in a chalkish night for Kuzma. Not all chalk is bad chalk, and the fourth-year forward will be a primary offensive threat for the purple and gold against the 76ers. Last time out, the 25-year old recorded 41.5 fantasy points when he produced 16 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, one steal, and four threes in 34 minutes.
DFS managers will be hoping for a similar output tonight, but it will be tough against a stout Philly defense. Still, someone has to score and create for the Lakers, and Kuzma is the best candidate for that role. He's averaging 32.1 minutes per game over his last six tilts and is a safe bet to return at least five-times his value on his $6,900 salary.
RJ Barrett - SF, NY vs. WAS ($6,800)
The $6,500-$7,500 range is full of talent at the forward positions tonight, and Barrett is no exception. The second-year player is averaging 35.4 FPPG over his last five games, and his game has taken a step forward during his sophomore season. For the year, Barret is averaging 17.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, and three assists per contest.
While he's only taking 3.3 threes per game, he is still making 34.5 percent of his attempts. The Wizards allow their opponents to make 38.6 percent of their three-point attempts this season, the fourth-worst mark in the league. The Wizards will also force the Knicks to play fast than usual with their league-leading pace. More opportunities and a great matchup will make Barrett a suitable target for your DFS rosters.
DraftKings DFS Centers
Mitchell Robinson - C, NY vs. WAS ($5,100)
Well, that didn't take long. In just his second game back from a month-long injury absence, Robinson came through for DFS managers. The 22-year old posted a spectacular stat line with 16 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, and three blocks in 31 minutes. The Wizards are a bottom-seven rebounding team in the league this season, and Robinson should be able to approach double-digits in that category again.
The rebounding-floor and the potential points and blocks-upside for the 2018 draft pick make him an enticing option for Thursday. Throw in that $5,100 price tag, and Robinson is a lock for my lineups.
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