Happy Thursday, RotoBallers! Another day, another chance to win some DFS contests. There are six games scheduled in the Association tonight, and some good ones at that. Each game involves at least one team with playoff implications on the line and will only up the stakes as most teams enter their final 10 games of the 2020-21 campaign.
Four of the six games have an over/under above 229.5 points. It's fantastic to have so many games with such a high total to choose from. However, don't forget about the teams that are competing to lose. Detroit, Houston, Oklahoma City, and Minnesota all have a lot on the line. Those organizations don't have a strong interest in winning, but they should be trying to figure out what kind of pieces they have on their roster to bounce back next season. That's why we shouldn't be so quick to dismiss a Dallas-Detroit matchup with an over/under at a lower 215.5 points. Detroit is giving a lot of their veterans some rest and opening up playing time for discounted options.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 4/29/21. 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
D'Angelo Russell - PG/SG, MIN vs. GS ($6,700)
REVENGE GAME ALERT! Russell welcomes his former team to Minnesota and will look to continue his strong finish to the season. The 2019 All-Star has played at least 25 minutes in seven games since April 9th and is putting up great statistical returns for fantasy. In those seven contests, Russell is averaging 23 points, 6.7 assists, 3.6 threes, and 2.9 rebounds. He's taking 15.3 shots per game and being incredibly efficient with his .542/.431/.833 shooting splits. All this production is coming out to 35.2 fantasy points per game and will be expected in a game where both Golden State and Minnesota average over 103 possessions per game. This matchup will be a shootout, which will suit Russell's skill set and potential fantasy production quite well.
Frank Jackson - PG/SG, DET vs. DAL ($3,500)
Playing time. Playing time. Playing time. That's how to unlock Jackson, and, frankly (pun intended), anyone in DFS. Fortunately, the Pistons are resting several veterans for the game against Dallas, and it provides a soft landing spot for Jackson to prosper on Thursday. The 22-year old has played at least 25 minutes in four games this month and tallying some significant fantasy totals at a low cost. In the four games, Jackson is averaging 17.8 points, three rebounds, and 2.8 three-pointers for 24.65 FPPG. We should all take that kind of production at a $3,500 salary. The Duke product will be low rostered in such a low-scoring affair, but I believe he will have the chance to provide some much need value at the guard position on Thursday.
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DraftKings DFS Forwards
Giannis Antetokounmpo - PF/C, MIL at HOU ($11,000)
Rostering the most expensive player is a tad boring and predictable, but Giannis Antetokounmpo has the potential to win a contest any time he takes the court. He is probable for his matchup with the Rockets tonight, so make sure to check those lineups in case the Bucks do anything crazy with their lineups. Regardless, Giannis is going to have a phenomenal evening against a tanking Rockets lineup. If you are worried about the two-time MVP being on a minutes limit, don't be. On Saturday, Antetokounmpo only played 24 minutes and still produced 58 DraftKings fantasy points. The Rockets play fast, don't play defense, and have no interest in winning this game. Giannis is in a fantastic spot to continue his late-season surge to get back in the running for his third consecutive MVP award.
OG Anunoby - SF/PF, TOR at DEN ($6,800)
While the Nuggets have seen their small forward, Michael Porter Jr., take off in the second half, they are still leaking fantasy points on the other end of the court. Over their last 15 games, the Nuggets are allowing the eighth-most fantasy points to small forwards. That will suit Anunoby just fine with the current streak he is on. The forward has scored at least 20 points in five straight contests and contributing in other categories to raise his fantasy floor. Over those same five games, the 23-year old is averaging 23 points, 4.6 rebounds, three assists, 1.4 steals, and 3.4 three-pointers. These teams tend to play slower than the other games on the slate, but they can still produce fantasy points for the pieces we want to roster tonight.
DraftKings DFS Centers
Isaiah Stewart - C, DET vs. DAL ($6,000)
The Pistons are having a ball at the tankathon dance-off these days and already declared several veterans will miss tonight's game versus the Dallas Mavericks. Mason Plumlee is one of those veterans, and his absence will blow the door open for Isaiah Stewart to return to fantasy dominance. The rookie from Washington has played more than 30 minutes three times in April and has provided electric returns for DFS players. In the trio of contests, Stewart averaged 16.3 points on 67.6 percent shooting, along with 16.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, two blocks, and 1.3 steals. For DFS purposes, those numbers tallied up to 47.8 fantasy points per game. With Plumlee out and no reason for the Pistons to limit Stewart, the rookie big man should be in for a big fantasy night.
Oshae Brissett - PF/C, IND vs. BKN ($5,300)
Brissett is having a great time filling in for his teammates down the final stretch of the regular season, and DFS players are reaping the rewards. Domantas Sabonis (back) and Myles Turner (toe) will miss Thursday's game against the Nets, and fellow forward Goga Bitadze is questionable with an ankle injury that has kept him on the sidelines for a few contests. While his teammates are recovering, the second-year big man is thriving. He's started each of the last five games and has a double-double in three of them while averaging 15.6 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, an assist, and a block per game. Indiana is all playing at a blistering pace over the second half of the season because they are first in the league in pace (105.1 possessions per game) over their last 10 matchups.