FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks and Helper: Sunday 2/4/24

Since NBA DFS is easier to predict than baseball or football, it would likely get plenty of votes as the best sport to play on FanDuel. Basketball players usually stick to the same minutes and produce at roughly the same rate. Sounds easy, right? Trust me -- it's not!

As a result, NBA daily fantasy is highly reliant on a player's opportunity, so you'll need to ensure that you're up to date with key injuries. numberFire's projections update up until tip-off to reflect current news. numberFire also has player news updates, and the FanDuel Scout app will send push notifications for pressing updates regarding your players.

In addition to daily projections, numberFire also offers a matchup heat map and lineup optimizer to help give you an edge.

On top of all that, here at FanDuel Research, we'll come at you each day with this NBA DFS primer, which breaks down a few of the day's top plays at each position.

Let's dive into today's main slate on FanDuel.

Guards

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($11,300): Oklahoma City's emerging MVP contender is third overall with a 53.3 fantasy projection after he's averaged 55.7 FanDuel points per game in his last nine appearances. In 186 minutes with today's injuries, SAG sees a boost in his production to an eye-popping 37.8% usage rate and 1.67 FanDuel points per minute.

Damian Lillard ($9,000): In an amazing spot versus a Utah Jazz defense allowing the third most FanDuel points (52.3) per game to his position, Lillard ranks third among guards with a 40.1 fantasy projection. If Khris Middleton is unable to play in the second part of Milwaukee's back-to-back, Lillard sees a noticeable boost in his production with him off the floor to 1.31 FanDuel points per minute and 31.3% usage rate.

Jamal Murray ($8,800): Denver's guard could be overlooked despite averaging 1.17 FanDuel points per minute and a 29.5% usage rate in his last 16 games. Murray has a great opportunity for a ceiling performance against a Portland Trail Blazers giving up 50.9 FanDuel points per game to his position.

Fred VanVleet ($7,800): After a 2.5% decrease to his lowest salary since December 11th, VanVleet is third among guards in value with a 4.95 value score and a 38.6 fantasy projection.

Collin Sexton ($7,400): The 25-year old has been an underrated option in his last 16 starts, accounting for 1.34 FanDuel points per minute and a 29.5% usage rate.

Derrick White ($7,300): If Jaylen Brown is ruled out after he was listed as questionable, White would see a sizable increase in his fantasy metrics to 1.20 FanDuel points per minute and a 25.6% usage rate.

Vince Williams Jr. ($6,600): While Williams' status is worth monitoring with his current questionable designation, the 23-year old would see an increased role if active, accounting for a 21.8% usage rate with the Grizzlies' short-handed rotation.

Bennedict Mathurin ($5,700): Despite a recent 5.7% salary bump, Indiana's second-year guard ranks as a viable mid-salary option with a 4.54 value rating and a 25.9 fantasy projection against a Charlotte Hornets' team ranked last in defensive rating.

Malik Beasley ($4,600): Milwaukee's three-point specialist is producing 0.73 FanDuel points per minute and a 15.3% usage rate if Khris Middleton is not available.

Jacob Gilyard ($4,600): After logging 32 minutes in a starting role on Friday, Gilyard is another value option to consider while averaging 0.86 FanDuel points per minute with today's current inactives.

Forwards

Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,900): Milwaukee's superstar has somehow seen a salary decrease to his lowest point this month despite scoring 87.2 FanDuel points on Saturday night. Antetokounmpo ranks second overall with a 55.2 fantasy projection in another ceiling spot versus a Jazz team allowing the most FanDuel points (52.8) per game to power forwards.

Jayson Tatum ($10,100): Coming off an embarrassing loss on Thursday night, Tatum has an ideal spot to rebound with a 45.8 fantasy projection versus a Memphis team allowing 48.6 FanDuel points per game to his position. If Jaylen Brown is inactive, Boston's All-Star sees an increase to 1.34 FanDuel points per minute with a 35.2% usage rate when he's off the floor.

Scottie Barnes ($9,200): Even in a tough matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Barnes is third among forwards with a 41.1 fantasy projection. If RJ Barrett were to sit, Toronto's versatile playmaker is averaging 1.07 FanDuel points per minute and a 28.6% usage rate with in 194 minutes this season without Toronto's current inactives.

Lauri Markkanen ($8,900): In his last 17 games, Markkanen has somewhat flown under the radar despite recording 1.26 FanDuel points per minute and 40.0 FanDuel points per contest.

Miles Bridges ($8,600): Among his team's expected starting unit, Bridges ranks first in fantasy production (1.17 FanDuel points per minute) and second in usage (27.4%). Even at his second-highest salary in the past week, Bridges is 10th among his position in value with a 4.75 rating and a 40.9 fantasy projection.

Pascal Siakam ($8,000): At his median salary during his time with the Indiana Pacers, Siakam is second among forwards in value with a 5.05 rating and a 40.4 fantasy projection in a favorable spot versus a Charlotte unit ranked 26th in FanDuel points per game (49.8) allowed to his position.

Brandon Miller ($7,200): Since January 19th, Charlotte's rookie has found some recent momentum, producing 21.3 real-life points per game and 1.01 FanDuel points per minute.

John Collins ($6,600): In his last ten starts, Collins has played well, accounting for an efficient 1.21 FanDuel points per minute and 32.8 FanDuel points per contest.

Santi Aldama ($6,200): With the Grizzlies so shorthanded on Sunday, Aldama is expected to see plenty of run while also ranking 12th among forwards in value with a 4.7 rating and a 29.2 fantasy projection.

David Roddy ($4,900): The 22-year old could be a sneaky value option after he produced 1.10 FanDuel points per minute and a 24.7% usage rate with today's current inactives out of the lineup for Memphis.

Luguentz Dort ($4,800): Despite recording a 14.0% usage rate with Sunday's expected rotation, Dort is first among forwards in value with a 5.84 rating and a 28.0 fantasy projection -- even at his highest salary in the past week.

Jae Crowder ($4,100): If Khris Middleton were to sit, the Bucks veteran has averaged 0.60 FanDuel points per minute and a 11.9% usage rate over 322 minutes with Middleton off the floor.

Centers

Nikola Jokic ($12,100): After producing 76.4 FanDuel points in his return on Friday, Jokic is set for another beast performance, ranking first overall with a 56.3 fantasy projection versus a Portland team giving up the most production (62.9 FanDuel points per game) to centers. In his last 15 games, "Joker" is averaging 1.70 FanDuel points per minute and 58.3 FanDuel points per contest.

Chet Holmgren ($8,100): Oklahoma City's rookie could be a sneaky option after he produced 1.46 FanDuel points per minute and a 24.5% usage rate with the Thunder's current inactives off the floor. Holmgren is fourth among centers in value with a 5.1 rating and a 41.3 fantasy projection

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author’s advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.