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. Our projections -- which are powered by numberFire -- update throughout the day to reflect current news. You can also turn to numberFire for player news updates as well as 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 some of the day's top plays at each position.

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

Betting lines via the NBA odds at FanDuel Sportsbook. Projections and betting odds may change after this article is published.

NBA DFS Picks

Tuesday's main slate on FanDuel features five games but some dramatically different game environments.

For a full breakdown, see numberFire's matchup heat map. Lines and totals via the NBA odds on FanDuel Sportsbook.

Top matchups:

• Dallas Mavericks @ San Antonio Spurs | +9.0, 234.5 total
• Houston Rockets @ Washington Wizards | +9.5, 228.0 total

Other games:

• New Orleans Pelicans @ Brooklyn Nets | +8.0, 215 total
• Denver Nuggets @ Minnesota Timberwolves | +8.0, 213.5 total
• Charlotte Hornets @ Orlando Magic | -12.5, 202.5 total

Guards

Top Plays

Fred VanVleet ($8,600) -- In three games since Alperen Sengun went down, Fred VanVleet is averaging 47.7 FanDuel points per game (FPPG) with a 23% usage rate, per RotoGrinders CourtIQ. He's established a nice floor with 37 FPs in eight straight games, but the ceiling could be sky-high against Washington. According to FantasyPros the Wizards have given up the fourth-most FPPG to PGs over the last 15 games, and they're 29th in defensive rating over that span. VanVleet should feast, but Jalen Green ($7,900) makes sense, too. He's averaged 43.2 FPPG and a team-high 29% usage rate since Sengun went out.

Jordan Poole ($6,900) -- Jordan Poole should get another start with Tyus Jones sidelined, and he makes for a strong game stack with either of Houston's guards. Poole has caught fire over the second half, averaging 32.2 FPPG and a 31% usage rate across the last 14 games. Houston isn't a bad defense, but they've quietly allowed the third-most FPPG to PGs over their last 15 games.

Others to Consider

Luka Doncic ($12,700) -- Luka Doncic is incredible, and he's the highest-projected player on the slate (61.4 FPs). His salary is hard to stomach when the Mavericks are nine-point favorites, but at least San Antonio is at home. I hope the Spurs can keep it close; if they do, Luka should feast. Dallas has the slate's highest implied total (121.75), and the Spurs have given up the most FPPG to opposing PGs over the last 15 games. Doncic's points prop is set at 33.5 on FanDuel Sportsbook.

Vasilije Micic ($5,900) -- Tre Mann is questionable, so Vasilije Micic is a solid value if the former sits. Micic has exceeded 30 minutes in seven of nine games this month, averaging 28 FPPG and a 23% usage rate. Orlando is a tough matchup -- and I otherwise don't want anything to do with this Charlotte offense -- but they've been vulnerable opposing guards.

Wings

Top Plays

Paolo Banchero ($9,000) -- In nine games since returning from a brief absence, Paolo Banchero has put up 23.8 actual and 41.4 FanDuel points per game. He's running a 30% usage rate over that span. That's plenty high enough to produce against Charlotte, even if they're haven't been a total pushover of late. The Hornets are up to 10th in defensive rating since the All-Star break -- and they held Paolo to 27.5 FPs earlier this month -- but are still bottom seven in FPPG allowed to SFs and PFs. Banchero's points + rebounds prop is set at 28.5 on FanDuel Sportsbook.

Justin Champagnie ($5,200) -- numberFire projections peg Justin Champagnie for 27.2 FPs tonight. That makes him the best point-per-dollar wing on the slate and the third-best regardless of position (5.23 FPs per $1,000). He's gone for 33.9 and 28.1 FPs over the last two games and should continue to see a heavy workload with Bilal Coulibaly and Deni Avdija both out.

Others to Consider

Anthony Edwards ($10,200) -- Anthony Edwards hurt his finger while sending John Collins to the afterlife last night, but he returned to the game and is questionable against the Nuggets. Minnesota's status as an eight-point underdog suggests he's at real risk of missing tonight's game -- though I'd be fine rostering him if healthy. Denver held him to 29.9 FPs back in November, but Ant's been on a roll lately. Over his last five games, Edwards is averaging 53.8 FPPG.

Dillon Brooks ($4,800) -- It takes a truly great matchup for me to consider Dillon Brooks in fantasy. Enter the Washington Wizards. The Association's worst team has given up the most FPPG to SFs on the year while both Houston and Washington are top three in pace since the All-Star break. Points should be plentiful, so Brooks can provide real value at a low salary. He put up 24.2 FPs against them last week. Consider that his floor tonight.

Bigs

Top Plays

Victor Wembanyama ($11,400) -- Victor Wembanyama is the high-salary stud I'm after tonight. Wemby continues to fill up the box score and is fresh off his fourth 70-FP game since the All-Star break. Though Dallas mitigated his damage in two prior meetings, they've given up the fourth-most FPPG to Cs over the last 15 games. In the slate's top game environment, Wemby is a worthy building block for any lineup. His points + rebounds + assists prop is set at 39.5 on FanDuel Sportsbook.

Jock Landale ($4,800) -- Jock Landale still isn't starting, but he's averaged 23 minutes and 20.8 FPs in the last three games without Sengun. Washington is a dream matchup for bigs; they've allowed the most FPPG to Cs and the most points in the paint since the All-Star break. This game environment is top-notch, and FanDuel Research projects Landale for 26.9 FPs tonight, making him the top point-per-dollar value on the slate (5.6 FPs per $1,000).

Others to Consider

Nikola Jokic ($11,900) -- Of course we're considering Nikola Jokic tonight; he just comes with some caveats. First, a 213.5 over/under is less than ideal when the other two guys in his salary range (Doncic and Wemby) have totals north of 230. Second, Denver is an eight-point favorite with Ant and Rudy Gobert questionable. Third, if Gobert is healthy, the matchup isn't great; the Stifle Tower has held him under 50 FPs in two of their last three regular season meetings. There's nightly upside with the Joker, but I prefer building around Doncic or Wembanyama tonight.

Jabari Smith ($6,800) -- The value bin is pretty barren tonight, but I'm more than fine allocating a bit more salary toward Jabari Smith. Smith's mysteriously had less than a 20% usage rate since Sengun went down, ceding way to Houston's guards. Still, he's coming off a 41.4-FP outing against the Cavs -- a performance he could build off against the lowly Wizards. Though they kept him to 22.5 FPs last week, Smith still snagged nine rebounds and didn't have a steal or block for the first time in 10 games. Expect a course correction tonight.

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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.