The NBA Core was solid last night, if unspectacular. Three game slates gonna three game slates, I guess. We get a much more welcoming slate on Tuesday night at DraftKings, as an 8-game schedule falls into our laps.
The big decision-point on this slate figures to be Jalen Johnson. He obviously looks fantastic against the Wizards, but he will be uber chalk on a slate with no other legit studs worth paying up for. Do we just eat the chalk, or do we go more balanced? I’ll break it all down while handing out my top NBA DFS picks you should be building around at DraftKings and FanDuel.
NBA DFS Core Plays for Tuesday
| DraftKings NBA Core Plays | FanDuel NBA Core Plays |
| Alondes Williams ($4.3k) | Brandin Podziemski ($6.5k) |
| Nick Richards ($3.9k) | Alondes Williams ($5.4k) |
| Brandin Podziemski ($6.2k) | Brandon Miller ($7.9k) |
| Gui Santos ($5.6k) | Gui Santos ($6.3k) |
Update 2: Still like Bagley. Gafford is in, though, so not enamored with him. Richards takes his place for now. Don’t need him to start at this price. I will say that Rickards/Williams are necessary evils (or something similar to them) to afford Jalen Johnson. If you want to play it safer and get ownership leverage by fading Jalen, consider also fading Richards and/or Williams. I am currently just playing Jalen with this core and getting different with my final 3 spots. Not the suggested approach for a big GPP, but a fine strategy for SE.
Update: Podziemski grades out really well now. A lot of the Dubs look good. Horford is out, which makes Santos look better and puts Draymond in play. I think you can play 2-4 Warriors. Pod and Gui will be the chalkiest. Still like Spencer a lot. Jalen Smith is out so Nick Richards ($3.9k) is going to look pretty good.
This core admittedly feels gross, but these guys are all cheap and they have clear roles. Pat Spencer was ass in his last game, but he also had four fouls. Tonight he gets to redeem himself in one of the best spots possible against the Pels.
Golden State looks pretty inviting across the board. Podziemski, Moses Moody, and Gui Santos all look really solid. They look even better if the Dubs are extra shorthanded – Horfy, Dray, and Melton are all questionable.
Williams is a tad chasey if we’re hoping he repeats the 50 burger he got two games ago, but that isn’t what I am personally doing here. Rather, he’s pretty cheap, getting nice burn, and faces the Hawks. There is risk playing him into ownership – especially with Washington having so many bodies. For now, I’m fine with it.
Bagley is a bit more palatable. He’s in play no matter what the status is for Daniel Gafford, but he is a slam dunk smash pick if Gafford sits. The matchup with the Nets looks fantastic and he has a clear path to 25 minutes even if Gafford plays. I am less inclined to auto lock him if Gafford is in, of course.
Best NBA DFS Stacking Environments for 2/24
- Wizards vs. Hawks (238.5 total)
- Knicks vs. Cavaliers (232.5 total)
- Hornets vs. Bulls (233.5 total)
- Warriors vs. Pelicans (227.5 total)
I am not as afraid of the blowout with the Wiz as normal, just because the Hawks aren’t the most reliable team out there. If we’re paying for Jalen Johnson, we can entertain some Wiz spares as comebacks. I don’t see myself forcing a full game stack, but the upside is there.
This Knicks vs. Cavs game could be interesting. New York plays at a slower pace and can defend well, but both teams can light it up from long range and don’t defend the three worth a lick. I can see a world where all of Harden, Spida, Brunson, and KAT smash.
Charlotte is going to feast on the souls of the Bulls. The question will be if Chicago can keep it competitive. The Bulls play fast and don’t defend, so this is an awesome environment if the game can stay close. Much like we all liked the Hornets in their last game against the Wiz, we can just stack up Charlotte guys and ignore Bulls if we want to. Just keep in mind that the Hornets are now at full strength.
My favorite game of this slate to stack is the Warriors vs. Pelicans. There is obvious value here, but this game just feels underrated from a game total perspective. The Pels stink defensively and play fast, so I think this game could turn into a track meet. I am very OK with loading up on cheap Warriors, while Zion, Queen, and some cheap Pels look good as well.
Tuesday’s Top NBA DFS Spends
- Jalen Johnson ($10.8k)
- Michael Porter Jr. ($8.6k)
- Zion Williamson ($7.9k)
- Kevin Porter Jr. ($7.8k)
The more I think about it, I’m not sure there’s much of a way around Johnson. There is going to be enough value for us to easily get there, and while he’s expensive, he has been awesome and the Wizards offer the best matchup on the board.
I probably won’t get that cute here and just pay for him.
Whether you play him or not, the balanced route is definitely filled with viable options. And you can pair any of these guys with Jalen. MPJ has a sick usage rate and we know Cam Thomas is gone, so the floor and ceiling in a soft spot against Dallas looks really nice.
Golden State isn’t the most comfortable draw, but if we get Point Zion again I won’t be fading. He is too cheap for the new ceiling he may provide. Besides, the Warriors might lack defensive punch if either Horford or Green sit this one out.
KPJ continues to be a hair too cheap. Miami plays fast, so if this game stays close he is going to nuke. I don’t mind Rollins as leverage if KPJ gains steam, but he just looks like such a great play.
Playing DFS since the days of DraftStreet, Kevin knows the ins and outs of DFS, specifically for NFL and NBA. He’s also been helping people win in fantasy football leagues for 15+ years and is one of many experts featured at FantasyPros.
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