Also, don\u2019t forget that for large-field tournaments, you can utilize our\u00a0Lineup Optimizer<\/a>\u00a0to effortlessly create up to 300 lineups or use our\u00a0Lineup Builder<\/a>\u00a0if you like to hand-build your lineups.<\/p>\n You can also use our SimLabs Lineup Generator<\/a>, a tool that creates the most user-friendly lineup generation process.<\/p>\n Note: Projections and Leverage Scores\/Ratings may change throughout the day after this article is posted. The NBA DFS<\/a> landscape changes quickly.\u00a0<\/p>\n Consult the NBA\u00a0Player Models<\/a> directly for any updates as we get closer to lock.<\/p>\n NBA DFS Point Guard Picks<\/p>\n Stud<\/p>\n The Hornets are currently locked in a tight battle in the Eastern Conference standings. They\u2019re sitting in eighth place at 42-36, but they\u2019re just 1.5 games behind the Raptors for the No. 6 seed. However, they\u2019re also just one game ahead of the 10th-place Heat. The final week of the regular season will ultimately determine which two teams earn the final guaranteed playoff spots and who will have to qualify via the play-in tournament.<\/p>\n One thing that is for sure is that the Hornets have been playing excellent basketball. They\u2019re 16-7 since the All-Star break, and they\u2019re first in the league in offensive efficiency during that stretch. Only the Spurs have been better in terms of Net Rating, with Charlotte outscoring opponents by +13.1 points per 100 possessions.<\/p>\n LaMelo Ball has unsurprisingly been a big part of their success. His minutes have been slightly limited of late, but he\u2019s still averaging an elite 1.42 DraftKings points per minute. He needed just 30 minutes in his last outing to score 44.0 DraftKings points vs. the Pacers.<\/p>\n Ball is projected for 30.5 minutes on Sunday\u2019s slate, and his matchup<\/a> will be tougher this time around. He\u2019s taking on the Timberwolves, who rank fifth in defensive efficiency. That said, Ball still owns the second-highest ceiling projection at point guard in our NBA Models, and he trails Shai Gilgeous-Alexander by just two points. Ball is available at a considerable discount compared to SGA, making him the clear top choice if spending up at the position. He leads all point guards in Sim Labs<\/a> optimal lineup rate.<\/p>\n Value<\/p>\n The Pelicans have a couple of key injuries to monitor Sunday. They\u2019ve listed both Dejounte Murray and Trey Murphy as questionable, which would open up a handful of minutes in their rotation.<\/p>\n Murray also missed the team\u2019s last game, which allowed Jeremiah Fears to step into a much larger role. He logged just under 37 minutes vs. the Kings, and he responded with 49.0 DraftKings points. Fears has averaged 1.12 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, so he\u2019s capable of doing a lot of damage with an expanded role.<\/p>\n Even if Murray does manage to suit up Sunday, Fears could still provide value. He\u2019s posted a positive Plus\/Minus<\/a> in six straight games, and Murray has been active for four of them. Fears remains underpriced at $5,100, resulting in a 95% Bargain Rating.<\/p>\n Fast Break<\/p>\n Jalen Suggs has been a strong option for the Magic of late. He\u2019s gone for at least 43.5 DraftKings points in two of his past three games, giving him a strong ceiling at just $6,800. He should continue to play 30-plus minutes with Anthony Black on the sidelines, and he\u2019s another player with a 95% Bargain Rating on DraftKings.<\/p>\n The Jazz are basically out of bodies at this point. They\u2019ve already ruled out eight players for Sunday, leaving Kennedy Chandler to handle most of the point guard minutes. He\u2019s turned in some decent outings in that role of late, posting a positive Plus\/Minus in four of his past seven games. He had 32.25 DraftKings points in 32.5 minutes two games ago, and he\u2019s projected for another 29 minutes Sunday.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t forget to check out our NBA SimLabs Lineup Generator<\/a> to create advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation:<\/p>\n NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks<\/p>\n Stud<\/p>\n Franz Wagner is officially back for the Magic, suiting up in the team\u2019s past two games. However, his minutes are being carefully managed. He\u2019s played less than 20 minutes in both outings, so he shouldn\u2019t see a huge spike in playing time Sunday.<\/p>\n That means Desmond Bane should continue to benefit from an elevated usage rate. His performances have been up and down recently, but the highs have been pretty high. He\u2019s posted a positive Plus\/Minus in two of his past three games, including 50.25 DraftKings points in his last outing. He owns the top ceiling projection at shooting guard, and his $7,200 price tag is pretty reasonable. The Magic also have one of the best matchups of the day, with the Pelicans ranking 22nd in defensive efficiency this season.<\/p>\n Value<\/p>\n The big news in the NBA right now involves the Los Angeles Lakers. They\u2019ve been playing their best basketball of the season down the stretch, but they just suffered two massive injuries. Luka Doncic is going to miss at least the rest of the regular season, while Austin Reaves will miss the next 4-6 weeks with an oblique injury. It\u2019s going to make things extremely difficult for the Lakers in the loaded Western Conference playoffs.<\/p>\n Luke Kennard is going to have to help pick up the slack. He was acquired before the trade deadline, and he\u2019s had a meaningful impact on the team. He hasn\u2019t been great for fantasy purposes, averaging just 0.62 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, but he\u2019s projected for 29 minutes Sunday vs. the Mavericks. Historically, players with comparable salaries and minute projections have averaged a Plus\/Minus of +1.88 (per the Trends tool<\/a>). Kennard has personally averaged a Plus\/Minus of +2.18 in that split, so he\u2019s capable of providing value on this slate.<\/p>\n Fast Break<\/p>\n Kon Knueppel has cooled off a bit of late, but he\u2019s still having a historic rookie season. He\u2019s knocked down more 3-pointers than any rookie in NBA history, shooting a blistering 43.1% from 3-point range on 7.9 attempts per game. Kneuppel has averaged 1.03 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he\u2019s coming off 35.5 DraftKings points in his last outing. He has the third-highest optimal lineup rate at the position, so he\u2019s another viable pay-up option.<\/p>\n Cody Williams has been a major bright spot for the tanking Jazz. He was the No. 10 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, but he struggled to earn playing time at the start of the year. However, he\u2019s taken full advantage of his recent opportunities, posting an average Plus\/Minus of +3.87 over his past 10 games. He\u2019s gone for at least 42.5 DraftKings points in two of his past three outings, and he should be looking at another heavy workload Sunday.<\/p>\n Be sure to check out all the pick\u2019ems Sleeper has to offer with our Sleeper promo code<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n NBA DFS Small Forward Picks<\/p>\n Stud<\/p>\n How you choose to approach the Thunder will be a big question on this slate. On one hand, they\u2019re massive 24-point favorites<\/a> against the Jazz. This game will most likely be a blowout, which means most of their key players will play reduced minutes. On the other hand, the Thunder are implied for a ridiculous 131.25 points, which leads the slate by more than 10 points. Even in limited playing time, some of their players could still post huge performances.<\/p>\n Jalen Williams is still being eased back into action, but he\u2019s put together decent numbers in recent games. He had 36.25 DraftKings points in just 23.1 minutes Thursday, and he had 38.5 DraftKings points in 26.7 minutes the previous Friday. Overall, he\u2019s averaged 1.17 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. He should be locked into around 23-26 minutes regardless of the game script in this matchup, making him an interesting contrarian target. He\u2019s projected for less than 3% ownership<\/a>.<\/p>\n Value<\/p>\n Jake LaRavia could be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the Lakers\u2019 injury situation. He\u2019s projected for 35 minutes in our NBA Models, which is the top mark on the squad. He\u2019s also seen a nice uptick in value with Doncic and Reaves off the floor<\/a> this season, averaging 0.86 DraftKings points per minute.<\/p>\n LaRavia also stands out as underpriced on DraftKings. He\u2019s priced at just $5,000, resulting in a 92% Bargain Rating. Add it all up, and he stands out as one of the best value targets on the slate.<\/p>\n Fast Break<\/p>\n John Konchar is another potential target for the shorthanded Jazz. He\u2019s projected for 31 minutes in our NBA Models, and he\u2019s averaged a respectable 0.88 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. He\u2019s averaged a Plus\/Minus of +5.21 over his past 10 outings, and he\u2019s gone for at least 35.0 DraftKings points in three of his past six. Konchar is another player who stands out as a nice value, given his 92% Bargain Rating.<\/p>\n Brice Sensabaugh has arguably the highest ceiling out of Utah\u2019s remaining options. He\u2019s averaged an outstanding 1.26 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he\u2019s played at least 32.7 minutes in back-to-back games. He had 46.5 DraftKings points in one of those outings, and he had three other games with at least 44.25 DraftKings points in March. His price tag has crept up to $6,700, but he ranks second at the position in ceiling projection.<\/p>\n
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