FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Sunday 3/26/23

If you're new to daily fantasy basketball -- maybe you started your DFS journey during the MLB or NFL seasons, or maybe basketball is your sport and this will be your first year giving it a shot -- you're in for a treat. The NBA scene changes on a week-to-week, day-to-day, and -- depending on injury news -- even a minute-to-minute basis, making every slate a unique one that requires an ever-changing approach.

With so much changing so quickly, we're here with plenty of tools to help you out. We have daily projections, a matchup heat map, a lineup optimizer, and a bunch of other great resources to help give you an edge.

Daily fantasy basketball is very reliant on a player's opportunity, so you'll need to make sure that you're up-to-date with key injuries. Our projections update up until tip-off to reflect current news, we have player news updates, and the FanDuel Scout app will send push notifications for pressing updates regarding your players.

We'll also be coming at you with this primer every day, breaking down a few of the day's top plays at each position.

Let's break down today's main slate on FanDuel.

Guards

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10,500): At his second lowest salary point this month, Oklahoma City's All-Star is ranked as Sunday's top option with 49.7 expected FanDuel points against a leaky Portland Trail Blazers' team ranked 27th in defensive rating and 25th in opposing true shooting percentage. In three prior meetings, SAG has played extremely well in this matchup, averaging 35.3 real-life points and 53.0 FanDuel points in 37.0 minutes.

Trae Young ($10,100): Despite a tough opportunity versus a Memphis Grizzlies' defense ranked ninth in fantasy production allowed (46.3 FanDuel points) per game to point guards, Young is fourth among guards with a 44.1 fantasy projection at his highest salary during March.

Stephen Curry ($9,800): Since March 18th, Curry's FanDuel salary has decreased by 3.9% to his third lowest point this month while averaging 1.20 FanDuel points per minute and a team-high 27.4% usage rate. In a favorable spot versus a Minnesota Timberwolves' unit ranked 26th in opposing three point percentage, Golden State's Splash Brother is third overall with 46.4 expected FanDuel points.

Anthony Edwards ($9,000): If "Ant-Man" is able to return on Sunday, Edwards is eighth among guards with a 40.4 fantasy projection against a Golden State Warriors' squad allowing 23.2 real-life points and 43.4 fantasy points per game to his position.

Fred VanVleet ($8,900): Toronto's point guard sees a 0.06 boost in his fantasy output to 1.12 FanDuel points per minute with a 30.4% usage rate if all three of Toronto's questionable players are unable to suit up versus a Washington Wizards' team ranked 21st in defensive rating.

Dejounte Murray ($8,500): At his median salary during March, Murray is third among guards with a 4.92 rating and a 41.9 fantasy projection. In 362.3 minutes this month, Atlanta's guard is averaging 1.04 FanDuel points per minute and a 24.0% usage rate.

Darius Garland ($8,100): In a great spot against a Houston Rockets' defense allowing the most fantasy points to points guards this season, Garland is ranked fifth at his position in value with a 4.76 rating and a 38.6 fantasy expectation. Cleveland's emerging star produced 26.0 real-life points and 52.3 fantasy points in their last meeting at a salary 3.7% higher than today's.

Josh Giddey ($7,900): Despite a 8.2% increase, Giddey's salary stands at his second lowest point in March after the Thunder's second-year guard produced 61.9 FanDuel points in his last appearance. The 20-year old is having his best offensive month this season, averaging 17.5 real-life points and 7.5 assists per game while producing 1.23 FanDuel points per minute.

Shaedon Sharpe ($6,400): At his highest salary point this season, Portland's rookie could operate as their lead offensive option on Sunday, recording 0.84 FanDuel points per minute and a 25.5% usage rate with today's current inactives.

Marcus Smart ($6,000): Even after a 7.1% salary jump, Smart still ranks second among guards in value with a 4.94 rating and a 29.6 fantasy projection against a San Antonio Spurs' team ranked last in defensive rating.

Delon Wright ($5,200) / Jordan Goodwin ($4,800): With three starters sidelined on Sunday, Wright will likely move into Washington's starting point guard role, averaging 0.84 FanDuel points per minute and a 17.0% usage rate with Monte Morris, Kyle Kuzma, and Bradley Beal off the floor while Goodwin's fantasy average stands at 1.06 FanDuel points per minute and a 20.9% usage rate.

Ryan Arcidiacono ($4,100): In 85.2 minutes with Sunday's expected rotation, the Trail Blazers' journeyman is producing 0.58 FanDuel points per minute and a 10.9% usage rate.

Forwards

Pascal Siakam ($9,600): Toronto's versatile forward has been in great form in the past week, accounting for 1.30 FanDuel points per minute and a 23.6% usage rate while his salary has skyrocketed 11.6% to his highest point in March. In a matchup versus a Wizards' defense allowing 42.6 FanDuel points per game to his position, Siakam is currently ranked third among forwards with 42.4 expected FanDuel points.

Kristaps Porzingis ($9,400): Despite a 5.6% salary jump, "The Unicorn" deserves serious consideration in a lead offensive role, producing 1.91 FanDuel points per minute and an eye-popping 38.8% usage rate with Sunday's injuries.

Jaylen Brown ($8,700): If Jayson Tatum is unable to play on Sunday, Brown's production sees a 0.14 boost to 1.30 FanDuel points and a team-high 35.2% usage rate. After a 8.7% salary decrease, Boston's All-Star still deserves serious consideration regardless of Tatum's availability with a 4.72 potential return and a 41.1 fantasy projection.

Evan Mobley ($8,600): In the last two weeks, Cleveland's second-year big man has been in a groove, ranking second among his team in offensive output (0.54 real-life points per minute) and third in usage (21.8%) and fantasy production (1.16 FanDuel points per minute).

Paolo Banchero ($8,000): Since the start of March, Orlando's first round pick is producing 1.04 FanDuel points and a team-high 27.6% usage rate while his salary has moved up 5.2%. In a matchup versus a Brooklyn Nets' defense ranked second (40.7 FanDuel points) in fantasy production allowed per game to his position, Banchero produced 24.0 real-life points and 37.3 FanDuel points in their last encounter.

Mikal Bridges ($7,800): At his lowest salary point this month, Bridges is ninth among forwards in value with a 4.79 rating and a 37.3 fantasy projection against an Orlando Magic ranked 19th in defensive rating and 22nd in opposing true shooting percentage.

Wendell Carter Jr. ($7,100): Orlando's big man is averaging 1.07 FanDuel points and a 19.8% usage rate since his return on March 11th. At his median salary this month, Carter Jr. is sixth among forwards in value with a 4.9 rating and a 34.8 fantasy projection.

Jalen Williams ($7,000): After a 6.6% salary decrease to his second lowest salary in March, Oklahoma City's emerging rookie has a ceiling opportunity versus a Portland unit allowing 22.6 real-life points and 46.0 FanDuel points per game to his position.

Deni Avdija ($6,600): In 218.1 minutes with Sunday's expected rotation, Washington's 22-year old forward is averaging 0.98 FanDuel points per minute and a 19.7% usage rate after his fantasy output is boosted by 0.08.

Trendon Watford ($6,300): Even at his second highest salary this month, Watford is second among forwards in value with a 5.22 rating and a 32.9 fantasy projection against a Thunder defense ranked 23rd in fantasy production allowed to the four position.

Xavier Tillman ($5,000): Despite inconsistent playing time during March, Tillman is still a mid-salary option to consider, averaging 0.97 FanDuel points per minute in a 809.0 minutes sample size with today's current injuries.

Centers

Jakob Poeltl ($7,800): In his last two games with Toronto's short-handed rotation, Poeltl ranks second among his team's starters in fantasy production (1.17 FanDuel points per minute) despite recording a 13.7% usage rate.

Drew Eubanks ($5,000): At his median salary during March, Portland's big man is today's top value option with a 5.91 rating and a 29.6 fantasy projection. In 113.8 minutes with Sunday's inactives, Eubanks is recording 1.01 FanDuel points per minute and a 14.2% usage rate.