NBA DFS Picks For FanDuel 2/2/22

I am baaackkk!!! I haven't written an article covering NBA DFS in ten months, but I am ready for my return. The main slate tonight is an average sized one with 7 total games, so there are plenty of intriguing options at each positional group. As on most slates, we have a lot of prevalent injury news that we are waiting on which could shake up the slate when released. Be sure to keep on eye on these injury situations as we approach roster lock. Let's dive in to the breakdown of the NBA main slate on FanDuel tonight!

REMINDER: RTs on the article post on twitter at @SportsVerseHQ are appreciated, as well as following my personal Twitter, @cobioconnell. If you would like to see my lineup package for the NBA/NFL/MLB seasons, message me there. If you want my core 4 lineup players for the slate, RT the article post on Twitter, follow both accounts, and direct message me. Thank you!

Top Play:

LaMelo Ball (PG) - $8700

Erik Drost, LaMelo Ball (cropped), CC BY 2.0

LaMelo Ball is my favorite play of the slate in my first article back covering the NBA in nearly a year. Ball didn't produce to his usual standards in his first two games back from his ankle injury, but he showed no signs of rust in his most recent game against the Bucks where he managed a 27 point triple-double for an astonishing 69.5 FanDuel points. It would be nonsensical to expect that level of production again tonight, but at his price tag of $8700, 45 points would exceed value, and his projected median is slightly above that mark. In games where LaMelo Ball played at least 25 minutes prior to his injury, he reached 45 FanDuel points in 13 of his last 15 games. The Bulls rank near the middle of the league at fantasy points allowed to opposing point guards (14th), but this game carries a relatively tight spread (6), and has the second highest total of any game on the slate (236.5). Expect Ball to fill up the stat sheet tonight!

Best Value:

Xavier Tillman (PF/C - $4700) -

With Jaren Jackson Jr. listed as doubtful and Steven Adams still out for tonight's contest against the Cavaliers, it is expected that Xavier Tillman will retain his spot in the starting lineup. Tillman is averaging just under 1.00 FanDuel point per minute, and with an expected minutes total of 25-30 minutes, it should be easy for Tillman to capitalize and reach his necessary value output. In his last three games, he has scored 33.5, 25.2, and 28.1 FD points, and he should see more time tonight than he did in those games. Although the Cavaliers are one of the premier teams at defending big men, the volume alone will be enough for Xavier Tillman to exceed 5x value at his salary.

Main Player Pool:

Point Guard:

Luka Doncic (PG/SG - $12200)

LaMelo Ball ($8700)

Jordan Poole (PG/SG - $7000 - a lock if Steph Curry is out)

Other great plays: Jalen Brunson (PG/SG - $7900), Jrue Holiday (PG/SG - $7700), Russell Westbrook ($7200), Kyle Lowry ($4900), Ty Jerome ($3700 - only if Steph Curry is out)

Shooting Guard:

DeMar DeRozan (SG/SF - $8500)

Tyler Herro (SG/SF - $6400)

Tim Hardaway Jr. (SG/SF - $5000)

Other great plays: Paul George (SG/SF - $8300), Donovan Mitchell (SG/PG - $8300), Zach LaVine (SG/SF - $7400), Donte DiVincenzo (SG/SF - $5300), Quentin Grimes (SG/SF - $4300)

Small Forward:

Brandon Ingram (SF/SG - $7200)

Andrew Wiggins (SF/SG - $6200)

Jonathan Kuminga ($4400 - much better if starting)

Other great plays: LeBron James (SF/PF - $10700), Jimmy Butler (SF/PF - $8400), Gordon Hayward (SF/SG - $5700), Caleb Martin (SF/SG - $4700)

Power Forward:

Anthony Davis (PF/C - $9700)

Brandon Clarke (PF/C - $5700)

Xavier Tillman (PF/C - $4700)

Other great plays: Giannis Antetokounmpo (PF/SF - $11900), Julius Randle (PF/C - $9300), Evan Mobley (PF/C - $7400), Michael Porter Jr. (PF/SF - $5600), Larry Nance Jr. (PF/C - $4800)

Center:

Nikola Jokic ($11600)

Nikola Vucevic ($8400)

Jarrett Allen (C/PF - $6700)

Other great plays: Bam Adebayo (C/PF - $8500), Myles Turner (C/PF - $7600), Ivica Zubac ($5800), Kevon Looney (C/PF - $5000), Mark Williams ($4300)