Written By: Ryan Humphries on Twitter/X & LineStar chat @Ryan_Humphries

NBA DFS Today w/ Tyler Wiemann

Note: No DFS video today!

🏀Tyler’s NBA prop bets can be found on the LineStar YouTube Shorts page!🏀

DFS Main Slate Rundown 📰

We’ve got a compact four-game slate to kick off the week, and while the player pool is naturally a bit tighter, there’s still plenty to sort through. The injury report isn’t overwhelming, but there are a few key absences and questionable tags to take into consideration. Let’s waste no time and jump right into it. Best of luck!

Main Slate Match-Ups w/ Game Totals & Point Spreads

Today’s Key Injuries 🚑

^{Note: NBA injury reports can be fickle and often update throughout the day. Be sure to stay up-to-date on all injury news leading up to tip-off as the list below may be a bit outdated by the time you’re reading this.}

^{Additional Note: Players who have yet to play this season will be excluded from the injury report, unless they have either a probable, questionable, or doubtful injury designation, with some amount of chance to make their season debut. Injured players who have been out for an extended period of time and/or are not expected to play for a month-plus will also be excluded.}

• Rockets: J. Smith Jr. – OUT, J. Tate – OUT

• Wizards: T. Young – OUT, A. Sarr – OUT, T. Vukcevic – OUT, A. Gil – Questionable, L. Black – OUT

• Celtics: J. Brown – OUT, N. Queta – OUT

• Bucks: G. Antetokounmpo – Questionable (expected to play)

• Nuggets: P. Watson – OUT, A. Gordon – OUT, C. Johnson – OUT, S. Jones – OUT

• Jazz: L. Markkanen – OUT, K. Love – OUT

• Clippers: J. Collins – OUT

• Warriors: S. Curry – OUT, K. Porzingis – OUT, G. Payton II – Questionable, W. Richard – OUT

Top DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Plays

Note: NBA position designations are never going to perfectly align between the major DFS sites. For the purposes of these newsletters, positional designations will default to DraftKings.

Point Guards/Shooting Guards to Consider 🏀

PG Derrick White, BOS | DK: $8.2k, FD: $8k | at MIL

The Celtics will be without Jaylen Brown and Neemias Queta this evening, which sets the table for Derrick White to run things. White has handled a 31.7% USG% and averaged 1.22 FPPM with Brown and Queta off the floor this season, which are sizable bumps from his baseline 22.9% USG% and 1.08 FPPM averages. He’s popped for a couple of big games recently – 49.0 DKFP yesterday against the 76ers and 53.5 DKFP last Tuesday against the Suns. We can expect a similar result tonight in a competitive game (BOS -2.5) against a Bucks team that expects Giannis Antetokounmpo back in the lineup.

PG/SG Reed Sheppard, HOU | DK: $5.7k, FD: $6.3k | at WAS

Sheppard has been one of the more productive mid-range guards on this slate, averaging 1.06 FPPM over the past month. With Jabari Smith Jr. (ankle) ruled out, he’s projected to draw the start and play around 30-35 minutes. Sheppard has topped 39 DKFP in two of his last three games, and the matchup versus Washington is elite from a pace and defensive standpoint. The Wizards check in at 25th in DvP versus starting shooting guards over their last 10 games.

PG/SG EJ Harkless, UTA | DK: $3.9k, FD: $4.6k | vs. DEN

Utah is extremely thin with multiple guys done for the season, and Lauri Markkanen and Kevin Love are ruled out tonight. Harkless has been handling some decent minutes off the bench recently and has responded with 32.75 and 28.25 DKFP in his last two games while playing 21 and 28 minutes. He’s averaged 1.09 FPPM over his last five games. The matchup versus Denver isn’t ideal, but volume is volume on a four-game slate. If he pushes towards mid-20s minutes again, he’s a viable value option.

Other Guards to Consider

PG Jamal Murray, DEN at UTA

PG Amen Thompson, HOU at WAS

PG/SG Payton Pritchard, BOS at MIL

PG/SG Brandin Podziemski, GSW vs. LAC

SG Tari Eason, HOU at WAS

SG Christian Braun, DEN at UTA

PG/SG Bruce Brown, DEN at UTA

SG Baylor Scheierman, BOS at MIL

Small Forwards/Power Forwards to Consider 🏀

SF Kevin Durant, HOU | DK: $8.9k, FD: $9.5k | at WAS

Durant continues to offer one of the highest ceilings on this slate, especially if Washington can keep things competitive. He has topped 54 DKFP in three of his last six games, showing that the 60+ FP upside is still very much intact when the scoring volume spikes. His shot attempts have remained steady in the low-to-mid 20s, and when the peripheral stats follow – rebounds and secondary playmaking – he can rival any forward in raw output. On a four-game slate without a ton of elite spend-up options at the forward positions, Durant’s combination of workload security and scoring ceiling makes him a strong lineup anchor.

SF/PF Will Riley, WAS | DK: $5.1k, FD: $5.4k | vs. HOU

Riley is projected for 32 minutes and has averaged 0.93 FPPM over the past month. He’s returned solid value in four straight games and continues to see consistent opportunity. Washington’s rotation volatility always exists, but the minutes projection is strong. Riley has also handled strong minutes even in blowouts and has played the entire fourth quarter in four straight games.

SF/PF Tim Hardaway Jr., DEN | DK: $4.6k, FD: $4.3k | at UTA

Hardaway has logged 33+ minutes in back-to-back games and continues to benefit from Denver’s shortened rotation. He’s not a huge per-minute monster, but steady 30+ minutes in this team environment is valuable – the Nuggets easily lead the slate with a 127.5 implied team total. The matchup versus Utah (30th in DEFRTG) boosts efficiency potential, and he’s a sensible option out of the $4k range on both sites.

Other Forwards to Consider

PF/C Kyle Filipowski, UTA vs. DEN

PF Gui Santos, GSW vs. LAC

SF Ace Bailey, UTA vs. DEN

PF/C Draymond Green, GSW vs. LAC

SF/PF Bilal Coulibaly, WAS vs. HOU

SF/SG Gary Payton II, GSW vs. LAC (Currently questionable)

SF/PF Ron Harper Jr. BOS at MIL (Preferred if starting)

Centers to Consider 🏀

C Nikola Jokic, DEN | DK: $12.5k, FD: $12.6k | at UTA

Jokic needs no introduction, but the spot is pristine against a depleted Utah frontcourt. He’s posted games of 70.25, 71.25, and 91.5 DKFP within his last four outings, averaging an elite 1.92 FPPM, and continues to dominate with Denver missing multiple key players. Even when the jumper isn’t falling, the peripheral production keeps him afloat. He’s once again the clear top ceiling play on the slate.

C Nikola Vucevic, BOS | DK: $6.2k, FD: $5.7k | at MIL

With Neemias Queta set to miss tonight’s action, along with Jaylen Brown, Nikola Vucevic should draw his first Celtics start. Since joining Boston, Vuc’s role has been limited, but he has averaged a rock-solid 1.16 FPPM since joining the team and has put up a few spike performances. Now that his workload should elevate – likely to around 30 minutes tonight – he becomes a much more trustworthy mid-range center option. Getting Giannis back in the mix will be a major boost for Milwaukee’s defense, but it’s still worth noting that the Bucks rank a slate-worst 21st in DvP versus starting centers over their last ten games.

Other Centers to Consider

C/PF Alperen Sengun, HOU at WAS

C Brook Lopez, LAC at GSW

C Anthony Gil, WAS vs. HOU (Currently questionable)

C Clint Capela, HOU at WAS

C Luka Garza, BOS at MIL

C Julian Reese, WAS vs. HOU (Preferred if Gil is out)

🔥 Props AI 🔥

In LineStar’s ongoing mission to improve, innovate, and help you reel in some cash, we have rolled out Props AI for NBA – available for LineStar Premium users! This tool can help you find value and mispriced odds on player props from sportsbooks and, more specifically, for PrizePicks, UnderDog Fantasy, and other prop apps/sites!

That will wrap us up with today’s “Daily Dribble” edition! Once again, you can find me on Twitter/X or in LineStar chat @Ryan_Humphries. Good luck everyone!