FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks and Helper: Friday 2/9/24

Since NBA DFS is easier to predict than baseball or football, it would likely get plenty of votes as the best sport to play on FanDuel. Basketball players usually stick to the same minutes and produce at roughly the same rate. Sounds easy, right? Trust me -- it's not!

As a result, NBA daily fantasy is highly reliant on a player's opportunity, so you'll need to ensure that you're up to date with key injuries. Our projections -- which are powered by numberFire -- update throughout the day to reflect current news. You can also turn to numberFire for player news updates as well as a matchup heat map and lineup optimizer to help give you an edge.

On top of all that, here at FanDuel Research, we'll come at you each day with this NBA DFS primer, which breaks down some of the day's top plays at each position.

Let's dive into today's main slate on FanDuel.

NBA DFS Picks

Friday's main slate on FanDuel features six games, but a few stick out as superior game environments.

For a full breakdown, see numberFire's matchup heat map. Lines and totals via the NBA odds on FanDuel Sportsbook.

Top matchups:

• Atlanta Hawks @ Philadelphia 76ers | +3, 246 total
• Washington Wizards @ Boston Celtics | -17.5, 235 total
• Houston Rockets @ Toronto Raptors | -2, 234 total

Other games:

• New Orleans Pelicans @ *Los Angeles Lakers | +2.5, 232.5 total
• *Denver Nuggets @ Sacramento Kings | -2.5, 232 total
• Charlotte Hornets @ *Milwaukee Bucks | -14, 228.5 total

*Second leg of a back-to-back.

Guards

Top Plays

Tyrese Maxey ($9,600) -- It hasn't been all sunshine and roses for Tyrese Maxey of late. Though his usage rate has jumped to 31% the last four games sans Joel Embiid, Maxey has exceeded his season average for FanDuel points (42.4 FPs) just once over that span, failing to eclipse 25 FPs in each of the last two. The usage remains top-notch, so he's in a nice bounce-back spot against an Atlanta defense that's allowed the ninth-most FPs to PGs, per FantasyPros. He is questionable, so feel free to pivot to Trae Young ($9,700) in the same game if Maxey sits.

Immanuel Quickley ($7,400) -- I'm back in on Immanuel Quickley despite a rough two-game stretch where he totaled just 16.2 and 27.6 FPs. The overall body of work with him in Toronto is just too strong -- he's cleared 30 FPs in 12 of 16 games as a Raptor. Per RotoGrinders CourtIQ, Quickley posted a nearly identical usage rate (23%) as RJ Barrett (24%) and Scottie Barnes (24%) in the games all four were active.

Cody Martin ($5,700) -- Here's a list of Charlotte's healthy guards tonight: Nick Smith Jr.; Bryce McGowens; and Cody Martin. I don't have much interest in Smith or McGowens, but Martin's interesting. He's fresh off his best fantasy outing of the season (42 FPs) and has a solid matchup with the Bucks. Ignore the lopsided spread -- Milwaukee is 18th in defensive rating, fourth in pace, and bottom-10 in FPs allowed to PGs over their last 15 games.

Others to Consider

CJ McCollum ($7,800) -- C.J. McCollum went for 46.5 FPs the last time he faced the Lakers, and they're an even more appealing matchup these days. Since that December 31st matchup, LA ranks 17th in defensive rating and second in pace. They've allowed the fourth-most threes over that span, while CJ has nailed 11 triples over the last two games.

Amen Thompson ($7,200) -- Amen Thompson set season-best marks for minutes (33) and FPs (43.6) with Fred VanVleet out last game. With VanVleet inactive again, Thompson is set up well against a Raptors D that's given up the sixth-most FPs to PGs over their last 15 games. That also puts Jalen Green ($7,500) in play. He's just three games removed from consecutive 50-FP outings.

Payton Pritchard ($4,300) -- Boston is a 17-point favorite tonight, meaning that it's Payton Pritchard's time to shine. The C's have won 16 games by 15+ points this season, during which Pritchard's averaged 21.5 FPPG. Jayson Tatum (questionable) missing would further raise his stock, but he has value either way.

Wings

Top Plays

Miles Bridges ($8,900) -- It's hard not to look at Miles Bridges coming off a 64.1-FP outing. He's taken on a massive role since LaMelo Ball went down. Over the last seven games, Bridges owns a 28% usage rate and has averaged 47.1 FPPG. Milwaukee isn't a great matchup for forwards, but they've dropped five of their last six games.

RJ Barrett ($7,500) -- After a brief feeling-out period, RJ Barrett has come on strong with Toronto. He's exceeded 35 FPs in nine of his last 12 games, including each of the last five. A 234 over/under is actually one of the better totals on the slate, so Barrett is a reliable mid-range option against a Houston team that's jumped to fourth in pace over their last 10 outings.

Jae Crowder ($4,600) -- With a 25-FP numberFire projection, Jae Crowder is the top point-per-dollar option on the board as of Friday afternoon. He's been reinvigorated with Doc Rivers at the helm, averaging 38.6 minutes and 28.9 FPs in the last three games. Charlotte has been a bottom-five fantasy defense toward SFs all season, and it's easy to fit his $4.6K salary into lineups. Pat Connaughton ($4,800) fits a similar profile in the same matchup. He's played 32 and 37 minutes in the last two games, notching 28.2 and 23.9 FPs, respectively.

Others to Consider

Brandon Ingram ($8,100) -- Brandon Ingram is one game removed from a 64.7-FP explosion, and he's averaging 42.2 FPPG over the last 10. LA is playing their second game in as many nights -- plus they've given up the sixth-most FPs to SFs over their last 15 games. BI has a ton of upside for an $8.1K player.

Cam Whitmore ($5,400) -- I would've liked to see Cam Whitmore play more than 20 minutes with Fred VanVleet out, but he still managed to put up 11 shots -- his eighth consecutive game with double-digit attempts. That volume could pay dividends tonight as the Raptors have given up the most points and FPs to SFs over their last 15 games.

Sam Hauser ($4,100) -- If Jayson Tatum sits, I'm going to have a ton of exposure to Sam Hauser thanks to his low salary. Hauser averaged 35 minutes and 20.9 FPs in Tatum's two prior abscesses, but the lofty spread gives Sam appeal even if Tatum suits up. He's averaged 16.6 FPPG when Boston wins by 15 points -- that includes his best fantasy performance of the season (36.4 FPs).

Bigs

Top Plays

Giannis Antetokounmpo ($12,000) -- Milwaukee is in desperate need of a big win, so I'm expecting Giannis Antetokounmpo to be in peak form tonight. He's managed to stay uber-productive despite their recent struggles, averaging 61.8 FPPG over the last 10. Though he's coming off a 31-FP outing, a date with Charlotte is the perfect antidote for lackluster offense. Charlotte is dead-last in defensive rating, and they're bottom-10 in FPs allowed to both big spots.

Kristaps Porzingis ($8,400) -- Kristaps Porzingis faces his former team tonight. He went for only 27.7 FPs in an earlier matchup with Washington, but I'm bullish he will find more success tonight. He only took nine shots in that first meeting but has turned up the aggression of late, averaging 16.3 attempts over his last six games. That alone could result in a big night -- Washington gives up the most FPs to Cs, and they just traded their starting big man.

Jakob Poeltl ($6,700) -- Jakob Poeltl is once again a top value tonight, projected for 34.5 FP -- the most among sub-$8K bigs. He's gone for 41.9, 32.3, and 31.4 FPs over the last three games as he continues to reacquaint himself with Toronto's new lineup. The matchup is ripe for the taking tonight as Houston is down at 18th in rebound rate over their last 15 games. They've let up the 10th-most FPs to Cs over that span.

Others to Consider

Nikola Jokic ($11,900) -- I'll never argue against rostering Nikola Jokic, but I don't love this spot from a ceiling perspective. He's in the second night of a back-to-back and has to face a Kings team that's given up the sixth-fewest FPs to Cs. I prefer Giannis at this salary, but Jokic did pop off for 81.6 FPs the last time he faced Sacramento.

Jabari Smith ($6,200) -- Jabari Smith has run cold of late but still has 45-FP upside, reaching that mark in two of his last six games. Toronto is dead-last in defensive rating over the last 15 games, and they've been friendly to forwards over that span.

Larry Nance ($5,600) -- Larry Nance Jr. would become a top value if either of Zion Williamson or Jonas Valanciunas (questionable) sat, but he's a quality salary-saver either way. Nance played 27 minutes in their most recent outing and is set up well against a Lakers interior that's just 22nd in rebound rate over the last 15 games.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author’s advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.