FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks and Helper: Saturday 11/18/23

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. numberFire's projections update up until tip-off to reflect current news. numberFire also has player news updates, and the FanDuel Scout app will send push notifications for pressing updates regarding your players.

In addition to daily projections, numberFire also offers a matchup heat map and a lineup optimizer to help give you an edge.

Here at FanDuel Research, we'll also come at you each day with this NBA DFS primer, which breaks down a few of the day's top plays at each position.

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

Guards

Luka Doncic ($11,900): At his lowest salary this month, the Mavericks' superstar is rated as today's top overall option with a 55.1 fantasy projection versus a Milwaukee Bucks' team allowing 48.0 FanDuel points per game to his position. In 352 minutes with today's injuries, Doncic leads his team in fantasy production (1.45 FanDuel points per minute) and usage (34.8%).

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($11,200): In a rematch against a Golden State Warriors' unit ranked 19th in FanDuel points (48.5) allowed per game to point guards, the Thunder's lead scorer is third overall with a 48.2 fantasy projection after producing 46.9 FanDuel points in their last meeting.

Anthony Edwards ($9,300): After consecutive lackluster fantasy performances, Edwards' salary has decreased by 5.1% to his lowest point in the past week. In 279 minutes during November, "Ant-Man" has played well despite his recent struggles, recording 1.27 FanDuel points and 0.76 real-life points per minute.

Damian Lillard ($9,000): Milwaukee's guard has recently found his form in his last two games, producing an eye-popping 1.71 FanDuel points and 1.04 real-life points per minute while his salary has increased by 11.1% to his highest point in November.

Desmond Bane ($8,900): After Marcus Smart was ruled out, the Grizzlies will need to lean on Bane for production versus a San Antonio Spurs ranked last in opposing true shooting percentage and 29th in defensive rating. In 44 minutes with today's inactives, the 25-year old has accounted for a robust 1.68 FanDuel points per minute and a 32.9% usage rate.

Kyrie Irving ($8,500): At his lowest salary this month, Irving ranks fifth among guards in value with a 5.0 rating and a 42.5 fantasy projection against a Bucks' defense allowing 43.9 FanDuel points per game to his position.

Jalen Williams ($6,200): Oklahoma City's second-year is seventh among guards in value with a 4.83 rating and a 30.0 fantasy projection after recording 0.84 FanDuel points per minute and a 21.7% usage rate this month.

Mike Conley ($5,200): Despite producing a 13.3% usage rate in November, Minnesota's veteran has still provided fantasy value, accounting for 0.88 FanDuel points and 0.20 assists per minute.

Kyle Lowry ($5,100): In 141 minutes with today's injuries, Lowry sees an increase to 0.90 FanDuel points per minute and a 14.4% usage rate. After a recent decrease to his third lowest salary this month, the 37-year old is fourth overall in value with a 5.33 rating and a 27.2 fantasy projection.

Jacob Gilyard ($4,700): Even at his second highest salary this season, the Grizzlies' second-year guard rates as an ideal mid-salary option with a 5.44 value rating and a 25.6 fantasy projection. In 37 minutes with three key rotation players ruled out, Gilyard. is recording 1.08 FanDuel points per minute and a 11.2% usage rate.

Forwards

Giannis Antetokounmpo ($10,800): Despite some inconsistent performances, "The Greek Alphabet" is second overall with a 52.1 fantasy projection against a Dallas defense giving up the second most points in the paint. If Khris Middleton is ruled out for the second game of their back-to-back, Antetokounmpo's production would see an increase to 1.58 FanDuel points per minute with a 38.5% usage rate.

Jimmy Butler ($8,800): In a revenge matchup versus a Chicago Bulls' team ranked 24th in FanDuel points (43.4) allowed per game to small forwards, Butler is tenth overall with a 41.3 fantasy projection. Among Miami's expected starting five, Butler is second among his team in fantasy production (1.21 FanDuel points per minute) and first in usage (30.0%) with today's injuries.

Victor Wembanyama ($8,600): At his median salary in November, San Antonio's star rookie is fourth among forwards with a 41.7 fantasy projection against a Memphis Grizzlies' defense allowing 46.8 FanDuel points per game to power forwards. In 251 minutes this month, Wembanyama is recording 1.35 FanDuel points per minute and a 32.1% usage rate.

Brandon Ingram ($8,300): "B.I." has provided consistent production in his last six contests, recording at least 20 real-life points per game and 1.08 FanDuel points per minute while his salary has moved by 2.4% during this time period. After Zion Williamson was ruled out, Ingram sees a noticeable 4.2% boost in his usage to a 34.2% rate.

Jaren Jackson Jr. ($8,100): After Jackson's salary has dropped to his lowest point this season, the Grizzlies' defensive enforcer is ninth among forwards in value with a 4.82 rating and a 39.0 fantasy projection.

Keldon Johnson ($6,800): If Devin Vassell remains out on Saturday, Johnson would provide intriguing value at his third lowest salary in November, recording 1.08 FanDuel points per minute and a 23.2% usage rate in this split.

Zach Collins ($6,100): The Spurs' big man is today's top value option with a 5.77 rating and a 35.2 fantasy projection after his salary dropped by 4.6% to his second lowest point this season. Collins ranks second among his team's starters in fantasy production (1.03 FanDuel points per minute) and fourth in usage (21.0%).

David Roddy ($4,400): After logging a season-high 31 minutes in his last appearance, Roddy ranks eighth overall in value with a 5.04 rating and a 22.2 fantasy projection in a potential increased role with today's injuries. In 50 minutes with Saturday's expected rotation, the second-year forward is producing 0.79 FanDuel points per minute and a 18.6% usage rate.

Centers

Bam Adebayo ($9,700): In an underrated matchup against a Chicago defense ranked 22nd in FanDuel points (57.4) allowed per game to centers, Adebayo is second among his position with a 40.0 fantasy projection. Adebayo has been on fire in November, accounting for a team-high 1.44 FanDuel points per minute.

Karl-Anthony Towns ($8,200): Since the start of November, KAT is second among his team's starting unit in fantasy production (1.15 FanDuel points per minute) and usage (29.2%) while his salary has decreased by 2.3%.

Jonas Valanciunas ($6,700): In 73 minutes with today's injuries, the Pelicans' center leads his team's starting five in fantasy production (1.18 FanDuel points per minute) with a 20.5% usage rate.

Interested in playing NBA daily fantasy? FanDuel has plenty of contest options to make every moment more. Be sure to check out the NBA betting options, as well.

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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.