FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks and Helper: Sunday 10/29/23

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

Stephen Curry ($9,900): If Curry is able to suit up after he was listed as questionable, Golden State's three point savant is ranked second among guards with a 45.9 fantasy projection against a Houston Rockets' unit allowing 47.3 FanDuel points per game to his position. Curry leads his team in fantasy production (1.36 FanDuel points per minute) and usage (31.8%).

Damian Lillard ($9,800): In his Milwaukee debut, Lillard was arguably their best offensive player, recording 1.47 FanDuel points per minute and a 31.8% usage rate. After Khris Middleton was ruled out, "Dame Time" could see even more usage after his rate went up by 1.3% when Middleton was off the floor in their first game.

De'Aaron Fox ($9,000): Despite a 7.1% salary increase to his highest point this season, Sacramento's explosive guard still ranks ninth overall with a 41.6 fantasy projection. Among the Kings' starting unit, Fox is first in usage (31.6%) and second in fantasy production (1.25 FanDuel points per minute).

Tyrese Maxey ($8,500): Philadelphia's guard saw a salary decline to his median point this season even after a 53.7 fantasy performance on Saturday night. Maxey has a favorable matchup on Sunday versus a Portland Trail Blazers' team ranked 26th in FanDuel points (53.7) allowed per game to point guards this season.

Fred VanVleet ($7,900): At his highest salary this season, VanVleet has sneaky spot for production against a Golden State Warriors' team allowing point guards to score 57.5 FanDuel points and 31.7 real-life points per game. In 78 minutes this season, the 29-year old is recording 0.91 FanDuel points per minute and a 23.0% usage rate.

Shaedon Sharpe ($6,700): In 61 minutes with Anfernee Simons off the floor, Portland's second-year guard sees a boost in his production to 0.88 FanDuel points per minute and a 26.2% usage rate.

D'Angelo Russell ($6,200): Among the Lakers' starting unit, "D-Lo" is third in usage (22.4%) and fantasy production (0.85 FanDuel points per minute).

Klay Thompson ($5,900): At his lowest salary this season, Thompson is third among guards in value with a 5.49 rating and a 32.4 fantasy projection.

Scoot Henderson ($5,000): After a 7.1% drop to his lowest salary point, Portland rookie is today's top value option at the guard positions with a 6.97 rating and a 34.8 fantasy projection.

Dillon Brooks ($4,600): Houston's defensive enforcer has seen plenty of run with his new team, averaging 0.77 FanDuel points per minute and 32.5 minutes per game while his salary has declined by 6.1% since Houston's first game.

Pat Connaughton ($4,000): After Middleton was ruled out, Connaughton could see more minutes on Sunday versus a Atlanta Hawks' unit ranked 25th in defensive rating. In 19 minutes with Middleton off the floor this season, Connaughton is producing 0.78 FanDuel points per minute and a 16.6% usage rate.

Forwards

Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,600): "The Greek Alphabet" ranks second overall with a 53.1 fantasy projection at his lowest salary after a 4.1% decrease. Despite playing with Lillard, Milwaukee's superstar still ranks first among his team in usage (40.8%) and second in fantasy production (1.37 FanDuel points per minute).

Anthony Davis ($10,800): At his median salary point, AD is third overall with 48.5 expected FanDuel points against a Sacramento Kings' team ranked 25th in points allowed in the paint. Davis is second on the Lakers in fantasy production (1.36 FanDuel points per minute) and usage (25.8%).

Domantas Sabonis ($10,300): Despite a 4.1% jump to his highest salary, Sabonis' production is hard to ignore, accounting for a team-high 1.60 FanDuel points per minute this season.

LeBron James ($10,000): The Lakers' superstar has somehow flown under the radar despite recording 1.43 FanDuel points per minute and a 26.4% usage rate. James has a great spot for a ceiling performance versus a Sacramento Kings' defense ranked 29th in FanDuel points (50.7) allowed per game to his position.

Kawhi Leonard ($8,700): In a revenge matchup against a San Antonio Spurs' team ranked 20th in defensive rating, Leonard is fifth among forwards with a 40.1 fantasy projection. "The Claw" is first among Clippers in fantasy production (1.41 FanDuel points per minute) and and usage (30.9%).

Paul George ($8,300): At his lowest salary, George is seventh among forwards in value with a 4.78 rating and a 39.7 fantasy projection after he produced 1.28 FanDuel points per minute and a 3.0.% usage rate.

Jalen Johnson ($6,000): Even in a bench role, Atlanta's young forward still ranks third among his team in fantasy production (1.13 FanDuel points per minute).

Jabari Smith ($5,300): Houston's second-year forward is second among his position with a 5.42 rating and a 28.7 fantasy projection after his salary dropped to his lowest point.

Centers

Joel Embiid ($11,200): "The Process" is today's top ranked option with a 54.0 fantasy proejction against a Portland Trail Blazers' team allowing centers to score 54.9 FanDuel points per game. In 71 minutes this season, Embiid has been Philadelphia's top performer, producing 1.47 FanDuel points per minute and a 37.0% usage rate.

Zach Collins ($6,600): San Antonio's big man has played a key role in their rotation, logging 34.5 minutes per game and 0.90 FanDuel points per minute.

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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.