Tonight's eight-game slate presents an incredible opportunity for savvy DFS players, but you'll need the best NBA DFS optimizer strategies and expert insights to navigate the massive NBA injury report and the subsequent changes to NBA starting lineups.
With stars like LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Jalen Brunson, and Kawhi Leonard all sidelined, the slate is ripe with value. Beyond just checking the official NBA player injuries, our analysis uses recent NBA player stats and team data to pinpoint which mid-range and value picks—from Amen Thompson to Saddiq Bey—are primed for high-usage roles.
Forget generic fantasy basketball rankings or last week's fantasy basketball cheat sheets; let's drill down into the matchups to build your winning DFS NBA lineup using the most current information.
Slate Overview
MIA at NYK: Heat 2-4 on road; Knicks 7-1 at home
BKN at ORL: Nets on three-game slide; Magic on two-game win streak
PHI at DET: 76ers 3-2 on road; Pistons on eight-game win streak
LAL at NOP: Lakers 5-2 on road; Pelicans on three-game slide
POR at HOU: Trail Blazers 3-3 on road; Rockets 3-1 at home
CHA at MIL: Hornets 1-4 on road; Bucks 4-2 at home
SAC at MIN: Kings on four-game slide; Timberwolves on three-game win streak
LAC at DAL: Clippers on six-game slide; Mavs 2-6 at home
For the latest spreads and over/unders, visit RotoWire's NBA Odds page. There you can also find player props, futures, picks, articles and sportsbook bonus codes.
Injuries to Monitor
For all the latest updates, visit RotoWire's NBA Injury News page and our comprehensive NBA Injury Report.
MIA - Bam Adebayo (toe), Tyler Herro (ankle): OUT
NYK - Jalen Brunson (ankle): OUT
BKN - Cam Thomas (hamstring): OUT
ORL - Paolo Banchero (groin): OUT
PHI - VJ Edgecombe (back): Questionable: Joel Embiid (knee): OUT
DET - Cade Cunningham (hip), Jalen Duren (ankle), Isaiah Stewart (ankle): Questionable; Tobias Harris (ankle), Ausar Thompson (ankle): OUT
LAL - LeBron James (back): OUT
NOP - Jordan Poole (quadriceps), Zion Williamson (hamstring): OUT
POR - Scoot Henderson (hamstring): OUT
CHA - Ryan Kalkbrenner (personal), Brandon Miller (shoulder): OUT
SAC - Malik Monk (ankle), Domantas Sabonis (ribs): Questionable; Keegan Murray (thumb): OUT
LAC - Kawhi Leonard (ankle): OUT
DAL - Anthony Davis (calf). P.J. Washington (shoulder): Questionable
Elite Players
Guards
Amen Thompson, Rockets 
($8,100) vs. Trail Blazers
Thompson is averaging 20.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 2.0 steals over the last five games, reaching a high of 56.0 DK points in that span. He should find room to continue filling the stat sheet against the Trail Blazers, who are giving up the league's ninth-most points per game and the third-most free throws per game to opposing point guards.
Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves 
($8,900) vs. Kings
Edwards produced 55.5 DK points in the last game, marking the second time in his last three outings, while he is averaging 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.0 steals through that stretch. He faces a great chance to keep it going against the Kings, who are giving up the league's sixth-most points per game to opposing shooting guards.
Forwards/Centers
Franz Wagner, Magic 
($8,500) vs. Nets
Wagner stepped up to deliver 28 points in the last game, helping lift his squad to a win over the Knicks after Paolo Banchero (groin) exited the game in the second quarter. It marked the second time in four games that Wagner topped 25 points, while averaging 23.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks across that period.
Julius Randle, Timberwolves ($8,300) vs. Kings
Randle continues to dominate the stat sheet, topping 50 DK points in three of the last five games and averaging 23.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 1.4 steals over that span. He is set to shine against the Kings, who are giving up the league's sixth-most points and third-highest field-goal percentage to opposing power forwards.
Alperen Sengun, Rockets ($9,500) vs. Trail Blazers
Sengun has a double-double in five of the last six games, including four with over 20 points, and where he finished with 25 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, a steal and a block in the only game without a double-double. He should continue to rack up the numbers against the Trail Blazers, who give up the league's 10th-most points, fifth-most assists and third-most blocks per game to opposing centers.
Expected Chalk
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks 
($11,700) vs. Hornets
Giannis is set to return after a one-game absence. He averaged 31.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.3 blocks through six outings following his only other game missed this season, on October 30. He is up for a favorable matchup against the Hornets' shorthanded frontcourt. The Hornets also give up the league's sixth-highest shooting percentage and third-most turnovers per game.
Mid-Range Money
Desmond Bane, Magic ($7,000) vs. Nets
Bane shot just 41.4 percent from the field through the first eight games but has picked up the pace and is hitting 48.3 percent over the last four games, including three with 22 points. He has a favorable opportunity to keep the momentum going against the Nets, who are giving up the league's second-most points per game to opposing shooting guards. There will also be room to take a larger role offensively in the absence of Paolo Banchero.
Ivica Zubac, Clippers 
($7,100) at Mavericks
Heading into the last game, where he finished with 18 points and nine rebounds, Zubac had three straight double-doubles, including two with more than 44 DK points. He is averaging 18.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 blocks over the four-game stretch and should keep up the strong work against an unsettled Mavericks' frontcourt, where injury trouble has taken a toll.
Value Picks
Anthony Black, Magic ($4,700) vs. Nets
Black is averaging 11.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals on the season and has gone over 30 DK points twice in the last five games. He faces a great opportunity to thrive against the Nets, who are giving up the league's third-highest field-goal percentage to opposing point guards.
Derrick Jones, Clippers ($4,100) at Mavericks
Jones scored in double digits in five of the last seven games and is averaging 11.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.1 blocks over that span. He is likely to pad his stats on the glass, where the Mavs are giving up the league's fourth-most points per game.
Saddiq Bey, Pelicans 
($4,800) vs. Lakers
Beys is averaging 18.0 points, 60 rebounds and 2.5 assists through four straight starts and is up for another while his squad remains shorthanded. He is up for a good opportunity to thrive against the Lakers, who are giving up the league's most point per game to opposing power forwards.
