Fantasy

NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: April 26

FantasyPros breaks down the top DraftKings and FanDuel daily fantasy players for Friday's playoff slate.

Joel Bartilotta, FantasyPros

April 26, 2024 5:18 PM

Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton averaged 15.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game this season.

Opening week of the 2024 NBA Playoffs has been outstanding and continues to get better every night. We saw all of these teams — Bucks, Pacers, Clippers, Mavericks Timberwolves and Suns — play on Tuesday, and it was the first time we saw some road teams win. It’s critical for the road teams to keep performing, or these series could be over before you know it. We have a feeling that all of these could go deep, with the LA-Dallas series looking like it could go seven games. With that in mind, let’s dive into this card!

Core plays

Pascal Siakam (PF – IND): $8,300 DraftKings, $9,200 FanDuel

We loved the Siakam trade in the middle of the season, and it’s proven to be a godsend in the playoffs. The former All-Star has taken over this offense in this series, scoring 63 DraftKings points in each of the first two games. Those are two of his three-highest-scoring games of the season, and it’s clear he wants to run the show for Indy. Facing Milwaukee is a great matchup, too, ranked 21st in total defense during the regular season.

Khris Middleton (SF/PF – MIL): $7,400 DraftKings, $7,700 FanDuel

Middleton has been an All-Star player in the past, and he has to play that sort of role without Giannis. In games without the MVP, Middleton sees his usage rate rise above 30 percent, averaging over 35 DraftKings points per game in this expanded role. That’s no surprise with all the playmaking he has to do, making him enticing against an Indiana team that ranks 28th in total defense and first in pace.

Cash game considerations

Luka Doncic (PG – DAL): $11,700 DraftKings, $12,100 FanDuel

Luka hasn’t played his best in this series but scoring 58 and 62 DK points is nothing to scoff at. Saying that’s not his best tells you everything you need to know because Luka averaged over 70 DK points per game in the second half of the season. Nobody on this slate can match that average or floor, making him the safest cash game option on every slate.

Damian Lillard (PG – MIL): $9,300 DraftKings, $9,700 FanDuel

With Giannis sidelined, Dame has to take over this offense. That’s what he’s done in this series, scoring 49 and 51 DK points in the first two games. That’s the stud we remember from his Portland days, but it should continue since Dame is locked into 40 minutes and 25 shots a night. The matchup with Indiana is incredible, too, playing at the fastest pace in the NBA.

GPP targets

Aaron Nesmith (SG – IND): $5,100 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel

Nesmith is one of the best defensive players in the league, and that alone makes him a great GPP option. That guarantees this defensive stopper 35 minutes a night, playing 37 and 36 minutes in the first two games of this series. If you look at the 14 games that Nesmith has played at least 34 minutes this season, he’s averaging 32 DK points per game. If you get that from a player this cheap, you have a piece of the optimal lineup!

Dereck Lively II (C – DAL): $4,300 DraftKings, $4,600 FanDuel

With Gafford nicked up in the first two games of this series, it’s possible he sits here. Even if he’s limited, that should force Lively to play 20 minutes, and that’s all he needs to be successful. The rookie played at least 20 minutes in 39 games this year, generating a 29-point average in that role. That’s an absurd average from such an affordable player, and Lively would be a lock in everyone’s lineup if Gafford has to sit, but we like him either way.

Value plays

Bobby Portis (PF/C – MIL): $6,900 DraftKings, $7,600 FanDuel

Portis can be a frustrating player when he’s coming off the bench, but he’s one of the best fantasy options in a starting role. That’s what he’s doing with Giannis out, scoring at least 30 DraftKings points in nine of his last 10 games. Portis is also flirting with a 40-point average when Antetokounmpo has been out this season, and he shouldn’t have any issues in one of the best matchups in fantasy!

Jaden McDaniels (SF – MIN): $4,600 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel

This defensive stud was the most valuable player in Game 2, leading Minnesota with 25 points. We don’t expect him to lead the team in scoring ever again, but he should play 35 minutes to cover all of these Suns studs. We saw him drop 42 DK points across 41 minutes in Game 2, and that sort of ability is hard to overlook since McDaniels is so cheap. Don’t expect another 40-point gem, but all you need is 25-30 DK points for McDaniels to be of immense value.

Advantageous pricing