If you're still in the mood after your NFL pursuits, the NBA has a full day with FanDuel offering a seven-game main slate. The action begins at 6:00 p.m. EST with late swaps happening until 8:00 p.m. I've provided my best selections for FanDuel's wide array of contests.
SLATE OVERVIEW
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As you'll see, I'm all over the Sixers and Jazz. While other teams drew my interest, Philly and Utah found their way into every build I made for this slate with frequent multiple stacks for those lineups. As a result, their opponents (Brooklyn and Charlotte) were absent. I also like Toronto's chances. I would identify the Lakers as one team I didn't really target that would warrant closer attention.
INJURIES
For all the latest updates, visit RotoWire's NBA Injury News page and our comprehensive NBA Injury Report. Below are some of the most recent and relevant injuries for Sunday. Keep in mind that this is not a complete list. Use your best judgment when evaluating ongoing injury scenarios elsewhere on the slate.
ATL Trae Young (knee) - OUT
This is a really bad break for the Hawks, but luckily they have a deep bench of guards to soften the blow. Nickeil Alexander-Walker ($5,900) and Dyson Daniels ($6,700) are bound to get boosts, though I'd lean toward the former based on the lower salary. Young's absence will also shuffle the bench rotation with Luke Kennard ($3,800) and Keaton Wallace ($4,100) seeing usage increases.
CLE Donovan Mitchell (hamstring) - QUESTIONABLE
CLE Jarrett Allen (finger) - QUESTIONABLE
CLE Sam Merrill (hip) - QUESTIONABLE
Usage could be spread around for Allen, but Jaylon Tyson ($4,500), Craig Porter ($4,000) and Lonzo Ball ($4,200) will all participate if both guards are out.
PHI Joel Embiid (recovery) - OUT
I'll opt for Adem Bona ($4,300) over Andre Drummond ($4,100) in this spot.
TOR Jakob Poeltl (back) - OUT
Collin Murray-Boyles ($4,000) will continue to sub for Poeltl while he's sidelined.
MEM Ja Morant (suspension) - OUT
Morant will take his suspension on Sunday, and his best replacement will be tough to nail down. Javon Small ($4,300) lists the best assist numbers, though it could be an opportunity to see what Cedric Coward ($5,100) can do in the role. He's mostly subbed for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope while offering the skills to run the floor.
UTA Walker Kessler (shoulder) - OUT
Jusuf Nurkic ($4,200) will step in for Kessler, yet I wouldn't be surprised by increased usage from Taylor Hendricks ($3,700).
MIA Norman Powell (groin) - QUESTIONABLE
Jaime Jaquez ($5,800) is my pick to replace Powell, and I also like a slight bump for Andrew Wiggins ($6,500).
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ELITE PLAYERS
We have two players with five-figure salaries on Sunday, and there aren't many nights where you'd have anything bad to say about Victor Wembanyama ($12,700) and Luka Doncic ($12,100). I think Doncic faces the softer matchup at home against Miami, though Wembanyama has been able to rest the entire weekend. If you decide to spend up, it's pretty much a toss-up. We're also in a spot where there's a lot of bargain options, so one of those two is reachable.
I'm much more interested in what the $9k tier has to offer. I really like Tyrese Maxey ($9,800) against the Nets. And if I'm making a huge salary investment, it'll probably be with him. Maxey should be in five-figure territory, but I'll gladly take him at current valuation. I'll also take Evan Mobley's ($9,000) dual eligibility on a night where several Cavs starters may be sidelined.
Karl-Anthony Towns ($8,300) is another dual-eligibility big man I'm interested in, and it's hard to beat his salary against the Bulls. With Mitchell Robinson still out of the picture, KAT's usage will remain high. I also see Jalen Johnson ($8,500) taking on some of the scoring gap left by Young's absence against Cleveland.
Also consider: Devin Booker, PHX ($9,600) vs. SAS
EXPECTED CHALK AND MID-RANGE TARGETS
Keyonte George, UTA ($7,200) @ CHA
George has racked up three consecutive games over 40 FDFPs and should keep that streak going against Charlotte. Hold up, though. I've got more Utah players to back. Lauri Markkanen ($7,900) and Kyle Filipowski ($4,000) are also fine in my book while several combos of Jazz stacks will likely be all over my lineups.
RJ Barrett, TOR ($6,600) vs. MEM
A couple of subpar efforts have sent Barrett's salary southward, and I anticipate his popularity will rise at $6,600. The Grizzlies will be somewhat less effective without Morant. I would give a green light to most of Toronto's starters, with Barrett being my favorite selection.
VJ Edgecombe, PHI ($6,500) @ BKN
Like Maxey, I also prefer Edgecombe in this spot. There seems to be enough opportunity for both guards to shine while Edgecombe has consistently beaten value relative to Sunday's salary. I'm also a big fan of his guard-forward eligibility.
VALUE PLAYS
We have a lot of quality options below $6k, which is why I only identified two players and a bulk of Utah and Toronto selections in the previous section. You can also find decent values in my injury report.
Devin Vassell, SAS ($5,800) @ PHX
Vassell has assuaged the concerns about De'Aaron Fox's absence by demonstrating his versatile skillset as the Spurs' presumptive off-guard. He tends to get overlooked next to a dynamo like Stephon Castle, yet his ability to go north of 30 FDFPs makes him very viable at current salary.
Matas Buzelis, CHI ($5,800) @ NYK
Buzelis has been lighting it up of late. And though this is a challenging matchup against the Knicks, the value you're getting is excellent at this salary point. Buzelis has posted a couple down games, but his recent 42-FDFP performance against the Kings inspired some confidence.
Kelly Oubre, PHI ($5,400) @ BKN
Like Utah, I've also given a wide stamp of approval to the Sixers. Oubre is on an impressive three-game, value-beating streak of production while his positional versatility is another plus.
Royce O'Neale, PHX ($5,400) vs. SAS
Dillon Brooks remains out, and O'Neale has performed well in his absence. With other playmakers drawing the Spurs' attention, he may be able to surprise with some slashing drives to the basket and could muscle his way into a few defensive boards that Wembanyama can't get.
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