DraftKings NBA DFS Picks: Luka Doncic & Walker Kessler (February 23)

Welcome to our DraftKings NBA ConTENders article, where we provide you with the best picks for your daily fantasy basketball games on Thursday, Feb. 23. Josh Engleman has analyzed the latest player news, trends and matchups to bring you the top 5 picks of the day. Whether you are a seasoned player or just starting out, Josh’s insights and expertise will give you an edge in building a winning lineup.

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Top 5 DraftKings NBA DFS Picks Today

5. Jordan Clarkson, Utah Jazz

Clarkson is a strong DraftKings NBA DFS pick, with a projection of 43.5 and a goal of 46.5. He is in the optimal lineup 19% of the time, and with no Collin Sexton on the court, Clarkson is projected to play 34 minutes. Clarkson has a 33% usage rate this season, and while this projection is set to 31, he still averages 1.2 fantasy point per minute. He averages 26 real points, 4.5 boards, almost six assists and a stock. This is a great matchup for Clarkson, with a pace-up matchup against the Thunder, who have an average defense. The game is also expected to be competitive, as the Jazz are a 2-point favorite. While his price may be a bit high, Clarkson’s role makes him an excellent pick for today’s slate.

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4. Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz

Kessler is eligible at the center position, priced at $5,700 and projected to score 35 fantasy points, and 37.5 is the goal. Kessler is in the optimal lineup 21% of the time and the analysis projects him to play 30 minutes in this matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, which is favorable to him. Kessler has been averaging 1.15 fantasy points per minute, a 13% usage rate and a double-double of 11.5 rebounds and 11 points per game. Additionally, he is expected to contribute an assist and 3.5 stocks, making him a good pick for today. Even if Kessler plays for 28 minutes, he will still be a valuable pick at $5,700.

3. Jarred Vanderbilt, Los Angeles Lakers

Vanderbilt is a great DraftKings NBA DFS pick, particularly for those looking for value at the power forward position. With a salary of $4,200, he is expected to score around 28.5 fantasy points, with a goal of 30 points. He is in the optimal lineup 22% of the time, and he’s expected to start again for the Lakers, playing more than 30 minutes this time. Even with 28 minutes, Vanderbilt averages a fantasy point per minute, with a good record of 9 points, nine boards, three assists and a 1.5 stocks. This game against the Golden State Warriors is a great pace-up spot for him, as the Warriors are without Stephen Curry and Andrew Wiggins. As part of the Lakers starting lineup, Vanderbilt makes a lot of sense, given his ability to contribute offensively and defensively.

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2. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

Doncic is an excellent DraftKings NBA DFS pick, particularly for those who are willing to pay up for a top-tier point guard. With a salary of $11,900, he is expected to score around 66.5 fantasy points, with a goal of 68.5 points. He’s already in the optimal lineup 23% of the time, which speaks to his incredible skills as a player. This is a pace-up spot against the San Antonio Spurs, whose defense leaves a lot to be desired. The Mavericks are heavy favorites in this game, and Doncic is expected to play his usual 37 minutes, although that could dial back to 36 or 35. Even with a slightly shorter playing time, he’s still a top-10 play, with 1.8 fantasy points per minute in this spot.

1. Talen Horton-Tucker, Utah Jazz

According to this analysis, Horton-Tucker is the top pick for today’s DraftKings NBA DFS, with his guard-forward eligibility and incredible flexibility. He is projected to score 35.5 fantasy points, goal of 33, and has been in the optimal lineup 45% of the time. Assuming he starts, he is expected to play for 32 minutes, but he could potentially play up to 36 minutes. Even if he does not start, he is still a favorite pick. When Sexton and off the floor this year, no one has played more minutes for the Utah Jazz than Horton-Tucker. He averages 1.1 fantasy points per minute, with a 21% usage rate, 15.6% rebounding rate, 6.5 assists and two stocks. It’s a pace-up matchup against Oklahoma City, and the price, positional versatility and role make him the unequivocal No. 1 ConTENder.

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Author

Josh Engleman

Josh is Contributor for Stokastic.com where he hosts video and writes content regularly across the primary sports of MLB, NBA, and NFL as well as contributing to the development of models and projections for soccer. He originally started producing projections & articles for Reddit's r/DFSports in 2014 where he built a loyal following that brought him to where he is today. Josh is most known for his elaborate Excel spreadsheets, which he shares in all of his video content. You can find him on Twitter or hanging out in Stokastic's Premium Chalkboard. You can contact Josh by emailing [email protected].