Need a jump start on your lineups before Awesemo’s NBA DFS rankings or projections? No worries, Damien Mathews has you covered with his Pick 5! favorite NBA DFS Picks on DraftKings and FanDuel for Sunday, March 8 (3/8/20). With six games in the mix, there are a myriad of options to choose from. Damien has some takes on LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard and more!
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NBA DFS Pick: Point Guard: Eric Bledsoe $6,000 FanDuel $5,400 DraftKingsÂ
With Giannis Antetokounmpo taking a nasty fall and twisting his knee in last night’s game, it seems as though the Bucks will err on the side of caution and rest their superstar. As of this writing, he is questionable. If he doesn’t play, Eric Bledsoe will immediately become a core play, as he has averaged in 436 minutes without Giannis on the floor, producing 1.53 fantasy points per minute with a 31.2 usage percentage and 36.5 assist percentage.
Bledsoe gets a favorable matchup also, as the Suns plays at the ninth-fastest pace and are allowing the 10th-most points to opposing offenses and are sporting a 111.5 defensive rating, the 12th worst in the league. For the season, Bledsoe is posting 15.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists and one combined steal/block, which is good for 30.6 fantasy points per game. He is severely underpriced in this spot.Â
*BONUS ROUND:Â Lonzo Ball, Brandon Knight, Collin Sexton, Kyle LowryÂ
NBA DFS Pick: Shooting Guard: Khris Middleton $6,600 FanDuel $6,500 DraftKingsÂ
The same goes for Khris Middleton, as his usage will spike if Giannis misses this game. In 631 minutes without Giannis on the floor, Middleton is averaging 1.47 fantasy points per minute with a 32.8 usage percentage and 25.3 assist rate. Also, Middleton is garnering a lot of flak about his performance against the Lakers, so he might be poised to have a monster game against the Suns. In 30.0 minutes per game, he is posting 20.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists and one combined steal/block. So the same rule applies with both Middleton and Bledsoe; if Giannis sits, lock them both in.Â
*BONUS ROUND: Caris LeVert, James Harden, Norman Powell, DeMar DeRozanÂ
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NBA DFS Pick: Small Forward: LeBron James $10,800 FanDuel $11,000 DraftKingsÂ
With the personal back-and-fourth feud between LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard over the recent months, this game sets up for not only a potential Western Conference Finals preview, but also deciding who’s the better overall player. This should make for a great game both for watching and for us NBA DFSers trying to create the perfect lineup to crush in GPPs. James has averaged 1.57 fantasy points per minute with a 31.9 usage percentage and 48.0 assist percentage this year. Playing 34.9 minutes per game, he is posting 25.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, 10.7 assists and two combined steals/blocks which is good for an average of 52.2 points per game.Â
*BONUS ROUND:Â Mikal Bridges, Paul George, Brandon Ingram, Gordon HaywardÂ
NBA DFS Pick: Power Forward: Kawhi Leonard $9,200 FanDuel $9,200 DraftKingsÂ
As referenced above, Kawhi Leonard is a core play for me with all the drama surrounding him and LeBron James. This game against the Lakers should be competitive on both ends of the floor. Leonard has averaged 1.51 fantasy points per minute with a 34.4 usage percentage and 26.7 assist rate and is one of the most complete all-around players in the game. He always seems to rise to the occasion in big games and has been one of the most consistent players in the NBA, sporting an 81% consistency rating. Playing 32-plus minutes per game, Leonard is posting 26.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists and a combined three steals/blocks, good for 48.1 fantasy points per game.Â
*BONUS ROUND:Â Kristaps Porzingis, Zion Williamson, Jayson Tatum, Anthony DavisÂ
NBA DFS Pick: Center: Nikola Vucevic $8,400 FanDuel $8,900 DraftKingsÂ
Nikola Vucevic should be a plug-and-play versus the Rockets’ up-tempo style. With a 234 over/under, Vegas predicts a lot of scoring in this one and the extra possessions should bode well for Vucevic, as he is playing north of 32 minutes per game and producing 19.6 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and two combined steals/blocks. Add to the mix that Houston is allowing the eighth-most points to opposing offenses and has no rim protector, and Vucevic grades out well for his price point. He is averaging 1.29 fantasy points per minute with a 25.7 usage percentage and 18.5 assist rate, which is good for 42 fantasy points per game on the season.
*BONUS ROUND: Bam Adebayo, Aron Baynes, Myles Turner, Serge IbakaÂ
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