DraftKings Early NBA Picks March 11

DraftKings Early NBA Picks March 11

We have 12 games in the NBA on our Saturday. Three of the games are in the afternoon DraftKings tournament. The other nine make up the main DraftKings tournament. Unlike most weekend slates, there is no overlap between early and late today. There are a couple of big names in the afternoon slate, but should we use them or not? Some of them face rough matchups. Let’s hit the stats!

More from DFS

• DraftKings Open Championship picks 2023: Best PGA DFS golf lineup
• Genesis Scottish Open DraftKings picks 2023: Best PGA DFS golf lineup
• Rocket Mortgage Classic DraftKings picks 2023: Best PGA DFS golf lineup
• US Open DraftKings picks 2023: Best PGA DFS golf lineup
• RBC Canadian Open DraftKings picks 2023: Best PGA DFS golf lineup

The money line was way down to 247 last night! Very few bargain plays paid off. It was the balanced lineups that took home some money last night. Bradley Beal‘s huge night got one of my lineups in the money. Whiffing on C.J. Miles and Dirk Nowtizki hurt my other one.

The winning lineup was down to 334.5, the second lowest total of the week. This lineup was propelled by Beal’s big nitght, and a whole bunch of solid plays. Jeremy Lin was the lowest in the lineup at 32.25!

I can’t stress enough how important it is to watch our Twitter feed right up until lock time. We will try and relay the information out to you as soon as we can, along with any lineup changes. If you aren’t able to do that, my best advice is to lay off of anyone that may be injured.

If you would like to try DraftKings for the first time, use this link for the referral bonus! It is good for $10 worth of free entry tickets. We have plenty of advice on the site to help you turn that into a solid bankroll!

Point Guards

Best Bets:

Russell Westbrook ($12,500): So, I am on the record as saying I didn’t really trust Westbrook against Utah earlier this year. He has proceeded to rack up 197.5 DraftKings points on them in just three games! If he can hit 5x value against Utah, he can do it against anyone. Even at this outrageous price, Westbrook has hit 5x value or more (mostly more) in 11 of the last 12 games. Fade at your own risk.

Chris Paul ($8,400): Paul has fallen short of 5x value in every March game. I still think he is overpriced at this level, but there are few other options at point guard in this slate. Philadelphia is in the bottom ten of point guard defense, but they are also thin up front. If I were to pick a unit that would torch the Sixers, it would be the frontcourt and not the backcourt. That said, if this game can stay close, Paul is a nice sleeper. Every March game has been decided by double digits, which has led to less court time for Paul.

Honorable Mention:

Derrick Rose ($6,000): Most DFS players stay away from Rose because he is a shell of his former self as a player. Well, so is his price. Rose has hit 5x value in five of the last six games. Rose only has 56.5 DraftKings points over two games against the Pistons this year, which leaves him a little under value. However, his scoring prowess makes him a pretty solid mid-tier option.

Reggie Jackson ($5,400): Jackson has at least 30 DraftKings points in three of the last four games, so he has weathered the latest Ish Smith storm. Jackson is keeping his job, but he is seeing less minutes because Smith continues to show his superior passing skills. Jackson is the better scorer and is seeing more minutes, so if you are rolling the dice today, go with Jackson. Smith is only $700 cheaper, and in this slate, you likely wont need to save the money anyway.

Dark Horses:

T.J. McConnell ($5,200): Say hello to another option on the early slate that has had a hard time hitting value lately. McConnell is only 1-12 from the floor in his last two games, but he is dishing out enough assists to keep from completely destroying your lineup. He had 23.5 DraftKings points in 27 minutes against the Clippers earlier this year, but that was when Paul was out. McConnell provides cap relief and a decent floor because of his passing ability, but don’t expect much else with Paul on him today.

Alec Burks ($3,600): If George Hill‘s balky toe keeps him out again, it will likely result in another start for Dante Exum. That means absolutely nothing since he played just nine minutes in his start on Thursday. Raul Neto played more than both Exum and Burks, but produced very little for fantasy purposes. Burks is the guy you want if Hill is out. He has at least 15 DraftKings points in each of the last six games.

My picks: Jackson(PG); Westbrook(PG), Burks(UTIL)

Shooting Guards

Best Bets:

Victor Oladipo ($5,200): Utah is statistically the best team in the league against shooting guards, so why do I have Oladipo here? He doesn’t care. Oladipo put up 29 DraftKings points in the first meeting with Utah. Being in the same backcourt as Westbrook has resulted in fewer shots, but also more open shots. Oladipo is pretty good at knocking those down. He is shooting 41.4% from downtown in home games this year. I trust him a lot more than the inconsistent Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

Rodney Hood ($4,800): Hood picked up 26 DraftKings points against the Thunder back on February 28th. He is an excellent rebounder for a guard, and he is a really good perimeter shooter on a team that doesn’t have a ton of them. As long as his price is this low, Hood is quite a steal most nights.

Honorable Mention:

J.J. Redick ($4,200): Redick is always a risk because he does little more than shoot. The Clippers have also turned to others if Redick’s shot isn’t falling, resulting in inconsistent minutes. However, he put up 26.25 DraftKings points against Philadelphia earlier this year. The caveat is that Chris Paul was out.

Jamal Crawford ($4,000): Crawford has been the one stealing the minutes from Redick lately. He is hot from the floor right now, going over 6x value in three of the last four games. He also put up 27 points (34.75 DraftKings points) in the first meeting with the Clippers. Both Redick and Crawford are risks at this point, but Crawford is playing better lately.

Dark Horse:

Stanley Johnson ($3,000): Johnson has three straight games of more than 5x value, which may result in a few more minutes. Or it may not. We don’t know. What we do know is that Johnson is playing well in his 18-22 minutes per game. And we know that the Knicks may get blown out of the building, which could also result in more minutes for Johnson. He is an interesting cheap play for those of us looking to roster every star.

My pick: Oladipo(SG), Hood(G); Hood(SG), Crawford(G)

Small Forwards

Best Bets:

Carmelo Anthony ($7,300): Melo can still score with the best of them. He has 71.75 DraftKings points in two games with the Pistons his year, which leaves him right at 5x value. The Bucks and Warriors held him under 5x value, but not under 4x, and they are good defensive teams. So is Detroit, but the one position they have not defended as well is small forward. Anthony should be right around 5x value, and could be in for a lot more if he gets hot.

Robert Covington ($6,900): Covington put up 37.5 DraftKings points in his first game against the Clippers this year. He has also flashed the ability to go up over 50 DraftKings points like he did against Portland on Thursday. Covington has a high floor, and the most upside of anyone at the position this afternoon. He will be widely used, but I will be looking to gain separation elsewhere. There is too much risk of not having him if he goes off again.

Honorable Mention:

Gordon Hayward ($7,500): Hayward produces across most categories, which makes him have a high floor even on off nights. He lacks the ability to truly take over a game like Westbrook or Curry. He is also not a dominant defender like Draymond Green. What he is is a good hybrid player that is almost never under 4x value. The Thunder are solid against small forwards. Hayward has 91 DraftKings points in three games against them so far, which leaves him a tad under value, but still possibly the best at his position.

Dark Horses:

Joe Johnson ($3,500): Derrick Favors is now listed as questionable. Even if he doesn’t play, I’m not sure the Jazz are lining up to start Johnson at power forward again. He had a solid 21.5 DraftKings points in 32 minutes, and he could see similar success if they experiment like that against the Thunder today. At any rate, if Favors sits, Johnson should see some kind of uptick in minutes, which makes him a relatively safe option.

Doug McDermott ($3,100): I cannot in good conscious ever recommend McDermott again. He has destroyed many a lineup. The one that he did not as a member of the Thunder was against the Jazz. Will lightning strike twice? Maybe, but I wont be paying to find out. I am just doing my duty and giving you all the facts to make an informed decision.

My Pick: Covington(SF); Anthony(SF), Covington(F)

Power Forwards

Best Bets:

Blake Griffin ($8,600): Griffin only picked up 33.5 DraftKings points in the first game against the Sixers, but they were a completely different team then. Ersan Ilyasova and Nerlens Noel both logged quite a few minutes in that game. Philadelphia will throw Saric and/or Richaun Holmes at Blake, I’m guessing with little to moderate success. Blake could have a very nice afternoon.

Dario Saric ($7,700): Saric tallied 33 DraftKings pionts in just 25 minutes in the first game against the Clippers. The Heat are the only team that has been able to hold him under 35 DraftKings points since he became a starter. Saric may give up a lot to Griffin, but Griffin can’t defend him either. Both could have massive games.

Honorable Mention:

Kristaps Porzingis ($6,700): Porzingis has 83.25 DraftKings points in just two games against Detroit this year. However, I am a bit down on him because of the potential of the upper tier, and the fact that he may be spending some time at center. Porzingis is not nearly as good of an option if he has to tangle with Drummond. However, if he plays the bulk of his minutes at power forward, Porzingis is a suitable contrarian play to Griffin or Saric.

Tobias Harris ($5,800): Harris has 81.5 DraftKings points in two games against the Knicks so far. Marcus Morris struggled some against the Knicks, but Harris was all over them. Harris is averaging a double-double against the Knicks this year. The Knicks don’t defend either forward position well, so Harris could have a nice game here. Of course, he can’t stop Porzingis either. It is a good day to load up on forwards!

Dark Horse:

Jon Leuer ($4,600): Leuer has 54.25 DraftKings points in two games against the Knicks. If you need to go cheap, there is value to be had here as well. However, Leuer’s role on this team is not as consistent as it was earlier in the season. Both Harris and Morris are playing well right now, which doesn’t leave consistent minutes for Leuer. The Cavs are weak at power forward with Kevin Love out, yet Leuer played just 13 minutes and had just 1.5 DraftKings points in that game. Buyer beware!

My pick: Saric(PF), Harris(F); Harris(PF)

Center

Best Bets:

Andre Drummond ($7,500): Drummond wont have to tangle with Joakim Noah this time around, which should help him increase his 31 DraftKings point per game average against the Knicks this year. Drummond has topped 5x value in six of the last seven games. I don’t really see where the Knicks can keep him under that unless they get behind by a lot early on.

Rudy Gobert ($7,400): Gobert is a risk since the Thunder are strong at the center position, at least statistically. However, in three games this year, Gobert has still averaged 35.2 DraftKings points per game against them. Rudy is also on quite a roll lately. He has 147 DraftKings points in the past three games against the Rockets, Kings, and Pelicans. Temper expectations a little, but Gobert could come close to 40 DraftKings points in this one.

Honorable Mention:

DeAndre Jordan ($6,700): Jordan abused the Sixers earlier this year for 40 DraftKings points. Joel Embiid is still nowhere in sight, which means Jordan has free reign to abuse Okafor and Holmes much like he did the first time around.

Enes Kanter ($5,300): Kanter put up 30.75 DraftKings points on his former team in the last meeting, and has 78 DraftKings points total on them this year. Kanter’s value could take a hit if Taj Gibson keeps starting at power forward. Honestly, Gibson hasn’t done anything to justify holding the job, so the situation could remain in flux. Judging by how Kanter played against them two weeks ago though, he could see a bigger role in this game.

Dark Horse:

Jahlil Okafor ($4,800): Holmes is actually $200 more than Okafor. Holmes may have a more level floor, but Okafor has a much larger upside. Okafor missed the first game against the Clippers as well. He is going to have his hands full with DeAndre Jordan, but Okafor is playing better lately. He has a decent shot at 5x value.

My pick: Drummond(C), Jordan(UTIL); Okafor(C)

Stay tuned for our FanDuel picks, and our picks for NHL and the PGA tour! We even have some EPL picks coming your way! Once again, make sure to follow our Twitter feed leading up to tipoff!