NBA DFS Picks for April 8 2021

There is a great NBA slate for us to breakdown tonight. We have seven games and a few big names have already been listed out. We know that we will likely be without Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, and a few other studs tonight. As of now a huge part of our strategy involves targeting players from the Milwaukee Bucks and the Toronto Raptors, as the biggest injury news we have is from those squads. Most of our roster comes from these two teams as there is more value in targeting injuries. We have built a balanced lineup for tonight, as the stars at the very top of the slate are not as appealing as some cheaper midrange studs.

Here’s a balanced lineup For DFS Basketball 4/7/21 (using DraftKings Values)

Malachi Flynn has been one of the best value plays the past few slates and he has seen a sizeable price bump to $4,700. Still, Flynn has seen a massive role with Lowry and VanVleet out and he still looks great at this price. Flynn well over 30 FPTS the past three games and he has played over 30 minutes in each of them. DeAndre Bembry is out for tonight and he has seen massive minutes at the starting point guard lately. Flynn should be in for even more minutes tonight regardless of if he gets bumped into the starting lineup. At this price, Flynn is still too cheap for the production he has shown with Toronto’s two-star guards sidelined.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is listed as doubtful and as always we are going to prepare for his being sidelined. Multiple Bucks become priority plays with Antetokounmpo out of the lineup as there will be a ton of extra usage going around. Jrue Holiday has had massive games without Antetokounmpo recently and we are all over him at $8,100. Holiday went for over 64 FPTS a few games ago and he has been having a lot of big gams lately. Holiday is not priced for his upside tonight and he is a guy we want to have in case he goes off. Holiday has scored over 40 FPTS in each of his last five outings and he feels very safe with Antetokounmpo out.

It is sickening how much of my life is spent talking about Aleksej Pokusveski, but he is still egregiously underpriced on both DFS sites. Pokusevski is listed as questionable for tonight but if he is in we are not worried about the injury. Pokusevski is still only $5,800 for the night even though he is averaging 32 FPTS over the last ten days. Pokusevski scored 44 FPTS last game and we knew that was coming with the scoring load he consistently gets. Pokusevski has played over 30 minutes eight games in a row and has led the Thunder in shots the past two games. Pokusevski is way too cheap as he has been the first option for Oklahoma City with all the current injuries. If Pokusevski is out, then Kenrich Williams is a great pivot at $5,200.

In the past we have seen Bobby Portis replace Antetokounmpo in the starting lineup and that is what we expect to see tonight. We can roster Portis at a great price of $5,300 tonight, as he should be in for a solid performance tonight. Portis went for 33.75 FPTS last game without Antetokounmpo and we expect a similar performance tonight. Portis is a solid per minute producer and typically plays good minutes without Antetokounmpo. He is yet to be fully priced up for this role and still gives us a lot of value tonight.

Pascal Siakam – PF (8,500 DK) We are still yet to see Siakam really capitalize on the opportunity without Lowry and VanVleet. With that said, Siakam has still been hitting solid value the past two games. Siakam scored over 44 FPTS last game and that would be enough for a solid performance at this price. Siakam played 41 minutes last game and shot seven for twenty-one from the field. The Raptors have a great matchup against the Bulls tonight and Siakam will have a massive opportunity. No doubt Siakam will be first in line for usage again tonight and we think it is more likely he goes for a huge game then he disappoints us.

DeAndre Ayton – C ($6,700 DK) We have had our eye on Ayton for a little while now as he was playing little minutes which did not make sense for a young stud. The minutes have come back for Ayton as he has played over 30 minutes in eight of past ten games. Ayton played 41 minutes last game and he has scored 45 or more FPTS in both of his last two outings. He is yet to be priced up for his proper production and we expect his price to rise over $7,000 soon. The Clippers have been known to give up big games to opposing centers in the past and this could be another big game from Ayton.

Khris Middleton – G ($7,800 DK) Along with Holiday, we expect Middleton to see a massive opportunity with Antetokounmpo out. Middleton is fairly priced tonight as his median production is just shy of 40 FPTS per game. However, Middleton historically receives a solid usage bump without Antetokounmpo, and he will have a solid opportunity tonight. The Bucks have a good matchup against Dallas tonight, and we expect Middleton to let it fly all night. Middleton shot the ball 19 times in 37 minutes last game, and he is a bit too cheap if that is going to be his role again tonight.

Yuta Watanabe – F ($3,000 DK) Watanabe played solid minutes last time around with all the injuries for Toronto and we are expecting a bigger game tonight. Watanabe scored 19.25 FPTS in 20 minutes last game, which is great value for the price we are paying for him. Furthermore, Bembry is out tonight, and Watanabe plays a similar position. Bembry has been playing 30 or more minutes the past few games and we expect a lot of those minutes find there way to Watanabe tonight. At the minimum price, we really do not need much for a great value night.

Here’s a balanced lineup For DFS Basketball 4/8/21 (using FanDuel Values)

Gary Trent Jr. – SG (6,700 FD) The Raptors are going to be even more short-handed tonight and there will be a solid opportunity for Trent. The Raptors are running an eight-man rotation tonight and we expect Trent plays nearly the whole game. Trent has been taking massive usage since he joined Toronto and he could be in for a great night tonight. Trent is not cheap tonight, but he is still fairly priced for the opportunity he should see with all these guys out.

Kenrich Williams – SF ($4.900 FD) Kenrich Williams is cheap tonight, and he has showed some nice opportunity with all the injuries on the Thunder. Williams went for 37.3 FPTS last game and he has upside for another big one today. Williams looks like a solid play as of now, but he is a smash play if Pokusevski ends up getting ruled out. 

Have fun with this one, a few great teams to go after.

Go win your lineup and tell us how you did. Twitter (@FantasyDFSX) is a good place for that.

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