What’s going on, everybody? I’m back with my DraftKings NBA DFS picks for Tuesday, Feb. 11, turning to Stokastic’s NBA DFS Sims, NBA DFS projections and NBA DFS ownership projections. I’ll have updates later today at around 5 p.m. ET, right before the Deeper Dive, so stay tuned. These are the final ConTENders video until after the All-Star break. I’m off Wednesday and Thursday, and then we don’t have any basketball for a few days. But I’ll be back after the break with even more details and improvements.
DraftKings NBA DFS Picks Today, February 11
5 – Joel Embiid
Position: C | Salary: $10,000
Projections: 28.9 Points, 8.9 Rebounds, 5.0 Assists, 2.2 Stocks
We have no idea if Embiid will be in today. He’s questionable and talking about knee surgeries, but if he suits up, he’s going to be awesome against Toronto. The Raptors are missing Jakob Poeltl and Jonathan Mogbo is filling in, which is a major mismatch for Embiid. I gave him 32 minutes, though the big question, as always, is whether he’ll make it through the game. But if he’s in, I want a good bit of Embiid in my lineups.
4 – Kevin Durant
Position: PF/C | Salary: $9,000
Projections: 26.6 Points, 6.6 Rebounds, 4.3 Assists, 2.0 Stocks
Durant is back after missing a couple of games. He gets a dream matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies, the fastest-paced team in the league. Durant is power forward and center eligible, and with Bradley Beal already ruled out, he should have a big role. The main concern here is minutes, but in these scenarios, Durant usually comes back without restrictions. I’m taking the pace-up spot and rolling with Durant.
3 – Gradey Dick
Position: SG | Salary: $4,300
Projections: 15.3 Points, 3.3 Rebounds, 1.9 Assists, 0.9 Stocks
The Raptors are facing the 76ers, and with R.J. Barrett still out and no Brandon Ingram yet, Dick should see plenty of minutes. Toronto shipped out Bruce Brown and others at the deadline, leaving the rotation pretty thin. Dick’s minutes feel safe, and while he isn’t a massive per-minute producer, he fits well on this four-game slate. Having a low-priced shooting guard who plays consistent minutes provides some much-needed flexibility today.
2 – Jalen Brunson
Position: PG | Salary: $8,400
Projections: 27.5 Points, 3.1 Rebounds, 7.1 Assists, 1.1 Stocks
The Knicks face a fast-paced Pacers team that doesn’t play much defense, making this an ideal matchup for him. We don’t yet know the status of O.G. Anunoby, but his presence or absence doesn’t drastically impact Brunson. At $8,400, he’s simply too cheap for his role, especially on a four-game slate where other high-end options like Tyrese Maxey are priced at $9,000. That value makes Brunson a priority play but not quite enough to take the top spot.
1 – Cade Cunningham
Position: PG | Salary: $10,500
Projections: 29.1 Points, 6.4 Rebounds, 10.2 Assists, 1.6 Stocks
The Pistons take on the Chicago Bulls, one of the best matchups you can ask for. Cunningham fills up the stat sheet and gets to take whatever shots he wants against a Chicago team that doesn’t play much defense. With only four games on the slate, options are limited, and Cunningham’s salary isn’t prohibitive for a high-end playmaker. Given his per-minute production, he’s an easy choice for the top spot today.
