FREE 04/18 NBA Cheat Sheet: Top DFS Plays

We’ve got a tight two-game NBA DFS slate tonight, kicking off at 7:00 PM ET with the Heat visiting the Hawks (221.0 total) and wrapping up at 9:30 PM ET as the Mavericks take on the Grizzlies (220.5 total). Both games feature solid totals, so there’s no obvious game to fade entirely, but how you approach roster construction will be key with limited options across the board.

The Miami-Atlanta matchup stands out slightly for its higher implied pace and scoring potential, while Dallas-Memphis should still draw plenty of attention with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving in play. With only two games, ownership will condense quickly, so finding unique ways to differentiate your lineup—whether it’s targeting secondary pieces or fading a chalky star—will likely make or break your night. Let’s dive in and make it count!

Game Environment Analysis

MIA @ ATL (O/U: 221.0, Spread: 0.0)

• Pace: MIA (28th) vs ATL (3rd) 🏃 (Pace mismatch)
• Off Eff: MIA (21st) vs ATL (18th)
• Def Eff: MIA (11th) vs ATL (19th)

DAL @ MEM (O/U: 220.5, Spread: -6.0)

• Pace: DAL (14th) vs MEM (1st) 🏃 (Pace mismatch)
• Off Eff: DAL (14th) vs MEM (6th) 🔥
• Def Eff: DAL (21st) vs MEM (10th)

Legend:

🏃 = Significant pace mismatch

🔥 = Strong offense vs weak defense

🎯 = Poor defensive team

⚠️ = Blowout risk

Bold = Favored team

PG - Trae Young ($8,800)

Trae Young ($8,800) is shaping up to be one of the most important decisions on tonight’s slate. Projected for 50.8 DK points and appearing in over 53% of optimal lineups, he offers strong value at 5.77x despite his hefty salary. Miami’s defense is solid overall, but they’ve struggled against high-usage point guards this season, and Young has proven he can thrive in tough matchups. His 1.27 FPPM and projected 40 minutes on the floor give him a massive ceiling, especially in a playoff-like environment where Atlanta will lean heavily on their star player. With a boom percentage of nearly 40%, he’s one of the best tournament options available.

The biggest concern here is ownership, as Young is expected to be rostered by more than half the field (54.9%). While that level of chalk might scare off some DFS players, it feels justified given his combination of elite projection and game environment. Miami plays at a slower pace, but Young’s usage rate and ability to rack up assists keep his floor intact even in lower-scoring games. If you’re fading him, you’ll need to have strong conviction in another high-upside guard option or hope for an outlier performance from Miami’s defense. Ultimately, while he won’t differentiate your lineup much in tournaments, fading him could be a risky move given how central he is to Atlanta’s offense tonight.

More PG Plays:

• Dyson Daniels ($6,900)
• Desmond Bane ($8,000)

SG - Caris LeVert ($4,600)

At $4,600, Caris LeVert is hard to ignore in DFS tonight. He projects for 25.6 DK points with a strong 5.6x value and appears in nearly half of all optimal lineups (47.8%). The matchup against Miami isn’t ideal—this is a slower-paced team with solid defensive metrics—but LeVert’s ability to contribute across multiple categories keeps him in play. Over his last five games, he’s flashed both a high ceiling (48 DK points vs. PHI) and a decent floor (20+ DK points in three of five). With an expected 26 minutes off the bench, he should have plenty of opportunity to deliver value at this price.

The main concern here is ownership—at 64.6%, LeVert will be one of the most popular plays on the slate. While that level of chalk can be risky in tournaments, it’s not unwarranted given his combination of price, role, and recent production. If you’re playing cash games or small-field GPPs, locking him in makes sense given his consistency and upside at this salary. However, in large-field tournaments, fading LeVert could create leverage if he underperforms against Miami’s tough defense. Ultimately, he’s a solid play but requires some strategic consideration based on contest type and your overall lineup construction.

More SG Plays:

• Dyson Daniels ($6,900)
• Desmond Bane ($8,000)

SF - Andrew Wiggins ($7,600)

Andrew Wiggins ($7,600) offers a solid combination of floor and ceiling tonight in a favorable matchup against the Hawks. Atlanta has struggled defensively against wings all season, ranking near the bottom of the league in SF/PF defensive metrics. Wiggins is projected for 36.5 minutes and 38.05 DK points, which translates to an efficient 1.04 FPPM and a strong 5.01x value at his salary. His ability to contribute across multiple categories—points, rebounds, assists, and defensive stats—gives him a stable floor while maintaining upside for tournaments, as evidenced by his 14.6% Boom rate and second-place tournament rank among forwards on this slate.

At 30.4% projected ownership, Wiggins is one of the more popular plays on the slate, but it’s hard to argue against it given his role and production. He appears in an impressive 31.4% of optimal lineups, suggesting he’s not just chalk but good chalk in this spot. The game environment also works in his favor—Atlanta plays at a faster pace than Miami, which should lead to more possessions and scoring opportunities for Wiggins. If you’re looking for a reliable mid-tier option with both safety and upside, Wiggins is worth locking into your lineups despite the elevated ownership.

More SF Plays:

• Zaccharie Risacher ($4,100)
• PJ Washington ($7,000)

PF - Anthony Davis ($10,000)

Anthony Davis ($10,000) is in a prime spot tonight against the Grizzlies, and while his moderate ownership (28.2%) is higher than the field average, it’s hard to argue against the chalk here. With a projection of 53.3 DK points and an elite 1.44 FPPM rate, he offers strong value at 5.33x his salary. Memphis has struggled to defend skilled bigs all season, and Davis’ ability to contribute across multiple categories—scoring, rebounding, blocks—makes him a high-ceiling option in this matchup. He’s projected for 37 minutes in a game that should remain competitive, which only solidifies his role as a top-tier play on this slate.

The numbers back up Davis’ upside, as he appears in 31.1% of optimal lineups and carries a Boom% of nearly 30%. His recent performances show both consistency and ceiling potential—he dropped 72.3 DK points just two games ago with a monster stat line that included seven blocks. While Memphis can be tough defensively overall, their frontcourt isn’t equipped to contain Davis’ versatility. At $10K, he’s priced fairly for his upside and floor combination, making him worth considering even at elevated ownership levels in both cash games and GPPs.

More PF Plays:

• Bam Adebayo ($9,200)
• Zaccharie Risacher ($4,100)

C - Zach Edey ($6,200)

Zach Edey is shaping up to be one of the most popular plays on tonight’s slate, and for good reason. At $6,200, he’s projected for 33.9 DraftKings points, which gives him an excellent 5.5x value. His strong production on the glass—averaging 17 rebounds over his last three games—makes him a reliable floor option, especially in this matchup against Dallas. The Mavericks rank poorly in rebounding metrics and have struggled all season against traditional bigs, making this a favorable spot for Edey to continue his dominance in the paint. With a solid 1.09 FPPM and appearing in nearly 40% of optimal lineups, he’s a great building block for both cash games and tournaments.

The one concern here is his massive ownership at 51.1%, which makes him clear chalk on the slate. While that level of popularity might deter some GPP players looking for leverage, it’s hard to argue against the numbers backing Edey tonight. His Boom% of 23.1% indicates real upside despite the high ownership, and his consistent minutes (31+ in four straight games) make him a safe bet to hit value or better. If you’re fading Edey, you’ll need a strong pivot with similar upside at center, but given his matchup and recent production, he looks like chalk worth eating in most formats tonight.

More C Plays:

• Bam Adebayo ($9,200)
• Onyeka Okongwu ($7,100)

Good luck today! Make sure to check the Lineup Optimizer for latest updates before lock. Visit DFS Hero for our full suite of DFS tools including the Lineup Optimizer, Contest Simulator, Player Projections, and Ownership Projections. Use code HEROPLAY15 to get 15% off your first month!