Looking for the best NBA DFS picks today? Tuesday’s slate is absolutely stacked, and if you’re grinding daily fantasy NBA on DraftKings or FanDuel, you’re in for a real treat. With six games starting at 7:00 PM ET, there’s massive volume across the board—but identifying the actual DFS plays that separate winning lineups from losing ones requires more than just spotting the studs. That’s where smart NBA fantasy projections and DFS strategy come into play. Our NBA DFS picks for Monday are always based on data, so you know you’re working with intel that actually matters. Whether you’re stacking the Nuggets-Bulls matchup or exploiting the Thunder’s massive line, we’ve got the top daily fantasy NBA plays broken down and ready to go.
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Best NBA DFS Picks Today: Top Daily Fantasy NBA Plays – Tuesday, Nov. 18
Let’s dive into a few of my favorite NBA DFS picks on the board for Monday.
NBA DFS Pick – Jalen Duren
The Detroit Pistons are sitting comfortably atop the Eastern Conference, and Duren is a huge reason why. You want consistency? This guy has been a fantasy basketball gold mine this season. He put up a wild 27% usage rate against Indiana on Monday, and with Cade Cunningham still sidelined, Duren is the focal point—especially on the glass and in the paint.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: the Hawks are supposed to be a defensive powerhouse this year. Believe it or not, Atlanta is currently flashing a top-10 defensive rating. Pretty wild, right? But let’s not anoint them as the 2004 Pistons just yet.
Look a little closer—they’re also playing at the league’s 6th-fastest pace. That means more possessions, more shots, and more rebounds for Duren to scoop up. And with Trae Young still out for the Hawks, Atlanta’s offense is less threatening offensively, so less of a chance for Duren to get into foul trouble.
Duren thrives on hustle stats: rebounds, blocks, putbacks. The tough defense narrative is a little overblown here, especially for a big like Duren who lives on effort plays. He’s hit at least 50 fantasy points in four of his last five games, and he’s still way too cheap across DFS platforms.
When you see “good chalk,” this is exactly what the pros mean. The matchup might not look perfect at first glance, but dig a little deeper, and you’ll see Duren’s floor is rock solid and the ceiling is still firmly within reach.
Don’t overthink it—keep riding the hot hand with Jalen Duren. If you fade him tonight, you’ll probably end up watching him anchor winning lineups from the outside looking in. Lock him in.
NBA Live Odds
| Player |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dean Wade
CLE
PF CLE @ NY
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Dennis Schröder
CLE
PG CLE @ NY
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Donovan Mitchell
CLE
SG CLE @ NY
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Evan Mobley
CLE
PF CLE @ NY
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Jalen Brunson
NY
PG CLE @ NY
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
James Harden
CLE
SG CLE @ NY
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Jarrett Allen
CLE
C CLE @ NY
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Jordan Clarkson
NY
SG CLE @ NY
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Jose Alvarado
NY
PG CLE @ NY
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
Josh Hart
NY
SF CLE @ NY
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Karl-Anthony Towns
NY
PF CLE @ NY
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Landry Shamet
NY
SG CLE @ NY
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Max Strus
CLE
SG CLE @ NY
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Mikal Bridges
NY
SF CLE @ NY
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Miles McBride
NY
PG CLE @ NY
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Mitchell Robinson
NY
C CLE @ NY
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
OG Anunoby
NY
SF CLE @ NY
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Sam Merrill
CLE
SG CLE @ NY
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - |
NBA DFS Pick – De’Aaron Fox
Let’s talk about De’Aaron Fox tonight against Memphis. The Spurs are in a world of hurt—no Victor Wembanyama in the paint, no Stephon Castle on the perimeter. That leaves San Antonio without much resistance on either end, and Fox is licking his chops.
Since coming back from injury, Fox has looked completely unencumbered—there’s zero minutes restriction in sight, and his explosion is absolutely there. Just look at the numbers: he’s posted back-to-back 50+ fantasy point outings.
He dropped a 35% usage rate against Golden State, then turned around and ran a 30% usage rate against Sacramento. That’s not just high—those are big boy, “give me the keys to the offense” numbers. When Fox’s usage hog teammates are missing, there’s nobody on this slate with a bigger green light.
At $8,300 tonight, Fox is glaring mid-tier mispricing—he offers high-ceiling upside with a stable floor. The pace will be strong (even with Memphis looking like a shell on offense), and Fox loses nothing in terms of role. Plug him into everything. With a soft matchup and his usage rate through the roof, Fox is poised to do major damage, and if you fade him, you’re basically betting against the facts staring right at you.
Editor’s Note: This article was published at 3:30 EST. These core picks could change based on more daily news and injuries.
Looking for more NBA DFS News and Picks? We’ve got you covered all season:
- Fantasy Basketball News Today
- Best Player Props Today
- First Basket Predictions
- NBA Betting Hub (Game Predictions & More)
- Daily Promo Roundup
