The NBA Playoffs are finally here which means an NBA DFS slate with no injury shenanigans, no worrying about playing time, and just the best players playing the most minutes. We have a very fun four-game slate on this kick-off day for the postseason beginning at 1:00 PM ET with the Brooklyn Nets traveling to take on the Philadelphia 76ers. Following that game will be the Atlanta Hawks visiting the Boston Celtics, the Cleveland Cavaliers hosting the New York Knicks, and the Sacramento Kings traveling to play the Golden State Warriors. The major injury news of the day is the status of Julius Randle, who last played on March 29th before suffering an ankle injury.

Be sure to check out our NBA DFS projections, powered by FanJections, NBA DFS Lineup Generator, and all of the rest of our NBA DFS content and tools! Let's break down Ryan's top plays of the day for DraftKings and FanDuel!

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Favorite Players to Use for DFS Lineups

Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

Embiid was able to suit up twice against the Brooklyn Nets in the regular season and and was absolutely dominant against them. He averaged 54.4 fantasy points in just 36 minutes per game and that was with him blocking zero shots against them all season. He averaged 1.7 blocks per game during the season, so we could realistically see him approach 60 fantasy points in this game. The Nets, even with defensive stopper Nic Claxton, allowed top-six numbers in points and rebounds to opposing centers this season. 

Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

The Atlanta Hawks were the second-worst team against power forwards this season as John Collins oftentimes looked lost defensively. Tatum, of course, made them pay for that deficiency this season, averaging a hair under 56 fantasy points per game when he played Atlanta. Many prognosticators are calling for a Celtics sweep in this series, and a few massive games from Tatum are likely to be the reason why. With Atlanta sixth in pace and just 22nd in defensive rating, Tatum is the top option at both the small forward and power forward position today. 

Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors

This game against the Warriors and the Kings is going to be absolutely rocking in Sacramento. It will be the Kings' first playoff game in 18 years and the atmosphere (especially if Playoff Steph shows up) should be electric. It also projects to be the fastest-paced and most defensively-challenged game of the day. Curry averaged 52 fantasy points per game against the Kings across four game this year and shot 58% from the floor, including 50% from three. 

Spencer Dinwiddie, Brooklyn Nets

Since coming over to Brooklyn in the trade with Dallas, Dinwiddie averages 16 points, nine assists, four rebounds, and over one steal per game. Free from the shadow of Luka Doncic, he finally has a team he can lead and his usage climbed to 22.5% once he swapped to a Nets jersey. James Harden has been hobbled by an Achilles injury lately, and has his own defensive struggles at time, so this could be a game where the Nets choose to attack him with Dinwiddie on the perimeter, get to the basket, and then decide whether to take on Embiid or dish to one of their many capable three-point shooters. 

Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks

This Knicks-Cavaliers game and the plays we choose from there all depends on the health of Julius Randle. Reports are that he is going to try and suit up today, a la Willis Reed, but if he doesn't or he is limited, I will be locking in Brunson in a lot of lineups. When Randle does not play, Brunson's usage rate is over 31% and he sees almost a five-point bump in his fantasy point production. This matchup between Brunson and Donovan Mitchell might be the best one of the first round and Brunson will be looking to prove that Knicks fan got the right guy when they signed him over Mitchell this past offseason. In four games against the Cavaliers this season, Brunson averaged 41 fantasy points per night. 

Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics

In the two games Brown played against Atlanta this year, the Celtics won by an average of 17 points, so Brown was only needed on the floor for 30 minutes per game. But he will was able to shoot 57% from the floor and score 38 fantasy points per game in that short time on the court. The Hawks allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game to opposing shooting guards this season and I expect Boston to try and find some time on the floor for Brown when Dejounte Murray is not on the court, which could boost his stock even more today. 

Favorite Value Players for DFS Lineups

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