The holiday weekend gets started tonight with a loaded 11-game featured NBA slate. That means almost every team, and every superstar, will be taking the court. Still, it’s impossible to build a winning lineup off of big names alone. Lesser-known players are necessary, with the potential to make or break any fantasy basketball manager.
Which low-cost options should you be targeting on Tuesday? Here are three to prioritize this evening in DFS and season-long formats.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $350K SLAM Jam [$100K to 1st]
PG Isaiah Collier, Utah Jazz vs. MEM ($4,300)
The Jazz are still a bottom-tier club, but they’ve improved this season. Utah’s young roster has taken major strides, especially in the backcourt. Keyonte George ($8,300) is blossoming into a stat-stuffing lead guard. However, his running mate Isaiah Collier has impressed recently, as well. Over his previous seven games, the 21-year-old is averaging 9.4 points, 1.7 rebounds and 7.9 assists.
Collier isn’t much of a shooter, which limits his efficiency. However, a knack for dishing out assists gives Utah’s youngster a decent floor. Tonight, the Jazz will take on a defensively vulnerable Memphis club. The Grizzlies have given up the seventh-most fantasy points this season to opposing point guards. In three of his previous four games, Collier has reached 30+ fantasy points. Anything similar to that on Tuesday would make him a massive steal.
SG/SF Sam Merrill, Cleveland Cavaliers vs. NOP ($4,100)
It’s been a difficult 2025-26 campaign for the Cavaliers. A combination of injuries and ineffectiveness have kept Cleveland from contention in the Eastern Conference. Still, the team has put up the ninth-best offensive rating in basketball (117.0). That’s due in part to contributors off the bench, including Sam Merrill. The sharpshooter is averaging 13.2 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. In addition, he’s notched stellar 46/43/94 shooting splits.
Merrill’s dependence on scoring makes him a true feast or famine fantasy option. With that being said, Tuesday presents a golden opportunity for the 29-year-old. Tonight’s opponent, the Pelicans, are a goldmine for opposing players. New Orleans is coughing up the most fantasy points to shooting guards this season. Merrill comes into this one having reached 20+ fantasy points in three of his last four outings. At such a low price, that level of production would do just fine in most lineups.
C Moussa Diabate, Charlotte Hornets vs. WAS ($4,100)
Ryan Kalkbrenner (elbow) was held out on Monday; his status tonight remains uncertain. With or without the rookie, the Hornets will need additional help down low. Fortunately, fellow center Moussa Diabate is capable of helping out in a bigger role. This season, the fourth-year-pro is putting up 7.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, 0.9 blocks and 0.8 steals per game. Just as important, he’s shooting an efficient 61% from the field.
Despite coming off of the bench, Diabate almost always logs 20+ minutes. That feels like a conservative projection tonight given Kalkbrenner’s injury. Last night against the Cavaliers, Charlotte’s backup big tallied 14 rebounds and six steals en route to 36.0 fantasy points. Even more success could be imminent against a lackluster Wizards defense. Washington has allowed the third-most rebounds (58.1) and sixth-most points in the paint (54.2) per game to opponents. Don’t be shocked if Diabate flirts with a double-double on Tuesday.
