On tap for Wednesday is a seven-game slate. The NBA Player Models are the base of our NBA product here at FantasyLabs. They house our projections for each player, but that’s just the beginning of what you’ll find inside. You’ll also find our Trends and On/Off tool, Vegas Dashboard, and so much more.
Let’s dive into our models for NBA DFS going position by position, looking at guys with some of the best projections and players standing out as values with our predictive Projected Plus/Minus metric.
Also, don’t forget that for large-field tournaments, you can utilize our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 300 lineups, or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your teams.
Note: Projections, Ownership projections and Leverage Scores/Ratings may change throughout the day as news comes out after this article is posted. Consult the Player Models directly for any updates.
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Point Guard
Top Ceiling: De’Aaron Fox vs. Los Angeles Clippers – $9,800 DraftKings, $10,000 FanDuel
With a win over the Warriors, the Kings advanced to the Knockout Round of the In-Season Tournament last night, and Fox was brilliant in the victory, posting 54.75 DraftKings points. Leading Sacramento in usage (31.8%) and assist percentage (26.9%) this season, the guard has now exceeded 50 DraftKings points in six of his 11 starts. After Tuesday’s huge win, the Kings will host the Clippers tonight and are 1.5-point underdogs, via FantasyLabs’ Vegas page.
Fox has been a stud when Sacramento has been an underdog this season, generating 57 DraftKings PPG, and shouldn’t be too popular at these season-high salaries. At the same price point Tuesday, the Kentucky product was only rostered by 6.7% of the field in DraftKings’ main GPP of the night.
Top Value: Cole Anthony vs. Washington Wizards – $6,700 DraftKings, $6,400 FanDuel
Hosting the lowly Wizards – who rank second-to-last in defensive efficiency and third in pace – the Magic have the best matchup of the night and boast the highest implied team total on the slate (121.75 points). Having exposure to this red-hot Orlando team that has won seven in a row is a must tonight, and Anthony is one of the best pieces to attack. Anthony just dominated the Hornets for a season-high 54.75 DraftKings points on Sunday and is averaging 35.5 DraftKings PPG in his last six, with a 24.4% usage rate during this time.
While we can’t expect another 50 fantasy point outing, Anthony should beat these salaries tonight and is undoubtedly one of the best guard values on the board.
Shooting Guard
Top Ceiling: Desmond Bane vs. Utah Jazz – $8,500 DraftKings, $8,300 FanDuel
Bane has been a disappointment lately, scoring less than 30 fantasy points in back-to-back starts, but should get back on track Wednesday, facing this Jazz club that ranks 27th in defensive efficiency. The wing went off for 62 DraftKings points vs. this Utah team earlier this month, and the Grizzlies sport an implied team total of 113.25 points in this spot.
Bane is leading Memphis with a 29.6% usage rate and 1.2 DraftKings PPM this season and has flourished when the Grizzlies have presented an implied team total of at least 110 points, supplying 48.7 DraftKings PPG, via the Trends Tool.
Top Value: Jaden Ivey vs. Los Angeles Lakers – $5,700 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
After oddly beginning the season as a reserve, Ivey has started in the last four games and has improved in each start, peaking at a season-best 37.75 DraftKings points vs. the Wizards on Monday. As a starter, the former top-five pick is amassing 30 DraftKings points in 30 minutes per game with a 21.3% usage rate and a 19.1% assist percentage. For tonight, Ivey will be playing up in pace vs. the Lakers, who rank ninth in pace this season. This game’s total is up to a healthy 229.5 points, which is the third-largest total the Pistons have competed in this season.
While Detroit is likely to lose their 11th straight game (LAL -7), Ivey should be one of the bright spots in defeat and top 30 fantasy points for the third consecutive game.
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Small Forward
Top Ceiling: Franz Wagner vs. Washington Wizards – $7,500 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel
As mentioned above, the Magic present the highest implied team total on the slate (121.75 points), and Wagner is another appealing way to attack Orlando in this beautiful spot vs. the Wizards. The wing is averaging 1.1 DraftKings PPM with a career-high 25.6% usage rate this season, and in a similar matchup vs. the Hornets on Sunday, Wagner erupted for a season-high 45.25 DraftKings points.
Another effort over 40 fantasy points is possible for Wagner tonight, and he is underpriced for this type of upside at less than $8K on both DraftKings and FanDuel.
Top Value: Austin Reaves at Detroit Pistons – $6,500 DraftKings, $6,200 FanDuel
Disregard Reaves’ quiet 16.25 DraftKings point showing vs. the 76ers on Monday. It was a result of a 44-point blowout. Expect a rebound performance from the 25-year-old tonight. After facing that Philadelphia defense that ranks ninth in efficiency, Reaves meets a Pistons defense that ranks 23rd tonight.
The Lakers carry the second-highest implied team total on the slate (118.5 points), and before Monday’s 44-point loss to the 76ers, Reaves was thriving as the Lakers’ sixth man, providing 36.5 DraftKings PPG in his previous four.
Power Forward
Top Ceiling: LeBron James at Detroit Pistons – $9,900 DraftKings, $10,100 FanDuel
James was clearly frustrated after Monday’s 44-point loss to the 76ers – which marked the worst loss of his 20-year career – and he should bounce back in a big way Wednesday. Despite being 38 years old, James is leading the Lakers with a 29% usage rate and 31.8% assist percentage this season, translating into 1.5 DraftKings PPM for the future Hall-of-Famer.
James has scored over 50 DraftKings in five of his six meetings vs. Detroit over the last three years and has responded with 55 DraftKings PPG the following contest after the Lakers’ past three losses.
Top Value: Santi Aldama vs. Utah Jazz – $6,400 DraftKings, $6,200 FanDuel
Similar to Bane, Aldama has struggled as of late due to blowouts and poor matchups, but the forward should regain his form against this soft Jazz defense. With the Grizzlies down a heaping of key players, Aldama has started in their last four games and has seen an encouraging role, receiving 31 minutes a night and a 25.4% usage rate. Aldama is collecting 1.1 DraftKings PPM this season and should see a full workload tonight, with Memphis only favored by 4.5 points.
The forward is generating 37 DraftKings PPG for the six occasions he has logged over 25 minutes this season and could get overlooked due to his up-and-down game log.
Center
Top Ceiling: Alperen Sengun at Denver Nuggets – $8,500 DraftKings, $8,400 FanDuel
Sengun is playing outstanding basketball right now and is a hard fade at these salaries. The center has surpassed 50 DraftKings points in three of his past four starts, with that lone outlier being a 20-point blowout win over the Grizzlies, in which he didn’t play the final few minutes of the game.
Sengun is averaging 1.33 DraftKings PPM for the season with a career-high 27.6% usage rate. Tonight will already be his third meeting of the season with the Nuggets, and in the first two, Sengun was terrific, collecting 50.9 DraftKings PPM.
Whether it’s Nikola Jokic (questionable, back) or Deandre Jordan on the other side, Sengun should easily outperform these sub $9K salaries this evening.
Top Value: Walker Kessler at Memphis Grizzlies – $5,900 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
Since returning from a seven-game absence due to an elbow injury, Kessler has been efficient, topping 30 DraftKings points in his first two games back, even though he has come off the bench. Lauri Markkanen (hamstring) missed both of these contests and will remain sidelined on Wednesday. Additionally, Kessler has seen more playing time in each of these past two, getting up to 26 minutes Monday, and his role should continue to grow tonight, to likely around 30 minutes.
Due to his usage and assist rates increasing 2.3 and 4.4 percentage points, respectively, Kessler is supplying 1.1 DraftKings PPM with Markkanen off the court this season, via the On/Off Tool. The Grizzlies are giving up the fifth-most rebounds this season, and Kessler is a great bargain at these reasonable salaries.
