Wednesday features a large 12-game (13 for FanDuel) slate starting at 7:00 p.m. ET.
Let’s dive into some of the top plays on the slate using the FantasyLabs tools and metrics.
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 lineups.
Note: Projections and Leverages Scores/Ratings may change throughout the day after this article is posted. The NBA DFS landscape changes quickly.
Consult the NBA Player Models directly for any updates as we get closer to lock.
NBA DFS Point Guard Picks
Stud
Luka Doncic is coming off a 26-point, 15-assist, 11-rebound triple-double in an eight-point victory against the Wizards Monday night. He will draw another cupcake matchup against the Spurs tonight in his last game before the All-Star break. The Mavericks have won consecutive games, and Doncic has captured over 70 DraftKings points in three of those five games. He may be the most expensive option on this slate, but his ceiling in this matchup is impossible to ignore.
In his two meetings with the Spurs this season, he has a triple-double in each game. He is averaging 36 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 10 assists per game while shooting 50% from the field. The Spurs are an exploitable matchup, ranking fourth in pace and 23rd in defensive rating. The Mavericks are double-digit favorites implied for a slate-high 125.5 points tonight.
Expect another ceiling performance before Doncic goes to Indiana for All-Star Weekend.
Value
With Jamal Murray and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope doubtful for tonight’s game, Reggie Jackson will be drawing another start for the Nuggets. In his previous 14 starts this season, Jackson is averaging 16.9 points per game. He has scored 20+ points in each of his last five starts while shooting an absurd 64.9% from the field and 64% from behind the arc. He looks incredible on FanDuel at $5,400. He has an 85% Bargain Rating and the highest projected ownership at this position.
Jackson’s game logs leave a lot to be desired, but he is projected to play around 33 minutes in an up-tempo matchup against the Kings, who are on the second leg of a back-to-back. Jackson did draw one start against the Kings this season and posted a near double-double with 20 points and eight assists. He will thrive again in this starting role for the Nuggets.
Fast Break
Despite shooting an abysmal 3-for-14 from the field and 2-for-10 from behind the arc, Trae Young recorded his 10th-straight game with 40 or more DraftKings points. Young has 50+ DraftKings points in 60% of those games. The All-Star snub is playing with a vengeance and is reasonably priced under $10,000 on DraftKings and FanDuel. The Hornets continue to rank last in defensive rating at 120.7. If Young can find his shot, he can easily exceed his price tag. This is a great spot for him.
Don’t forget to check out our NBA SimLabs Lineup Generator to create advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation:
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
Deciding between Devin Booker and Donovan Mitchell has been a difficult choice all season long. Usually, it comes down to the matchup, but they both get a favorable one tonight. Booker gets the slight nod, but as usual, both of these stud shooting guards are in play. Priced at $9,800 on both sites, Booker and the Suns are 13-point home favorites against the Pistons. They are implied for 123.75 points, while the Pistons rank 29th in both defensive rating and net rating this season.
The Suns have won 13 of their last 17 games, and Booker has been a major factor in those contests. He is averaging a career-high 28 points and 7.1 assists per game while shooting over 50% from the field for the first time in his nine-year career. Everything is clicking for Booker will have no trouble stuffing the stat sheet against the Pistons in this matchup.
Value
Rockets point guard Fred VanVleet remains out, which means another start for the rookie Amen Thompson. Since moving into the starting lineup, he is averaging a double-double with 10.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game with seven total steals. He has the highest projected Plus/Minus at the guard position and is once again projected to draw heavy ownership across the industry. With point guard and shooting guard eligibility, Thompson is easy to fit into all lineups.
With so many injuries this season, the Grizzlies are in a tailspin. They have lost nine consecutive games and are playing on the front end of a back-to-back. The Grizzlies have been a disaster on the glass, ranking 27th in rebounding percentage at 48.2%. They are allowing 45.8 rebounds per game, which bodes well for Thompson, who has been a stud on the glass lately.
Fast Break
Devin Vassell has recorded a positive Plus/Minus in 12 of his last 14 games. In his fourth year, Vassell is averaging a career-high 19 points per game and has captured 20+ points in seven of his last nine games. During that stretch, Vassell has attempted 18 field goals per game. The Spurs are double-digit road underdogs, but that isn’t anything new for this team. Vassell will continue to have the second-highest usage rate behind Victor Wembanyama and is a strong mid-range option.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
After a 41-point, 14-rebound double-double last night against the Nets, Jayson Tatum will try to repeat that performance in the same matchup, but at home tonight. Tatum has recorded a double-double in three straight games while averaging 66.8 DraftKings points per game during that time. Kristaps Porzingis sat out last game, and his status is in jeopardy for tonight’s game. Make sure to monitor his status the closer we get to lock because that would boost the production for Tatum tonight.
The Nets are a below-average defensive team, and Tatum just displayed the blueprint for beating them. In his 41-point outburst, he shot 14-for-26 from the field and 5-for-11 from downtown with a 36.6% usage rate. Tatum’s usage rate jumps 3% with Porzingis off the floor this season. This is a fantastic spot that could get even better for Tatum.
Value
Vince Williams is the most popular small forward option on the slate. Not only has he scored double-digit points in 14 consecutive games, but his peripherals continue to rise in each game. Williams had a near triple-double last Thursday with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists. He has followed that up with eight and nine assists in his last two games. The second-year pro is getting a massive opportunity to display his skill set with so many injuries to the Grizzlies this season.
In the six games that Rockets point guard Fred VanVleet did not play, their defensive rating dropped from 112.5 to 122.0. With VanVleet out tonight, that makes this an exploitable matchup for Williams. Priced under $7,000 with shooting guard and small forward eligibility on both DraftKings and FanDuel, Williams is a great mid-range value play given his new opportunity.
Fast Break
Brandon Ingram hasn’t quite reached his ceiling after his 41-point performance earlier this month. However, this is a great opportunity for another big game against the Wizards, who remain one of the best matchups for opposing players. They rank first in pace at 103.51 and 27th in defensive rating. In his only matchup against the Wizards this season, Ingram poured in 40 points while shooting 14-for-23 from the floor. Ingram is another strong mid-range option in a favorable matchup tonight.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Anthony Davis has power forward and center eligibility on FanDuel but center-only eligibility on DraftKings. With LeBron James already ruling himself out for tonight’s game, Davis looks that much more intriguing. Make sure he plays, but Davis is averaging 27.8 points and 11.6 rebounds per game with a 29.3% usage rate in the five games that he has played without James. In this elite spot, Davis has the second-highest projected ceiling on FanDuel and the third-highest on DraftKings.
The Jazz are a great matchup for Davis to impose his will. They are allowing 52.1 points per game in the paint this season, which ranks 20th in the league. In his two matchups against the Jazz, Davis is averaging a near triple-double with 20.5 points, 15.5 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game. Hard to see him failing in this matchup, especially with James off the floor.
Value
The Grizzlies are desperate for help and recently acquired Lamar Stevens from the Celtics. In his first game with the Grizzlies, Stevens played 26 minutes off the bench and finished with 10 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks. Priced near the stone minimum on both sites tonight, Stevens looks like an incredible value play. He has the highest projected Plus/Minus on DraftKings at the power forward position and the third-highest on FanDuel. Stevens is extremely underpriced.
Stevens is projected to play around 24 minutes and still come off the bench, but he obviously has upside for more, given what he provided last game. Even at 24 minutes, he is projected to be the second-highest owned player on the slate for both DraftKings and FanDuel. The matchup may be a little tough at his position, but Stevens can help fit in the studs tonight.
Fast Break
After a 27-point, 14-rebound, 10-block, five-assist performance against the Raptors, Victor Wembanyama needs to be mentioned on this 12-game slate. Wembanyama finished with 78 DraftKings points, which was 10 points higher than his previous career high. He is a contrarian pay-up option that has elite upside. This is also a fantastic matchup for him, given the Mavericks rank 28th in rebounding percentage. With under 5% projected ownership, make sure to come in overweight.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Nikola Jokic has four consecutive games with a negative Plus/Minus despite averaging a 34% usage rate during that time. Due to his recent play, Jokic has seen a decrease in salary on DraftKings down to $11,300. That is resulting in an 84% Bargain Rating and the highest projected Plus/Minus on the slate. Jokic also has by far the highest projected ceiling in our model tonight. He will be popular, drawing 30% ownership on FanDuel and 35% ownership on DraftKings.
With no Jamal Murray or Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Jokic has a team-high +5.53% usage rate and a +4.6 DraftKings Plus/Minus. He has the highest projected Plus/Minus on DraftKings and FanDuel and is a staple in cash-game contests. With an expected 35% usage rate while playing around 36 minutes, Jokic should be able to fill up the stat sheet tonight.
Value
Not only is Clint Capela still out, but now Onyeka Okongwu is expected to miss the next couple of weeks. The Hawks are running out of bodies in their frontcourt, which will require them to start Bruno Fernando at center tonight. Priced at $4,000 on FanDuel and $3,600 on DraftKings, Fernando is the best value on the slate. He has power forward and center eligibility on FanDuel, making it easy to fit him with Jokic. The Fernando and Jokic duo will be the most popular pairing on the slate.
Fernando is projected to play around 25 minutes, but that is more than enough time to make his presence known against the Hornets. A double-double is firmly on the table with the Hornets matchup. They rank 26th in rebounding percentage and 24th in most points allowed in the paint per game. The cheap salary is what also helps make this an incredible spot tonight.
Fast Break
Domantas Sabonis has recorded a double-double in 36 straight games and leads the league with 18 triple-doubles. He has captured a triple-double in six of his last eight games. Sabonis will battle with Nikola Jokic tonight in a rematch from last Friday night. Sabonis got the better of Jokic in that matchup, not only winning 135-106 but also posting a triple-double with 17 points, 17 rebounds, and 10 assists. When looking to get different on this slate, there is no better option than Sabonis.
