Wednesday features a nine-game slate starting at 7 p.m. ET.
Let’s dive into some of the top plays 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 150 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 Player Models directly for any updates as we get closer to lock.
Point Guard
Stud
It’s been a bit of a disappointing season for Luka Doncic, but he’s started to turn things around. He’s racked up at least 64.5 DraftKings points in back-to-back games, including 71.0 in his last outing. He should continue to thrive for as long as Kristaps Porzingis and Tim Hardaway Jr. are sidelined. Doncic has increased his usage rate to nearly 40% with both players off the floor, and he’s averaged 1.60 DraftKings points per minute.
Doncic also leads the position with nine Pro Trends on DraftKings, and he owns the second-highest ceiling projection in our NBA Models.
Value
The Cavaliers are going to be without Darius Garland for the second straight game, which is a massive blow for their offense. However, it does create some opportunities in DFS. Brandon Goodwin racked up 26.9 minutes in their last game, and he responded with 25.75 DraftKings points. He’s averaged 0.94 DraftKings points per minute this season, so Goodwin is capable of taking advantage of a few additional minutes. He’s expected to see a similar workload on Wednesday, making him extremely appealing at the absolute minimum.
Fast Break
Spencer Dinwiddie struggled to get it going Tuesday vs. the Bucks, finishing with just seven points on 2-9 shooting. Still, he managed to rack up 28.75 DraftKings points in 31.5 minutes, and he has upside with Bradley Beal out of the lineup. He’s averaged 42.81 DraftKings points in nine games without Beal this season.
Mike Conley has put together some strong performances for the Jazz recently, posting a positive Plus/Minus in five of his past six games on FanDuel. The Jazz are also going to be very shorthanded on Wednesday. Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell remain out of the lineup, and Joe Ingles and Danuel House are also sidelined. That means Conley could be asked to carry an even larger workload than usual, making him an excellent option at just $6,000 on FanDuel.
Shooting Guard
Stud
It has been a disastrous season for the Pacers. They’re sitting in just 13th place in the Eastern Conference, and there’s been talking about blowing up their core. Things don’t figure to get any easier on Wednesday. The team will be without a host of key contributors, including Domantas Sabonis, Myles Turner, and Malcolm Brogdon.
That leaves Caris LeVert to try to pick up the slack. He’s averaged 1.05 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he could easily exceed that figure vs. the Magic. They rank just 23rd in defensive efficiency, and the Pacers’ implied team total ranks third on the slate. LeVert has also gotten a bit less expensive recently, with his price dropping by around -$1,000 over the past month.
Value
The Lakers are another squad that has underperformed this season. They’re expected to be without LeBron James again on Wednesday, which opens the door for Malik Monk to take on a larger role. He’s thrived in games without LeBron this season, and he’s averaged 1.02 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. He finished with 57.5 DraftKings points over 37.8 minutes in his last outing.
Overall, Monk is criminally underpriced on DraftKings, where his $5,300 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 96%.
Fast Break
Will Barton has been in and out of the lineup recently, but he has been productive when on the court. He’s averaged 0.94 DraftKings points per minute this season, and he’s scored at least 29.25 DraftKings points in four of his past five games. He’s a safe option at just $5,700.
Josh Giddey continues to stand out as underpriced on FanDuel. His $6,000 price tag comes with a Bargain Rating of 98%, and he has massive appeal with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sidelined. Giddey has operated more as a traditional point guard in that situation this season, increasing his production to 1.22 FanDuel points per minute in four games without his star teammate. He leads the position with 12 Pro Trends, and he deserves to be one of the highest-owned players on the slate.
Small Forward
Stud
The Celtics have won four of their past five games, and they have a big game vs. the Hornets on Wednesday. The Hornets have played at the second-fastest pace this season, so it’s a great spot for their players from a fantasy perspective.
Jaylen Brown has scored at least 41.5 DraftKings points in four straight games, and he’s increased his fantasy production to 1.22 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. His price tag has come down a bit recently, and he’s now nearly -$2,000 cheaper than Jayson Tatum. Given that difference, I’d rather save the money with Brown.
Value
Cedi Osman essentially operated as the Cavaliers’ starting point guard in their last game, and he has massive upside in that role. He handed out 12 assists, and he managed to score 27.0 DraftKings points despite a dreadful 3-16 shooting performance. He should be able to put together a better outing Wednesday vs. the Rockets. They’ve been the best matchup in fantasy this season, ranking first in pace and dead last in defensive efficiency. Overall, Osman stands out as one of the best plays on the slate.
Fast Break
Torrey Craig is going to have to play a slightly larger role than usual for the shorthanded Pacers. He’s currently projected for 28 minutes in our NBA Models, which makes him an appealing value at just $4,200. Historically, players with comparable salaries and minute projections have averaged a Plus/Minus of +2.69 (per the Trends tool).
Dorian Finney-Smith isn’t the sexiest DFS target, but he should see plenty of playing time for the Mavs on Wednesday. He logged 38.8 minutes in their last outing, and he’s averaged 0.72 DraftKings points per minute with Porzingis and Hardaway off the court. That’s not an exciting number, but it gives him a good chance of paying off his current salary.
Power Forward
Stud
Wendell Carter Jr. isn’t exactly priced like a stud at $6,200 on DraftKings, but he has the potential to provide stud-like production. He’s averaged a stout 1.14 DraftKings points per minute this season, and he’s logged at least 33.2 minutes in back-to-back games. Unsurprisingly, WCJ has scored at least 37.0 DraftKings points in both of those contests. He remains massively underpriced at just $6,200.
Value
Isaiah Jackson might be the most appealing option for the Pacers on Wednesday. Goga Bitadze is also questionable vs. the Magic, and if he’s ruled out, it will leave the team without their top three center options.
Jackson would be asked to log heavy minutes in that scenario, and he’s been an absolute monster on a per-minute basis this season. He’s averaged 1.25 DraftKings points per minute this year, and he’s increased that figure to 1.40 over the past month. Jackson saw 29.4 minutes in the Pacers’ last outing, and he responded with 46.5 DraftKings points. He would be very tough to avoid at $5,400 if he’s expected to see another sizable workload.
Quick Hits
Marquese Chriss is another player who provides massive value on a per-minute basis, and he remains priced at the minimum at $3,000 on DraftKings. It results in a Bargain Rating of 99%, and Chriss racked up 32.5 DraftKings points over 18.9 minutes in his last outing. I wouldn’t expect a repeat performance, but he should see enough playing time to pay off his minimum salary.
Bojan Bogdanovic is underpriced at $5,200 on FanDuel, resulting in a Bargain Rating of 95%. He’s going to be asked to take on a slightly larger role given all the Jazz’s absences, and he’s coming off 29.8 FanDuel points in his last outing.
Center
Stud
The top of the center position comes down to a battle between Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid. Jokic has been the better player all season, but Embiid has been on par with him of late. Jokic has averaged 1.86 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, while Embiid has been at 1.83.
With that in mind, I’ll take the slight discount with Embiid on this slate. He has an excellent matchup vs. the Wizards, who have allowed the eighth-most points per game in the paint this season. They’re also below-average in terms of team rebound rate.
Value
The Wizards have been using a three-man rotation at center recently, but they’ll be down to two on Wednesday. Thomas Bryant is unlikely to play, leaving Daniel Gafford and Montrezl Harrell to handle the minutes.
Gafford has been priced down to just $3,100 on DraftKings, making him an elite buy-low option. He’s currently projected for 20 minutes in our NBA Models, and he’s averaged 1.04 DraftKings points per minute this season.
Fast Break
Hassan Whiteside has a brutal matchup Wednesday vs. Jokic, but he’s always going to provide upside when Gobert is sidelined. He should see around 30 minutes as long as he can stay out of foul trouble, and he’s averaged 1.19 DraftKings points per minute this season.
Chimezie Metu is another potential value option. He’s priced at just $3,600 on FanDuel, resulting in a Bargain Rating of 83%, and he’s coming off 24.6 minutes in his last outing. Metu has averaged 0.94 FanDuel points per minute this season, so he should be able to pay off his salary with a comparable workload.
