Wednesday features a six-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
The Hornets are going to be extremely shorthanded on Wednesday. They played just eight players in their last contest, and one of them was Gordon Hayward. However, Hayward lasted less than seven minutes before exiting with a wrist injury, and he has been ruled out indefinitely. That leaves plenty of playing time for the rest of the roster.
They had four players log at least 38 minutes in their last outing, including point guard LaMelo Ball. Ball hasn’t been quite as effective recently as he was earlier this season, but he’s still averaged a stout 1.36 DraftKings points per minute for the year. He leads the position with 10 Pro Trends, and he stands out as one of the top studs on the slate.
Value
The Bulls are facing the Hornets on Wednesday, which is one of the best possible matchups from a fantasy perspective. They’ve played at the second-fastest pace this season, and they rank 24th in defensive efficiency. The Bulls have also ruled out Ayo Dosunmu, which opens up a few minutes in the backcourt.
Coby White is currently projected for 35 minutes in our NBA Models, which gives him an excellent chance to pay off his $5,100 price tag. He’s averaged 0.82 DraftKings points per minute this season.
Fast Break
D’Angelo Russell has been priced down across the industry, and he recently missed some time due to a shin injury. However, he’s played in each of the Timberwolves’ past two games, and he finished with 30.3 minutes in his first game back. He didn’t see as much playing time on Tuesday, but that was more due to the game turning into a blowout than a minute restriction. He should return to his usual workload on Wednesday in an excellent spot vs. the Kings.
Anfernee Simons is going to have to do a lot of heavy lifting for the Blazers down the stretch. They’ve traded away C.J. McCollum and Norman Powell in recent days, and Damian Lillard is still sidelined with an injury. He’s averaged 41.6 FanDuel points in seven games without Lillard and McCollum this season, making him a strong option at just $6,900.
Shooting Guard
Stud
This is going to be a very Hornets-heavy breakdown, so be prepared. Terry Rozier gets the nod if you’re looking to pay up at shooting guard. He’s not overly expensive at $6,900 on DraftKings, and he’s even cheaper on FanDuel. He racked up 41.0 minutes in his last outing, and he’s scored at least 35.75 DraftKings points in three of his past four games. He should flirt with 40 minutes again on Wednesday, and he’s averaged 1.01 DraftKings points per minute this season.
Value
Kelly Oubre Jr. is arguably the best target for the Hornets on DraftKings. His $5,600 salary is significantly too cheap, resulting in a Bargain Rating of 75%. Oubre has done some quality work recently, posting a positive Plus/Minus in four of his past five games, and his playing time spiked to 38.1 minutes in his last outing. He managed to score 31.5 DraftKings points in that contest despite shooting 0-8 from 3-point range. Oubre has averaged 1.02 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, so he has the upside for an even better performance than usual vs. the Bulls.
Fast Break
The Warriors are going to be without Klay Thompson on Wednesday, who will get the night off for rest purposes. That means Jordan Poole should slide back into the starting lineup. Poole has increased his usage rate by +1.0% in games without Thompson this season, and he’s averaged 28.94 DraftKings points per game. He’s also one of the best pure values at the position on DraftKings given his Bargain Rating of 94%.
Zach LaVine showed no signs of rust in his return to the lineup on Monday, finishing with 49.2 FanDuel points over 37.1 minutes in a difficult matchup vs. the Suns. He draws a significantly easier matchup on Wednesday, and he’s drastically underpriced at $8,000 on FanDuel. His Bargain Rating of 96% is the top mark at the position.
Small Forward
Stud
Can I interest you in another Hornet? Miles Bridges racked up nearly 42.5 minutes in their last outing, and he responded with 49.5 DraftKings points. Like Ball, Bridges has slowed down a bit after a torrid start to the year, but he’s still averaged 1.05 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. That gives him the potential to do a lot of damage with 40+ minutes of playing time.
Value
The Kings made a huge move yesterday, shipping Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield to the Pacers in exchange for Domantas Sabonis and Justin Holiday. It seems unlikely that either player will be able to make their team debut on Wednesday, leaving the Kings shorthanded for the second straight night.
Louis King is someone who could be worth some consideration at the absolute minimum. He’s currently projected for 20 minutes in our NBA Models, and players with comparable salaries and minute projections have historically been able to provide margin value. King has also averaged 0.82 DraftKings points per minute this season, so he’s a bit better than the typical min-priced player on a per-minute basis.
Fast Break
The Blazers have a few players that make sense at small forward, but C.J. Elleby stands out as the preferred option. He racked up 31.75 DraftKings points in 34.2 minutes on Tuesday, and he was one rebound shy of a double-double. Elleby has averaged 0.81 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, so he’s capable of paying off his $4,400 price tag.
Anthony Edwards was only needed for 25.6 minutes on Tuesday, but he should return to his usual workload if Wednesday’s game is more competitive. That’s no guarantee vs. the Kings – the Timberwolves are listed as nine-point road favorites – but Edwards is undoubtedly underpriced at $7,400. His price tag comes with a Bargain Rating of 94%, and he’s historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +4.43 with a comparable salary (per the Trends tool).
Power Forward
Stud
Harrison Barnes has been a reliable source of fantasy value of late, scoring at least 34.0 DraftKings points in six of his past seven games. That doesn’t figure to change with the Kings being shorthanded on Wednesday. He’s averaged 0.94 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s currently projected for 35 minutes in our NBA Models. His $6,600 price tag on DraftKings also comes with a Bargain Rating of 75%.
Value
Justise Winslow was the heavy chalk for the Blazers on Tuesday, and he did not disappoint. He racked up 32.25 DraftKings points over 32.8 minutes, which is not surprising given his average of 0.97 DraftKings points per minute this season. He’s not quite as cheap on Wednesday – he’s been priced up to $4,500 on DraftKings and $4,300 on FanDuel – but he should still be able to pay off those price tags easily in around 30 minutes.
Fast Break
Chimezie Metu is another very appealing option for the Kings. His playing time spiked to 33.7 minutes on Tuesday, and Metu has averaged 0.94 DraftKings points per minute this season. He’s currently projected for 34 minutes in our NBA Models, and Metu has historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +6.88 with a comparable salary and minute projection.
All the new value options could make Darius Bazley a bit overlooked on this slate. However, the Thunder are still playing without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Bazley has posted a positive Plus/Minus on FanDuel in six straight games.
Center
Stud
Anthony Davis may be injury-prone, but he’s still one of the best players in the league when he’s on the floor. He’s been excellent recently for the Lakers, scoring at least 57.75 DraftKings points in three of his past four games. He should be able to do some damage Wednesday vs. the Blazers, who rank just 29th in defensive efficiency. Davis also stands out as one of the best values of the day on DraftKings given his Bargain Rating of 94%.
Value
Damian Jones drew the start at center for the Kings on Tuesday, and he finished with 36.0 DraftKings points over 29.2 minutes. He’s projected for a similar workload on Wednesday, and Jones has averaged 0.99 DraftKings points per minute this season. That’s a very tough combination to pass up at just $3,700.
Fast Break
P.J. Washington is yet another member of the Hornets worth considering on Wednesday. He played 32.1 minutes off the bench in their last contest, and he racked up 33.75 DraftKings points. Washington has averaged 0.97 DraftKings points per minute this season, so he’s capable of taking advantage of a few additional minutes.
Jusuf Nurkic leads the position with 13 Pro Trends on FanDuel, where his $7,700 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 89%. Nurkic is one of the better producers at the position on a per-minute basis, and he’s increased his usage rate by +4.4% in games without Lillard and McCollum this season. His matchup vs. the Lakers also results in a solid +1.88 Opponent Plus/Minus.
