Wednesday features a 10-game slate starting at 7 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
Five of the top six highest-priced players on DraftKings are point guards for this 10-game slate. The loaded position is led by Luka Doncic, who has the highest projected ceiling in our NBA Model for both sites. Doncic is coming off his fifth-lowest DraftKings-point performance of the season, scoring only 50.5 DraftKings points while shooting 6-for-20 from the field.
Expect Doncic to bounce back in this matchup against the Trail Blazers, who rank 25th in net rating this season. Doncic had no issue filling it up against the Trail Blazers in his last meeting with a 40-point, 12-rebound, 10-assist triple-double. He continues to rank second in the league in scoring and usage rate at 35.8%. The Mavericks did get Kyrie Irving back from injury last game.
That brings Doncic’s ceiling down a little bit, but not enough to shy away from in this elite matchup tonight.
Value
Josh Giddey has really started to play well against difficult competition in these last three games. The third-year pro is averaging 18.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game while shooting 55% from the field and 50% from behind the arc against the Celtics, Nets, and Nuggets. The Thunder are on an eight-game winning streak and are one game behind the top seed in the Western Conference. Giddey, priced at $5,900 on DraftKings and $6,300 on FanDuel, is simply too cheap.
Giddey will always come at least second in the Thunder pecking order behind Shai Gilegous-Alexander. However, in this matchup, there is plenty of opportunity for him to pay off his salary. The Thunder are one-point road favorites against the Hawks. Both teams rank in the top seven in pace, and this total has risen to 248.5 points, the second-highest on the slate.
Fast Break
Tyrese Haliburton has recorded a positive Plus/Minus in five consecutive games. During that time, he is averaging 26.2 points and 15.8 assists per game. He leads the league in assists and all guards with 24 double-doubles this season. This Pacers and Bucks matchup is the game to target. The total sits at 257.5 points, which is nearly 10 points higher than the next game. Haliburton is averaging 26 points, 10.8 assists, and 54.1 DraftKings points per game in their four meetings.
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
Donovan Mitchell and Devin Booker are easily the top two shooting guard options on this slate. They are priced very similarly, and both are playing without key teammates. Mitchell gets the slight nod in our projections, but it is close. Mitchell is playing without Darius Garland and Evan Mobley for the fourth straight game. During that time, Mitchell is averaging 29.8 points, 8.8 assists, 4.8 rebounds, and 40 minutes per game. He has a positive Plus/Minus in each of those four games.
Another reason Mitchell looks slightly better than Booker is the matchup. Mitchell draws a cupcake matchup against the Wizards, who rank dead last in defensive rating at 121.2 and lead the league in pace. They are allowing a league-high 126.2 points per game and opponents to shoot 50% from the field. The Cavaliers are nearly double-digit favorites in this spot.
Value
Bradley Beal has barely seen his price tag move after scoring over 20 points in back-to-back games. Now this spot gets even better for Beal with Kevin Durant being ruled out. With Durant off the floor this season, Beal has a team-high +4.44 DraftKings Plus/Minus and a +5.23% usage rate. The sample size is just over 100 minutes, but that is enough evidence to make Beal a strong value play. Beal recorded a season-high 27.6% usage rate last game and is off any minutes restriction.
Beal has the highest projected Plus/Minus on FanDuel tonight. His $6,500 salary has a 90% Bargain Rating and is drawing 65% projected ownership. He is impossible to ignore on FanDuel and is a strong play on DraftKings at his sub-$7,000 price tag. In his two games played without Durant, Beal’s usage rate jumped 4%, and his points per game went from 14.7 to 18.5.
Fast Break
Sticking with the Suns’ backcourt and previously mentioned Devin Booker, he is grading out great in our tools without Kevin Durant. Booker is averaging 26.4 points and a career-high 7.9 assists per game being the Suns point guard. His projected ownership isn’t anywhere close to Beal or Mitchell, which makes him a contrarian pay-up option. Even in a difficult matchup against the Clippers, Booker can provide a ceiling without Durant in the lineup. He is a great way to get different at the top.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Scottie Barnes was cruising until his last two games. He had recorded eight straight games with a positive Plus/Minus on FanDuel and averaged 52.9 FanDuel points per game during that time. His last two games haven’t been bad by any means, just not the excellence that he was displaying previously. The Raptors added Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett, which will take some getting used to. It is still hard to deny Barnes’ upside when he is averaging career-highs across the board.
Reasonably priced across the industry, Barnes has the highest projected ceiling among the small forward eligibility players. Barnes has scored 20+ points in 11 of his last 12 games and leads the Raptors in rebounds, which bodes well for this spot. The Grizzlies’ defensive rating has dropped with Ja Morant back, and their rebounding percentage still ranks 25th at 48.3%.
Value
Rostering Pistons forward Bojan Bogdanovic has been a bit of a rollercoaster ride. The veteran forward is not in the Pistons’ future plans, but he is playing a career-high 33.6 minutes per game in his 14 games played since returning from injury. Bogdanovic is second on the team in scoring at 19.2 points per game and has scored 17+ points in 11 of his 14 games. The sharpshooter has also made at least two 3-pointers in all but two games this year, shooting 37.6% from deep.
It is rare to see the Pistons under a double-digit underdog, but that is what we have tonight. They are 8.5-point dogs to the Jazz, who rank 22nd in defensive rating. The Jazz have been susceptible to the deep ball, allowing opponents to hoist 34.7 3-pointers per game, which is the fifth-highest in the league. If Bogdanovic can get hot from deep, he’ll blow away his salary.
Fast Break
Lauri Markkanen has had back-to-back poor performances but finds himself in a great spot against the Pistons tonight. With a 3-30 record, it is surprising that the Pistons have the fifth-worst defensive rating and are tied for the fifth-most points allowed in the paint. Markkanen’s last two games consisted of foul trouble and a blowout. If this game stays competitive and he stays out of foul trouble, Markkanen can get back to his great play and is reasonably priced across the industry tonight.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Giannis Antetokounmpo against the Pacers has become an auto-play. In their previous matchup Monday night, Giannis recorded his third triple-double of the season with 30 points, 18 rebounds and 11 assists. The Pacers have allowed the most points in the paint at 62.1 per game, which is music to Giannis’ ears. In his four games against the Pacers this year, Giannis is averaging a ridiculous 46.3 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 75 DraftKings points per game while shooting 68.5% from the field.
Giannis’s salary has skyrocketed to $900 on DraftKings, but it is deserving due to his recent play and this matchup. However, due to his high price tag on both DraftKings and FanDuel, Giannis is currently projected for less than 5% ownership. That is enticing for a player who has the second-highest projected ceiling on both sites. Giannis is a great way to get contrarian.
Value
Since returning from injury, Hawks’ forward Jalen Johnson has picked up right where he left off. The third-year pro from Duke is having a monster season and is getting rewarded with the playing time that he deserves. In his last two games, Johnson is averaging a double-double with 20 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, and 45.5 DraftKings points per game. Johnson’s ability to crash the glass sets up perfectly against the Thunder, who rank 29th in rebounding percentage this year.
There is no minute restriction for Johnson, who is projected to start and play around 34 minutes. He has the highest Projected Plus/Minus at the power forward position on DraftKings and is projected for over 25% ownership. At his mid-range price tag, Johnson easily fits into all lineup builds. He is a cheap way to get exposure to this electric game environment.
Fast Break
With Deandre Ayton out and Anfernee Simons questionable, the Trial Blazers are desperately looking for scoring. That is where Jerami Grant comes into play. In his second year with the Trail Blazers, Grant is averaging 22.1 points per game with a 25.6% usage rate. Grant is projected for around 20% ownership on both DraftKings and FanDuel. This is a great rebounding spot for Grant, with the Mavericks ranking 28th in rebounding percentage. A double-double could go a long way.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
The center position is the weakest it has been in quite some time. Luckily, we have “Baby Jokic” Alperen Sengun, who has been on a fantastic run. Sengun has a positive Plus/Minus in five of his last six games. During that stretch, Sengun has been a scoring machine, averaging 29 points per game while shooting 60% from the field. Due to his position and many paying down at center, Sengun is projected to have less than 10% ownership across the industry. Another way to get different.
The Nets are a more difficult matchup with a healthy Nic Claxton back in the mix. They rank inside the top eight in both rebounding percentage and points allowed in the paint per game. However, Sengun can fill up the stat sheet in a variety of ways and may simply be matchup-proof at this point. He has been playing too well to right him off on this slate.
Value
Jarrett Allen comes in with the highest Projected Plus/Minus at the center position by a comfortable margin. Over the last four games, Allen has a massive ceiling, averaging 22.3 points, 15.8 rebounds, and 55.1 DraftKings points per game. Without Evan Mobley in the lineup, Allen gets to gobble up all of the rebounds. In his 12 games played without Mobley this season, Allen is averaging 15.6 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. He has played incredibly without Allen and Garland.
It doesn’t get much better when a player playing this well draws a fantastic matchup, and that is the case with Allen tonight. The Wizards are the worst defense in the league while also getting dominated by opposing centers. They rank last in rebounding percentage and 29th in points in the paint per game. Allen is way too cheap on DraftKings at $7,800 tonight.
Fast Break
Jalen Duren is another pay-down center worth getting exposure to. Since coming back from injury, Duren is averaging 14.3 points and 15 rebounds per game. He has recorded a double-double in each game and has a great chance to make it five in a row tonight. Similar to Allen, Duren looks a little better on DraftKings due to his sub-$7,000 price tag. He has a 90% Bargain Rating with nine Pro Trends. Duren is a key factor in the Pistons’ chances to grab another victory against the Jazz.
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