Wednesday features a six-game main slate starting at 7 p.m. ET.
Let’s dive into some of the top plays on the slate using the FantasyLabs tools and projections.
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.
You can also use our SimLabs Lineup Generator, a tool that creates the most user-friendly lineup generation process.
Note: Projections and Leverage 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.
Stud
The Denver Nuggets remain without Nikola Jokic, which means the rest of the team is going to have to pick up the slack. That includes Jamal Murray. Murray has seen a +2.78% bump to his usage rate with Jokic off the floor this season, resulting in an average of 1.12 DraftKings points per minute.
Murray has thrived with Jokic out of the lineup recently. He’s scored at least 42.0 DraftKings points in three of his past four games, including 47.75 or more in two straight. He’s had a usage rate of at least 31.1% in both of those outings, and he’s responded with at least 28 points in both games.
The Nuggets will square off with the Bucks on Wednesday, which isn’t a great matchup on paper. However, Milwaukee could be without Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is currently questionable with an injury. If he’s unavailable, their defense would be a lot less intimidating.
Editor’s note: Jokic was upgraded to questionable after this article was submitted.
Value
The Wizards have had another disastrous season, and they’re simply playing out the string at this point. They’re going to be without a host of different players on Wednesday, leaving the team shorthanded for their matchup vs. the 76ers.
That opens up a role for A.J. Johnson. Johnson has appeared in just 11 games for the Wizards this season, but he’s been productive when given the chance to play. He’s averaged 0.91 DraftKings points per minute, and he’s scored at least 21.5 DraftKings points in three of his past four games. That includes 31.0 DraftKings points in his last outing.
Johnson is currently projected for 28 minutes in our NBA Models, which should be more than enough for him to pay off his $4,500 salary vs. the 76ers. Philly has been a disaster defensively since losing Joel Embiid to injury, and they’re 29th in defensive efficiency over their past 15 games.
Fast Break
Tyrese Haliburton leads the position with 11 Pro Trends, and his $8,400 salary on DraftKings comes with a 91% Bargain Rating. He’s been a fantastic DFS option of late, posting an average Plus/Minus of +5.41 over his past 10 games, and he draws an excellent matchup Wednesday vs. the Lakers. The Pacers’ 117.25 implied team total is tied for second on the slate, while Haliburton leads the position with a +7.83 Opponent Plus/Minus.
D’Angelo Russell is expected to return for the Nets after missing the past two games, and he could be a bit undervalued. He’s currently projected for roughly 20% ownership, but he leads all point guards with a 28.34% optimal lineup rate in Sim Labs. He hasn’t seen a ton of minutes for the Nets when healthy, but he should be efficient when on the floor. The team will be without Cameron Johnson and Cam Thomas on Wednesday, and Russell has averaged 1.32 DraftKings points per minute with both players off the court.
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
I’m still not entirely sure that Quentin Grimes is a good basketball player, but there’s no denying what he’s done from a fantasy standpoint. He’s averaged 1.31 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, which is easily the top mark among Wednesday’s shooting guards. It’s better than guys like Murray, Devin Booker, and Jaylen Brown, who are some of the best guards in the league. Overall, Grimes has scored at least 41.25 DraftKings points in nine straight games, and he’s displayed a ceiling of more than 76 DraftKings points over that time frame.
Grimes is up to $9,100 for Wednesday’s matchup vs. the Wizards, but that is arguably still too cheap. Washington has been one of the best matchups in fantasy all season, ranking fourth in pace and 28th in defensive efficiency. The 76ers are implied for 117.25 points in this contest, putting them behind only the Lakers.
Value
Cam Payne disappointed as a starter in his last outing. He played nearly 30 minutes, but he was far less active on the court than usual. He had just three shot attempts, and he finished with just 16.25 DraftKings points.
That stands out as a major outlier. Payne has historically played at least 28 minutes in 49 career contests, and he’s averaged more than 31.8 DraftKings points in that sample (per the Trends tool). He had 31.5 DraftKings points in his first start in place of the injured Jalen Brunson and Miles McBride, so there’s no reason to expect another subpar showing vs. the Clippers.
Fast Break
Tyrese Martin stands out as another excellent value option at the position. He’s projected for 28 minutes for the Nets on Wednesday, and he’s averaged 0.90 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. He ranks third among shooting guards in optimal lineup rate, trailing only Payne and A.J. Johnson, and he’s second at the position in projected Plus/Minus.
If you need to go even cheaper at shooting guard, you could consider Colby Jones for the Wizards. He’s priced at just $3,400, and he should see a healthy workload for the team on Wednesday. He’s projected for 26 minutes in our NBA Models, and he’s averaged 0.95 DraftKings points per minute over the past month.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Scottie Barnes is a bit of a wild card on Wednesday. He’s played limited minutes recently, and he’s projected for just 30 minutes vs. the Nets. That’s not ideal, but Barnes is still capable of providing value in limited playing time. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in three of his past four games despite playing less than 30 minutes in all of them.
Barnes has a bit more upside than usual against the Nets. Brooklyn has faltered down the stretch, and they’re 23rd in defensive efficiency over their past 15 games. Barnes is also reasonably priced at $8,700, resulting in an 82% Bargain Rating. That’s the top mark among the high-priced small forwards, making Barnes the top spend-up option at the position.
Value
While Grimes has gotten most of the attention for the 76ers of late, Justin Edwards has been an equally good source of value. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in six straight games, and he’s scored at least 31.0 DraftKings points in five straight.
Edwards has also remained very affordable at just $5,700. He’s projected for another 35 minutes on Wednesday’s slate, and he’s averaged 0.82 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. He’s showing up in the optimal lineup simulations at a greater than 31% clip, and no one else at the position is at better than 19%. Edwards is ultimately the clear top option at small forward.
Fast Break
Noah Clowney should also pick up a few additional minutes for the Nets with Johnson out of the lineup. He’s currently projected for 26 minutes vs. the Raptors, which is enough to put him in the conversation at $4,000. He’s averaged 0.86 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s historically averaged 20.0 DraftKings points in seven games with a comparable minute projection.
Kyle Kuzma has struggled to maintain value since being acquired by the Bucks, but he could be one of the team’s offensive focal points on Wednesday. In addition to Antetokounmpo being questionable, Damian Lillard has also been ruled out. Kuzma has seen a +7.42% usage bump with both players off the floor, resulting in an average of 1.00 DraftKings points per minute.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Kawhi Leonard continues to trend in the right direction. His playing time has been up as the team continues to prepare for the playoffs, while his efficiency has improved of late too. Specifically, his shooting efficiency was way down at the start of the year, but he’s been vastly improved in that department over the past month. He’s shooting 52.1% from the field in March, and he’s responded with a positive Plus/Minus in six straight games.
Leonard’s price tag has yet to reflect his increased production. He’s scored at least 43.0 DraftKings points in his past six contests, and he draws a solid matchup Wednesday vs. the Knicks. The Knicks have been a subpar defensive team all season, and they could be even worse than usual on the second leg of a back-to-back.
Value
Trendon Watford is another possible value option for the Nets. He’s played at least 28 minutes in back-to-back games, and he has the potential for a comparable workload vs. the Raptors. We currently have him projected for a conservative 24 minutes, but that’s still enough to give him the second-best projected Plus/Minus at the position. Watford has averaged 0.95 DraftKings points per minute this season, so he’s capable of making the most of however much he ends up playing.
Fast Break
Aaron Gordon is questionable for the Nuggets, but he would have some appeal if he’s able to suit up. He’s seen a +4.19% usage bump with Jokic off the floor this season, which is the second-highest increase on the squad. He’s averaged 1.09 DraftKings points per minute in that split, and he’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in five straight games.
Ochai Agbaji is currently projected for 30 minutes in our NBA Models, and that’s a lot of playing time for someone priced at just $4,000. Historically, players with comparable salaries and minute projections have averaged a Plus/Minus of +3.25. Agbaji isn’t the best on a per-minute basis, but his average of 0.76 DraftKings points per minute over the past month isn’t terrible, either.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Karl-Anthony Towns is coming off a huge showing on Tuesday. He racked up a triple-double with 26 points, propelling him to 63.5 DraftKings points. That shouldn’t come as a huge shocker. Towns has been a menace with Brunson and McBride off the floor this season. He’s seen an 8.41% usage bump in that scenario, resulting in an average of 1.68 DraftKings points per minute.
Towns has posted a positive Plus/Minus in back-to-back games with Brunson and McBride sidelined, and he’ll be in the same dynamic on Wednesday. The matchup against the Clippers will be significantly tougher, but Towns still possesses one of the top ceilings on the slate. He’s also not expected to garner much ownership, so he’s an intriguing option for tournaments.
Value
Tristan Vukcevic has been a phenomenal DFS producer when given the opportunity to play recently, and that should be the case again on Wednesday. He’s currently projected for 24 minutes, and he’s scored at least 20.0 DraftKings points in six straight games with at least 17 minutes of playing time. He’s averaged 1.35 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, so he’s an outstanding combination of value and upside vs. the 76ers.
Fast Break
Brook Lopez is another player who should take on an expanded role for the Bucks on Wednesday. In addition to Antetokounmpo and Lillard, Bobby Portis also remains out for Milwaukee. That leaves Lopez to handle most of the center minutes. He’s coming off more than 41.5 minutes in his last outing, and he responded with 46.0 DraftKings. Only Vukcevic is projected for a better Plus/Minus at center, and using both together is definitely a viable strategy.
Alex Sarr continues to progress as a rookie. He’s increased his production to 1.19 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in eight of his past 10 games. He owns an Opponent Plus/Minus of +5.4 vs. the 76ers, so he’s poised for another solid performance.
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