Wednesday features a 10-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 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.
Stud
Cade Cunningham has had a strong start to the year for the Pistons. He’s averaged 1.30 DraftKings points per minute, which represents a sizable increase from his mark last year. He’s also been extremely consistent, scoring at least 41.0 DraftKings points in all but one game this season. He’s coming off a triple-double in his last outing, resulting in 50.75 DraftKings points vs. the Lakers.
Cunningham’s salary has slowly crept up, but he still stands out as underpriced at $8,500. That’s particularly true in an elite matchup vs. the Hornets. Charlotte is dead last in defensive efficiency to start the year, and Detroit is currently implied for 110.25 points. That may not jump off the page, but it represents a significant increase from their season average (106.3).
Ultimately, Cunningham stands out as an elite combination of value and upside. He’s second at the position in projected Plus/Minus, and he also has the third-highest ceiling projection. His salary is tied for eighth-highest among point guards, so that’s a nice combination.
Value
Are the Nuggets in trouble? It’s early, but they’re going to be without Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon on Wednesday. The team isn’t in bad shape at 4-3 – and they still have three-time MVP Nikola Jokic – but it’s hard to get super excited about their prospects in a very tough Western Conference.
With Murray on the shelf, the team has no choice but to dust off Russell Westbrook. Westbrook is a shell of his former self, and his efficiency continues to plummet. He’s shooting less than 30% from the field this season, but that hasn’t stopped him from putting up nearly 10 shots a game.
While more Westbrook is undoubtedly bad for the Nuggets, it’s good for DFS players. Even the current version of Westbrook can rack up fantasy points quickly. He’s averaged 1.13 DraftKings points per minute this season, and he’s currently projected for 32 minutes in our NBA Models. It’s hard to beat that combination, especially at just $5,000.
Fast Break
Jalen Suggs continues to stand out as underpriced at just $6,900. He hasn’t been quite as effective recently as he was to start the year, but he’s still averaged 1.25 DraftKings points per minute overall. He should also continue to benefit from the absence of Paolo Banchero, and he draws an elite matchup Wednesday vs. the Pacers. They’re merely 26th in defensive efficiency to start the year, and they’ve also played at a top 10 pace.
T.J. McConnell isn’t playing a ton of minutes for the Pacers, but he makes the most out of his opportunities. He’s down to just $4,200 on DraftKings, and that’s simply too cheap of a price tag. McConnell has historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +2.16 with a comparable salary and minute projection as a member of the Pacers (per the Trends tool), and he’s scored at least 22.25 DraftKings points in back-to-back games.
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
Derrick White isn’t a stud in the truest sense of the word, but he stands out as one of the strongest SG options on Wednesday’s slate. For starters, he’s just a good basketball player. He’s averaged 1.09 DraftKings points per minute this season, and his team has the third-highest implied team total on the slate. That alone would be enough to warrant consideration at $6,900.
However, the biggest factor working in his favor is the team’s injury report. Jaylen Brown has already been ruled out, and White should be one of the biggest beneficiaries. He’s increased his usage rate by a team-high +9.37% with Brown off the floor, resulting in an average of 1.40 DraftKings points per minute.
Those might be a bit higher than what you can expect on Wednesday, but White was very good in his first game without Brown this season. He racked up 44.0 DraftKings points vs. the Hawks, and he did it in less than 30 minutes.
Value
Tyler Herro has had a strong start to the year for the Heat. His averages are about the same as they were last year – 21.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game – but he’s doing it in three fewer minutes per game. He’s shooting a career-best 48.4% from the field, and his advanced metrics are up virtually across the board. Once he starts playing a few more minutes, his production could really take off.
We’ve seen that recently. He had 41.5 DraftKings points in 33.8 minutes on Monday, and he had 56.25 DraftKings points in 35.3 minutes vs. the Knicks last week. Overall, he’s averaged 1.14 DraftKings points per minute.
Herro is currently projected for 33 minutes Wednesday vs. the Suns, and if he gets to that threshold, he’s a good bet to pay off his $6,400 salary.
Fast Break
If you’re looking for a more traditional value play, Stephen Castle stands out for the Spurs. He’s played sparingly to start his rookie season, but he’s projected to see an uptick in minutes with Jeremy Sochan out of the lineup. He’s currently projected for 28 minutes at just $4,000, and players with comparable minute projections and salaries have historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +2.75.
Kyrie Irving has been balling for the Mavericks to start the year. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in five of his past six games, and he has at least 47.5 DraftKings points in three of them. The Mavericks have one of the best matchups of the day vs. the Bulls, and their implied team total of 123.25 is the second-highest mark on the slate.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Steve Kerr may have doomed the rest of the NBA. Jayson Tatum is one of the best players in the league, and after failing to get any meaningful minutes during the Olympics, he’s on a mission to remind everyone of that fact. Tatum has come out of the gates spitting fire, averaging 30.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game while leading the Celtics to a 7-1 record.
Overall, Tatum has averaged 1.58 DraftKings points per minute this season, which is the fourth-highest mark among Wednesday’s options. However, he could easily surpass that level of production with Brown sidelined. Tatum has increased his output to a mind-boggling 1.97 DraftKings points per minute in 91 minutes without Brown this season. He had 55.5 DraftKings points in just 30.5 minutes in his first full game without Brown.
And who does Tatum get to face on Wednesday? That would be Steve Kerr’s Warriors. The Warriors have been a phenomenal team to start the year, but I fear for them in this spot.
Value
Naji Marshall has the potential to be one of the best values of the day. He’s coming off a huge performance in his last outing, racking up 38.25 DraftKings points in 33.7 minutes. He was priced at just $3,700 for that contest, yet somehow, his salary has decreased to just $3,400 for Wednesday’s matchup vs. the Bulls. He’s projected for another 32 minutes in our NBA Models, so there’s no reason not to lock him into your cash game lineup.
Fast Break
Mikal Bridges had a rough first game for the Knicks, but he has turned things around since then. He’s been one of the busiest players in basketball, averaging more than 37 minutes under head coach Tom Thibodeau. Bridges has also posted a positive Plus/Minus in five of his past six games, while his salary has decreased to just $6,000.
Jalen Williams has taken another step forward in his third professional season. His usage, assist, and rebound rates are all up compared to last year, and he’s averaged 1.22 DraftKings points per minute. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in five of his past six games, and while his salary has slowly risen, it still seems too low for his increased role.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
As much as some things change, others stay the same. Jaren Jackson Jr. continues to be one of the most polarizing players in NBA DFS. When he’s on the floor, he can rack up fantasy points with the best of them. That said, he’s struggled to stay on the floor consistently throughout his career.
The good news is that he’s trending in the right direction. He played limited minutes to start the year, but he’s gotten to 31 and 32.4 minutes in his past two games. Jackson has averaged 1.17 DraftKings points per minute for the year, so he can do some damage with that much playing time.
Jackson is projected for 31 minutes Wednesday vs. the Lakers, making him an appealing target at $7,000. Since the start of the 2022-23 season, Jackson has historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +4.04 with a comparable salary and minute projection. He’s simply too talented of a player to ignore when he’s getting minutes.
Value
Peyton Watson stands out as another prime source of value on this slate. He’s expected to take on a much larger role for the Nuggets moving forward with Gordon out of the lineup. He’s projected for 31 minutes at just $3,400, which is a really tough combination to pass up. Players with comparable salaries and minute projections have historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +5.03.
Peyton is also a bit better than the typical punt play on a per-minute basis, averaging 0.81 DraftKings points per minute this season. He’s not grading out quite as favorably as guys like Marshall or Westbrook, but he’s still an elite value option. It makes it a great nice for a stars-and-scrubs lineup construction.
Fast Break
Despite there being a host of shorthanded teams, Josh Hart still leads the slate in projected minutes. Thibodeau loves to run his players into the ground, and Hart is the poster child for the current Knicks’ squad. He’s been an excellent source of value to start the year, and that doesn’t figure to change given his average of 0.97 DraftKings points per minute.
You probably don’t need another punt play on this slate, but if you do, Tristan Da Silva is another option. He’s priced at just $3,900, but he’s played at least 30 minutes in back-to-back games. His matchup vs. the Pacers is also excellent.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
With so much value available, paying up for Nikola Jokic is certainly a viable option. Jokic remains the unquestioned top player in basketball. He’s been a monster to start the year, scoring at least 60.0 DraftKings points in each game, and he’s already eclipsed 80 fantasy points once. He’s averaged 1.80 DraftKings points per minute, and very few players can come close to matching that type of production.
The scary part is that Jokic might have to do even more than usual moving forward. He’s seen a usage bump of +7.17% with Murray and Gordon off the floor this season, and he’s increased his production to 1.92 DraftKings points per minute. He averaged 1.98 DraftKings points per minute with both players off the floor last season, so that doesn’t stand out as an outlier.
The only thing working against Jokic is the matchup. The Thunder have been a defensive monster to start the year, and they held Jokic to his lowest fantasy output so far this season. That was still a triple-double (60.0 DraftKings points), but Jokic’s ceiling might not be quite as high as expected this evening.
Value
Neemias Queta rounds out our list of elite values on Wednesday’s slate. He’s seen a solid handful of minutes for the Celtics of late, logging at least 23.2 minutes in two of his past three games. With Brown out of the lineup, that doesn’t figure to change. He’s averaged just under a fantasy point per minute this season, so he’s too cheap at $3,200.
Fast Break
Very few players in the $6k price range have a ceiling of 50+ fantasy points, but Myles Turner is one of them. He put that on display in his last game, racking up 50.75 DraftKings points in just under 33 minutes vs. the Mavericks. Turner is officially questionable for Wednesday’s matchup vs. the Magic, but if he’s in the lineup, he’s certainly in play for tournaments.
While Anthony Davis can’t match Jokic from a ceiling projection, he’s arguably the better pure value. He has a superior projected Plus/Minus, and he’s on pace for his best year in a Lakers’ uniform.
