Wednesday features a two-game slate starting at 7:30 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 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.
NBA DFS Point Guard Picks
Stud
Head coach Steve Kerr recently announced that Stephen Curry will no longer be on a minute restriction. That’s great news for the Warriors and DFS players alike. Curry will presumably move back into the starting lineup, and he’ll have the opportunity to provide excellent value at his current price tag. He’s averaged 1.57 DraftKings per minute over the past month, so he should be able to pay off his reduced salary with a few extra minutes.
Value Picks
The biggest piece of news on this slate involves the Bulls. They’re going to be without Zach LaVine, who was recently placed in health and safety protocols. That opens up plenty of minutes in the backcourt in a must-win contest.
Ayo Dosunmu is one potential beneficiary. He’s thrived in 12 games without LaVine this season, averaging 38 minutes and 29.4 DraftKings points per game. Value is hard to come by on this slate, but Dosunmu is one of the few exceptions.
Fast Break
Jrue Holiday is another potential stud option at the position. He’s seen a sizable price increase on DraftKings, but he remains a nice source of value on FanDuel. His $8,100 price tag comes with a Bargain Rating of 89%, and he should see a boost in production with Khris Middleton out of the lineup. He’s seen a team-high +4.8% usage bump with Middleton off the court this season, resulting in an average of 1.20 FanDuel points per minute.
Monte Morris has been an excellent option for DFS players recently, posting an average Plus/Minus of +7.13 over his past 10 games on FanDuel. That said, his price tag has barely budged over that time frame. He leads the position with 10 Pro Trends and should see plenty of run in an elimination game.
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
Shooting guard is the weakest position on Wednesday’s slate. Klay Thompson is the only player priced above $5,800 on DraftKings, and even he has some questions. It’s possible that he could lose a few minutes at the expense of Curry, and he could suffer from a usage perspective as well.
Still, Thompson clearly has the highest ceiling at the position. He’s coming off 43.5 DraftKings points in just 30.7 minutes in Game 4, and he’s averaged 1.10 DraftKings points per minute this season. He derives the vast majority of his fantasy value from his shooting ability, but Thompson has the ability to get red-hot from behind the arc. If his jump shot is falling – like it was in his last game – he can pile up fantasy points quickly.
Value Picks
Coby White is another excellent value target for the Bulls. He should also see a nice spike in playing time sans LaVine, and he’s averaged 0.82 DraftKings points per minute this season. He’s also been particularly effective in games without LaVine this season, averaging 30.16 DraftKings points over 34.8 minutes per game. You’ll gladly take that kind of production at just $4,500.
Fast Break
Will Barton is coming off a poor performance in his last game, but he had posted a positive Plus/Minus on DraftKings in each of his previous three playoff games. That said, he leads the position with eight Pro Trends, giving him some bounce-back appeal.
Jordan Poole is a major x-factor on this slate. He could return to the bench with Curry now cleared for a full workload, which would obviously diminish his appeal. However, Poole’s role with the Warriors should be solidified given his excellent recent performance. He’s averaged 1.20 FanDuel points per minute over the past month, and he should play plenty of minutes whether he starts or comes off the bench. He remains very affordable on FanDuel, where his $6,900 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 89%.
NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
DeMar DeRozan won’t necessarily see a bump in playing time with LaVine out of the lineup, but he should definitely benefit from a usage perspective. He’s increased his usage rate by +4.4% with LaVine out of the lineup this season, resulting in an average of 1.30 DraftKings points per minute. DeRozan has the potential to play more than 40 minutes in an elimination game, making him one of the strongest overall plays of the day.
Value Picks
Things are pretty ugly at the bottom of the SF position today. No one stands out as a particularly strong option, but Otto Porter could be worth considering. His price tag has decreased significantly since the start of the postseason, but he remains a part of the Warriors’ rotation. He’s logging around 20 minutes per game, and Porter has averaged 0.93 DraftKings points per minute this season. His production has decreased significantly over the past month, but Porter has a long track record of being a strong per-minute producer. There’s some buy-low appeal here.
Fast Break
Andrew Wiggins is another potential option for the Warriors. He could also lose a few minutes to Curry, but Wiggins is affordable across the industry. He’s priced at just $5,900 on DraftKings, and he’s historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +2.49 with a comparable salary (per the Trends tool).
Patrick Williams is another player who has provided elite value recently. He’s posted an average Plus/Minus of +8.13 over his past 10 games on FanDuel, and he’s increased his production to 0.82 FanDuel points per minute over the past month.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Giannis Antetokounmpo is already one of the best fantasy producers in the league, and he has the potential to be even better on Wednesday. He’s going to be asked to do a bit more as a scorer with Middleton sidelined. He posted a 39.7% usage rate in Game 4, and he finished with a whopping 67.75 DraftKings points. Antetokounmpo is an absolute monster in the peripheral categories, so any bump to his scoring gives him the potential for a huge performance. There are plenty of studs to choose from on Wednesday, but Giannis is near the top of the list.
Value Picks
The Nuggets are looking for one of their role players to step up during the playoffs, and Aaron Gordon has been that guy recently. He’s scored at least 40.0 DraftKings points in back-to-back games, but his salary remains reasonable at $6,000. Overall, Gordon has averaged 1.01 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s currently projected for 34 minutes in our NBA Models.
Fast Break
Bobby Portis moved into the Bucks’ starting lineup in their last game, and he played a series-high 32.7 minutes. If he’s going to continue to see that much playing time, he has the potential to be one of the best values on the slate. He’s averaged 1.08 FanDuel points per minute this season, and his $5,800 salary on FanDuel comes with a Bargain Rating of 92%. Portis also owns an outstanding individual matchup, resulting in an Opponent Plus/Minus of +3.54.
Derrick Jones is priced near the minimum across the industry, but he should at least be a part of the Bulls’ rotation on Wednesday. He’s currently projected for 22 minutes in our NBA Models, and he’s averaged 0.72 DraftKings points per minute this season. That’s enough to give him some appeal in stars-and-scrubs builds.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Nikola Jokic is expected to take home his second consecutive MVP award, and he has had an incredible season. He’s averaged 1.84 DraftKings points per minute, and he’s increased that figure to 1.87 over the past month. The Nuggets are also facing elimination on Wednesday, so it’s reasonable to expect a few additional minutes. That said, Jokic only played 37.7 minutes in Game 4, so I wouldn’t expect him to play much more than that.
Value Picks
The reason Jokic hasn’t played 40+ minutes in this series is that the team clearly likes DeMarcus Cousins. He’s played around 10 minutes per game during the postseason, and while that wouldn’t be enough for most players, it’s plenty for Cousins. He’s still one of the best producers in the league on a per-minute, averaging 1.39 DraftKings points per minute this season. That makes Cousins arguably the best pure punt play on the slate and a viable target for stars-and-scrubs builds.
Fast Break
Nikola Vucevic is another player who should see a boost in scoring responsibilities for the Bulls on Wednesday. He’s actually seen a larger usage bump than DeRozan in games without LaVine this season, resulting in an average of 1.20 FanDuel points per minute. He’s also underpriced on FanDuel, where his $8,000 salary comes with a Bargain Rating of 87%.
Brook Lopez was limited to just 21.8 minutes in his last game, but he struggled without foul trouble. He’s expected to return to his usual 30ish minutes on Wednesday, making him an excellent target at $5,200. He’s averaged 0.95 FanDuel points per minute this season.
