DraftKings’ main slate for Wednesday includes the first eight games of the night. The NBA Player Models are the base of our NBA product here at FantasyLabs. They house our projections for each player, but that’s just the beginning of what you’ll find inside. You’ll also find our Trends and On/Off tool, Vegas Dashboard, and so much more.
Let’s dive into our models for NBA DFS, going position by position, looking at guys with some of the best projections and players standing out as values with our predictive Projected Plus/Minus metric.
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 teams.
You can also use our SimLabs Lineup Generator, a tool that creates the most user-friendly lineup generation process.
Note: Projections, Ownership projections, and Leverage Scores/Ratings may change throughout the day as news comes out after this article is posted. Consult the Player Models directly for any updates.
NBA DFS Point Guard Picks
Top Ceiling: Trae Young at Dallas Mavericks – $9,800
Every game is important for the Hawks right now if they want to steal the No. 7 seed from the Magic. The two teams are tied right now in the standings, but Orlando holds the tiebreaker between the clubs. Young enters this contest in excellent recent form. The guard scored 63.5 DraftKings points in last night’s win over the Trail Blazers, and he has now topped 50 DraftKings points in 10 of his last 13 starts. Young is scoring 1.4 DraftKings PPM with a 30.2% usage rate and a league-high 44.5% assist percentage since the All-Star break, and he faces a Mavericks team that ranks 23rd in defensive efficiency since the All-Star break.
This game’s total is the highest on the slate (239 points), and Dallas is only favored by 4.5 points. In this slate-best environment, Young should surpass 50 DraftKings points and is one of the best studs to roster Wednesday.
Top Value: Delon Wright at Cleveland Cavaliers – $4,500
Assuming the Knicks remain without Jalen Brunson (ankle) and Miles McBride (groin) for the fourth game in a row, Wright will be an appealing value play. The veteran has started at point guard for New York with Brunson and McBride out for the last three games, and with the starting job, Wright is producing 25.3 DraftKings points in 32.4 minutes per game.
The Cavaliers have been an average defense recently, ranking 14th in rating since the All-Star break, and Wright should have no issues exceeding 5x value if the Knicks remain shorthanded in their backcourt.
Don’t forget to check out our NBA SimLabs Lineup Generator to create advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation:
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NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Top Ceiling: Jalen Green vs. Utah Jazz – $7,700
Green has exposed the Jazz for 44.4 DraftKings PPG in two matchups this season, and he comes into Wednesday’s matchup scoring over 40 DraftKings points in four of his last five. The Rockets only hold a two-game lead over the Nuggets for the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, so every game is important for Houston right now. Utah ranks second-to-last in defensive rating, and the Rockets carry a 120.5-point implied team total, which is large for this slow-paced team.
Green’s success against the Jazz should continue, and he is a strong, high-end value at this sub-$8k salary.
Top Value: Julian Champagnie at Denver Nuggets – $3,400
If Jeremy Sochan (back) is out again tonight, Champagnie will be a great punt play. With Sochan inactive last night, along with Victor Wembanyama (shoulder) and De’Aaron Fox (finger), who are done for the season, Champagnie logged 32 minutes off the bench en route to 29 DraftKings points against a stout Magic defense.
This was the fourth time this season that the Spurs have been without Wembanyama, Fox, and Sochan, and in those contests, Champagnie is amassing 27.8 DrafKings points in 29.5 minutes per game with a 19.5% usage rate. Facing a Nuggets squad that ranks 21st in defensive rating and is playing their second game in two nights after a grueling double overtime loss to the Timberwolves, Champagnie is rating as the No. 1 value on the slate in our ShotQuality projections, which are anticipating Sochan to be out.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Top Ceiling: OG Anunoby at Cleveland Cavaliers – $7,400
On top of Brunson and McBride being out, the Knicks were without Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) last night. While the center’s status for tonight is up in the air with the Knicks’ injury report yet to be released, it is safe to expect both Brunson and McBride to be out again, making Anunoby a compelling option.
Anunoby is scoring 42.2 DraftKings PPG in the seven Brunson and McBride have missed with a 25.9% usage rate. We only have a one game sample with Towns, Brunson and McBride inactive, which was last night, when Anunoby finished with 35.25 DraftKings points vs. the 76ers. However, in the 113 minutes the forward has played with Towns, Brunson and McBride off the floor, Anunoby has led the Knicks with a large 28.3% usage rate. That gives him some additional upside if Towns is also out of the picture for the second straight game.
Top Value: Jaylen Martin vs. Sacramento Kings – $3,800
With the Wizards very shorthanded tonight, Martin has a ton of merit at this low salary. For the second time since the All-Star break, Washington will be without Bilal Coulibaly (hamstring), Marcus Smart (finger) and Khris Middleton (knee). In that first contest without these three key players, Martin logged a season-high 31.6 minutes and finished with 24.5 DraftKings points vs. the 76ers.
Martin scores 0.8 DraftKings PPM with Coulibaly, Smart and Middleton off the floor, and Martin should top 20 DraftKings points against this Kings defense that ranks 21st in rating since the All-Star break.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Top Ceiling: Miles Bridges at Indiana Pacers – $9,200
Bridges went off for 55 DraftKings points vs. the Jazz in his last start, and the forward has great upside again tonight. LaMelo Ball (ankle) and Brandon Miller (wrist) are both done for the season, and in the 18 starts Bridges has made without Ball and Miller this season, Bridges is leading the Hornets with 43.5 DraftKings PPG and 32.1% usage rate.
The Pacers rank sixth in pace this season, and Bridges has a ceiling of over 50 DraftKings points in this up-tempo spot.
Top Value: Tidjane Salaun at Indiana Pacers – $4,000
Salaun is another player to consider for the depleted Hornets. Ever since Charlotte lost Ball for the season three games ago, Salaun has been a strong spark off the bench, scoring 26.4 DraftKings points in 25.9 minutes per game.
Salaun is amassing 0.9 DraftKings PPM with Ball off the floor since the All-Star break, and he has a strong chance to outproduce this low salary playing up in pace against the Pacers.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Top Ceiling: Nikola Jokic vs. San Antonio Spurs – $12,500
Assuming Jokic isn’t rested tonight after a double-overtime loss vs. the Timberwolves, the center will, without question, be the No. 1 ceiling option on the slate. In that thriller vs. Minnesota, Jokic had a legendary showing with a 98 DraftKings point triple-double. With a 29% usage rate and a 40% assist percentage, the center is leading the NBA with 1.9 DraftKings PPM this season.
Yes, playing 52 minutes last night is concerning, but Jokic has been terrific on the second night of back-to-backs this season, averaging 69.1 DraftKings PPG in nine games. Furthermore, Jokic has dominated the Spurs this season, averaging an absurd 82.6 DraftKings PPG in two matchups. Getting a win is also important for Denver tonight, as they are only two games back of the Rockets for the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. In our ShotQuality projections, Jokic has the highest ceiling on the slate by nearly 20 DraftKings points.
Top Value: Paul Reed at Oklahoma City Thunder – $3,100
With Isaiah Stewart suspended, Reed should take over as the Pistons’ backup center, making him an elite punt play at this near minimum salary.
In the six games Stewart has missed this season, Reed is generating 21.6 DraftKings points in 16.4 minutes per game. The center is supplying 1.2 DraftKings PPM this season, and Reed should effortlessly outproduce this low price tag, regardless of this poor matchup vs. the Thunder and their league-best defense.
