Wednesday features an eight-game slate starting at 7:00 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
With Trae Young continuing to nurse an injury, Hawks’ guard Dejounte Murray has been able to display his ceiling in a plethora of games. In 24 games without Young this season, Murray has averaged 25.8 points and 8.9 assists per game with a 30.4% usage rate. He has recorded a points and assist double-double in six of his last nine games. Murray’s price tag has risen but remains under $10,000 in what is an elite matchup at home against the worst team in the league – Detroit Pistons.
The Pistons rank inside the top 10 in pace while ranking 26th in defensive rating this season. The Hawks are double-digit home favorites, implied for 117.5 points. Murray has the highest projected ceiling at the point guard position and the second-highest on the slate despite his lower salary. Projected to play 38 minutes, Murray looks incredible in all lineup builds tonight.
Value
Timberwolves point guard Mike Conley has been incredible over his last 10 games. During that time the veteran guard is averaging 16.5 points, 5.3 assists, 1.8 steals, and 32.1 DraftKings points per game. He has a positive Plus/Minus in eight of those 10 games and has the highest Projected Plus/Minus at the point guard position tonight. Conley has been lethal from long distance lately, shooting 68.4% from deep in his last three games. That bodes well for his matchup against the Raptors.
The Raptors have been an exploitable defense all season long. They rank 25th in defensive rating and are allowing opponents to shoot 49% from the field and 37.8% from behind the arc, which is the fifth-highest in the league. Given how well Conley has played recently, he is too cheap at $5,500. Conley is one of the best value plays on this eight-game slate.
Fast Break
At the same price tag as Mike Conley, Tre Mann is another value guard worth getting exposure to. Since joining the Hornets at the trade deadline, Mann has been a key contributor to his new team. He is averaging a career-high 11.4 points, 5.0 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game. With so many Hornets players questionable to play, Mann could be thrust into a much larger role tonight. He will also get a chance to showcase his skillset against a poor Trail Blazers defensive team tonight.
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
Anthony Edwards scored over 20 points for the third-straight game but has now recorded a negative Plus/Minus in six consecutive performances. Edwards is in an uncharacteristic shooting slump. In his last three games, he has failed to connect on one of his 19 3-point attempts. Looking to bounce back, he will draw a juicy matchup against the Raptors.
Playing on a back-to-back hasn’t slowed down Edwards one bit. In his last game in this scenario, the electric shooting guard poured in 30 points while shooting 50% from the field against the Nuggets. Playing without Karl-Anthony Towns provides a significant boost to Edwards’ production. With Towns off the floor, Edwards has a team-high +2.84 DraftKings Plus/Minus and a +2.27% usage rate. Edwards not only has the highest ceiling at this position, but he is one of the few healthy options.
Value
After a 16-point, 13-assist double-double in last night’s three-point victory over the Bucks, we’re running it back tonight with Wizards’ guard Jordan Poole. His salary has finally increased to over $7,000, but Poole has by far the highest Projected Plus/Minus at the guard position tonight. Poole has recorded a positive Plus/Minus in five of his last six games and has two double-doubles during that time. The sharpshooting guard is not only scoring the ball at will but doing a great job facilitating.
The Wizards are once again heavy underdogs playing at home against the Lakers tonight. However, this game has the highest implied total on the slate at 233.5 points. Both the Wizards and Lakers rank in the top four in pace, so expect a barnburner in Staples Center. If Kyle Kuzma is out for the third straight game, Poole will look like an even better option.
Poole is projected to carry the second-highest ownership on the slate at 45%.
Fast Break
Luke Kennard is another value guard who will benefit from the absence of Desmond Bane, who is out with an injury. Kennard has recorded a positive Plus/Minus in five consecutive games and has the highest projected Plus/Minus at the shooting guard position behind Jordan Poole. In his year and a half with the Grizzlies, Kennard is averaging double-digit points and is shooting 49.6% from behind the arc. At $5,200, Kennard is a strong value play at the shooting guard position.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
The Celtics have the second-highest implied total on the slate at 120.5 points. They are nine-point home favorites against the Thunder, who could be without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the third-straight game. Make sure to monitor our news page for Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, who is also questionable to play with an injury. If Brown is out, that is going to make this an even better spot for Celtics’ star Jayson Tatum. With Brown off the floor, Tatum has a +5.04% usage rate this year.
Last game without Brown, Tatum had another double-double with 25 points and 10 rebounds in an easy 14-point victory over the Hornets. Tatum leads the Celtics with 8.3 rebounds per game and has 25 double-doubles this season. The Thunder rank 28th in rebounding percentage this season at 48.2%. This is a great spot for another ceiling performance from Tatum.
Value
Deni Avdija is another Wizards value option who looks fantastic in our tools. He has the highest Projected Plus/Minus at the small forward position and has recorded a positive Plus/Minus in seven consecutive games. During that stretch, Avdija is averaging a double-double with 19.4 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game. Similar to teammate Jordan Poole, Avdija has seen his price tag rise to now $7,800. Even at that salary, there is room for Avdija to exceed it and provide value.
Avdija is one of three players on this slate with 11 Pro Trends. In this up-tempo game environment, he should be able to stuff the stat sheet and provide DraftKings points in a variety of ways once again. The Lakers have been an average defensive unit and a below-average rebounding team. If the Wizards can keep this game competitive, Avdija will be a big reason why.
Fast Break
Bogdan Bogdanovic has also filled in nicely for the Hawks with Trae Young out. Over his last five games, Bogdanovic is averaging 24 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 42.4 DraftKings points per game. With shooting guard and small forward eligibility, Bogdanovic is easy to fit into any lineup with his mid-range price tag. He is much cheaper than Dejounte Murray and still has a very high ceiling. Both are projected for around 15% ownership, so choose whichever fits your lineup better.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
The Bucks suffered a poor loss last night on the road against the Wizards 117-113. Giannis Antetokounmpo did all he could with a 35-point, 15-rebound, 10-assist triple-double. The Greek Freak shot 15-for-19 from the field and finished with 72.25 DraftKings points. Playing on the second leg of a back-to-back, the Bucks are 13.5-point home favorites against the Grizzlies, who have mailed in their season a while ago. Monitor the news to make sure Giannis is suiting up for this game.
Damian Lillard missed his second-straight game with a personal matter while Giannis and Khris Middleton may take the night off. Even with a limited lineup, the Bucks should roll the Grizzlies who rank 25th in defensive rating since the All-Star Break. Giannis has the highest projected ceiling in our Player Model by 15 points and is the clear pay-up option if he plays.
Fast Break
Value
Wizards’ Anthony Gill drew his first start of the season last night and recorded a near double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds against the Bucks. Gill played 38 minutes and is projected to play a modest 32 minutes tonight. Even at a lower projected playing time, Gill looks fantastic in our tools. He has the highest projected Plus/Minus on the slate and is projected for a slate-high 55% ownership. At $3,400 with power forward and center eligibility, Gill is a perfect value option.
Since March 17th, Gill has been getting much more playing time due to the Wizards’ struggles. In his last seven games during that time, Gill is averaging 10.6 points per game while shooting 50.8% from the field. Similar to his teammates, if the Wizards can somehow keep this game against the Lakers close, Gill is going to have another big game at a cheap salary.
Fast Break
Naz Reid is closing the gap for the Sixth Man of the Year award with another big performance last night. Reid finished with a game-high 25 points while shooting 10-for-17 from the field and a 30.1% usage rate. He is averaging a career-high 13.3 points per game this season and shooting a blistering 40.9% from behind the arc. The Timberwolves are a slate-high 16-point home favorites, with Reid projected to start again tonight. He is a strong option at his mid-range price tag in all formats.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Anthony Davis is coming off his 20th double-double in his last 21 games. The only game he missed, he left early and only played 12 minutes. He is averaging a career-high 12.7 rebounds per game, which is the third-highest mark in the league. The dominant big man will feast on the Wizards’ poor frontcourt. Marvin Bagley left last night’s game for the Wizards, leaving behind an even more depleted frontcourt. The Wizards already rank dead last in rebounding percentage at 46% this season.
Not only are the Wizards a terrible rebounding team, but they also give up so many points in the paint. They currently rank 29th in points allowed in the paint at 58.4 per game. In his last game against the Wizards, Davis went off for 40 points, 15 rebounds, and 73.75 DraftKings points. If his injury designation gets removed per usual expect another big game from Davis.
Value
Likely getting the task to guard Anthony Davis is Wizards center Tristan Vukcevic. The 7-footer from Italy started the second half for the injured Marvin Bagley and played a season-high 31 minutes. He would more than likely draw the start tonight if Bagley is unable to play. Vukcevic is averaging nearly one DraftKings point per minute in his last game, finishing with 14 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. Vukcevic also displayed outside shooting upside with six 3-point attempts.
The Lakers have been giving up plenty of 3-point opportunities to their opponents. The opposition is attempting 37.8 3-pointers per game, which is the third-highest in the league. They are also allowing the ninth-most points per game in the paint this season.
Fast Break
Since the All-Star Break, Deandre Ayton has been dominant for the Trail Blazers. Over his last 12 games played, Ayton is averaging a massive double-double with 22.3 points and 13 rebounds per game while shooting 62% from the field. Ayton will have his way with the Hornets frontcourt that ranks 29th in rebounding percentage and 23rd in points per game allowed in the paint this season. This is the least appealing fantasy game of the night, but Ayton will have a field day in this matchup.
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