Wednesday features a nine-game NBA main slate starting at 7 p.m. ET.
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 Nuggets stand out as one of the top teams to target on Wednesday. They’re taking on the New Orleans Pelicans, who have been a favorable matchup all season. They’re 29th in the league in defensive efficiency, and the Nuggets lead the slate with a 125.5 implied team total.
Jamal Murray stands out as an outstanding option at point guard. He’s been playing some of his best basketball of the season of late. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in six of his past seven games, and he’s scored at least 42.0 DraftKings points in four of his past five. Overall, he’s increased his production to 1.12 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s projected for 36 minutes in our NBA Models.
As long as this game doesn’t turn into a blowout – the Nuggets are currently favored by 10.5 points – Murray is a great bet to pay off his $7,700 price tag.
Value
De’Aaron Fox is available to make his Spurs debut on Wednesday, which figures to have an impact on the rest of the roster. Outside of Victor Wembanyama, minutes and shot attempts are going to be tougher to come by than they were to start the year.
That said, Stephon Castle’s playing time should be pretty secure. He was the No. 4 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, and he remains a big part of the Spurs’ future. He might not see quite as much playing time with Fox and Chris Paul both in San Antonio, but he’s still projected for 28 minutes in our NBA Models.
That’s enough to make him an appealing value target vs. the Hawks. Castle has been fantastic of late, posting an average Plus/Minus of +7.97 over his past 10 outings, and he’s scored at least 30.5 DraftKings points in three straight games. Ultimately, he’s averaged better than a fantasy point per minute over the past month, so Castle is definitely still in play at just $5,300.
Fast Break
Kyle Kuzma was officially traded to the Bucks on Monday, which is going to open up some additional opportunities in Washington. Jordan Poole should be one of the biggest beneficiaries. He’s historically been a “boom-or-bust” type of DFS option, but he has a higher ceiling with Kuzma out of the picture. He’s increased his production to 1.19 DraftKings points per minute with Kuzma off the floor this season, and his price tag has dipped to just $6,500. That gives him plenty of buy-low appeal.
Keyonte George is priced in a similar range to Poole, and he has similar upside. The Jazz have the potential to be really shorthanded on Wednesday, with Lauri Markkanen currently listed as questionable and a host of additional players already ruled out. George is coming off 45.0 DraftKings points across 31 minutes in his last outing, and he’s increased his fantasy output to 1.13 DraftKings points per minute over the past month.
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NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
Anthony Edwards is coming off a disappointing showing in his last contest, finishing with just 40.5 DraftKings points across 37.5 minutes. However, his fantasy arrow is still pointing up. He had at least 59.25 DraftKings points in each of his two prior outings, and he should see an uptick in production with Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo both sidelined with injuries. Edwards has increased his usage rate by +2.95% with both players off the floor this season, resulting in an average of 1.33 DraftKings points per minute.
Edwards also draws a phenomenal matchup Wednesday vs. the Bulls. Chicago has played at the third-fastest pace this season, and they’re 25th in defensive efficiency. The Timberwolves trail only the Nuggets in terms of implied team total, making Edwards an outstanding bounce-back option.
Value
Gradey Dick hasn’t had a breakout sophomore campaign, but he’s been a nice source of value recently. R.J. Barrett was out of the lineup on the front end of the team’s back-to-back set, and while we’re still waiting on their official injury report for Wednesday, there’s a good chance that he’s sidelined once again.
Dick was second on the team in minutes on Tuesday, and he’s projected for another 30 minutes in our NBA Models. That makes him a solid target at just $4,200. Historically, players with comparable salaries and minute projections have averaged a Plus/Minus of +2.81 (per the Trends tool).
Fast Break
Jordan Clarkson is another appealing target in the Jazz’s backcourt. He saw a big spike in minutes in the team’s last outing, finishing with just under 35 minutes vs. the Pacers. He’s averaged 1.1 DraftKings points per minute for the year, so he can do some serious damage with that much playing time. Clarkson is a very real trade possibility for the Jazz, so it makes sense to showcase him before Thursday’s deadline. There’s also a chance that he could be moved on Wednesday – or rested vs. the Warriors to ensure he’s healthy – so make sure to monitor for updates. If he doesn’t play, George and Isaiah Collier would become even more appealing.
Corey Kispert hasn’t had much of a role for the Wizards this season, but he could be dusted off with Kuzma now in Milwaukee. He’s currently projected for 29 minutes on Wednesday’s slate, so he’s another viable value option.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
I’m going to continue to buy Coby White for the Bulls. His salary has increased slightly to $6,500, but he profiles as the team’s top scoring threat moving forward. With Zach LaVine now in Sacramento, White should be able to improve upon his average of 18.5 points per game so far this season.
Overall, White has seen a +2.86% bump to his usage rate with LaVine off the floor, which is the second-highest mark on the team. He’s increased his usage rate by +3.59% in full games without LaVine this season, and he’s averaged 1.04 DraftKings points per minute in that split. White has scored at least 37.25 DraftKings points in two of his past three games, so he still feels a bit underpriced at his current salary.
Value
Justin Champagne is another member of the Wizards who should see an uptick in playing time. That’s an appealing proposition. He’s averaged 0.98 DraftKings points per minute for the year, and he’s increased that figure to more than 1.0 over the past month. He’s also seen a huge spike in production in 10 games without Kuzma this season, averaging 30.93 DraftKings points across 30.6 minutes per game.
Champagnie isn’t projected for quite as much playing time on Wednesday, but he’s still projected for a healthy 23 minutes in our NBA Models. That’s more than enough to put him on the radar on DraftKings, where his $3,200 salary comes with a 90% Bargain Rating.
Fast Break
Christian Braun has been a massive source of value for the Nuggets of late. He’s posted an average Plus/Minus of +8.32 over his past 10 outings, including some massive ceiling games. He’s scored at least 46.25 DraftKings points in two of his past five contests, so he has an excellent ceiling for his price tag. His ownership could also be a bit down with the amount of value options that are going to be available on this slate.
The Hornets are another team that stands out as undermanned on Wednesday. That’s been the case for most of the past month, which means they might not be prevalent in DFS player’s minds. Nick Smith has seen a big spike in playing time with LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller out recently, and he’s coming off 35.0 DraftKings points in his last outing. That’s enough to make him a viable GPP target at just $5,000.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
The Bucks’ injury report is going to be important to monitor on Wednesday. The team was extremely shorthanded in their last contest, with basically their entire starting lineup on the sidelines. That included Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis are expected to return, but Antetokounmpo and Lillard are listed as questionable.
Antetokounmpo doesn’t typically need any additional absences to be viable in DFS, but he would become close to a must-play if Lillard is ruled out. He’s increased his usage rate to 36.5% with both Lillard and Middleton off the floor this season, and he’s averaged a whopping 71.0 DraftKings points in two full games without both players.
Antetokounmpo has cracked 60 DraftKings points in each of his past four games, and he remains priced at a slight discount at $11,800. Since the start of the 2022-23 season, Antetokounmpo has averaged a Plus/Minus of +2.18 when he’s been priced below $12,000.
Value
Matas Buzelis was the Bulls’ first-round pick this season, selected at No. 11 overall. He hasn’t had a huge opportunity to make an impact this season, but that figures to change with LaVine out of the lineup. He’s averaged 0.88 DraftKings points per minute for the year, and he’s coming off 31 minutes in our last outing. Buzelis is projected for another 32 minutes in our NBA Models, so he’s a fantastic value option at just $4,000.
Fast Break
De’Andre Hunter hasn’t been a particularly strong producer of late, but his price tag has come down considerably over the past month. He’s down to just $5,700, and he’s averaged 0.99 DraftKings points per minute for the year. He’s projected for 32 minutes in our NBA Models, so he’s a potential buy-low candidate vs. the Spurs.
While the Heat wait for the Jimmy Butler saga to play out, Nikola Jovic is set to play an expanded role. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in four of his past five games, and he’s averaged 0.95 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. He racked up nearly 35 minutes in his last outing, so he’s another undervalued option on this slate.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
As usual, Nikola Jokic stands out as the top option on this slate from a ceiling standpoint. Someone like Giannis is an elite fantasy producer in his own right, but Jokic is simply on a different level. His ceiling projection is nearly 10 points higher than Giannis’ in our NBA Models, and the gap between Jokic and the rest of the field is even larger.
The only thing that has been able to stop Jokic this season has been reduced minutes in blowouts. In games where he’s played at least 32 minutes, he’s averaged a ridiculous 74.03 DraftKings points per game.
Jokic’s price tag is up to $12,700, but it’s hard to argue against it at this point. He has the potential to dominate against the Pelicans as long as this game stays competitive.
Value
Jonas Valanciunas is another option for the Wizards on Wednesday. In addition to Kuzma being traded, the team is already dealing with some absences in the frontcourt. That includes top rookie Alex Sarr.
With Sarr out of the lineup recently, Valanciunas has seen an uptick in playing time. That’s great news for DFS players. Valanciunas has always been an elite per-minute producer, and he’s averaged 1.34 DraftKings points per minute this season. He’s played at least 28.7 minutes in two of his past three games, and if he gets back to that level on Wednesday, he has the potential to smash his $6,000 price tag.
Fast Break
Naz Reid has moved into the Timberwolves’ starting lineup with Randle out of the lineup, giving him a significant uptick in value. Like Valanciunas, Reid has always been a phenomenal producer when given the opportunity. He’s averaged 1.13 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s coming off more than 40 minutes in his last outing. That gives him a massive ceiling for his price tag.
Aaron Gordon is officially listed as questionable, but he’s an interesting target if he’s able to suit up. His price tag has decreased to just $4,900, and that’s really cheap for a player of his caliber. Gordon has only had a comparable salary and minute projection on a handful of occasions since joining the Nuggets.
