Wednesday features a nine-game 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.
NBA DFS Point Guard Picks
Stud
Tyrese Maxey has been one of the best players in basketball this season. He’s propelled the 76ers to the fifth-best record in the Eastern Conference, carrying a massive workload along the way. He leads the league with an average of 40.0 minutes per game, and he’s responded with a career-best 31.0 points and 7.0 assists per game. As long as he stays healthy, Maxey should be in the conversation for a first-team All-NBA spot at the end of the year.
From a fantasy standpoint, Maxey has averaged 1.30 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. He’s been on a tear recently, scoring at least 58.0 DraftKings points in four straight games. One of those came on Saturday vs. the Knicks, and he’ll draw the same opponent on Wednesday.
The 76ers could also be without Joel Embiid for this contest, which would give Maxey a further boost in value. Embiid is currently listed as questionable, and Maxey has seen a +1.74% bump to his usage rate with Embiid off the floor this season. He’s averaged 1.37 DraftKings points per minute in that split, making him a viable pay-up option in an elite matchup vs. the Wizards.
Value
The Thunder are another team that could be without one of its best players on Wednesday. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is listed as questionable, and his absence would open up a ton of opportunities for the rest of the roster. He’s posted a massive 33.4% usage rate, and those shots would have to go elsewhere if he’s unavailable.
Even if Gilgeous-Alexander is able to go, Ajay Mitchell stands out as an excellent value. Mitchell has had a breakout season, and he’s been awesome for fantasy purposes of late. He’s posted an average Plus/Minus of +4.07 over his past 10 games, and he’s averaged 1.12 DraftKings points per minute over the past month.
Mitchell is currently projected for 23 minutes in our NBA Models, which should be more than enough to pay off his $4,800 price tag. That figure could skyrocket if SGA is ruled out, which would make him a borderline must-play.
Fast Break
The Wizards will be on the second leg of a back-to-back on Wednesday, so it’s possible that they rest some of their veterans vs. the 76ers. That would give Bub Carrington more appeal than usual. Even with the team close to full strength on Tuesday, Carrington played 31 minutes off the bench and finished with 23.75 DraftKings points. He’s projected for another 28 minutes on Wednesday’s slate, and he’s averaged 0.96 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. He ranks second at the position in projected Plus/Minus, trailing only Mitchell.
The Knicks are still playing without Josh Hart and Landry Shamet, which should keep Miles McBride’s minutes pretty secure. He’s currently projected for 29 minutes vs. the Clippers, and he’s averaged 1.0 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in four of five games since returning from injury, and he had 34.75 DraftKings points in his last game with a full workload.
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
The Suns continue to hang around in the Western Conference. They were not expected to be contenders this season, but they’re currently in seventh place in the standings at 21-15. Despite losing Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal this offseason, they’ve been significantly improved. They’re in a good spot to keep the momentum rolling on Wednesday as 4.5-point road favorites vs. the Grizzlies.
Devin Booker has turned in a typical Booker season, averaging 25.7 points, 6.3 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game. He’s done that despite shooting a subpar 29.8% from 3-point range, and he should improve a bit in that area moving forward. Regardless, Booker has still averaged 1.25 DraftKings points per minute over the past month.
Booker enters this contest in mediocre form, but he has been significantly more aggressive in recent games. He’s posted a usage rate of at least 39.0% in two of his past three, which represents a significant increase from his 31.1% mark for the year. If he can maintain that aggressiveness while being a bit more efficient, he has the potential for a big showing vs. the Grizzlies. He ranks first at shooting guard in projected ceiling and third in projected Plus/Minus, and he’s also tops in Sim Labs optimal lineup rate.
Value
Duncan Robinson is not a particularly exciting DFS option, but he should be able to return value through sheer volume on Wednesday. He’s projected for 28 minutes at just $4,000, and players with comparable salaries and minute projections have historically averaged a Plus/Minus of +2.74 (per the Trends tool). Robinson has personally averaged a Plus/Minus of +2.38 in that split, and he ranks first at the position in projected Plus/Minus on Wednesday’s slate.
Fast Break
Kon Knueppel presents a nice combination of value and upside at $6,400. He has been awesome as a rookie, and he’s averaged 1.14 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. He’s scored at least 35.5 DraftKings points in three of his past four games, including his last outing vs. the Thunder. He did that despite playing less than 28 minutes, and he should see closer to 34 minutes if Wednesday’s matchup vs. the Raptors is more competitive.
The Celtics have been red hot recently, and they’re up to second place in the Eastern Conference standings. Derrick White has been a big part of their success. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in four of his past six games, and he’s had at least 51.5 DraftKings points in two of his past four. That gives him a solid ceiling at $8,000, especially in a good matchup vs. the shorthanded Nuggets. The Celtics are implied for a healthy 121.25 points and are listed as 9.5-point home favorites.
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NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
The Thunder are coming off an embarrassing performance in their last game, suffering a 27-point home loss to the lowly Hornets. They also dropped the game prior vs. the Suns, so they’re up to seven losses for the season. Any talk of the team breaking the Warriors’ win record has gone out the window.
However, they’re still the clear best team in basketball, and they’ll have a chance to reassert their dominance on Wednesday. They’re taking on the Jazz in a matchup where they should be able to do a ton of scoring. The Thunder lead the slate with a massive 131.0 implied team total, so they have plenty of upside if this game stays competitive.
That makes Jalen Williams an interesting option. Williams hasn’t had his best season, but he hasn’t really been needed. He’s still averaged 1.13 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he could be forced into a much larger role if Gilgeous-Alexander gets the night off. He’s seen a team-high +5.43% usage bump with SGA off the floor this season, resulting in an average of 1.26 DraftKings points per minute.
Williams currently has the second-best optimal lineup rate at small forward, and he’s third in projected Plus/Minus. Those are both with SGA still in the projections, so he’s a viable option regardless of his star teammate’s availability.
Value
Brandon Miller isn’t a true “value” at $6,900, but he’s still clearly one of the best values at the position. He leads all small forwards in projected Plus/Minus and optimal lineup rate.
Miller started the year slowly, but he has been a force in recent games. He’s back to playing a full complement of minutes, and he’s averaged 1.18 DraftKings points per minute over the past month. He’s responded with a positive Plus/Minus in four of his past five games, including 47.0 DraftKings points in 31.1 minutes in his last outing.
Miller is ultimately too cheap for his recent production. His $6,900 salary comes with an 86% Bargain Rating, and his nine Pro Trends are tied for the most at the position.
Fast Break
On the other side of that matchup, R.J. Barrett has some appeal for the Raptors. He just returned to the lineup recently, but he’s played at least 29.9 minutes in back-to-back games. He’s scored at least 35.5 DraftKings points in both contests, and he’s averaged 1.18 DraftKings points per minute since returning to the lineup.
Herb Jones looks like the best cheap option at small forward on Wednesday. He’s priced at just $4,300, and he’s currently projected for 28 minutes vs. the Hawks. Jones’ playing time has been all over the place recently, but he’s been productive when he’s been on the floor. He’s averaged 0.94 DraftKings points per minute over the past month.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
The Hawks are another team with a ton of offensive upside on this slate. They’re listed as 10.5-point favorites against the Pelicans in a game with a massive 247.5-point total. That gives them a 129.0 implied team total, which is the second-highest mark on the slate. They also have a bit less blowout potential than the Thunder, making them arguably the strongest team to target.
Jalen Johnson has evolved into the team’s clear best player. He’s averaged 23.7 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 8.4 assists per game while shooting better than 52% from the field. There is ultimately nothing he can’t do on a basketball court.
Johnson has averaged 1.51 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, which is the second-best mark on Wednesday’s slate. He’s been excellent recently, posting a positive Plus/Minus in seven of his past eight games, and there’s no reason he can’t go off vs. the Pelicans. He has the top ceiling projection on the entire slate, making him one of the strongest pay-up options.
Value
The Bulls will continue to be a bit shorthanded for Wednesday’s matchup vs. the Pistons. There’s a chance that Coby White returns to the lineup – he’s currently listed as questionable – but Josh Giddey, Zach Collins, and Jalen Smith have all been ruled out.
That should keep Matas Buzelis extremely relevant at $6,000. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in five straight games, and he’s scored at least 31.0 DraftKings points in four straight. He’s played at least 30.4 minutes in his past three outings, and he’s projected for another 31 minutes on Wednesday’s slate. Buzelis has averaged 1.08 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, so he’s too cheap if he’s going to continue to see that much playing time.
Fast Break
Isaiah Stewart is another fantastic value option in the frontcourt. The Pistons are going to be without Jalen Duren on Wednesday, so Stewart should see a nice bump in playing time vs. the Bulls. He’s currently projected for 30.5 minutes in our NBA Models, and Stewart has averaged 1.02 DraftKings points per minute with Duren off the floor this season. That’s more than good enough to return value at $5,500.
Don’t sleep on Paul George on Wednesday, especially if Embiid is unable to go. He’s seen the biggest usage bump on the team with Embiid off the floor this season, so he could put up big numbers in that scenario vs. the Wizards. Washington ranks 29th in defensive efficiency this season, and they’ve also played at the eighth-fastest pace.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Derik Queen has officially moved into stud territory. He’s still not priced like a true stud at $6,300, but he’s been producing like one recently. He’s averaged an outstanding 1.32 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s posted an average Plus/Minus of +2.71 over his past 10 games.
Queen’s biggest issue this season has been finding consistent playing time, but that’s not as big a problem at the moment. The team is currently without Saddiq Bey, while Jones is questionable for Wednesday’s slate. It should keep Queen’s playing time pretty secure, and he has the potential to do big damage with 30+ minutes. He saw 31.7 minutes in the team’s last outing, and he responded with 41.75 DraftKings points and a +9.93 Plus/Minus.
Queen also stands out as one of the best pure values of the day on DraftKings. His $6,300 salary comes with a 94% Bargain Rating, and he leads all centers with 11 Pro Trends. The matchup vs. the Hawks is also excellent, giving him a +4.26 Opponent Plus/Minus. Queen figures to be the highest-owned player on the slate, but his optimal lineup rate still exceeds his projected ownership in Sim Labs.
Value
Paul Reed should also see a boost in value for the Pistons with Duren out of the lineup. Reed has averaged 1.04 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, and he’s projected for 23 minutes in a juicy matchup vs. the Bulls. Chicago has struggled defensively all season, especially against opposing big men. It results in a +1.95 Opponent Plus/Minus, and Reed is coming off three straight games with a positive Plus/Minus. It’s a great opportunity for him to make it four in a row.
Fast Break
Collin Murray-Boyles is another enticing value option at center. The Raptors are still without Jakob Poeltl, which has opened up some additional playing time for their rookie big man. He took full advantage in the team’s last game, finishing with 46.25 DraftKings points across 31.1 minutes. While that was a clear outlier, CMB has still provided consistent value with Poeltl out of the lineup. He’s averaged a Plus/Minus of +7.46 across his past 10 outings, and he’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in six of his past seven. He’s another player priced at a massive discount on DraftKings, with his $4,500 salary coming with a 98% Bargain Rating.
Finally, Mark Williams could be an interesting buy-low target at $5,000. His salary has decreased by more than -$1,000 from its peak, and he’s still an elite per-minute producer. He’s averaged 1.18 DraftKings points per minute over the past month, so he doesn’t need a ton of playing time to return value vs. the Grizzlies.
Pictured: Tyrese Maxey
Photo Credit: Imagn
