Wednesday presents us with a seven-game slate starting at 7:00 p.m. ET. Even with only seven games on the docket, this slate is flooded with stud options that are all in promising spots.
Let’s dive into some of the top plays on the slate using the FantasyLabs tools and projections.
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
Luka Doncic ($12,300)
The 2026 NBA DFS season has revolved around the Lakers’ star Luka Doncic. He is averaging a league-high 39.3 points and 67.4 DraftKings points per game, which is comfortably more than the next closest player. Other studs are inconsistent compared to Doncic, who has averaged 74.2 DraftKings points per game in his last five contests. His scoring is off the charts, and he’s shooting 49.8% from the field and 40.8% from downtown.
Doncic also has an absurd 39% usage rate and is projected for the highest ceiling on this seven-game slate. Another added bonus is this elite matchup against the Bucks, who are playing on the second leg of a back-to-back after losing to the Knicks by 32 points. The Bucks are 1-10 this season with the 28th-ranked defensive rating. Everything is lining up for another huge Doncic game on this seven-game slate.
Value
Javon Small ($3,900)
Javon Small leads the point guard position with the highest projected Plus/Minus. He has only played three games this season, but in each contest, Small has played 20+ minutes and recorded at least 16 DraftKings points. Our NBA Model has Small projected to play 21 minutes in this spot, which makes him look like a fantastic value option. Playing that many minutes is more than enough to pay off his price tag.
Not only has Small been a valuable scoring asset off the bench, but he has also recorded five assists in two of his three games played. He has been a great leader in the second unit and is currently projected for nearly 30% ownership tonight. Small has point guard and shooting guard eligibility, making him easy to fit into any lineup build. He also helps fit in the plethora of stud options in a stars-and-scrubs build.
Fast Break
Jamal Murray ($8,300) – Despite playing alongside the elite Nikola Jokic, Murray has had his fair share of ceiling games this year, including his last game, when he scored 38 points and accumulated over 50 DraftKings points. In his last eight games, Murray is averaging 47.9 DraftKings points per game. Murray leads his team in scoring, averaging a career-high 25.8 points per game while connecting on 50.7% of his 3-point attempts.
De’Aaron Fox ($6,200) – Priced in the mid-range, Fox has been a model of consistency regardless of his playing time due to the Spurs’ blowing everyone out. They have won nine straight games and are -14.5-point favorites with the highest team total on the slate at 128 points. Getting a competitive game where Fox can play over 30 minutes would be ideal, but he is still a strong option at a very favorable price tag.
NBA DFS Shooting Guard Picks
Stud
Donovan Mitchell ($8,200)
The Cavaliers are off to an uncharacteristically slow start to their season with a 5-6 record after losing four of their last five games. They got blitzed by the Hornets last game, which is why Donovan Mitchell only played 23 minutes. They were down 27 points at the end of the third quarter. Scratch that game from the books, and Mitchell’s game log looks great with four consecutive games with at least 41 DraftKings points.
Despite the Knicks’ strong defense, Mitchell had a ton of success against them in their Saturday night contest with a season-high 37 points. He shot 13-for-22 from the field while making five 3-pointers. Mitchell has made at least four 3-pointers in three of his last five games. Due to the high-priced studs on this slate, Mitchell is currently projected for less than 5% ownership, making him a strong contrarian play.
Value
Aaron Nesmith ($4,700)
Currently drawing the second-highest projected Plus/Minus on this seven-game slate is Pacers guard Aaron Nesmith. This matchup against the Wizards continues to be one that looks promising from a value perspective tonight. The Pacers’ sharpshooter has averaged two 3-pointers per game and made a season-high four 3-pointers last game. The Wizards have been a below-average 3-point defensive team this year.
After not playing much early in the season, Nesmith is averaging over 30 minutes per game in his last four contests. He is playing over eight more minutes per game with Haliburton out. During that four-game stretch, Nesmith is averaging 13.3 points per game. He is attempting double-digit field goals for the second straight season. With no Haliburton, Nesmith is simply a fantastic value play.
Fast Break
Ty Jerome ($8,200) – Jerome is neck-and-neck with Mitchell for the highest ceiling at the shooting guard position. He is having an incredible start to his first season with the Grizzlies, averaging a career-high 26.7 points per game while shooting a clean 50% from the field. When stacking up the Nuggets, Jerome is a perfect bringback for the Grizzlies. Projected for less than 10% ownership, Jerome is an awesome option.
RJ Barrett ($8,000) – Scottie Barnes and Kawhi Leonard remain out for the Raptors, while Immanuel Quickley and Collin Murray-Boyles are questionable to play. With limited options, Barrett also has a high ceiling projection alongside Jerome and Mitchell. He has been incredibly consistent, so even with the lowest total on the slate at 215.5 points, Barrett is worth getting exposure to, especially in cash games.
Be sure to check out all the pick’ems Sleeper has to offer with our Sleeper promo code.
NBA DFS Small Forward Picks
Stud
Jayson Tatum ($10,300)
Playing on a back-to-back after beating the 76ers by over 20 points, the Celtics look to stay hot against the Raptors. They have won nine of their last 10 games and are 6.5-point road favorites tonight. Jayson Tatum leads the Celtics in scoring and assists, averaging 27.1 points and a career-high 7.8 assists per game. He has displayed a 60-point DraftKings ceiling three times already this season, so he has upside.
The small forward position is lacking options outside of Tatum. His ceiling projection is 10 points higher than the next closest player. He is fourth in pricing on this slate but is currently drawing the least amount of ownership among the four options. The Raptors are without two elite defensive forwards, making this a much easier matchup for Tatum. He is a strong contrarian pay-up option that is worth targeting tonight.
Value
Quenton Jackson ($4,000)
Another Pacers value play with shooting guard and small forward eligibility is Quenton Jackson, who has the fourth-highest projected Plus/Minus on the slate. Over his last six games, Jackson is averaging 27.7 DraftKings points per game, which is more than enough to pay off his $4,000 salary. During that time, Jackson does most of his fantasy damage by scoring the ball with his solid 14.2 points per game.
Jackson is another Pacers player that has benefited from the absence of Haliburton. He is projected to have a 16.6% usage rate tonight while playing around 25 minutes. Similar to his teammate Nesmith, Jackson is projected to draw 30% ownership. The Pacers are an amazing source of value on this seven-game slate.
Fast Break
Michael Porter ($7,500) – The Nets are having another down year at 2-8, but Porter is leading the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 21.5 points and a career-high 7.7 rebounds per game. In his second year with the Nets, Porter has become their top option even with the addition of Julius Randle. Porter has also been very consistent recently, recording between 32 and 41 DraftKings points in his last five games.
AJ Dybantsa ($6,600) – The rookie from BYU has only played in seven games this season but is starting to find his groove in the league already. He has at least 30 DraftKings points in each of his last three games and has flirted with a points-and-rebounds double-double in each contest. Dybantsa is a fantastic option drawing around 20% projected ownership and remains at a favorable price in the mid-range at $6,600.
NBA DFS Power Forward Picks
Stud
Anthony Davis ($8,900)
Anthony Davis continues to feel like a steal at under $9,000. He is coming off his best game of the season with a massive 44-point, 13-rebound double-double against the Pistons Monday night. In a much easier matchup against the Pacers’ frontcourt, Davis is primed for another ceiling performance. In his last four games, Davis is averaging 30.5 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 52.2 DraftKings points per game.
The Wizards have had a disappointing start to the season, but Davis is playing at an elite level. He leads the team in points, rebounds, and blocks per game. What sets Davis apart from his peers on this slate is playing the Pacers, who rank 29th in rebounding percentage at 46.5% this season. Not only does Davis have the highest projected ceiling at this position, but he also has the highest projected Plus/Minus.
Value
Kyle Kuzma ($4,900)
A boom-or-bust fantasy option that is popping in our NBA Model tonight is Kyle Kuzma. The last two games are a perfect synopsis of what Kuzma can provide. The Bucks got smoked by 32 points last game, and Kuzma played 26 minutes and only produced five points, five rebounds, and three assists for 17.8 DraftKings points. The game before, he erupted for 27 points and a season-high 40.5 DraftKings points.
Kuzma has shown that even though the Bucks are a league-worst 1-10 this season, he can still be a fantasy asset. Priced under $5,000, Kuzma has the second-highest projected Plus/Minus at the power forward position behind Davis and is projected for 20% ownership. The Bucks are once again double-digit underdogs, but this price is too cheap. Prioritize Kuzma in tournaments compared to cash games.
Fast Break
Karl-Anthony Towns ($9,000) – Being priced so closely to Davis is bringing down Towns’ ownership, but he is worth getting exposure to in tournaments. Towns has recorded a double-double in every game this year and is averaging 20.9 points and a league-high 13.8 rebounds per game. He has recorded at least 52 DraftKings points in back-to-back games. His power forward and center eligibility makes him easy to fit.
Pascal Siakam ($7,900) – Siakam is coming off his best game of the season Monday night. He posted a near triple-double with 29 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists with two steals for 58.8 DraftKings points. With no Haliburton, Siakam has become a fantastic facilitator, and he has shot 57.4% from the field and 45% from behind the arc in his last three games. Siakam has displayed upside that is worth targeting.
NBA DFS Center Picks
Stud
Victor Wembanyama ($11,800)
The only player with a DraftKings performance over 100 points this season is “The Alien” Victor Wembanyama. It happened a week ago today with 52 points, 24 rebounds, and eight blocks. He had another eight-block game Monday night while adding 40 points and 11 rebounds, accumulating 78.2 DraftKings points. Doncic is the most consistent stud, but Wembanyama has displayed a massive ceiling.
Averaging 30.1 points and 11.9 rebounds per game this season, Wembanyama has a fantastic opportunity to add to those totals tonight in this amazing matchup against the Bulls. In 11 games this season, the Bulls rank 28th in rebounding percentage and are allowing 53.3 points per game in the paint, which is the fourth-highest in the league. He is currently projected for less than 5% ownership, which feels egregious.
Value
Jakob Poeltl ($5,200)
Leading the way in our NBA Sims is Raptors center Jakob Poeltl. He has a 39.8% optimal lineup rate, which is by far the highest on the slate. Poeltl also leads the way in projected Plus/Minus and is projected for nearly 40% ownership. Whether you’re playing cash game contests or tournaments, it is going to be impossible to ignore Poeltl tonight. He has recorded at least 33 DraftKings points in three of his last four games.
In that four-game stretch, Poeltl is averaging 14.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game with two double-doubles. The Celtics are playing on a back-to-back, but they currently have allowed the fewest points per game scored in the paint. The matchup may not be easy, but if Murray-Boyles is out, Poeltl is going to look even better. Projected to play 30 minutes, he will have plenty of chances to return value.
Fast Break
Nikola Jokic ($11,500) – Jokic is $300 cheaper than Wembanyama and has been more consistent from a fantasy standpoint. The matchup isn’t as good as Wembanyama’s, but Jokic is drawing three times the ownership due to the concern of a Spurs blowout victory. The Nuggets are only 3.5-point favorites against the Grizzlies, so it is simple. Play Jokic in cash games and Wembanyama in tournaments.
Ivica Zubac ($6,100) – The last Pacers player worth targeting on this seven-game slate is their starting center. Zubac has the second-highest optimal lineup rate at 22.4%. In lineups that avoid Wembanyama and Jokic, pairing Zubac and Poeltl and paying up for Doncic is a strong building block. He has been on and off the court due to injuries, but Zubac is healthy and drawing a great matchup against the Wizards.
Pictured: Luka Doncic
Photo Credit: Imagn
