For the first full slate of the NBA season, Wednesday delivers a 10-game slate for DFS players to attack. DraftKings continues to offer huge contests for DFS players and below, I break down some of my favorite options at each position.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $500K Zone Special [$100K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers vs. Milwaukee Bucks, $9,000
Maxey is going to start his 2024-24 campaign with a bang on Wednesday. The 76ers will be without both Joel Embiid (injury recovery) and newcomer Paul George (knee) for this season opener, leaving Maxey with a massive workload. With Embiid off the court last season, Maxey led the 76ers with a 31.7% usage rate – which is a 3.5 percentage point increase from his season average – and 1.2 FPTs per minute. Maxey generated 42.6 FPTS per game with Embiid inactive last season (32 games) and the Bucks are a mouthwatering matchup for Maxey.
Milwaukee ranked ninth in pace and 21st in defensive efficiency last season, and Maxey torched the Bucks for 47.1 FPTS per game in three matchups a year ago. The reigning Most Improved Player should put on a show in this situation and is one of the best spends on the slate.
Other Options: Trae Young ($9,900), Ja Morant ($9,500), James Harden ($9,200)
Value
Terance Mann, Los Angeles Clippers vs. Phoenix Suns, $5,000
The Clippers lost many big pieces this summer, with Paul George and Russell Westbrook both changing teams. Additionally, Kawhi Leonard (knee) has no timetable for a return. Los Angeles will begin this season shorthanded and Mann should see huge minutes right out of the gate. The Clippers inked Mann to a three-year, $47 million deal this summer and he should see 35-40 minutes in this tight 4.5-point spread vs. the Suns on the DraftKings Sportsbook.
Thanks to all his rates increasing, most notably a 4.4 percentage boost to his usage, Mann supplied 0.9 FPTS per minute with George, Leonard and Westbrook off the court last season. Mann’s salary doesn’t reflect his expected workload and he is a safe, cheap target for all formats.
Other Options: Jaden Ivey ($6,000), Jalen Suggs ($5,100), TJ McConnell ($4,800)
Forward
Stud
Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, $8,900
Before suffering a hand injury that cut his season short in the spring, Barnes was on a tear, amassing 46.3 FPTS per game in his final 10 starts of the season. The Raptors trading away Pascal Siakam last season instantly made Barnes their centerpiece and Toronto will begin their season Wednesday without RJ Barrett (shoulder). In all the minutes he played sans Barrett and Siakam last season, Barnes led Toronto with a 27% usage rate and 1.3 FPTS per minute.
The offense should run through Barnes all season and while this matchup with the Cavaliers is subpar – they ranked sixth in defensive efficiency last season – Barnes is underpriced for his upside.
Other Options: Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,000), Pascal Siakam ($8,300) and Brandon Ingram ($7,400, better if Zion Williamson is out)
Value
Cam Johnson, Brooklyn Nets at Atlanta Hawks, $5,500
Johnson erupted for 32 points in the Nets’ preseason finale and the veteran is poised for a strong bounce-back campaign this season. Johnson led Brooklyn with a 23.5% usage rate in the preseason and he should be one of the primary scoring options for this weak Nets club all season. Over 30 minutes on a nightly basis is a reasonable expectation for Johnson and he opens the year in a stellar spot vs. the Hawks, who ranked fourth in pace and 27th in defensive efficiency last season.
Johnson dominated Atlanta for 37.9 FPTS per game in four meetings last season and brings a similar upside Wednesday.
Other Options: Jonathan Kuminga ($6,500), Kelly Oubre Jr. ($6,400), Santi Aldama ($5,000), Dorian Finney-Smith ($4,300)
Center
Stud
Andre Drummond, Philadelphia 76ers vs. Milwaukee Bucks, $7,000
With Embiid out Wednesday, Drummond is an easy choice. The veteran should start at center for the 76ers and see big minutes in this matchup that requires size, going against a Bucks’ frontcourt of Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez. Given his elite work on the glass, Drummond provided a terrific 1.4 FPTS per minute last season and his prop lines on the DraftKings Sportsbook suggest a strong outing for the center, with his PTs + Rebs + Ast O/U set at 26.5.
Drummond is a lock for a double-double and he should outperform this salary with ease.
Other Options: Alperen Sengun ($8,600), Nikola Vucevic ($8,300)
Value
Brandon Clarke, Memphis Grizzlies at Utah Jazz, $3,700
With Jaren Jackson Jr. (hamstring) sidelined, Clarke is a great punt play. The veteran will likely come off the bench, but Clarke should still find himself in the 20-25 minute range in Jackson Jr.’s absence. Plus, this is an awesome matchup vs. the Jazz, who ranked second-to-last in defensive efficiency last season.
Clarke contributed 1.1 FPTS per minute and 23.8 FPTS per game last season, and he should have zero issues exceeding five times value at this near minimum salary.
Other Options: Zach Edey ($6,200), Grant Williams ($4,600), Jonathan Isaac ($4,100), Daniel Theis ($4,000)
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $500K Zone Special [$100K to 1st]
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is Hunta512) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skills and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
