After a day off, the NBA returns on Wednesday and DraftKings’ main slate features the first 10 games of the night. DraftKings has featured the first eight games of the night. 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 $400K Zone Special [$100K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies vs. Los Angeles Lakers, $9,200
With Desmond Bane (oblique) and Marcus Smart (ankle) remaining out, Morant is a great spend. With Bane and Smart sidelined for the last three games, Morant is generating 51.8 FPTS per game, including one triple-double. In all the minutes he has played with Bane and Smart off the court the last two seasons, Morant is amassing 1.6 FPTs per minute, which is attributed to his usage and assist rates increasing 4.4 and 10.1 percentage points, respectively.
Facing a Lakers’ team that ranks 11th in pace and 22nd in defensive efficiency, Morant could explode Wednesday night.
Other Options: Luka Doncic ($11,500), Jalen Brunson ($8,700), Cade Cunningham ($8,500)
Value
Russell Westbrook, Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, $5,000
After missing Monday’s game with a concussion, Jamal Murray will remain sidelined Wednesday. In his absence Monday, Westbrook got the spot start at point guard for the Nuggets and didn’t disappoint, posting 40 FPTS across 34 minutes in a win over the Raptors. The former MVP saw a 22% usage rate with the starting role and Westbrook is contributing 1.1 FPTS per minute in Denver this season.
The veteran should draw another start for Murray on Wednesday and while this matchup is poor, with the Thunder leading the league in defensive efficiency, Westbrook should have no issues out-producing this salary that is far too low if he is starting again. For the last five instances Westbrook has logged at least 30 minutes, he is averaging 38.4 FPTS per game.
Other Options: Coby White ($6,700, if Zach LaVine is out), Jaden Ivey ($6,100), Chris Paul ($5,900), Ayo Dosunmu ($4,400, if LaVine is out)
Forward
Stud
Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics vs. Golden State Warriors, $10,200
Tatum should put on a show Wednesday night. Not only is Jaylen Brown (hip) out for the Celtics, Steve Kerr and the Warriors are in town. Kerr coached Team USA for the Paris Olympics this past summer and controversially made Tatum a DNP for numerous games. While Tatum didn’t publicly express his frustration with this move, we all know it bothered the superstar and Tatum will absolutely be motivated to have a big performance against Kerr and the Warriors in front of the Boston faithful on Wednesday.
Tatum has been stellar this season, scoring 53.1 FPTS per game and with Brown off the court the last two seasons, Tatum’s usage has risen 4.8 percentage points to a huge 35.7%. The forward’s upside is massive in this situation and Tatum needs to be one of your core plays for this slate.
Other Options: LeBron James ($9,000)
Value
Peyton Watson, Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, $3,400
Despite the difficult matchup vs. the Thunder, Watson is a compelling punt play with Aaron Gordon (calf) sidelined. With the forward only available for four minutes Monday vs. the Raptors, Watson posted 29.25 FPTS across 30 minutes, both of which set season highs. The 22-year-old started the second half in place of Gordon and Watson should be the interim starter until Gordon returns.
Watson is supplying 0.84 FPTS per minute with Gordon off the floor the last two seasons, and the former is averaging 27.9 FPTS per game for the last five times he has cracked the 25-minute mark.
Other Options: Santi Aldama ($6,000), OG Anunoby ($5,000)
Center
Stud
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, $11,700
Continuing with the depleted Nuggets, Jokic shouldn’t be slowed down by the Thunder on Wednesday. With Murray inactive and Gordon only available for four minutes, Jokic went off for a triple-double of 72.5 FPTS in Monday’s win over the Raptors. If we include this contest, the center has made four starts without Murray and Gordon in the last two seasons and is producing 69 FPTS per game on those occasions. Mostly due to a 7.5 percentage point boost to his usage rate, Jokic is providing 2.0 FPTS per minute with Murray and Gordon off the court the last two seasons.
The reigning MVP is actually underpriced at this slate-high salary and is worth every penny on Wednesday.
Other Options: Anthony Davis ($10,700), Nikola Vucevic ($8,200, boost if LaVine is out)
Value
Neemias Queta, Boston Celtics vs. Golden State Warriors, $3,200
With Brown out Monday vs. the Hawks, Queta got the spot start and recorded 22.75 FPTS in 23 minutes of work. The center is collecting 0.94 FPTS per minute this season and 25.9 FPTS per game for the last five times he has logged at least 15 minutes.
Queta leads Boston in plus/minus this season and if remains a starter Wednesday, he will be a superb punt play for all formats.
Other Options: Jalen Duren ($5,900), Goga Bitadze ($4,800), Daniel Gafford ($4,500), Zach Edey ($4,400)
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $400K 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.
