Wednesday’s main slate on DraftKings features the first 11 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 $300k Fadeaway [100k to 1st]
Guard
Stud
LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets vs. Miami Heat, $10,300
Ball has been absolutely incredible, scoring 67.7 FPTS per game in his last three starts. The main reason for Ball’s success has been Miles Bridges (knee) missing all of these games, who will remain out Wednesday. Additionally, Grant Williams (knee) will miss his second straight contest. With Bridges and Williams off the court this season, Ball has generated 1.7 FPTS per minute with an absurd 46.3% usage rate, which is a 6.3 percentage point upgrade from his season average. Furthermore, Ball’s assist rate has increased 6.4 percentage points to a huge 47.4% sans Bridges and Williams.
The Heat rank 10th in defensive efficiency, but they are playing their second game in two nights and Ball should have no issues exceeding five-times value in this spot.
Other Options: James Harden ($9,000), Tyrese Haliburton ($8,600)
Value
Marcus Smart, Memphis Grizzlies at Detroit Pistons, $4,300
Smart is underpriced for life without Ja Morant (knee) and is a value play that could get overlooked, given Smart has missed many games recently. The ex-Celtic has played three games with Morant inactive this season and Smart has been strong in those tilts, providing 26.9 FPTS per game.
With a 22.1% usage rate and a 31.4% usage rate, Smart produces 1.1 FPTS per minute with Morant off the court and while this is a subpar matchup – the Pistons rank 12th in defensive efficiency – Smart should outproduce this low salary, which is the cheapest the guard has been on DraftKings this season.
Other Options: Norman Powell ($6,700, if he plays), Jalen Suggs ($6,500), Jaden Hardy ($4,700, if Klay Thompson is out), Spencer Dinwiddie ($4,300, if Thompson is out)
Forward
Stud
Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets vs. Miami Heat, $7,400
Just like Ball, Miller is a great target from the shorthanded Hornets and rostering the two teammates together is a totally viable strategy Wednesday. Miller is amassing 45.75 FPTS per game with Bridges inactive this season (five games) and with Bridges and Williams off the court this season, Miller’s usage has risen 3.3 percentage points to 30.4%.
The wing provides 1.1 FPTS per minute in this situation and Miller should top 40 FPTS against this Heat team that is on the second night of a back-to-back set.
Other Options: Franz Wagner ($9,700), Scottie Barnes ($8,700), Jaren Jackson Jr. ($7,800)
Value
Deni Avdija, Portland Trail Blazers at Indiana Pacers, $5,500
Deandre Ayton (questionable, finger) may return, but the Blazers will be without Jerami Grant (doubtful, knee), Robert Williams (concussion) and Donovan Clingan (knee). Starter or not, Avdija should have over 30 minutes with his team depleted and this is an appealing matchup, with the Pacers ranking eighth in pace and 22nd in defensive efficiency.
Attributed to a 5.7 percentage point boost to his assist rate, Avdija scores 1.23 FPTS per minute with Grant, Williams and Clingan off the court this season. Avdija should easily surpass five times value at this affordable salary and is a great target for all formats.
Other Options: Amen Thompson ($5,500), Jonathan Isaac ($4,300)
Center
Stud
Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers at San Antonio Spurs, $10,500
Leading the Lakers with a 31.7% usage rate this season, Davis has been a beast with 1.6 FPTS per minute and the big man posted 65.5 FPTS when he faced the Spurs two weeks ago. Davis has scored over 60 FPTS in two of his three career matchups against Victor Wembanyama and Wednesday’s meeting between Los Angeles and San Antonio is a strong game to target, with the Lakers only favored by 1.5 points and this game’s total set at 228.5 points on the DraftKings Sportsbook.
Davis is averaging 56.1 FPTS per game in spreads under five points this season (six games) and the center is one of the best spends on the slate Wednesday.
Other Options: Victor Wembanyama ($10,800), Ivica Zubac ($7,000)
Value
Yves Missi, New Orleans Pelicans vs. Toronto Raptors, $4,600
Missi (shoulder) made his return from a one-game absence Monday and went off for a double-double worth 41.75 FPTS across 31 minutes vs. the Pacers. The rookie is collecting 1.0 FPTS per minute this season and with Zion Williamson (hamstring) and Herbert Jones (shoulder) still sidelined, Missi should see right around 30 minutes again Wednesday. Plus, this is an excellent matchup, with the Raptors ranking sixth in pace and 21st in defensive efficiency.
Missi is very underpriced for his upside and must be rostered at this affordable $4,600 price tag – the center was just priced up to $5,200 on DraftKings four games ago.
Other Options: Alexandre Sarr ($5,600), Wendell Carter Jr. ($5,000), Jabari Walker ($4,100)
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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.
