Wednesday’s main slate includes the first nine 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 Zone Special [$100K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons at Indiana Pacers, $10,200
Cunningham is a strong starting piece for lineups Wednesday. Jaden Ivey (leg) remains sidelined and with him out this season, Cunningham is scoring 53.3 FPTS per game with a 35.3% usage rate (15 games).
Both the Pistons and Pacers rank inside the top-10 in pace this season, and this up-tempo matchup carries a 229-point total with a tight five-point spread on DraftKings Sportsbook. In this spot, Cunningham has a ceiling over 60 FPTS.
Other Options: Tyrese Maxey ($9,800), Josh Giddey ($7,700)
Value
D’Angelo Russell, Brooklyn Nets at Charlotte Hornets, $6,600
Going against a shorthanded Hornets team, Russell is a strong target for all formats. Cam Thomas (hamstring) and Cameron Johnson (ankle) both remain unavailable for the Nets, and in the three starts Russell has made without those two, he has been Brooklyn’s main player with a 28% usage rate, lifting him to 37.3 FPTS per game.
Russell scores an elite 1.5 FPTS per minute with both Thomas and Johnson off the floor. Russell should out-produce this salary with ease.
Other Options: Derrick White ($6,700, if Jayson Tatum is out), Coby White ($6,200, if active), Ayo Dosunmu ($5,800), Nick Smith Jr. ($5,000), Lonzo Ball ($4,800), Seth Curry ($3,800)
Forward
Stud
Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors at Washington Wizards, $9,300
Barnes has been a monster with over 50 FPTS in three of his past four starts while nearly posting a triple-double in all of these games. Immanuel Quickley (hip) continues to be sidelined for the Raptors, and with the guard off the floor this season, Barnes leads Toronto with 1.3 FPTS per minute.
Ranking fourth in pace and second-to-last in defensive efficiency, the Wizards are the easiest matchup in the league. Barnes is a superb spend that should eclipse 50 FPTS in this perfect spot.
Other Options: Miles Bridges ($8,200), RJ Barrett ($7,800), Jaylen Brown ($7,600, boost if Tatum is out)
Value
Josh Okogie, Charlotte Hornets vs. Brooklyn Nets, $4,300
Okogie has been very efficient since joining the Hornets last week, scoring 40, 25 and 33 FPTS in his last three games. Brandon Miller (wrist) has missed all these contests and now, LaMelo Ball (ankle) and Mark Williams (foot) will also be out, leaving the Hornets extremely shorthanded.
Starter or not, Okogie should see around 30 minutes Wednesday and cruise past five-times value against this Nets defense that ranks 26th in defensive efficiency. In the 65 minutes the veteran has played with Ball and Miller off the floor, Okogie has been tremendous with 1.5 FPTS per minute.
Other Options: Kyle Kuzma ($6,200), Jalen Wilson ($5,600), Patrick Williams ($4,000)
Center
Stud
Daniel Gafford, Dallas Mavericks at New Orleans Pelicans, $7,400
Gafford continues to be a force with Dereck Lively (ankle) sidelined. With the center out for the last seven games, Gafford has exceed 40 FPTS five times. To begin this stretch, Gafford posted a double-double worth 50 FPTS across 30 minutes against the same Pelicans team he will face again Wednesday.
Evident from this huge outing, New Orleans is a incredible spot for opposing centers. Not only do they rank third-to-last in defensive efficiency, the Pelicans are yielding the second-most points in the paint and third-most rebounds. Gafford should expose New Orleans for another huge double-double Wednesday and is a great spend for all formats.
Other Options: Nikola Jokic ($12,300), Domantas Sabonis ($9,900), Nikola Vucevic ($8,500)
Value
Moussa Diabate, Charlotte Hornets vs. Brooklyn Nets, $3,700
While the Hornets may start Taj Gibson, Diabate will be their primary big man with Williams inactive. With the center out this past Saturday, which was the first game Williams has missed since Charlotte traded Nick Richards to the Suns, Diabate posted 33.25 FPTS across 29 minutes off the bench vs. the Pelicans. The center is collecting 0.9 FPTS per minute this season and with 25-30 minutes against this tanking Nets team, Diabate is an elite value play that can’t be ignored.
For the 12 instances he has surpassed the 20-minute mark this season, Diabte is generating 26.5 FPTS per game.
Other Options: Kristaps Porzingis ($6,900), Kel’el Ware ($6,200), Jalen Duren ($5,800), Luke Kornet ($4,200, if Al Horford is out)
