DraftKings’ main slate for Wednesday includes the first 14 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
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Miami Heat, $10,800
While Gilgeous-Alexander’s recent game log is underwhelming by his standards, the guard should get back to putting up MVP-like numbers Wednesday with Chet Holmgren being rested. In the 37 starts Gilgeous-Alexander has made with Holmgren inactive this season, Gilgeous-Alexander is scoring 55.8 FPTS per game, which is a massive upgrade from the 46.1 FPTS per game he is averaging with Holmgren active.
Gilgeous-Alexander is amassing 1.6 FPTS per minute with a 36.1% usage rate with Holmgren off the court, and while this is a subpar matchup vs. the Heat, who rank 10th in defensive efficiency, Gilgeous-Alexander should have zero issues out-producing this salary that is way too low.
Other Options: Cade Cunningham ($10,400), Damian Lillard ($9,500), Jalen Brunson ($8,400), Jalen Green ($7,200, if Alperen Sengun is out)
Value
Max Christie, Dallas Mavericks vs. Golden State Warriors, $5,000
Christie has topped 30 FPTS in each of his first four games with the Mavericks. Despite coming off the bench, Christie has ranked second the team in playing time at 32.3 minutes per game and he has closed all four of these games with Dallas’ starters.
The Mavericks just lost Daniel Gafford (knee) for at least two weeks and with the center joining Dallas’ crowded injury report, Christie is guaranteed to approach 35 minutes Wednesday, which is more than enough time for him to beat this low salary. Since being traded to the Mavericks last week, Christie is scoring 1.0 FPTS per minute with a 19.4% usage rate.
Other Options: Payton Pritchard ($6,000, if Jaylen Brown is out), Nick Smith Jr. ($4,500), Elfird Payton ($3,000)
Forward
Stud
Trey Murphy, New Orleans Pelicans vs. Sacramento Kings, $8,200
One of the main reasons the Pelicans had no problems trading Brandon Ingram to the Raptors last week is the emergence of Murphy. After showing some great signs at the end of last year, the wing has been New Orleans’ best player this season. Murphy enters Wednesday averaging 49.3 FPTS per game in his last six starts, including a 42-DraftKings point outing against the same Kings team he will face tonight.
Murphy is generating 1.2 FPTS per minute with a 25.1% usage rate in the new year and is an excellent target against this struggling Sacramento defense that ranks 26th in defensive rating over their last 10 games.
Other Options: Jayson Tatum ($9,900), Franz Wagner ($8,700), Paul George ($7,500)
Value
Cam Whitmore, Houston Rockets vs. Phoenix Suns, $4,300
With Fred VanVleet (ankle) and Jabari Smith Jr. (hand) sidelined for the last five, Whitmore has made the most of his opportunity off the bench, scoring 22.8 FPTS per game. Whitmore is a player who dominates the ball when he is on the floor, and with a 24.6% usage rate this season, Whitmore is supplying 1.0 FPTS per minute.
Facing a Suns team that ranks 27th in defensive efficiency playing their second game in two nights, Whitmore has a ceiling near 30 FPTS and would become an even stronger option if Alperen Sengun (questionable, back) is out. In the lone game the Rockets have been without Sengun, VanVleet and Smith Jr. this season, Whitmore posted 32.25 FPTS vs. the Knicks.
Other Options: Aaron Wiggins ($5,000), Matas Buzelis ($4,900), Olivier-Maxence Prosper ($4,200), Ochai Agbaji ($4,200), Sam Hauser ($3,900, if Brown is out)
Center
Stud
Naz Reid, Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Milwaukee Bucks, $7,100
Reid continues to be underpriced for his role with Julius Randle (groin) sidelined. Reid has been starting in the place of injured Randle and Reid has exceeded 40 FPTS in four of these last five games with Randle unavailable. Reid has seen at least 35 minutes in each of these past five games and the huge volume is going to continue Wednesday with the Timberwolves only a six-point favorite over the Bucks on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Reid is supplying 1.1 FPTS per minute this season and should destroy this $7,100 price tag with at least 40 FPTS against this Milwaukee team that continues to be without Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf). With the former MVP out for the last five, the Bucks rank 21st in defensive rating.
Other Options: Nikola Jokic ($12,500), Domantas Sabonis ($9,500), Karl-Anthony Towns ($9,400)
Value
Jonas Valanciunas, Sacremento Kings at New Orleans Pelicans, $4,500
In just his third game with the Kings since being traded to the club, Valanciunas posted 21 FPTS across 18 minutes off the bench in Monday’s win over the Mavericks. The veteran should receive 15-20 minutes on a nightly basis as Sabonis’ backup, and while this doesn’t seem like much playing time, Valanciunas is an elite fantasy producer scoring 1.3 FPTS per minute this season.
After being priced over $5K for most of the season, Valanciunas’ salary has hit a season-low $4,500 and he should beat this low mark with ease against a Pelicans team that is extremely susceptible to centers. On top of ranking 28th in defensive efficiency, New Orleans is giving up second-most points in the paint and the third-most rebounds in the NBA this season.
Other Options: Bobby Portis ($6,900, better if starting), Richaun Holmes ($5,100), Moussa Diabate ($5,000, if active and starting), Al Horford ($4,400, if Brown is out), Steven Adams ($4,400, if Sengun is out), Quinten Post ($4,000)
