On the schedule for Wednesday is a nine-game NBA slate. DraftKings continues to offer huge contests for DFS players, and below, I break down some of my favorite NBA DFS options at each position.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Fadeaway [$100K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
Zach LaVine, Sacramento Kings at Utah Jazz, $7,800
It didn’t take long for LaVine to find his groove with the Kings. The shooting guard has erupted for at least 53 FPTS in two of his past three starts. LaVine is leading Sacramento with a 25% usage rate since he joined the club.
Up next for LaVine is a gorgeous matchup with the Jazz, who rank dead last in defensive efficiency this season. LaVine has a ceiling over 50 FPTS in this spot and shouldn’t be popular in GPPs.
Other Options: Cade Cunningham ($10,500), Jalen Brunson ($8,900, if Karl-Anthony Towns is out), De’Aaron Fox ($8,800), Josh Giddey ($7,700)
Value
Anfernee Simons, Portland Trail Blazers at Washington Wizards, $6,700
Simons is fresh off a 44 FPTS showing vs. the Jazz on Monday and has similar upside Wednesday. Deandre Ayton (calf) and Robert Williams (knee) will both be out for the second straight game. With the two centers inactive this season, Simons is leading the Trail Blazers with 40.6 FPTS per game and a 27% usage rate.
The Wizards have slowed down their pace, but they still rank 18th in defensive rating over their last 10 games. Simons is a safe bet for 35+ FPTS in this spot.
Other Options: Dyson Daniels ($6,700), Payton Pritchard ($5,400), Killian Hayes ($4,000)
Forward
Stud
Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers at Chicago Bulls, $7,200
Leonard (foot) has been removed from the Clippers’ injury report after missing the past two games, while Norman Powell (knee) remains out. Leonard not even being listed on the injury report is an encouraging sign that he won’t have a minutes limit in his return, and he should garner a huge usage rate with Powell sidelined. With the wing off the floor this season, Leonard’s usage has leaped 11.9 percentage points to 41% and he is providing 1.3 FPTS per minute.
Facing this Bulls defense that ranks 26th in defensive efficiency, Leonard should surpass five-times value with ease.
Other Options: Jayson Tatum ($9,900), Jaylen Brown ($8,000), Josh Hart ($7,900), Paul George ($7,100)
Value
Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers at Washington Wizards, $5,400
Just like Simons, Grant is an appealing target from Portland with both Ayton and Williams sidelined. In the six games Grant has played with both Ayton and Williams out this season, Grant is providing 32.6 FPTS in 34.6 minutes per game.
The veteran sees more work as a small center with Ayton and Williams missing. Grant should stuff the stat sheet with over 30 FPTS against this Wizards team that is weak up front.
Other Options: Andrew Wiggins ($6,600), Deni Avdija ($6,500), Matas Buzelis ($4,800), Trendon Watford ($4,700)
Center
Stud
Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets vs. San Antonio Spurs, $8,500
Sengun should dominate this Spurs team that is without Victor Wembanyama. San Antonio’s defensive rating has dropped to 118.7 with Wembanyama off the floor this season, which would be the worst defensive rating in the league if it was their season average.
Sengun is amassing 1.4 FPTS per minute with a 27% usage rate this season. The All-Star brings 50 FPTS upside Wednesday.
Other Options: Domantas Sabonis ($9,700), Ivica Zubac ($7,400
Value
Zach Collins, Chicago Bulls vs. Los Angeles Clippers, $4,400
With Nikola Vucevic (calf) out, Collins is a core play for this slate. The veteran started with Vucevic inactive Monday vs. the 76ers and posted 30.75 FPTS in 27 minutes. The center led the Bulls in plus-minus in the 32-point triumph over Philadelphia. Collins should see 25-30 minutes of work Wednesday, putting him in a prime position to easily out produce his low salary.
This season, Collins is producing 1.0 FPTS per minute, and he is averaging 28.75 FPTS per game for the five instances he has logged over 20 minutes.
Other Options: Donovan Clingan ($5,200), Day’Ron Sharpe ($4,200), Andre Drummond ($4,000)
