Ten games between 20 different teams are on tap this Wednesday across the NBA. With 2/3rds of the association suiting up, the options are endless when building your DFS lineups.
However, anyone looking for stars needs to factor in their salary. For every big name, you’ll need one or two low-cost picks to balance your budget. Which underpriced players should fantasy basketball managers target during tonight’s seven-game featured slate?
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $350K Zone Special [$100K to 1st]
SG/SF Kevin Huerter, Sacramento Kings at CHI ($4,800)
Reading into the first week of the NBA season is foolish. Still, the Bulls have been an early surprise, winning their first three games. It’s taken contributions from several members of the roster, including Kevin Huerter. The eighth-year pro is averaging 13.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. As a shooter, he’s only knocked down 23% of his three-point attempts. Still, head coach Billy Donovan has given the veteran 20+ minutes in each of his outings.
Tonight, Huerter will get to do damage against his old teammates. The Kings are a mediocre defense at best, allowing the most fantasy points to opposing shooting guards. Last season, opponents knocked down 38.2% of their three-point attempts vs. Sacramento, the NBA’s highest mark. Red Velvet has struggled from beyond the arc, but he’s due for positive regression. Still, Huerter has shown he doesn’t need to knock down threes in order to remain fantasy-viable. Back the wing on Wednesday in this potential shootout.
PG Jeremiah Fears, New Orleans Pelicans at DEN ($4,500)
One of two lottery selections for New Orleans, first-round pick Jeremiah Fears is a work in progress. The 19-year-old is still unproven, despite possessing plenty of talent. Still, the Pelicans are willing to give the youngster some burn to start the season. On Monday, the Oklahoma alum earned his first career start. The results were, to put it mildly, disappointing. Fears shot 1-for-11 from the field vs. Boston, ending the night with just 7.5 fantasy points.
As bad as his most recent appearance was, Fears is poised for a bounce-back. After all, he notched 30 combined points in just 47 minutes over his first two games. Head coach Willie Green may move the youngster back to the bench tonight. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, especially in a game that might lean towards offense. New Orleans will need to keep pace with a high-powered Nuggets roster, led by Nikola Jokic ($11,500). Denver has surrendered the tenth-most fantasy points this season to opposing point guards. A lack of opposition on the perimeter should allow Fears to thrive as both a scorer and a passer.
SF/PF Josh Minott, Boston Celtics vs. CLE ($4,000)
Without half of their roster from last season, the Celtics will need to get creative. That’s especially true down low, where the team’s front court remains up in the air. A new contender for minutes may have emerged in Josh Minott. The former Timberwolves second-rounder was terrific on Monday, recording 15 points on 66.7% shooting while racking up nine rebounds. The end result? 32.2 fantasy points in only 28 minutes.
Another standout performance is no guarantee for a career role player. Still, Minott’s shooting and size (6’8″) are intriguing, especially for a team in need of depth. Boston doesn’t have any locked-in starters other than Jaylen Brown ($8,400), Derrick White ($8,000) and Payton Pritchard ($6,600). Tonight’s opponent, the Cavaliers, are allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to small forwards. Given his dirt-cheap price tag, Minott is a high-upside play worth pursuing at $4,000.
